A longer stay abroad
Short answer: Pack for a week and plan on washing along the way. Buy what you are missing at your destination, instead of trying to pack for the entire stay.
Why a week is the right measure
Whether you are away for a month or half a year, you wash at regular intervals either way. The luggage should therefore cover the interval between two washes, not the whole stay. That makes the suitcase noticeably lighter to carry.
What should come from home
What you know fits, and what is hard to find at the destination. Underwear in your size and a good pair of socks belong to the first category. See bamboo underwear for men.
What you can buy on the spot
Outer layers, seasonal clothing and anything that depends on the local climate. It is often easier and cheaper to buy where it is used than to carry it from home. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo clothing for men.
Washing along the way as routine
Most places have either a laundromat or a washing machine nearby. Plan a fixed wash day each week, so the luggage never has to cover more than one week's use at a time.
Quality over quantity
Fewer pieces of good quality last longer and take up less space than many cheap ones. That applies especially to underwear and socks, which get the most wear and are used most often during a longer stay.
Changing climates along the way
If you travel through several climate zones during the stay, it is smarter to ship or store clothing for later legs of the trip than to carry everything from start to end.
Documents and practical things
Even though it is not clothing, copies of your passport, insurance papers and important numbers take up little space in the luggage but add a lot of peace of mind. Pack them apart from the originals, so nothing is lost.
Travel size laundry detergent
Small bottles and pouches of travel size detergent take up almost no room, but save you the trouble of finding the right product during the first days at a new destination.
When plans change along the way
If the stay is extended or the climate changes along the way, it is the luggage that should adapt, not the other way around. Buy and sort out along the way, instead of carrying unnecessary weight the whole trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much underwear should you bring
Seven to ten sets is a reasonable amount, so you can wash about once a week without running out of clean clothes. It also leaves room for delays in the wash.
Should you bring bedding
Rarely necessary. It takes up a lot of room in the luggage and can almost always be rented or bought locally, unless you book a completely empty place with no equipment at all.
What about clothing for formal occasions
A single set is usually enough for most stays. It only gets worn a handful of times regardless of how long you are away, so more than that is rarely needed.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
