My recent week-long trip to Northern Germany didn’t have just one theme — it was a hodgepodge of activities and destinations. I had several guided cultural visits planned, as well as a couple of hikes and nature-focused outings, a city tour, two nights in a luxurious seaside hotel, some beach lounging, a lot of time spent on buses and trains, and loads of walking — all of which had to be done while working. Not only that, but I was scheduled to spend several days on the beautiful island of Rügen, where the summers are usually sunny and warm, before making my way to Hamburg, where it rains so much that my tour guide called it “Umbrella City.” Needless to say that having to cover all of my bases for this trip made for some difficult decisions when it was time to pack my bags. While I needed a couple of short-sleeved dressy blouses for the museum visits, I also couldn’t go without a rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, or sunscreen. Of course, I ended up packing too much, but I was never caught without something I desperately needed and, in the end, that’s what matters.
What I Packed for a Week of Travel in Northern Germany
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Sterling Pacific’s 40L Cabin Travel Case
Photo: Morgane Croissant
The most important element of packing for this trip was, of course, the luggage I was going to put all my stuff in. While a weekender travel bag would probably have sufficed, I quickly dismissed this option for one simple reason: I didn’t want to carry a heavy bag by hand or on my shoulder while walking to and from multiple train stations. To reach my destination, I had a 19-hour journey that involved four trains rides with tight connections, two car drives, and one trip on the Parisian metro, so a rolling suitcase was needed to make it as sweat-free and painless as possible. Sterling Pacific’s 40L aluminum Cabin Travel Case is my go-to luggage for shorter trips. It has four very smooth independent wheels so you don’t need to put in any effort to pull it. Also, it’s super solid so it can take on the cobblestoned streets of Germany or the million steps that make up the Paris metro system. Lastly, it’s slick and elegant — especially the jet black version, which I own. Unlike a weekender bag, my roller suitcase keep my clothes mostly winkle-free, which I much appreciate when it’s time to dress up a little.
Mystery Ranch Super Market Day Pack
Photo: Morgane Croissant
For this trip, I needed a good-size backpack. The kind that could hold not only the daily stuff everyone carries with them on a trip (wallet, water bottle, phone, book, etc.), but also all my work items (laptop, charger, notebook, planner). The pack needed to be practical for all the train travel, as well as the walking and hiking, I had planned to do. Mystery Ranch’s Super Market Day Pack is a very roomy 22 liters and has a padded laptop sleeve and a water bottle sleeve. It also has a sneaky little zipped pocket in between the shoulder straps so you can store your valuables without fearing pickpockets. If you’re going out for the day, you can easily fit your water, a sweater, a rain jacket, and a picnic inside, and still have room to spare. Also, the shape of the pack makes it very unique and it comes in a range of great colors.
Boody’s Goodnight Sleep Pant
Because I had 15-plus-hour train journeys on the way to and from Germany, I opted to travel in the comfiest clothes possible. As a top, I went for the loosely fitting and antimicrobial short-sleeved low crew shirt from Ibex because, no matter what you do when you wear it, it’ll never smell of body odor. As a bottom, I chose Boody’s Goodnight Sleep Pant in black. Yes, they are pajamas. No, they don’t look like pajamas. They are simple, long, straight black pants that look like fancy sweats. Because they are made of bamboo fibers and elastane, they are extremely soft and stretchy. The pants have no zipper and no buttons, so there’s nothing to keep you constricted. I fell asleep for two whole hours on my way back and I’m pretty sure it would never had happened had I been wearing jeans. Boody’s Goodnight Sleep Pant comes in a variety of color, including light blue, pink, green, dark red, bluey gray, and black.
Jack Wolfskin Pack & Go Shell
Photo: Morgane Croissant
While most of my time on the island of Rügen was spent under blue, sunny skies, the same can’t be said of the 24 hours I had in Hamburg. Hamburg is a city that has a reputation for gray, rainy weather and, even in July, it didn’t disappoint. Because my soft and waterproof Jack Wolfskin Pack & Go Shell compacts into a tiny little pouch, I threw it into my backpack every time I was away from my hotel for the day. On my guided tour of the city, the dark skies opened and my guide and I got absolutely poured on. Luckily, we were both prepared: him with his yellow oilskin jacket, and I with my trusty green shell. Once suitably protected, we kept walking and biking like nothing was going on for a couple of hours. My motto: Never go anywhere without a packable rain jacket, even in the height of summer.
On CloudFlyer 4
Photo: Morgane Croissant
While I knew I would be doing a lot of walking and some hiking during my time in Northern Germany, I was also aware that I didn’t need a pair of heavy-duty hiking boots — the hikes I had planned were on easy terrain. I opted to bring my On CloudFlyer 4, which I use for my daily walks. Meant for running in extreme comfort, the On CloudFlyer 4 are exceptionally cushioning thanks to thick outsoles, tongues, and sides. While I’ve walked dozen and dozen of miles in these shoes, I’ve never felt discomfort or even got blisters, even at the start. I never actually had to break them in — they were comfortable from the get-go. These shoes served me well during the entirety of my trip, taking me far into the beech forest of Jasmund National Park and on the long beach promenade in Binz.
Caudalie Stick sunscreen SPF 50
Photo: Morgane Croissant
My morning skincare routine is very simple: I wash my face and apply sunscreen. The problem is that sunscreen doesn’t last all day — only 60 to 90 minutes. To avoid burns, skin cancer, and looking like an old leather shoe by the age of 40, it’s imperative to reapply regularly and generously. Caudalie Stick sunscreen SPF 50 makes application very easy and mess-free. Because it’s in a stick format , you never have to get your hands sticky with sunblock — you can apply directly on your face, lips, hands, and even arms and neck if need be. Caudalie Stick sunscreen is smaller than a stick of deodorant so it fits in any bags or pockets. I took it with me everywhere around sunny Rügen, even to the beach, and never got a single burn. The icing on the cake: it’s fragrance-free and invisible. 