Whether you travel frequently for business purposes, are planning a back-packing adventure during your gap year or are looking forward to the family vacation, you should give some thought to underwear. Packing the wrong underwear for your travels could be uncomfortable, and detract from your enjoyment of your holiday.
Here are some points to consider when planning what kind of underwear to pack for travel.
1. Underwear Practicality
Although you might prefer luxurious silk and fancy lace underwear when you are at home, for travel you need to look for something more practical. If you'd usually turn to cotton underwear when basics are called for, you might want to think again cotton absorbs moisture but dries slowly and retains odours. Choose designs which are light-weight and quick drying, which gives you the option of hand-washing your underwear, so that you don't have to pack so much!
2. Underwear Fabric Properties
When you are travelling, you want more from your underwear than just good looks. Many manufacturers are now approaching the problem of underwear suited for travel by introducing garments made from high performance fabrics. Look out for underwear which offers sweat-wicking (moisture management), particularly if you are planning an active vacation or are travelling to hot climates. Thermal underwear would be a good choice if you are travelling in winter, or to colder countries, as it is designed to trap body heat and keep you warm.
3. Comfortable Underwear Fit
It is best to get yourself professionally measured when buying underwear for travel. This will ensure that you will enjoy optimum levels of comfort. Underwear should always fit snugly, but should never dig into the skin or leave marks when you get undressed. If possible, try on the underwear you are considering purchasing and move around the changing room to check the fit. With correct sizing, you shouldn't ever experience chafing or irritation, and your underwear should not ride up or bunch in any zone.
If buying new underwear for your vacation doesn't appeal, there is another trick you can try. Pack old underwear which has seen better days to use during your vacation. Instead of washing your underwear and returning home with it simply discard at the end of each day. This will leave you with some extra space in your baggage for those souvenirs that you couldn't resist. And of course it also means that you get to go underwear shopping for some new goodies when you get home great!
