Packing for a Trip: Clothes for the Road

Packing for a trip can be overwhelming. People use different methods to pack. For a long time, I simply threw all my favorite things into a suitcase and called it done. This often meant I forgot something useful and ended up home without wearing half my clothes. 

Now, I’ve learned to be strategic and pack light. Unless your next trip involves a long stay, I recommend you develop a plan like mine.

1. When packing for a trip, pack for a set number of days and plan to do laundry.

Know where you’re going, the climate and how often you will be able to or want to do laundry. If you’re traveling for a month, bring clothes for no more than 10 days and do laundry twice. In some places, you may be able to drop off or send out your clothes at a low cost. If not, you can still wash your clothes yourself.

Before you leave, fill up a travel-sized bottle with laundry detergent and bring it with you. You can wash your clothes in a bathroom and hang them up there, over chairs or an a balcony to dry, if that’s appropriate.

2. Pack what is suitable for the culture you’re heading to.

Are you going somewhere primarily Muslim? If so, it’s probably unwise to pack shorts for your trip, and this may be true for both men and women. In many places, wearing tight or revealing clothing can be seen as promiscuous and offensive. Dressing appropriately shows love and respect to your host culture and helps avoid creating unnecessary barriers to friendships. You may still notice others (especially Westerners) dress in clothing that’s on the culture’s or religion’s no-go list, but those choices might close doors.

3. Plan your outfits ahead of time.

I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it is to plan what to wear ahead of time. By preparing in advance, you’ll realize you can pack less and still have plenty of clothing.

4. Pack matching or neutral colors.

When I travel, I almost always pack neutral colors—black, gray, white and beige. Then I add something in another color that I know will match all my outfits. Think of it as a capsule wardrobe.

Make sure every top you bring can be paired with every bottom you pack. This is essential for creating a variety of outfits from just a few pieces.

5. Make and stick to a packing list

If you’re traveling with a group, they might provide you with a packing list. If not, here’s a typical seven-day trip packing list. I often find it comfortable to wear pants multiple times before washing and sometimes wear tops more than once as well. 

• 2-3 options for bottoms (leggings, joggers, slacks, linen pants, or jeans)
• 1-2 comfortable dresses that can be worn over pants if necessary
• 1 scarf
• 3-4 tops (I tend toward looser, more comfortable tops)
• 2-3 shoes (sneakers, a good pair of walking sandals and one extra pair if you think it’s necessary)
• 1 cardigan, light jacket or sweater
• 7-9 pairs of underwear

It’s well worth taking the time to plan your travel wardrobe. Once you do it once or twice, you’ll become a packing pro and know exactly what to pack for any trip.