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How many underwear do you pack when traveling? Read on to find out!
Travel Underwear
What is the masochistic obsession about skimping out on the tiniest of your travel clothing? “Pack three pairs of underwear for your round-the-world trip.”
What’s wrong with that statement?
I understand pack three bottoms, three tops, or even three bras…but underwear?
Girls are not guys and we can’t just flip our boxers inside out when we don’t have any clean underpants. Sometimes it’s easy to go through three underwear changes in one day especially in humid countries or places where you’re doing lots of activities.
What if you start the day with under wear#1, go swimming in your bathing suit, then wear underwear #2, and then go out at night and change into underwear #3?
You’re constantly waiting for underwear to dry! Even if you have ultra-lightning quick dry underwear, is this process of sacrificing your comfort really even necessary?
Bloggers Tips
Erica from Over Yonderlust
Experienced a rainy season on here entire year long trip and only packed three pairs of travel underwear. Her quick dry underwear did not dry properly and now she’s packing ten pairs for her trip to Europe.
Brandy from It’s One World Travel
Also recommends to travel with at least 10 pairs. Both of these travelers travel light with just a carry-on bag. It doesn’t seem like the difference in quantity will really make or break your backpack.
3 Mens Underwear Take Up More Room than 10 Womens Underwear
Look at the difference in womens versus mens underwear. Three of theirs is more than half the size of ten of ours. Plus, if guys pack three, that technically means six because let’s face it; they’re probably going to get double use.
This is not to say that you can’t travel with just three pairs of travel underwear. Many female travelers are more than fine with a three pair rotation.
The secret to traveling light is to create a functional but minimalist capsule wardrobe. Learn more in my guide!
The Magic Number
However, girl’s underwear is so small. Why skimp on underwear of all things? So what’s the magic number? How much underwear should we pack for a round-the-world trip?
Six-ten pairs is a good average. It will still take up the tiniest bit of space and save you much unnecessary turmoil.
Underwear is so small it can be squeezed into the nooks and crannies in your packing cubes.
Check out the best travel underwear for women and the brands that top our list!
What is your magic travel underwear number? Comment and share!
For more tips on travel underwear, please read:
- Best Travel Underwear for Women
- 10 Best Thermal Underwear for Women
- How Many Bras Do You Pack When Traveling?
- The Three Bras Every Woman Should Pack When Traveling
Hope you found liked this post on travel underwear. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Great idea! Can’t wait to pack for my next trip. Hopefully doing carry on only….
Traveled to the Jersey shore for a week..wore 3pairs of jockey no panty line hi cut panties. Went commando at bedtime. Handwashed as needed.Very convenient dried quickly
Get the fast-drying kind and you’ll only need 3 or 4:
1) The pair you are wearing on the day of departure
2) Upon arrival you may be sweaty and want to change into a clean pair
3) Assuming you wash all dirty underwear each evening, bring a pair for the following day just in case they don’t dry overnight.
4) The fourth pair is optional but it’s always nice to know you are covered in case of an emergency.
I usually find 3 fast-drying pants is sufficient, but I’ve worn the fourth back-up one on the last day to avoid carrying wet underwear in my suitcase.
great feedback!
Under Armour underwear is awesome! Comfy, light and fast drying. Bathing suit bottoms can double for underwear if you run out!
Uniqlo ultra seamless panties are inexpensive, super lightweight, dry very fast, and take up almost no space. I take 8-10 pairs for any trip. Love these. Agree, it is nice to always have clean panties!
I find it easier to manage with fewer… It takes about a min to wash them at the end of the day and hang with on the towel rail to dry.
When I am travelling with 3-4 pairs – then I HAVE to do it every day, and it isn’t a big deal. If I am travelling with lots of pairs, then I have to do a batch, and then struggle with towel rail space…. And and and.
I usually travel 3-4 pairs of my regular knickers plus one pair of merino – in case I run into a cold day (I often travel from my temperate winter into the heat – so good for travelling home).
Also, as some one above note, panty liners are good for “that fresh feeling”
I take undies I am going to throw away and then do just that. I wear them and toss them. (On cruises, cabin stewards will dig them out of the trash and leave them folded in the bathroom)
When I decided I am “done” with a pair of panties, I mark an x on the back inside waistband. As I pack I pull those out and take them. I do the same with bras, camis, and nighties. I also do this with other articles of clothing. It opens up a lot of luggage space for the trip home.
A pantyliner is a great tip!I will carry a few on my next trip
I am a 5 panty girl. In humid climates they take longer to dry. I do wash each pair daily, but by the time I get through the rotation, they are surely dry. Bathing suits? Now those NEVER dry!
I always bring 4-5 on a 2 week trip and just wear a very slim pantie liner and throw it away each night. Maybe sounds weird…but it works great for me and no washing.
Thanks for the tip Lyn! Do you use merino wool underwear?
Yes! They are the most comfy!!
When I travel, I pack one underwear for every day plus 2. I usually don’t have time to wash, especially if I’m just sightseeing so I just throw away the pair of undies and the pair of socks…nothing like a clean pair everyday and no real dirty clothes in the suitcase. It’s worth the 20 dollars.
Awesome tip, thanks!
We did this 9 years ago on a 12 day bus trip in Italy! Each days undies & my husbands non-dress socks (which take up lots of room) were discarded giving lots of room for souvenirs. I also didn’t pack super nice under ware to begin with.
I took 3 pair of exofficio panties on my 28 day trip to Thailand & Myanmar. After the 1st week one pair was “missing” from the room & I survived just fine washing & air-drying the remaining 2 on the trip. 3 would have been more convenient, but minimalistically speaking I learned exactly what I could survive on. For me, the less things I have to keep track of — especially small items — the better!
Oh no you were a victim of the SEA panty vandals! It’s hard to come by decent undies in some parts of SEA like in Thailand where I’m living and women’s underwear is constantly getting stolen. Glad you had some quick dry underwear to help you on your trip!
Just ordered a 3 pack and an extra as a spare! Thanks for the company recommendation! I am also going to thailand, I am so excited!
That’s great! YOu’ll love it there 🙂 Have a great time!
I definitely brought way more than 3 – it takes up barely any room, so why not??
yes it makes sense, cut down on clothes but not on undies 🙂
I think 10 is a good number. I usually like to pack a week’s worth plus a couple spares. I’ve always wondered at the people are skimp on undies since as you pointed out, they’re so small. Hmm…I wonder how many pairs of socks one would pack for a trip in a cooler climate? Same number as pairs of undies?
it seems all girls love finding “a couple spares” lying around. it’s always the best feeling! Socks seems to generally range 2-5. i started with 5, cut it to 4, then 3, now 2 🙂 (unless i specifically know im going for a longer trek i’ll bring a couple extra)
I always pack 7 – 10 and that’s for a 2 or 3 week trip. If I were traveling for a longer period I’d probably pack 14 pair! Because as someone said earlier, variety is essential. A mix of different styles for different outfits, etc. In all seriousness I usually pack 7 and then end up buying more.
there’s nothing wrong with “overpacking” when it comes to underwear. 7-10 is the perfect range for a trip. I think my underwear to travel days ration goes up when I travel less! I probably pack 10 for 1 week and 10 for 1 year 😉
I always pack enough for 7 days and then some – so normally more than 10 pairs! And plenty of variety too!
That sounds like a good strategy – a week’s worth!
I would like to say that there is no need to cut down on underwear. It’s an item that we need for our hygiene. I usually take thongs, they are quite small.
totally agree! it’s way to small to sacrifice and doesn’t way a thing!
I think I had originally packed 7 thongs and 3 boyshorts. The thongs are all VS ‘The Lacie’ and dry pretty fast considering they’re not ‘quick dry’. Since I’ve established somewhat of a home base during my working holiday in NZ, I’ve managed to accumulate a few more pairs – I think I’m up to 10 thongs and 6boyshorts. Some will be left behind when I make the trip back to Canada in December.
When I went to Africa I brought 10 pairs because I wasn’t sure how long I would have to go between washings.
i also throw in a combo of thongs and boy shorts. love having comfy undies on long journeys. i like packing 10 because its a nice safe number.
thanks!
The Lacie thongs from Victoria’s Secret are so super comfy – I highly recommend them… plus they’re sexy and make you feel pretty -even if you’re wearing ‘mannish’ cargo pants 😉
i guess feeling girly on the inside makes you feel girly on the outside too? i like it!
5 was enough for me. Ex officio brand dries fast.
i think you have the best plan: a reasonable quantity of quick dry underwear – quick dry or not, 3 is just not enough