How much to pack for a week
Short answer: Seven sets of underwear and socks, four tops, two bottoms and one set of nightwear are enough for a week. If you wash along the way, you can halve most of these numbers and travel with less luggage.
The list for seven days
Underwear and socks are needed for every single day of the trip, so seven of each, no matter how long the trip lasts or where it takes you. Tops can be worn for two days in a row if you have a thin layer underneath, so four tops are enough for a full week without extra washing.
Bottoms and nightwear
Two bottoms usually cover a whole week without trouble, because trousers and skirts do not get dirty the same way as what sits closest to the skin and absorbs sweat. One single set of nightwear is enough, unless you plan to sleep in several different places along the way or sweat heavily at night.
How to halve it
If you can wash along the way, four sets of underwear and socks, two tops and one extra bottom will do instead of the full numbers on the long list. Bamboo fabric dries overnight at normal room temperature, which makes it practical for exactly this kind of trip. See bamboo underwear for men.
Hand washing on the road
Hand washing needs nothing more than a basin or an ordinary sink, a little mild soap and a few minutes of patience each evening. Squeeze the water out instead of wringing hard, so the fabric keeps its shape longer, and hang the garment to dry somewhere with good airflow, ideally overnight.
Keep the colours in one family
Choose tops and bottoms in the same colour family, so everything combines freely without you having to think about it each morning before leaving. It is the easiest way to get more outfits from fewer garments, and it also makes packing in the morning quicker and simpler.
Build a base wardrobe
See bamboo clothing for men and bamboo t-shirts for men if you are missing base colours to build the rest of the travel wardrobe around before you set off. Neutral colours such as black, grey and navy appear in most collections and are therefore usually a safe and flexible choice.
Pack in fixed units
Pack clothes in fixed units rather than loose, for example one set of underwear rolled together with a pair of socks, so you can quickly see what is missing along the way. It also makes it easier to unpack and repack at hotels without digging through the whole suitcase every time.
Roll instead of fold
A suitcase with too much air between garments quickly becomes messy along the way, while tightly packed clothes in fixed rolls keep their shape better and take up less room. Roll clothes instead of folding them, it saves space in the suitcase and usually leaves fewer creases when you unpack on arrival.
Adjust for the type of trip
Adjust the list to the purpose and length of the trip. A business trip usually needs fewer tops but more formal clothes for meetings, while an active holiday needs more sets of underwear and socks, because you sweat more and wash less often than you do at home day to day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does hand washing take
Five minutes per garment plus one night to dry, if you wash in the evening and hang the garment somewhere with good airflow.
Do you need an extra bag for dirty laundry
A thin bag is enough for dirty laundry. It takes no more room than clean clothes and can sit at the bottom of the suitcase without getting in the way.
What about a second set of nightwear
For a week one set is enough, unless you sweat heavily at night or sleep in several different places along the way.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
