Travel clothing presents us with many challenges.
We often come across questions such as:
What should I wear? How many clothes should I pack? What should I bring?
In addition to gear, packing for a trip can seem overwhelming at first, but using a few smart techniques can ease the stress.
When traveling, especially to another country, it is best to bring a few lightweight clothes that work for all types of situations – from city tours to exploring the countryside.
This article provides the basics of what to buy and how to pack your suitcase.
This will help you have a more enjoyable trip with much less stress before, during and after your trip.
See this article on how to travel with only carry-on luggage and save 50% on your ticket
First secret is to wear multi-purpose clothing.
The first secret to packing smart is to find a few key clothes pieces that you can wear practically anywhere and at any time of day.
To do this, your clothes should have a few characteristics.
Technical fabrics:
Breathable fabrics that absorb moisture, dry quickly and are easy to care for.
Use neutral colors:
Since space in your luggage is limited, take neutral colors – brown, black and khaki – especially for pants, shorts and skirts.
These colors go well with everything and for all occasions.
Less wrinkled:
Consider fabrics that wrinkle less.
This does not mean that they do not wrinkle, but the fact that they do wrinkle less reduces the need for ironing during the trip.
Neutral style:
The ideal when traveling to new cultures is to not stand out, because you never know what might cause disagreements.
In addition, it can prevent assault or violence.
Mainly for religious or moral reasons, women should avoid tight clothing or very short shorts and skirts.
This type of clothing may not be acceptable in some cultures or places.
These features are not essential, but they help a lot with your safety and health.
Pockets:
These come in especially handy. Your clothes have a few.
Here are some tips:
Shirt pockets: Ideal for tickets, sunglasses or other small items.
Pants and skirts: Some incorporate hidden pockets for passports or money, which can be more comfortable than wearing a separate money belt under your clothes.
Zippered: These offer better security against loss or theft than button closures.
Sun protection:
You are usually exposed to the sun a lot when traveling.
Wearing sun-protective clothing has an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating against UVA and UVB rays. Clothing with a UPF of 50 blocks 98% of UV rays.
Sun-protective clothing is rated from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent), and this protection never comes off or sweats.
And with that, you save on sunscreen in addition to protecting yourself much better with clothing than with creams.
Protection against insects:
Insects can be a real nuisance. Even worse, in some areas, such as countries with lots of forests, swamps, etc.
We have more diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Lyme disease, dengue fever, and malaria.
Some clothing lines, such as the ExOfficio® Insecto Shield collection, are treated with permethrin, an insecticide specifically designed for fabrics, to protect the skin from insects.
Effective against ticks, mosquitoes and dozens of other insects, permethrin has been used safely for decades and is recommended for use by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The second secret is to dress in layers.
One of the biggest factors that influence your trip is the weather.
When traveling internationally, this can be one of the most critical factors in the success of your trip.
Sometimes we are in summer and go to winter, other times we are in dry weather and go to rainy places.
Even if the change is not drastic, the weather can be unpredictable.
Consider my trip to Patagonia, where I left El Chalten with 25 degrees, then got rained on and even snowed in, and when I got back to the city it was very sunny, all in one day.
This tried and tested strategy allows you to regulate your comfort by putting on and taking off layers as your activity level or the weather changes.
How use layers:
To understand the layers of your outdoor clothing, you need to know the function of each layer:
Base Layer: Moisture Management
As the layer closest to the skin, the function of the base layer is to wick away perspiration from the skin.
This keeps the skin dry, regulating the temperature.
Middle layer: Insulation
The insulating layer helps trap heat radiated by your body. The more efficiently this layer traps heat, the warmer you will be and protected from the cold.
Outer layer: Protection from rain, wind, and snow.
Most jackets allow at least some sweat to escape (breathable).
Your outer shell is an important piece of gear in stormy weather, because if wind and water penetrate the inner layers, you can get very cold.
Even if you don’t wear all three layers right away, it’s always a good idea to bring all layers with you on every outing. You never know when you’ll need them.
Example of clothing by layer.
Outer protective layer: Jackets
In rainy weather, stay dry and comfortable with waterproof/breathable and water-resistant/breathable rain gear.
We have two tiers of waterproof/breathable jackets with laminates like Gore-Tex® or eVent® that are your best choices for a variety of climates and activities.
However, these jackets are more expensive than other rain gear.
Rain-resistant jackets with fabric linings offer a more affordable alternative, but they are less resistant to rain.
Water-resistant/breathable jackets repel wind and light rain, while still providing excellent breathability when you are active.
They are less bulky and less expensive than other waterproof jackets, but they are not designed for significant rain.
Mid-layer or insulator:
Pants/shorts/skirts/dresses
Shorts, skirts, and dresses are the obvious choice when traveling to a warm or tropical destination. But keep in mind that long pants provide better protection from the sun, bugs, and rain. And, as mentioned above, you may need to wear them for cultural reasons as well.
Convertible pants have legs that can be easily removed to convert into shorts. These are a great option for saving space.
Bermuda shorts.
Shirts/Blouses/Tops
These work well for traveling, especially in warm weather, because they wick away moisture to keep you cool.
It’s important to always have a long-sleeved option, even if you’re heading to a warm climate. As with long pants, a long-sleeved shirt will protect you from the sun, bugs, and rain. Some things to consider:
Dryfit T-shirts.
Always bring a hat/cap.
They protect your face from too much sun exposure, as well as your head. This prevents sunburn, as well as protecting you from skin cancer and other diseases.
Hats and caps
Base layer or undergarments: Underwear and socks
The same fabric rules apply to underwear and socks: a synthetic fabric is easier to care for than cotton, while merino wool products offer natural breathability and comfort.
When choosing socks, be aware that synthetic materials and wool can help prevent blisters and keep your feet drier than cotton socks.
Third secret is not to take anything you won't use.
Ideally, you should plan for a week, and if you’re going to be there for two weeks, you can double that.
However, if you’re going to be there for more than two weeks, consider washing your clothes.
I like to use the 1-2-3-4-5-6 ratio when packing:
1 hat, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 pairs of pants or skirts, 4 shirts/blouses, 5 pairs of socks, and 6 sets of underwear.
If you have something special planned, just add it to your suitcase.
Since the weather is hard to predict when you’re traveling for three weeks or more, layering can solve this problem.
Now that you know how to choose your travel clothes and are looking for what to buy, you’ll come across a ton of different types and technologies, and you’ll be wondering what’s best.
Below is a brief summary comparing the main fabrics available.
Fabrics should breathe well, wick moisture away from the skin, and dry quickly.
Cotton, while suitable for casual wear, is generally less travel-friendly than the fabrics listed below.
Your top choices:
Nylon and polyester:
Most performance fabrics feature either of these synthetic materials.
Some popular brands include CoolMax® polyester or Cordura® nylon.
Pros: Breathable, lightweight, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and resistant to pilling and abrasion.
Cons: Slightly less comfortable feel than cotton.
Tencel® and polynesian rayon:
Tencel is a brand of lyocell, a wood pulp-based fiber that is part of the rayon family. Tencel and polynesian rayons offer similar drape and comfort, plus machine wash/dry convenience.
Pros: Soft, silky feel, dries quickly, and resists wrinkles; Tencel is made using an environmentally friendly process.
Cons: Doesn’t wick moisture as well as polyester or nylon.
Silk:
Luxuriously soft, most commonly used for underwear.
Pros: Lightweight, breathable, durable—ideal for warm climates.
Cons: Less durable than other materials.
Cotton:
This is commonly used for casual, versatile styles.
Pros: Soft, durable, breathable, versatile, and easy to care for
Cons: Doesn’t wick moisture or dry as quickly as nylon or polyester
Cotton/polyester blend:
Another common fabrication for casual wear, this blend aims to provide comfort and performance.
Pros: Soft on the skin, breathable
Cons: Doesn’t wick moisture or dry as quickly as 100% nylon or polyester
Plated Fabrics:
“Plated” refers to garments with one fabric (e.g., cotton) on the outside, lined with another type of fabric (e.g., polyester) against the skin.
This approach is designed to offer the best attributes of both fabrics.
