Packing Tips – Clothes make the Traveler (my favorite travel clothing)
- December 31st 2007
- Uncategorized
Ok, so some people have asked me about what I pack when I travel. Over the years this has gotten very reduced, especially since I discovered the ‘closet system’ for use at home. Having less to choose from when packing means that I have fewer temptations to over-pack. Here are the clothes (and the reasoning behind them) that I take, literally, on every trip. I think my family that I travel to see thinks I don’t own anything else but this list is just so all-purpose and fills all potential needs that I never pack anything else. Of course you probably don’t have the same body type as I do so pack accordingly.
5 pairs silk underwear, various colors – it took me a while to build up this collection because buying silk underwear is expensive. Since I don’t like non-natural fabrics I had to switch from my former polyester, but I was glad I did because silk breaths much better. Cotton also work alright, but it doesn’t dry out as quickly or pack as small for longer-term trips. BTW, I ALWAYS bring 5 pairs, whether I’m going for 4 days or 4 weeks. I find that on shorter trips having extra underwear is handy for keeping myself feeling refreshed because short trips are usually exghausting. On longer trips, underwear can easily be washed in the sink and dried in your room as needed.
3 bras – I’m small-chested as these things go and when traveling frequently just wear a tight-fitting camisole. Only in the US are people addicted to regular bra wearing by all shapes of women as part of society, I usually have no problem getting by with just 3 bras and giving myself some time off. My larger chested friends always bring 7 and my flat chested friends only bring one. Go with what works best for you. I only like cotton-blend bras, with underwires and padding, which take FOREVER to dry but my friends swear by non-padded bras for travel.
Two camisoles, cotton stretch blend – to act the part of a bra when needed. I never travel with tank tops but when I was in
1 grey calf-length skirt – the grey goes with any color, the calf length is good for hot or cold weather. If you’re a woman, always bring a skirt with you when traveling, some places require it for sightseeing. For example, you MUST have a skirt on to go into the
2 pairs jeans, stretch – the stretch mean that the jeans will usually be thinner material and more comfortable for long pain or train rides. I choose slightly boot-cut so that they will fit over any types of shoes. Dark jeans don’t need as frequent of washing to still look their best, which is ideal.
2 T-shirts – Sometimes I take fitted tees, sometimes just standard t-shirts, depending on my mood. Never take a shirt with Americanized Japanese writing to
3 blouses – Nicer than t-shirts, these can be used with jeans or skirt to dress up or down for any occasion from a fancy dinner to sightseeing around town. I bring one black, one brown and one black.
1 brown, one black sweater – For dressing up or warming up. I usually bring one that has a high neck if I’m traveling somewhere cold.
Tennis shoes or boots – if I’m going to a warm climate, I take tennis shoes. If I’m going to a colder climate or planning on hiking I take boots. I never, never, never take both. It gets too heavy.
Ballet slipper black flats – cute with jeans for clubbing, comfortable with sweats for around the hostel, acceptable with skirt for dressing up.
Birkenstocks – I always travel in these, mule types if I’m traveling in winter or sandal type if I’m traveling in the summer. I live in Birkenstocks anyway (yay hippies!!!) but for travel they’re great because their cork soles make them lighter and yet sturdier than most other sandals.
5 pair technical running socks – I discovered these when training for the Nike Women’s
Sweat pants & shirt – for sleeping in and for warming up with.
Technical wind ‘shell’ jacket – Mine is by Mountain Gear. These types of jackets are made for winter biking or running and are warm windbreakers that are not bulky. I am frequently more warm during
That’s it. Sometimes I travel with less, yet I don’t think I’ll ever get down to the level that Dave has for his around-the-world trip.
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