What bamboo clothing weighs and why it matters

Short answer: Bamboo viscose is heavier than synthetic fabrics when dry, but lighter than thick cotton at the same thickness. For travel, what matters most is how little room the clothes take up.

Weight versus volume

For a suitcase, volume matters more than grams. Thin clothes in bamboo viscose take up little room because they can be rolled tightly.

Wet weight

All natural fibres take up water and get heavier when wet. That shows in drying time and in towels.

For hiking

On hikes every gram counts, and there many people choose technical synthetics for the outer layers. See bamboo clothing for hiking and outdoor life.

For flights

For ordinary travel, comfort matters more than grams. See bamboo clothing for the summer holiday.

The fabric weight of the item

A light summer quality weighs less than half of a sweat quality. See sweat clothing.

Underwear weighs least

Underwear and socks take up the least room and weight and are therefore the easiest to bring several of. See bamboo underwear for men.

See also

More on packing in the packing list.

Frequently asked questions

Is bamboo clothing heavy?

Not compared with cotton at the same thickness. It is heavier than thin synthetic fabric.

Does it take up much room in the suitcase?

No. Thin clothes can be rolled tightly and take up little room.

What weighs most when wet?

Towels and sweat pieces. They take up the most water.