Being a snappy dresser can be a hazard for travelers who want to pack light. Fortunately, “Unfashionable” is my middle name.
You will see plenty of articles, blog post, YouTube videos, and TikToks along the lines of “How to pack light and still look great!” Well, I look fine, but I certainly don’t look great — never have, never will. When I find a shirt that I like, I buy three of them, in subtly different plaid patterns, and wear them until holes appear…and sometimes well beyond. Ditto for jeans. And shoes. And sweaters. My clothes have never enjoyed the caress of a hot iron — if it wrinkles, just shake it out and hang it in the bathroom while you’re in the shower. Hey presto! Fewer wrinkles. An acceptable number of wrinkles.
While I’m full of travel tips, where fashion is concerned I’m something of an “anti-influencer.” So instead, this is a post about how to pack light and practical, and how to be comfortable on the road, without embarrassing yourself. Yes, I am fully owning my male privilege of being able to get away with dressing like a borderline-slob. And, with apologies to nobody, here are some packing tips for my fellow borderline-slobs. (You know who you are.)
What to Wear
Years ago (in high school, probably), I accepted the immutable fact that being “stylish” is forever beyond my reach. But my goal when traveling — and back home — is to be comfortable, practical, and respectful in my dress. While I’m far from “dressy,” I rarely wear T-shirts, cargo shorts, baseball caps, or flip-flops around Europe (except at the beach). Instead, I aim to thread the needle: dress presentably, yet without needing to carry a garment bag and travel iron.
The first rule of travel packing, for anyone: Favor dark colors made of breathable fabrics (cotton or cotton blend). I typically travel with three or four short-sleeve button-down shirts; a couple of lightweight T-shirts (mainly for sleeping, hiking, hitting the beach, or to wear on laundry day); a couple of pairs of jeans or lightweight pants, plus (depending on the weather) a pair or two of shorts; a swimsuit, if I’ll be doing lots of swimming; a lightweight sweater; a puffy vest; a lightweight raincoat; a half-dozen pairs each of socks and underwear; and one very comfortable, very well broken-in pair of shoes. And that’s it. That’s all I take when I go to Europe — for anywhere from four to eight weeks per trip.
The secret for getting by with so few clothes? Doing laundry often. I do a little washing in my hotel-room sink every few days. In most European climates, if you wring out wet clothes really well, then hang them carefully, they’ll be dry by morning. (Pro tip: I wring out wet clothes wrapped in a towel to wick out the most possible moisture, and to create less of a drippy mess.) If your room has a radiator to drape things over — or, even better, one of those nice, heated towel-drying racks in the bathroom — you can get drying time down to just a few hours.
About every week to 10 days, I visit a laundromat, or, if I’m feeling flush, I pay for laundry service. (Another pro tip: If your hotel washes laundry by weight or by the load, it’s probably a decent value. But, unless you’re desperate, avoid those that charge by the piece — or you’ll pay a buck or two to launder each pair of socks or underwear, and even more for shirts and pants. It adds up.) Often, I scout ahead of time to figure out which upcoming hotel has laundry service, or a nearby laundromat, and save up my dirty clothes for that happy day.
I like short-sleeve, collared, button-down shirts, which are breathable and versatile. (Polo shirts work well, too.) While not exactly “dressy,” the collar helps me feel a little more dignified — especially in more formal settings, like a hoity-toity theater performance or a nice restaurant. I also pack a nice, relatively lightweight, dark-colored sweater, which instantly classes up my whole ensemble.
Jeans go with everything. So do black or dark-grey chinos, and beige or black shorts. Most of my bottoms fall into one of those three categories.
What about those travel pants that you can turn into shorts by zipping off the legs? Personally, those are not my style. In general, I don’t take any “travel clothes.” I used to own a few “travel shirts” and “travel pants” (Ex Officio is one good brand). But I found them very expensive and too clever by half — they really look like travel clothes, with weird hidden pockets, mysterious gussets, and cumbersome sweat vents. Everything I take to Europe is something I’d wear in my everyday life back home. That way, I know it’s well broken-in, and I look a little less like a tourist.
One of my favorites recently are Eddie Bauer’s Horizon Guide Chino Pants. These are much lighter than jeans, so they’re better for warmer climates. Unlike “travel pants,” they look more or less like regular chinos, but the material is stretchier — making them more comfortable and reducing wrinkles. I find them ideal for everything from climbing a mountain to going to a nice dinner.
You may be asking: Is it really OK to wear shorts in Europe? Won’t the Europeans know I’m an American? I have some shocking news for you: Europeans already know you are American. You could go to a stylish boutique in Europe and have them dress you from head to toe, and the second you walk out the door, everyone you pass will instantly know you’re an American. It’s not just about how we dress; it’s about how we carry ourselves. You’re not fooling anyone. (Fortunately, Europeans like Americans and won’t think less of you for being one.)
That said, there are some cultures — for example, Italy, especially in the cities — where grown men who wear shorts look silly. It’s not “offensive” or “insensitive,” exactly. Just…a little strange. (These cultures think of shorts as something exclusively for children, or for the beach.)
For comparison, think about those breezy, shin-high capri pants that men wear proudly in many northern European countries. If you saw a guy in the USA walking around wearing those, you wouldn’t think, “Wow, what a FREAK!” or “Well, I never! How RUDE!” No, most people would probably think more along the lines of, “Huh, that’s a bit unusual. Don’t see that every day.” And then — unless they’re total jerks — they’d just shrug and go about their business. Well, that’s how you look to the locals when you wear shorts in southern Europe. Non-jerks might give you a second glance, jerks might snicker and point, but at the end of the day, it’s all pretty harmless. I find most Europeans are pretty live-and-let-live.
On the shorts issue, the question is, what’s more important to you: being comfortable or not looking silly? This is a sliding scale, which is calibrated against the current temperature. If it’s very hot, I’ll wear shorts even in places where it’s very silly. If it’s only moderately hot, I’ll err on the side of long pants in most places. But if I’m in a country up north where grown men wear shorts without apology or remorse — where, in fact, shorts are merely a gateway to those stylin’ and, I must admit, enticingly comfortable-looking capri pants — well, in those places, you can barely keep me from wearing shorts.
(One more shorts caveat: Seasoned travelers know that in some Catholic countries — Spain and Italy in particular — some churches deny entry to men who are wearing shorts. Of course, these also happen to be some of the hottest parts of Europe. If I know I’ll be going inside a major church where this is an issue, I make a point to wear long pants even when it’s sweltering…grumbling the whole time. You can do a little homework — on the church’s website, or in the Rick Steves guidebooks — to figure out places where this could be a factor.)
Let’s talk about unmentionables. A couple of years ago, I kept reading about amazing travel underwear that were super-lightweight, super-comfortable, super-breathable, and super-easy to wash in the sink. I bought a few pairs from different companies to test-drive them. And after a couple of these test trips, I just went back to my reliable old Hanes cotton boxers — which, it turns out, were plenty comfortable, lightweight, and breathable to begin with. You can spend a lot of money on high-tech globetrotting undies. But I wouldn’t.
I bring along swim trunks only when I know I’ll be doing a lot of swimming. Otherwise, I don’t bother. In the event of an unexpected swimming opportunity, the shorts I travel with are lightweight and fast-drying, and can double as swim trunks in a pinch.
Wait, hold up: Did I say that I take only one pair of shoes? For a month or longer?! Yes, absolutely. The critical thing here is that it must be a super-comfortable, extremely well-broken-in pair of shoes. Do NOT buy a new pair of shoes a couple of weeks before going to Europe, wear them around the block and to the office a few times, and then convince yourself, “Meh, they’re probably fine.” Because they may not be fine…and you may be miserably blistered a few days in. (I live to tell.) Don’t underestimate how much more you’ll walk in Europe than you do in your everyday life. Be ready for it.
My preferred footwear falls in the category of “walking shoes”: low-profile, brown-leather, substantially-soled shoes that are more comfortable than dress shoes, yet more presentable than hiking or jogging shoes. Again, the perfect shoe is equally suitable for climbing a mountain as it is for going to a nice dinner (though, admittedly, it’s not quite ideal for either).
Two examples that I’ve personally enjoyed wearing on multiple trips to Europe are the more loafer-ish Keen Boston II (which, sadly, they don’t make anymore, but the Keen Austin is similar); and the more hiker-ish Merrell Moab Adventure. I find the Keens more comfortable all-around shoes, but I appreciate the sturdiness and waterproofing on the Merrells — especially if I know I’ll be in rainy climates. Of course, each foot is different, and these are just a couple of ideas — find ones that suit your feet and your needs.
By the way, if I know I’m going somewhere warm and beachy, I do sometimes take a second pair of something lightweight, just to give my feet a break. Sometimes that means flip-flops, other times my trusty Birkenstock Milanos (which I’ve been wearing since high school — I’m on about my tenth pair — and which remain timelessly stylish in Germany, even as they’re precisely the opposite stateside). More recently I purchased a pair of Allbirds Tree Runners, which are more fashionable and comfortable than my sandals.
Finally, I pack along a puffy vest and a lightweight, waterproof (Gore-Tex) raincoat — both in low-profile, dark colors. These two top layers, combined with that sweater I mentioned earlier, are incredibly versatile; when used in combination, they’re suitable for almost any climate.
With all of that in mind, the key to smart packing — for borderline-slobs and fashionistas alike — comes down to one thing: layers. I’ve had itineraries that included both blazing Sicily and frigid Iceland, in the same multi-week trip. I wear many of the same items in both places. When it’s cold, rather than throw on a huge parka that takes up a ton of space in my bag, I layer up: T-shirt, then short-sleeve button-down shirt, then sweater, then vest, then raincoat. If I know I’ll be in cold climates, I’ll pack along a super-lightweight Merino wool beanie. Worn together, all of this keeps me plenty warm — even that time I ran into an early-October blizzard in Iceland.
How to Pack
OK, so you’ve got your clothes figured out. Now it’s time to pack your bag. I fit everything, easily, into a carry-on-the-plane size bag. For many, many years, I used the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-On — and Rick still does. You can’t beat it for the price. A few years back I decided to try something new and stepped up to the Seattle-made Tom Bihn Aeornaut 45, which is approximately the same size, three times the price, and has a compartment configuration that works better for my needs. (Honestly, unless you travel four months a year like I do, or are made of money, the Rick Steves bag is all you need.)
I’m a big believer in using packing cubes, which keep things well-organized and easy to pack. I have one packing cube for my jeans, pants, and shorts; another for my socks, underwear, and T-shirts; and another for all of the travel accessories and little odds and ends that I never go to Europe without. (But that’s a topic for another blog post. In fact, here it is!)
To keep my button-down shirts and sweater as unwrinkled and spiffy-looking as is reasonable to expect for an unfashionable male, I fold them and stack them carefully in a Pack-It Garment Folder from Eagle Creek.
The garment folder lies flat in the bottom of my bag, and on top of it I stack my packing cubes and my toiletries kit. Engineers love the feeling of sliding their packing cubes into their bag, like a game of Tetris. It’s so much more satisfying than a bag filled with balled-up, loose articles of clothing.
For liquids, I really love the Go Toob bottles by Humangear. One bottle’s worth of shampoo or laundry detergent will last me for several weeks. After a few incidents of leakage (usually with other types of bottles), just to be on the safe side, I zip each bottle into a “snack”-size plastic baggie before I get on the plane.
I also carry a day bag that contains my laptop and my big camera. But most travelers — going for vacation rather than work, like me — may not even need that. I often carry a Civita Day Pack or similar small, lightweight bag for the airplane, and for hiking and sightseeing. When I’m not using the day bag, it’s small enough to flatten out and squeeze in the bottom of my big bag — I don’t even know it’s there.
And that’s about it: my method for being comfortable and, if not stylishly, at least adequately clothed while traveling for weeks at a time in Europe.
What about you? Any suggestions, favorite clothing items, or other travel tips I’ve missed?
Affiliate disclosure: I do not receive one single penny, or any free products, for any of the items I mention in this post. I paid for them all myself! My sole incentive in writing this post is helping my fellow unfashionable males pack that much smarter.
To find out what’s in that little packing cube of travel gizmos and accessories, check out my list of 10 Little Things I Won’t Go to Europe Without. And while you’re at it, here are five more pack-along items, related to electronics.
For more travel inspiration, check out my list of 10 Europe Travel Hacks — and its follow-up, the creatively named 10 MORE Europe Travel Hacks.
If you are not an unfashionable male…well, first of all, why on earth did you read this far? But if that is the case, there’s lots of other, more stylish packing advice on our website. Check out Rick’s Packing List, and his philosophy for packing light.
Do you have a recommendation for a hat instead of a baseball cap to protect your head from sunburn? I have to wear a hat outside per my dermatologist. I usually wear a baseball cap and some locals have made fun of that. In Europe I see very few men wearing hats. Those wearing hats are usually Americans wearing baseball caps.
A light weight Tilley hat. Can be folded and it is water resistant.
Good idea. Thanks.
Absolutely!.
This summer we saw lots of young people in Scandinavia wearing bucket-style hats. A lightweight one of those should fold up nicely in a bag!
Speaking as a dermatologist, I recommend a wide brim hat which is SPF rated. A softish compressible one is easy to pack. Such a hat will give good sun protection for your face, ears, and neck. While once hard to find, many companies now sell these, including Coolibar online.
I have packed brimmed hats for years—one leather and a summer mesh one. They fold flat and travel well. I, too, appreciate the sun protection they offer.
Not sure what’s on your baseball hat but bring a NY Yankees hat. Not because you are a fan, but I’ve seen people all over the world wear that team on their heads even though they may not know anything about baseball or the Yankees. Of course, if you are from Boston or Baltimore, you’ll need to find an alternative.
Wallaroo brand hats. They have sun protection built in also
Gary, I like my Tilley hat. Light weight. Crushable to a degree. Wide brim protects my face, ears, and neck from sun and keeps rain off my glasses. More stylish than I deserve.
I keep a cheap Home Depot carabiner clipped to the grab handle on the top of my day pack. If I’m going into a building where wearing a hat isn’t appropriate, I clip the chin string from my hat into the carabiner and hang my hat on the day pack.
GarryI like my Tilley hat. Light weight. Crushable to a degree. Wide brim protects my face, ears, and neck from sun and keeps rain off my glasses. More stylish than I deserve.
I keep a cheap Home Depot carabiner clipped to the grab handle on the top of my day pack. If I’m going into a building where wearing a hat isn’t appropriate, I clip the chin string from my hat into the carabiner and hang my hat on the day pack.
Costco sells a Sunday that packs flat for travel and is fashionable for both men and women. Washable too. Same as the Tilley hat for way less $$$
There are many names for them, but I have purchased several hats that protect my head from the sun: they include – Stetson’s Men’s Ivy Cap, Newsboy Flat Cap, Men’s Driver Cap, Boston Scully Cap, Irish Wool Flat Cap (Blue Herringbone), Wool Tweed Ivy Cap and Beret Flat Newsboy. Whatever they are called, I bought one cap in Paris and another in Amstetdam at a Men’s clothing store.
Tilley hat. Have had several and worn for over 30 years. The lates one, with the “airflow” crown is the coolest, I.e keeping one cooler.
Thanks so much Cameron – very practical tips. We just returned from England and are going to Amsterdam later this fall. Very helpful for a fellow unfashionable male. :)
Cameron, when you wright ‘I typically travel with three … short-sleeve button-down shirts’ does that include the shirt you are wearing? i.e. wear one pack two.
We opt for all dark underwear, socks, pants and shirts so they can be washed together.
Any suggestions for the colder parts of Fall and the winter? I know, I know…only travel in the warmer weather!
I only travel in November. Fall leaves are beautiful, the air is crisp and makes you feel more alive. Tourists are gone, lines to museums and popular places are minimal if at all, and you live more like the locals. I layer, wearing a light, thin, down jacket under a thin synthetic, travel sport coat, all under a nice looking, dark colored rain shell, which can be compressed to fit in my day backpack, which is small and light. If I forecast the need for more warmth during the day, I carry a thin wool sweater in the same backpack. I remain warm, protected from wind and rain should weather turn colder. Except for the down jacket, I only wear synthetics, including underwear, and any wool that I bring, from my sweater to wool socks, can be washed in a sink. I’m a cyclist so I own many thin underlayer wool undershirts and quarter zip shirts. I hate being cold so I am never cold. There is a saying: there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. The Christmas market/carnival near the Louvre in Paris serves hot, mulled wine and all sorts of wonderful foods. Hot meals in cafes are more enjoyable in cooler weather. I prefer traveling in cooler weather.
When traveling, I always hang my clothes up overnight after wearing them rather than accumulating them in a pile. This allows any moisture to dry out and minimize bacteria from creating odor in the clothes. Also, if possible, lightly spray the clothing areas that are more sweaty with a watered down vodka (50/50) in a small spray bottle. This works to kill the bacteria and does not damage clothes. You may be able to wear your shirts twice between washings with this approach.
I learned recently that 50/50 water vodka spray is exactly what is used for costumes in the theater that are worn often every day and sometimes twice a day!
If it works for them most days, it certainly should work for a travelers too.
Carry a very small spritz bottle, hang a wrinkled item of clothing, spritz with water, let hang until dry, and – voila – no wrinkles. After washing and rinsing clothes in a sink, do a second rinse by rubbing a strip of a fabric softener sheet in the rinse water to decrease wrinkles in cotton clothing.
For cooler mornings and evenings, black long-underwear tops (I prefer LLBean) under a shirt works well and, when it warms up, remove the shirt and use the long-underwear top as a t-shirt. Layer, layer, layer
Birkenstocks don’t work in Portugal where the ubiquitous marble sidewalks are too slippery! Had to switch to Keen sandals to keep from sliding down a hill.
My wife and I often go to dressy dinners, concerts and operas while traveling in Europe. While she can pack a silky dress with no problem, I find that a blazer or sport coat takes up a lot of room in the suitcase, never mind a suit. Any solutions?
Yes, your sport coat is what you wear on the plane, no matter how warm it is.
Hi! I know this is a couple years later, but have you looked at the Eddie Bauer travel clothing? They have lightweight but very attractive and classic travel blazers (and lots of other great travel clothes, including dresses for your wife), with lots of secure pockets. Look at their “Ultimate Voyager Travel Blazer”. They were just on sale at half price, and I bought one in charcoal grey and one in black. Not bulky, and still good looking…
I travel full time using a carry-on rollerboard (Travel Pro)and backpack (Osprey). Space is key, although weight is equally important.
A few other considerations:
Shirts – Merino Wool shirts. Unbound and Smartwool are excellent brands. Sustainable, antibacterial, moisture wicking, use as a base layer and easily washable. Plus they don’t wrinkle and pack extremely tight
Pants – Lululemon ABC and Arcteryx Gamma LT. Both have excellent repair/replacement, breathable, wrinkle free and look sharper than jeans or chinos.
Underwear and Socks – Smartwool for the same reasons mentioned above
The problem with cotton is it easily wrinkles, heavy, maintains moisture/odor and is slow to dry
For laundry detergent consider Tru Earth strips. Eliminates a liquid carry-on and takes up the space/weight of a sheet of paper.
Hey Rick! I just want to let you know how much I enjoy the Convertible Bag, which is the only luggage I bring no matter how long or short a trip (except for a briefcase on business trips). Instead of packing cubes, though, I fill it out with a collapsible hanging compression shelf:
https://kk.org/cooltools/valet-luggage-compression-shelves/
It has compartments to fit socks, underwear, shirts and pants. Shoes, odds and ends fit in the bag’s pockets or around the edges. I always enjoy the looks on my hosts’ faces when I pull out the shelf and hang it in the guest closet–unpacking done!
I struggle with what to pack for my husband, so thank you – this is helpful. He also loves his shorts.
Stop struggling. Let him pack for himself.
Would a thicker, wool/tweed style ball cap worn in December in Switzerland still scream, “I am an American!”?
Is a ball cap a ball cap to Europeans?
It’s not unusual to see Europeans wear ball caps, although they would not know it by that name.
Have you tried a nice wool tweed flat cap? My husband wears one in cooler months as do many European men.
I always love Cameron’s blogs. We have lived in France since 2008, coming from Southern California. I would say that the best thing for comfort in 3 out of 4 seasons is a scarf, the only thing I would add to his excellent advice.
My husband and I travel to Europe in the fall.
We encounter rain frequently and found denim jeans are a
poor choice- they take forever to dry, also add a lot of bulk and weight to the carryon we use for a 2 week trip. Best to use synthetic
fabrics that can be washed in a sink, and can dry overnight.
We take one extra pair of shoes that are lightweight too and waterproof. Ecco and Merrell have good comfortable waterproof shoes.
We’ve decided, after several days of heavy intermittent showers in England, that a short, waist length rain jacket is not the best choice. It’s great for windy days on the ferry or early strolls in the park, but you’ll be soaked from the belt line down in more than spritzing rain.
We now use the LL Bean thigh length jacket or even the calf length 50” raincoats which only seem to be available in Europe.
clothes – I found two tee shirts for an upcoming trip – Eddie Bauer, polyester/spandex, I ordered online – NO WRINKLES! Also, if you take socks that have some polyester, they dry fast overnight. Happy travels! Greece, here I come!
Many European airlines have size and weight restrictions on carry on luggage that are less than US based airlines. Air France in particular has spotters at gates looking for overweight or larger carryons and have scale and size tools to verify. Are you able to fit all in your carry on and meet those requirements?
I swear by polypro shirts socks, and underwear (which I buy mainly from REI). In a July trip to Switzerland I packed 3 polo shirts and 3 t-shirts. They dry fast when washed in the room or at a laundromat (hence no need to use a dryer there). I learned that you can roll the shirts and they come out of your suitcase wrinkle-free. I hear that’s an old military trick although that’s not where I learned it. I also took only one pair of shoes which were waterproof trail running shoes; I figured if they got wet they would dry overnight in my room (but fortunately the weather gods smiled on us and the trails were dry). Also, while in Switzerland most people were wearing shorts, something I forgot to pack and regretted it, although I wore my nylon pants the entire time and was quite comfortable.
You recommend 3 or 4 shirts with collars. Do you take undershirts to wear with those? If so what kind of undershirts do you recommend?
Great suggestions as always, Cameron.
Other thoughts:
Tilley hat has good SPF protection and can be packed with socks to maintain its shape.
Even though you don’t like travel shirts, Little Donkey Andy has some excellent short sleeve shirts, vented, water repelling, essentially wrinkle free, odor resistant, with zip pockets under the button-down breast pockets ideal for safe carrying of a cell phone and daily cash or credit cards.
Clothing Arts has really good travel pants, comfortable material, option to buy ones that convert to shorts and they are over the top when it comes to secure pockets. No need to wear an awkward and uncomfortable money belt with these pants.
Clothing Arts also has long sleeve travel shirts, not very stylish, but functional. Recently hard to get with supply chain issues.
Finally, Columbia has their OutDry Ex II Reversible Jacket (which runs a little small) and is waterproof (not requiring occasional environmentally unfriendly treatment as with GoreTex). The fact that it is reversible allows for a potentially more stylish option. Since I found that their medium size was a little small on me, getting their large (which is not too large, but a little more roomy) allows for wearing a layer or two, like a puffy, underneath.
I mostly use the Rick Steves Rolling Carry Case to avoid lost luggage and/or waits at the luggage carousel. Also forces me to pack light. But with any carry on luggage be aware that, besides limitations in dimensions, many European carriers have an 8 kg weight limit, which might be randomly enforced.
For laundering travel clothes: we bring the Rick Steve’s microfiber towels to get extra moisture out of sink laundry, in addition to our hotel towels. They drive quickly. And then we have them for the pool, picnic, or beach if needed. We also like a product called WashEZE; dry laundry sheets (we buy online). We cut them into small squares before leaving – they DO NOT tear. Each square does a sink load. If we go to a laundromat we toss 4 squares in for a medium size load.
The best way to reduce laundry time and enjoy vacation. Each clothing item can be worn twice. Shirts, pants, underwear, socks. So you pack less clothes.
Family of 4 been to Europe twice for 3 weeks each time. Summertime so helps with clothing. I did get a bit of excellent advice from a friend who said that Stonehenge was the coldest place on Earth. June 22nd and she was right! We all packed Polartec jackets and were glad we did for the plane and sometimes coolish nights. I managed to pack so light I added a lightweight backpack-style suitcase to the bottom of my roll-on. Shopping in foreign countries can be so much fun. Adventures in new styles and sizes. On your way there you carry your luggage with you. On the way home it’s okay to check through and carry less on board. Outside the big cities, we rented a car so had space for the extra bag. I haven’t used a full-sized suitcase in nearly 20 years for any kind of trip. One of my children does as she travels with gifts at Christmas. She always has a carry-on with her with essentials she’ll need at the first destination just in case.
The other one is strictly carry-on even when we have to attend a wedding we manage. I always bring an extra pair of footwear, since my feet get tired and another pair of shoes ease the pain somehow. A big plus. When traveling I find and use laundromats in different cities. I find this a great time even when traveling in different cities in the States. Overseas you have to figure out how to use the money and machines. Another great way to meet locals and they never seem to mind. The same as I am always glad to help visitors to our City.
I take Scheels Outfitters Pursuit long sleeve shirts which have a garter so I can roll up the sleeves to make instant short sleeve shirt, they are made of polyester and wick away moisture, SPF 30. They are XL Tall since I’m 6-3. I found wearing cotton is too hot and long dry times.
I also take cargo pants with zip-off legs, again instant shorts which are a 75% polyester, 25% cotton, purchased at Costco. I like the convenience of storage for phone, coins, small guide book and snacks. Easy to wash and fast drying time.
I wear Brooks Ghost running shoes. Very lightweight with a good grip and broken in. Merrell closed toe sandals for the beach, pool or to give my feet a rest while on the bus.
My underwear and socks are Hanes and are made of polyester for comfort and drying time. Got them at Walmart.
While on the RS Eastern Europe tour this summer, many men were wearing shorts and capris. I was amazed at how many women were wearing dresses. My wife is taking lightweight dresses for our upcoming RS Greece tour.
My recommendation is to take clothes you find comfortable to wear and a bag that you feel comfortable carrying.
My husband and I travel in Europe for about 6 weeks every May/June. To keep things light, we bring only the shoes we are wearing PLUS a pair of well-made insoles that we change out often. That gives our feet (and hips) a new “feel,” prevents the same wear and tear on knees, and can be the cure for that blister or callous that keeps bothering your foot. It’s almost like having two pair of shoes.
Cameron. You said in your article, “I often carry a Civita Day Pack or similar small, lightweight bag for the airplane…”. Does this mean that you check your larger back pack, aka: Rick Steves Convertible Carry On, or does it still come on the airplane with you, along with the lightweight? With airlines cramming more electronics under the seats, making seats smaller and everyone trying to bring slightly oversize bags into the cabin, I have found it more difficult to bring my trusty Rick Steves pack sack onto the airplane. Especially if I am in one of the last groups to be seated. Thanks Cameron for all your packing tips and to any reply to this comment.
My husband and I travel for 4 to 6 weeks in 2 carryon suitcases and 2 underseat rolling bags. The suitcases, bought at Target, are 21″ hard sided rollaboards and open like a book. The 2 compartments are much easier to pack and to find things in than a single compartment case. I do not use packing cubes because I can get MUCH more in the suitcase without them. We used to carry everything aboard. Now that we are older we check the suitcases and divide our clothing between them so if one doesn’t make it on time we each have clothes to wear. We carry on the underseat bags which hold 2 changes of clothing, extra shoes, toiletries, iPads and a camera. We use a Rick Steves Civita bag to carry essentials while out and about during the days.
We both love cargo pants because of the multiple zippered pockets which keep things safe and easily available. They are also easy to wash in a sink, quick drying, are wrinkle free and pack in a quarter of the space of jeans and half the space of chinos. We like LLBean’s Comfort Trail, Cresta Hiking and Vista Camp pants. Long pants for him, long and cropped for me. Each of these nylon/spandex blend pants has flat cargo pockets and no articulated knees so the pants look more like chinos than bulging cargo pants. The spandex makes them very comfortable and wrinkle free even on a long plane ride. If we’re going to be in a cold climate like Iceland or Norway we add LLBean base layers and a puffer jacket and are quite warm. We favor fleece over sweaters because fleece packs down better, is easier to wash and the elbows don’t stretch out like a sweater’s will. We’ve found Smart Wool and Bombas socks work well in all climates.
I find that one of the most important parts of packing light is to use a list and stick to it. Make notes and tweak it for the next trip.
Cameron – You first say you prefer cotton/cotton blend clothing, but then you recommend Eddie Bauer pants that are NYLON – hot, hot hot!
For Linda: get some color grabber sheets for laundry. I learned about them on the Rick Steves forum and didn’t believe it, but you can wash blacks and whites together with no problem. Such a lifesaver!
For a day bag, consider the Patagonia Atom 8L crossbody. Extremely comfortable and secure. Can be worn in multiple positions (Front or Rear facing). Have never had to check at museums/sights.
Love your packing tips. You sound much like my husband fashion-wise, which is to say he really isn’t (fashion-wise)! But I like him to look decent, so shop for similar clothes to what you wear in which he feels comfortable, though he does wear some t-shirts, even when traveling in Europe. Thanks for being an ordinary guy and dressing accordingly. I must say, in the 7 Rick Steve tours I’ve been on, most of the men dress not that differently from you and my husband. Thanks for sharing!
You are all a bunch of silly wankers.
My husband (whose extra suitcase space I often steal) could have written this. He opts for polo shirts rather than short-sleeve button downs. And doesn’t pack heavy jeans—he has a pair of khakis for dress up and a pair of Norwegian outdoor pants for everyday. His go-to shoes are black skechers.
Because we’re avid cruisers, he packs 1 tie and buys an inexpensive blazer from a charity shop or on discount in the port we’re sailing from (this time, Auckland). We often buy charity shop items and also make donations of clothing along the road.
We packed back in December for 10.5 months of relatively unfashionable travel. So far, so good.
How about an identical guide for women? This would be so helpful! Thanks :)
Yes, please!
I still love Bluffworks (my wife tried their new clothing and loves it, too). For years I said, I wish I just wore their clothes all of the time – maybe I’ll do that when I retire. Then I said, “Wait, why not now?”
Now my everyday trousers are from Bluffworks (chinos mostly), jacket or vest from Bluffworks, too. My shirts are from Unbound Merino, Western Rise and Wool & Prince. Pricey? Yes. But I have *very* few of them and they wear like iron. And switching from home to travel is pretty much of a no-op.
Now if only I could retire.
Great article. Thank you for writing an article for men who just want to wear normal/regular clothes. Totally agree with your packing advice. I swear, I’ve read or watched just about every article or YouTube on the internet about packing light and this is the best.
My husband is trying golf pants on our next trip – made for activity, comfortable, and look nice.
Thanks for the tips. I like “Unbound Merino” T shirts and socks and “Smartwool” Merino boxers. Merino is warm when it’s cold and, strangely, cool when it’s hot. It doesn’t stink like polyester and is easy to wash in the sink and dry over night on a shower rod or hanger. It’s also super comfortable.
Good article: Obviously oriented to warmer weather traveling. Highly recommend. Merino wool shirts, which keep you warm/cool and don’t get stinky. Jeans make the worst travel pants, heavy and stay wet forever when rained upon, skip them in favor of some good convertibles. Lastly, even in the photo you can see all the wasted space from rolling things. The physics are without doubt that laying things as flat as possible with the minimum number of folds will produce the highest density and therefore fit the most stuff.