After being in Romania playing professional soccer for six months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I wish I packed to play soccer overseas.
Even though this is my second time heading overseas, it is the longest I’ll have been gone (10 months). To be honest, packing for so long and so far away never really gets easier.
This season has also reminded me how different every country is in terms of what’s available and accessible.
I’ll also be creating a full packing checklist for playing abroad, but first here are the top things I wish I brought with me.
Soccer Gear
Soccer gear is hit or miss when it comes to playing in other countries. So far, my experience is that you do not get nearly as much gear as in college. However, teams will have varying budgets and criteria for what you must wear at training/games.
Based on my experience I recommend bringing:
- At least a few sets of sports bras/spandex
- Socks for training (crew socks)
- Shingaurds/shingaurd sleeves
- Long black socks and long white socks
- Black athletic shorts
- Cleats (more details coming)
Multiple Cleats
Most teams do not provide cleats, and finding your favorite pair in other countries may not be as easy as you’d think. Find out what surfaces you will be training and playing. Bring enough types of cleats to comfortably play on those surfaces, without overpacking (that’s the hard part). I am very happy with what I brought which is:
- 2 pairs of regular cleats
- 1 pair of turf shoes
- 1 pair of metal studs
Soccer Accessories
Don’t forget about those little game/training accessories. For different people, this may mean different things. The top ones I wish I had or have heard American teammates reference are:
- Compression wrap/sleeves
- Prewrap
- Shoe inserts
- Braces (ankle, knee, etc)
- Muscle rub
- More practice tops
Beauty Products
Undoubtedly, beauty products take up a lot of your suitcase weight allowance. Because they are so heavy, you want to take what is most necessary. This time around, I made the mistake of thinking I could just get what I need here. While that’s true for some things, I wish I brought:
- Speciality hair care products, like leave-in conditioner and hair oil for curly hair.
- A silk/satin pillowcase
- Microfiber hair towel
- Specific skincare products
For this category, it depends on what you are particular about and where you are going. In my case, curly hair products are not super accessible in this part of Romania. It’s not very easy or practical to order my favorites online either. I wish I had at least brought with me a leave-in conditioner and hair oil, if not a few more of my favorite products.
Food
For the most part, you’ll be able to find some snacks and candy you like wherever you’re playing. If there’s anything you really love food-wise then consider bringing some. There are just a few key food/kitchen items I wish I brought or heard teammates talk about as well:
- Large container of peanut butter (not as common or as good overseas)
- Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
- Ranch dressing
- A portable, chargeable mini blender
Non-Athletic Clothing
I’ll start with this important warning, you won’t wear as many clothes as you think. Sure, you may have an event or night out here or there, but more often than not you’re doing team activities or just lounging. Overall, clothes are also easier to get while abroad, even though it’s annoying to buy ones you already have at home. That being said, there are a few pieces I wish I brought:
- 1-2 simple, versatile dresses
- A strapless bra
- A sticky bra/ pasties
- More athetic/casual t-shirts
- Birkenstock-esque sandals
Medicine
So far, it’s not been nearly as easy to find medications as it is at home. Some of this is because I’m not sure where to look or how to go about it. The other issue is that medications may be under different names. I did bring several months-worth of my prescription medication, which I highly suggest if possible. Besides that, I wish I brought more:
- Melatonin
- Ibprofen
- Hydrocortisone cream
Electronics
I brought most of the electronic/tech things I wanted, but there are just a few I forget. I wish I had my keyboard that attaches to my iPad, as this is easier to use while traveling than my laptop. Also, I forgot the charging port for my electronic toothbrush, and have not been able to find one here.
I plan to include a list of key electronics to bring in my full packing list, but here are the basics:
- Unlocked phone
- Multiple charging cables for all devices (if possible)
- Converters and adapters
- Headphones
- Screen protectors/ cases
The Bottom Line
You probably can’t pack every little thing you want to when traveling to play overseas (unless you want to pay for and lug around a ton of baggage). Still, there are a few things I wish I had brought this time around. Hopefully learning more about the things I wish I packed to play soccer overseas helps you out! I’ll be adding to this list as I remember more items and hear ideas from other players.
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