Checklist · 12 picks · 5 categories
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Backpacking Europe means hauling your whole life up train station stairs, walking way more than you planned, and keeping your passport safe the entire time.
This list covers those exact problems. OutdoorGearLab picked the travel backpacks, Pack Hacker picked the anti-theft slings, BestReviews picked the money belts, T3 picked the plug adapters, Treeline Review picked the walking shoes, and NBC Select picked the umbrellas. Each card shows the drawback too, because a money belt with a tiny passport pocket is good to know about before you board. Staying in dorms? Pair this with our hostel list for the towel, locker lock and earplugs. Need a bigger suitcase for a whole semester? The study abroad list has you covered. Start with the bag and the shoes, then add the rest.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're moving abroad for a semester; the Study Abroad list has the big suitcases and longer-stay gear.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 2, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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budget pick · 28 or 40 L
Best for weekend trips around Europe on a student budget
OutdoorGearLab's best buy travel backpack: spacious, and it'll save you money for your next plane or train ticket.
Heads up. Very little rigidity, and no hip belt
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Buy travel backpack.
$50-100
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mid pick · 35 or 42 L
Best for living out of one bag on weekend trips
OutdoorGearLab's best overall travel backpack: easy to live out of for trips of all shapes and sizes.
Heads up. Less ideal for heavy loads, and the side-entry laptop pocket is less secure
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best overall travel backpack.
$200-300
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelon Anti-Theft Greenlander Compact Sling | budget | $50-100 | daily essentials on crowded streets and trains | 1 outlet |
| Pacsafe Metrosafe X Anti-Theft Urban Sling | mid | $100-150 | locking your bag without thinking about it | 1 outlet |
| LANNEY RFID-Blocking Money Belt | budget | under $15 | spare cards and cash under your clothes for less | 1 outlet |
| Raytix Travel Money Belt | mid | $15-25 | a slim belt with room for a passport | 1 outlet |
budget pick · Compact sling
Best for daily essentials on crowded streets and trains
Pack Hacker's best value anti-theft bag: slash-resistant materials and built-in RFID protection, small enough to carry anywhere.
Heads up. Limited space beyond essentials, and it can hang awkwardly in some positions
1 outlet. Pack Hacker best value anti-theft bag.
$50-100
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mid pick · Urban sling
Best for locking your bag without thinking about it
Pack Hacker's best anti-theft crossbody bag: locking zippers and a locking strap closure that don't change how the bag carries.
Heads up. Noisy zippers when unlocked, no secondary compartment, and bulky on smaller frames
1 outlet. Pack Hacker best anti-theft crossbody bag.
$100-150
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budget pick · Slim belt
Best for spare cards and cash under your clothes for less
BestReviews' best bang for the buck money belt: a slim design with three layers of RFID-blocking lining and double-stitched seams.
Heads up. The main pocket is fairly small, which can make it hard to remove a passport
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck money belt.
under $15
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mid pick · Waists up to 41 in
Best for a slim belt with room for a passport
BestReviews' best of the best money belt: slim, light water-resistant nylon with three pockets and a soft, stretchy back.
Heads up. The waistband only fits waists up to 41 inches
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best money belt.
$15-25
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budget pick · Compact
Best for charging a phone and earbuds abroad cheaply
T3's best affordable travel adaptor: interchangeable US, UK and EU plug heads and GaN fast charging, for not much.
Heads up. Doesn't convert voltage, and 30W is lower than other options
1 outlet. T3 best affordable travel adaptor.
$25-50
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mid pick · Compact
Best for trips abroad with a phone, laptop and earbuds
T3's best overall travel adapter: works in most countries, fast-charges up to six devices at once, and comes with a carry case.
Heads up. No Type D or Type M plugs, and it doesn't convert voltage, per T3
1 outlet. T3 best overall travel adaptor.
$50-100
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budget pick · Women's and men's
Best for warm, dry city days
Treeline Review's best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, for women and for men: a cork footbed that contours to your foot and lasts for years.
Heads up. Sandals aren't ideal for all walking conditions: the outsole isn't very grippy, and they may not suit wet or cold days
1 outlet. Treeline Review best women's walking shoes for plantar fasciitis.
$150-200
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mid pick · Women's and men's
Best for errands, commutes and everyday walks
Treeline Review's best slip-on walking shoes, for women and for men: easy on and off, and easy to style.
Heads up. More lifestyle shoe than athletic, with a narrow fit
1 outlet. Treeline Review best women's slip-on walking shoes.
$150-200
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budget pick · Compact
Best for a cheap umbrella that lives in your bag
NBC Select's best affordable umbrella: a simple, durable compact pick that a staff writer upgraded to after years of cheap drugstore umbrellas.
Heads up. On the small side
1 outlet. NBC Select best affordable umbrella.
$15-25
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mid pick · Compact
Best for carrying every day without noticing it
NBC Select's best overall umbrella: light and compact, it folds into an included sleeve, and a reporter there calls it great for portability.
1 outlet. NBC Select best overall umbrella.
$25-50
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Spot a mistake? A broken link, a wrong price range or an outdated pick: tell me at hello@allsetlist.com and I'll fix it.
No. T3 notes that both adapters on this list don't convert voltage. They change the plug shape and charge your devices over USB, so check the label on anything else you bring, like a hair tool, before you plug it in.
A little. Pack Hacker points out that the Metrosafe X has noisy zippers when unlocked and no secondary compartment, and the Greenlander has limited space beyond essentials. Both trade some convenience for locking features.
It can, but check the pocket first. BestReviews says the LANNEY's main pocket is fairly small, which can make it hard to remove a passport. BestReviews says the Raytix is large enough for passports, but it only fits waists up to 41 inches.
