Yesterday I published the introduction to my next trip report series. In the comments section, reader JB asked how many items of clothing I typically pack for a trip lasting for around a week — do I bring enough of everything to last one per day, do I do laundry, or something else?
Somehow I’ve never actually written about this topic, so this seems like as good of a time as any!
In this post:
My philosophy on packing a bag for a trip
Before I share the approach I take, let’s start with some caveats. First of all, while I’d consider myself to be an airline and hotel expert, and I’ve spent a lot of time traveling (I even lived in hotels full time for a couple of years!), I’m an absolute mess when it comes to packing, and you probably shouldn’t take advice from me.
I’m the guy who starts packing 20 minutes before I head out the door to the airport, and I just kind of throw everything into my bag fast. That’s quite a contrast to Ford, who starts packing a day in advance, figures out all of his outfits, folds his clothes neatly, etc. So while I’ll share the approach I take, I’m actively telling y’all not to take advice from me.
Anyway, big picture, my approach to packing factors in a few beliefs that I have:
- I tend to think that people overpack when it comes to nice outfits and special looks, and tend to underpack when it comes to the basics; this assumes you’re not someone who is big into taking pictures of themselves, and wants to carefully coordinate outfits for pictures
- As much as it might feel like a “security blanket” to take extra clothes, you’re typically going to be happier taking less rather than more, since people almost always acquire something while traveling, and then have no space in their bag
- I’m actually not as opposed to checking bags on some trips as others are, especially if traveling to a sunny climate, where it’s helpful to bring your own sunscreen, etc.
The clothes that I typically travel with
If I’m just traveling with a carry-on bag, how do I go about packing? Here’s my general approach, which typically applies across climates:
- My top priority is to pack plenty of socks and underwear, since having (at least) one clean pair per day is nice; some might say that’s an overkill, but I also like to work out when traveling, so can get a little sweaty
- I’m someone who generally wears athleisure clothes whenever appropriate or possible, so I pack nearly as many t-shirts as there are days that I’m away; I skimp on pants, and typically pack just one pair of long athleisure pants, plus a couple of pairs of shorts
- When it comes to “nicer” clothes (for going out to dinner, etc.), I typically pack at most two outfits, so they tend to repeat themselves
- I don’t care what climate I’m traveling to, I always bring a hoodie; even if you’re not traveling somewhere cold, airports and other indoor spaces are often freezing, and I consider it to be one of the most underrated travel essentials
- I generally try to limit myself to two pairs of shoes — one pair that can be used for fitness or to walk around a city, and a dressier pair that can be worn at restaurants, etc.
- If I’m traveling to warm resort destinations, I’ll also pack a pair of swim trunks, while if I’m traveling to a colder climate, I try to pack one nice, versatile jacket or sweater
Bottom line
Everyone takes a different approach to packing for travel. Personally, I tend to think that less is more, and my priority is always to have as many pairs of socks, as well as underwear and t-shirts, as possible. I try to limit my packing of other items, simply because you’ve gotta limit yourself somewhere.
What’s your approach to packing for trips?
There is much talk about various items of must have travel clothing, eg: cotton T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, trousers, shorts, flip-flops, etc, etc. Some will not like reading that I consider that much of what has been written is outdated bunkum.
Over 50 years ago, I stopped travelling with jeans, cotton and woollen items of clothing. I discovered the clothing manufacturer Rohan, a manufacturor of highly technical travel clothing who was based at the time...
There is much talk about various items of must have travel clothing, eg: cotton T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, trousers, shorts, flip-flops, etc, etc. Some will not like reading that I consider that much of what has been written is outdated bunkum.
Over 50 years ago, I stopped travelling with jeans, cotton and woollen items of clothing. I discovered the clothing manufacturer Rohan, a manufacturor of highly technical travel clothing who was based at the time in Yorkshire, England.
Their clothing was and still is made with lightweight, highly technical fibres. Designed and rigorously tested to meet the needs of the serious world travellers, male or female. Travellers who wish to travel light, stay dry, warm in cold climates, or, protected from UV, the effects of heat, bugs and even nasty thieves. Clothing which can look good in the airport lounge or work equally well on safari in Africa. From rainforests to mountain peaks and everything in between.
Lightweight layered items of clothing meet all of my requirements worldwide. They are designed to be hand washed (if necessary) and will dry quickly. Even rain soaked clothing dries on the body without dangerous loss of body temperature.
The naysayers and know-it-alls will find something to comment about. The blue jeans, white cotton T-shirt and baseball cap brigade will no doubt find something to guffaw about too. However, they might well like to reflect upon the fact that experience counts. Sensible readers may wish to explore their opinions further before dismissing this advice out of hand:
https://www.rohan.co.uk
Over 50 years ago, I...
The naysayers and know-it-alls will find something to comment about.
Correct. You're one miserable old man.
Thank you dave, small letter ‘D’, obviously denotes a small brain and undoubtedly even smaller appendages between your legs too, yes?
You stick to your ‘Yankee’s’ baseball cap, peak down the back of your neck, covering your long, greasy combover. With your hard metal graphic black ‘T’, sweat stained under the armpits and beer soaked down the front. Oversized, knee holed jeans, belted below your naked hanging belly fat and exposing your hairy ‘builders crack’...
Thank you dave, small letter ‘D’, obviously denotes a small brain and undoubtedly even smaller appendages between your legs too, yes?
You stick to your ‘Yankee’s’ baseball cap, peak down the back of your neck, covering your long, greasy combover. With your hard metal graphic black ‘T’, sweat stained under the armpits and beer soaked down the front. Oversized, knee holed jeans, belted below your naked hanging belly fat and exposing your hairy ‘builders crack’ behind. Not forgetting your dirty toenails which adorn your smelly bare feet, shod in worn out flip-flops.
Yes, you surely are the foot and knuckle dragging Neanderthal coach passenger type, making a none too endearing sight, as you slouch around the airport facilities and aircraft cabin.
“Correct. You're one miserable” sounding in-bread individual, one who knows nothing and does not have the mental capacity to think beyond their own dull environs. As for learning from the experiences of your betters, NO, you will continue to vegetate rather than admit that you are actually the “Miserable old man”, yes dave?
I’m not wearing plastic clothes. I like to dress well, in a shirt and proper trousers and a wool jumper and cashmere overcoat perfect for holding passports, wallets, etc. I don’t want to look like a slob, but each to their own. When I go on Safari or to colder countries I’ll bring appropriate, stylish clothing. Maybe when one gets older they’re happier to lower their standards of themselves but I am not.
Thanks...very interesting....but after looking at their webpage, it appears they only sell in the UK...and no where else, so I'm out of luck.
One of the nicest travel & packing experience was my month long trip in Japan with 7 days worth of clothing. So many of the hotels in Japan have washer/dryers with many in the room I was able to pack very light. Only issue being it takes 4-5 hours for 1 small load. Still very nice to have that option. I would be willing to let the hotel do my laundry if the price was remotely reasonable but I have yet to see that.
When I take a multi-week trip to explore a new place, I typically hit it hard, so taking 7 days worth of clothes is a plus for me because (1) I travel light, and (2) it forces me to take a day to do laundry every week, which allows me to take a day to rest. This strategy has been really useful for me on longer trips.
Does packing all that stuff in the case in the photo actually meet the 7kg IATA recommendation, or are you just hoping to avoid trouble through a combination of flying in premium cabins and a lack of enforcement?
After having had my stuff weighted by airport security (not even airline employees) at APL, I do everything I can to keep my hand luggage below 8kg for anything but the simplest/shortest trip. You never know...
Does packing all that stuff in the case in the photo actually meet the 7kg IATA recommendation, or are you just hoping to avoid trouble through a combination of flying in premium cabins and a lack of enforcement?
After having had my stuff weighted by airport security (not even airline employees) at APL, I do everything I can to keep my hand luggage below 8kg for anything but the simplest/shortest trip. You never know when you'll get rebooked to a super strict airline with which you've got no status.
Especially that empty Briggs & Riley carry-on alone is 4 kg. I wonder how they do it
"I always bring a hoodie; even if you’re not traveling somewhere cold, airports and other indoor spaces are often freezing"
I have a somewhat opposite priority: I find airplanes, lounges & airports almost always too hot. So my rule of thumb is always wear t-shirt & shorts while traveling, even if I'm flying to Finland in the winter. Of course I have jacket and pants ready if it gets cold.
I've learned not to wear shorts aside from wearing closed footwear during take-off and landing in the unfortunate event that you have to evacuate the aircraft. It's also a good idea to have a jacket on with your passport and wallet in your pocket.
Good points. I do avoid flip flops during takeoff and landing. Now will be sure to have jacket on hand.
Make sure you have your jacket on too rather than hanging it on a coat hook somewhere because you never know. The Haneda collision should be a wakeup call. A lot of injuries can happen during evacuation from friction burns when sliding down to scrapes and abrasions such as scraping a knee, elbow, etc.
As someone who usually flies long-haul, I tend to change into a separate t-shirt and pajamas with my own slippers...
Make sure you have your jacket on too rather than hanging it on a coat hook somewhere because you never know. The Haneda collision should be a wakeup call. A lot of injuries can happen during evacuation from friction burns when sliding down to scrapes and abrasions such as scraping a knee, elbow, etc.
As someone who usually flies long-haul, I tend to change into a separate t-shirt and pajamas with my own slippers once the seatbelt sign is turned off and change back within an hour before landing, but will probably change that to an hour and a half to two hours instead to get myself ready much earlier.
Anyone who's ever lived in England will tell you that layering is where it's at! I personally use some isothermic vests/t-shirts, but even thin layers of cotton clothing are helpful.
What hoodies and items do you recommend? Same with shoes?
For shoes, I'd recommend the Allbirds Wool Runners. It's a minimalist shoe that goes well with slacks and jeans, and they're really comfortable especially for those long walks to the gate. While I have yet to buy a pair, it was really comfortable just trying them on. They go for $100 US.
Allbirds Wool Dasher Mizzles are great for travel. They are super comfortable and water resistant. I've worn them for years.
If you're in an area with an Allbirds store, stop by and try them on!
Just an FYI, they're a direct-to-consumer brand meaning they're not sold at your local Foot Locker, Famous Footwear, DSW, etc. Think of them as Dell back in the day where you ordered their PCs through mail-order, catalog, online or by phone before they expanded to retail.
Thanks for the shout-out Ben! I feel honored to be mentioned by name in a post :)
How did you write this without showing us a picture of what's inside your bag, let alone what kind of bag you have?
FTN, in the narrative Ben, talks about cotton T-shirts, socks and knickers, not a word about modern clothing technical fabric technology, etc.
I confess to knowing absolutely nothing about points or credit card status, etc. However, when it comes to taking care of my body, on any continent, under any climatic conditions, I do know that there are much better options than cotton clothing items.
For such a young traveller it would appear that Ben,...
FTN, in the narrative Ben, talks about cotton T-shirts, socks and knickers, not a word about modern clothing technical fabric technology, etc.
I confess to knowing absolutely nothing about points or credit card status, etc. However, when it comes to taking care of my body, on any continent, under any climatic conditions, I do know that there are much better options than cotton clothing items.
For such a young traveller it would appear that Ben, still has much to learn, yes?
Clothes carried varies by purpose of trip. Business, relatives, solely tourism. Also the size of gifts brought, expected purchases matter. The last vert important factor is how low the carry on weight is allowed and how strictly enforced.
Lucky - interesting that you continue to stick with your traditional two-wheeled bags. I remember years ago, you posted that you preferred these to the spinner bags. Since then, I have watched spinner bags seem to take up 66% of the carry-on market, including tons of people with shiny expensive metal Rimowa bags.
Yes, Anthony, we find our Rimowa luggage extremely useful. We pack them with gifts, etc, on our outward journey and fill them full made to measure clothing for our return. They are however far from “Shiny”, rather bent and battered actually, bought decades ago, yet as they are still going strong …. hardly expensive in the long run, yes?
Personally, I find that packing cubes, sized to accommodate the appropriate clothing and suitcase/bag, etc, are indispensable.
When travelling in Africa and the ME, soft bags are better than hard cases when light and rotary wing aircraft flights are expected.
The same applies when enjoying the luxury train journeys, a soft bag with wrap around formal wear/suit holder is sufficient.
It is easy to spot the experienced travellers by the absence of large heavy pieces...
Personally, I find that packing cubes, sized to accommodate the appropriate clothing and suitcase/bag, etc, are indispensable.
When travelling in Africa and the ME, soft bags are better than hard cases when light and rotary wing aircraft flights are expected.
The same applies when enjoying the luxury train journeys, a soft bag with wrap around formal wear/suit holder is sufficient.
It is easy to spot the experienced travellers by the absence of large heavy pieces of luggage.
My #1 tip on a "vacation trip" is to bring a duffel bag. They pack small and are perfect for extra bag space on the way back. Stuff them with your laundry and check them in. Now you have plenty of space for whatever you've acquired on your trip.
This x1000. Doing it tomorrow to help fit Christmas gifts on my return flight/won't have to check a nearly empty bag on the outbound
Love your duffel bag idea. Been doing it on the last few trips. Initially my companion objected, but when she realized how much more clothes she could buy and stuff in her duffle bag she was sold. BTW, I am a geezer and love wearing cotton in hot Dubai as well as in the cold of winter in Chicago or Mont Tremblant, augmented by silk long johns and wool socks.
As a suggestion, would it'd be possible for the blog to allow emojis? It doesn't have to be modern, something like what you'd find on airliners would be sufficient. It's something that has been on the back of my mind for a while!
Will that help you with your trolling on articles about Philippine Airlines?
I'm not sure what your deal is.
Do you or others have an athleisure long pants recommendation? (Asking for all the guys like me who did not know this existed)
If you have an Amex Platinum, check out Lululemon. You might be surprised.
I used my last credit on a few pairs of socks.. I'll have to look into pants once it resets.
Hopefully they have some relaxed fit styles that fit my fat thighs lol
I was surprised, but probably not in the way you mean. I've never been to Lululemon even though there is a store in walking distance. There is currently an offer on my (Canadian) AmEx for $50 off $100 purchase, so I took a look at their website, but then decided that even with $50 off ($150 pants become $100 pants) it wasn't a great deal.
Lululemon ABC 5 pocket pant
I hated on athleisure for years until my sister bought me a pair. I honestly don't know how I flew without them in the years before. Perfect blend of comfort and class.
Class. Yeah, low class.
Ok Mister "guy in Trump's gov't who wants everyone in suits" (I can't even be bothered to remember his name)
Lululemon pants are infinitely "classier" than what 90% of the modern day traveling public shows up to fly in
"since having (at least) one clean pair per day is nice; some might say that’s an overkill"
Those people are nasty.
Depending on the trip, I'll use either the hotel or neighborhood laundry. For example, in London, there are neighborhood laundries that are even in-by-9, back-by-5.
I've found hotel washer/dryers in Japan to be too weak to handle a ton of cotton clothes.. I've had them sit in the drying cycle for 2-3 hours and still come out damp so I go to a nearby laundromat which is a lot quicker even with the time needed to walk there.
How are they in other parts of the world?
I remember watching your piece on ABCs Nightline with Bill Weir (now with CNN as a climate correspondent) (even stayed up for it actually) and one tip that stuck with me was wrapping your shoes with shower caps.
I just pack everything into plastic bags. Grouping clothes per bag and shoes separately of course. I can't watch people opening suit case and everything is randomly thrown in, including shoes.
Another tip I leaned from him was stuff extra socks in the shoes to save space. Very clever.
You can also put underwear in shoes as well.
I use gallon ziplock bags to store my socks and underwear, usually fits a week's worth and they can be somewhat compressed as well if you squeeze them as you zip it up.
I usually steal a laundry bag once I get to my first hotel to use as a dirty laundry bag till I can get to the laundromat or home depending on length of trip.
Have you not been made aware of the vast number of ‘technical’ fabric, clothing items available to the serious travellers?
Hot, cold or moderate weather conditions are all catered for by specialist clothing manufacturers.
Seek and be amazed.
Apologies Jinxed, the first half of my post above has failed to appear.
I was simply suggesting that you forget about cotton clothing in your holiday wardrobe and look for modern alternatives.
Savvy travellers binned cotton over three decades ago.
This is debatable. Plastic has so many fomulations, but one that feels and absorbs like cotton I have yet to see. The closest I have felt is the Uniqlo oversize "cotton" crew shirt, which is still half plastic, but is my go-to for its sturdiness, wrinkle resistance and good fit.
Try merino wool. No plastic. It’s as light as cotton so ideal for layering, is warmer, and copes much better with sweat.
While with Byron Pitts, I still remember a much earlier piece with Bill Weir. And yes, I stayed up past midnight to watch your piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPy38U3aSTs