Packing wisely is every travel veteran’s secret to having a
fantastic trip. The most crucial part of packing well is the clothes you bring.
Your clothing will likely take up most of the space in your bags, so getting
decisions on what clothes to pack right is crucial. Check out these seven rules
from Rory Brown, Charleston Lifestyle
Blogger, for clothing packing when traveling.
1. Pack light. You hardly ever hear a traveler say they wish they had
brought heavier luggage. Large, bulky bags are inconvenient
at best, and trip-ruining nightmares at worst. Make sure all your clothing is
lightweight. Skip the heavy jacket and winter hat unless traveling to a very
cold destination. Minimize space used by rolling or folding clothes as tightly
as possible.
2. Stick with the
basics. Don’t overlook the essential
clothing items. Whatever other clothes you may choose to pack, you will certainly
need to pack shoes, underwear, socks, pants, and shirts. On the flip side, skip
out on items you can go without, even if they are a regular part of your
wardrobe at home.
3. Bring only a
few of each clothing item. Since you want
to pack light, you can’t bring along too much. Get used to the idea of wearing
the same few outfits again and again. Two, or at most three pairs of pants and
three to five shirts or blouses, are enough. For underwear and socks, five
pairs will do. These rules apply even for trips that extend for weeks or
months. Plan on washing your clothes on the road; this approach is much easier
than hauling around too much clothing.
4. Bring layers. The weather is unpredictable, just about everywhere in the
world. Unless you are traveling in the middle of summer or to a tropical
destination, you should be prepared to face chilly temperatures. Since space is
limited, you want to leave heavy winter gear at home if at all possible.
Instead, bring
layers and put on more clothing when temperatures drop.
5. Choose the
right shoes. Which shoes you bring will
probably be your most impactful packing choice, as most trips involve lots of
standing and walking. There is no need to waste space by bringing along more
than one pair of shoes. Make your single pair of comfortable walking shoes.
You’ll be happier if you opt for comfort over fashion. Just be sure not to wear
shoes you just bought — they might prove to cause discomfort.
6. Wear your
bulkiest clothes on the plane. Airlines
strictly limit how much you can bring on your travels by placing restrictions
on carry-ons and checked bags. A smart way to partially work around this is to
bring your bulkiest items on your person. For example, wear your jacket (if you
must bring it) and thickest pants during your flight.
7. Consider a
money belt. A money belt is an item of
clothing you would never wear at home, but it can make sense when traveling. A
money belt is a belt worn under your clothes in which you store valuables such
as your passport and credit cards (daily spending money can be left in your
pockets). While wearing a money belt can feel like a needless precaution, many
popular travel spots (especially overseas) are rife with petty crime. A money
belt offers peace of mind and the assurance a pickpocket won’t completely ruin
your trip.
Planning out what clothing to bring isn’t the most exciting
part of trip planning. The restrictions naturally placed on your wardrobe by
travel is certainly annoying as well. Nonetheless, getting this part of your
travel preparations right is critical to having a great travel experience.
Author Bio
Rory
Brown began living abroad after living in the US for 40 years and realizing
he wanted to focus on his quality of life. After adjusting his priorities
Rory has lived in Italy, Australia, South Carolina and Hawaii. Rory has earned
a name for himself in the farm-to-table community due to his love for healthy
food and holds local traditions, trying to stay away from unhealthy foods.
Rory has recently put an emphasis on lifestyle
choices that put health first after beginning his career in the tech
world. His witty writings documenting his well-rounded lifestyle have
recently begun to be more focused on getting the most out of life during his
time on this earth.