I Spent 8 Days in Europe with Just One 20L Bag (And Didn’t Miss a Thing)

I used to overpack. Back when I thought comfort meant having options, I dragged rolling suitcases across cobblestones and up hostel stairs. This time, I wanted the opposite: 8 days, 3 cities—Madrid, Milan, and Santorini—with just one 20L waterproof backpack.
The night before flying out, I looked at the bag on the floor and laughed. It looked impossibly small. But when I zipped it shut, I still had room left.

🎒 The Outfit I Wore Out of London

Leaving a rainy London, I wore my bulkiest pieces:
  • Quick-dry long sleeve
  • Light fleece
  • Windbreaker
  • Quick-dry hiking pants
This base got me through airport AC, mountain wind in Milan, and the sunny streets of Santorini.

👕 What Fit Inside the 20L

In one compression cube:
  • 2 x tops
  • 1 x shorts
  • 2 x underwear
  • 2 x socks
  • 1 x travel towel
Toiletries went into a transparent pouch (European airport rules still apply). Another small bag held phone charger, foldable tripod, pen, and a book I didn’t finish.
I also brought my laptop—it fit perfectly into the inner sleeve of the backpack. On trains, metros, even flights, I never worried about bumps and could pull it out whenever I needed.

The EXTEND Waterproof Backpack standing on a Santorini beach after 8 days of travel, still going strong.

（ The EXTEND Waterproof Backpack standing on a Santorini beach after 8 days of travel, still going strong.)

🧳 What I Didn’t Bring

No second pair of shoes. No backup outfits. No "what if it rains?" coat (the windbreaker handled it). Even my crossbody bag traveled flat inside the backpack and only came out during city days.
My pants had zippered pockets—passport, cards, and coins never left my body. I felt light and unbothered the entire time.

📍 From Madrid to Milan to Santorini

The bag came with me on every metro ride, overhead bin, and hotel check-in. When the wind picked up on a Milan rooftop, I used it to steady my tripod. On Santorini’s beach, I tossed it in the sand without a thought.
No water seeped in. No zipper failed. Nothing tore. For a 20L backpack, it held more than I imagined—and everything I actually needed.

✍️ Why I’ll Do It Again

I used to believe minimal travel required sacrifice. This trip proved otherwise. With the right setup—and a waterproof, compact backpack—I felt freer. Not lighter just in weight, but in energy.
I didn’t waste time digging through clothes. I didn’t worry about fitting into lockers. I moved. I traveled.
And I’m keeping the 20L rule.

🔗 The Bag I Used:

EXTEND Waterproof Backpack 20L.
 Lightweight. Waterproof. Laptop-ready. Still my go-to for every carry-on-only adventure.

 

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