Hit 50 nights in hostels this year and it changed how I pack

I was going through my travel journal last week and counted 50 hostel nights since January. Started in Barcelona with a 10 liter backpack because I thought less is more. But after freezing in a Prague dorm in March because I only brought a hoodie, I finally caved and bought a cheap packable puffer from Decathlon. That single item saved me on night trains through Poland and hostels with broken heaters. Has anyone else noticed a specific piece of gear that made a bigger difference than expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret9910d ago

oh man that puffer jacket is a total game changer, i had a similar thing with a cheap pair of thermal leggings from a random outdoor shop in berlin. they were so thin i could wear them under anything but they made all the difference on those cold overnight buses in eastern europe. totally feel you on the freezing dorm thing, nothing worse than trying to sleep in a hoodie that smells like three cities.

thomas_brown9d ago

Huh, I used to think those thin thermals were a scam, like how could something that flimsy do anything? But after borrowing a friend's pair on a trip to the mountains last winter, I totally get it now. They really do make a huge difference without that bulky feeling.