What you can manage with on a week of holiday

Short answer: If you can wash along the way, three sets of underwear, three pairs of socks, three tops and two pairs of trousers are enough for a week away. If you cannot wash, you need seven sets of underwear and seven pairs of socks, while the rest can stay lean.

Underwear and socks

These two groups decide more than anything how much you need to pack. They are changed every day and cannot be worn twice. If you can wash along the way, three sets are enough, because one is worn, one is drying and one is ready. See bamboo underwear for men.

Washing along the way

Thin underwear and socks can be rinsed in the sink in the evening and be dry by morning. Use a little soap or a few drops of detergent, rinse well, and roll the clothes in a towel before hanging them up. That removes most of the water, so they dry in a few hours. Read more in how to wash clothes while travelling.

Tops

Three tops in neutral colours can be combined in several ways, so it does not feel the same every day. Choose them to go with both pairs of trousers, and so one can also work for a smarter evening. A T-shirt can be worn two days if it airs overnight. See bamboo T-shirts for men.

Trousers

Two pairs of trousers last a week if one pair works for both day and evening. A light pair or shorts for the day and a slightly smarter pair for dinner cover most holidays. Trousers rarely need washing after a single day, so they take up little space compared with how much they are worn.

For women

The same numbers apply for women: three sets of underwear if you can wash, otherwise seven. A soft wire-free bra packs easily and dries quickly after a rinse in the sink. A dress can replace both top and trousers on one of the days and takes up little room in the bag. See bamboo underwear for women.

Packing

Roll your clothes rather than fold them, so they crease least and take up less space. Put underwear and socks in your shoes or in a small bag of their own, so they are easy to find. Heavy items like trousers go at the bottom, and what you need first at the top. See an example in the packing list.

Washing

Back home, wash everything at 40 degrees and let it air dry. Clothes washed by hand along the way often hold traces of soap and sunscreen, which a proper machine wash removes. Skip fabric softener and the tumble dryer so the clothes keep their shape until the next trip. Read more in the washing guide.

What you can leave at home

Extra shoes and a smart outfit for an evening you probably will not need are what most often take up space for nothing. An extra pair of shoes takes as much room as three sets of clothes. Bring the shoes you walk in and one more pair for the beach or evening. See bamboo clothing for women.