A smart suitcase starts with choosing the right fabrics, not with the number of clothes you pack.
Travel clothing | How to choose what to pack
“How do I choose travel clothing?”, “What should I wear?”, “How many clothes should I bring?”: these are the questions we all ask before setting off. Packing for a big trip can feel like a daunting task, but once your luggage becomes smart, the stress turns into a distant memory. When travelling, especially to a different country, it’s worth packing light, functional garments suited to any kind of adventure, from city tours to wilderness exploration.
Travel clothing | Choosing the fabrics
To pack smart, it’s essential to select a few “wildcard” garments you can wear practically anywhere, at any time of day. A truly high-performing fabric needs to breathe well, wick moisture away from the skin and dry quickly: cotton, however loved by casual dressers, is generally less suited to travel than technical alternatives.
Nylon and polyester
Advantages: breathable, lightweight, wick away moisture and dry quickly, resist pilling and abrasion.
Disadvantages: perceived fit is slightly less comfortable than cotton.
Silk
Advantages: luxuriously soft, light, breathable, ideal for hot climates; often used in travel underwear.
Disadvantages: less durable than other technical materials.
Cotton
Advantages: soft, durable, breathable, versatile and easy to clean.
Disadvantages: doesn’t wick moisture or dry as quickly as nylon or polyester.
Cotton/polyester blend
Advantages: soft against the skin, breathable, a good style compromise for everyday use.
Disadvantages: doesn’t wick moisture or dry 100% as well as the fully synthetic alternative.
Bonded fabrics
“Double-face” garments, with one material (e.g. cotton) on the outer face and another (e.g. polyester) against the skin, designed to combine the best qualities of each fabric in a single garment.
Travel clothing | Other features to consider
Neutral colours
Suitcase space is precious: it’s best to avoid low-versatility garments. Brown, black and khaki mix and match easily, especially for trousers, shorts and skirts, letting you pack fewer items.
Wrinkle resistance
Garments marketed as wrinkle-resistant won’t ever be completely crease-free, but they’ll tend to wrinkle far less during travel, a real advantage when you have no way to iron.
Destination-appropriate style
Standing out too much from local culture rarely helps: avoid overly tight clothing or very short shorts and skirts, which may not be well received in certain cultural contexts.
Sun protection
All fabrics block UV rays to some extent, but garments with a stated UPF rating offer measurable protection: a UPF of 50 blocks 98% of UV rays. The scale runs from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent), and this protection never washes out or interacts with sweat.
Insect protection
Some fabrics are treated with repellents such as permethrin, effective against ticks, mosquitoes and many other species, and can also be applied as a spray to garments and gear you already own.
Pockets
Particularly useful when travelling light, without a dedicated pack or bum bag. Shirt pockets are handy for tickets and sunglasses; hidden pockets in skirts and trousers let you keep your passport and cash more discreetly than a money belt worn under your clothes; zipped pockets significantly reduce the risk of losing items compared to button closures.
Travel clothing | The garments you should never be without
Here are the garments every traveller should consider for their luggage, regardless of the type of adventure or chosen itinerary: travel jackets, trousers/shorts/skirts/dresses, shirts/t-shirts, fleece tops and wool jumpers, hats, underwear and socks.
Travel clothing | Travel jackets
Jackets are especially useful in the rain, helping you stay dry and comfortable.
Laminated waterproof/breathable shells
Advantages: the best choice across a wide range of weather conditions and activities.
Disadvantages: slightly more expensive, precisely because of their superior quality.
Water-repellent/breathable shells
Advantages: repel wind and light rain, excellent breathability on the move, less bulky and less expensive.
Disadvantages: not suited to prolonged heavy rain.
Discover our men’s sports jackets and women’s sports jackets
Travel clothing | Trousers, shorts, skirts and dresses
Shorts, skirts and dresses are always a winning choice, even for hot or tropical destinations. Long trousers, however, offer better protection from sun, insects and rain, and in some cultural contexts may even be required.
Convertible trousers
Advantages: the legs detach easily to turn them into shorts, an excellent space-saving solution in your case.
Disadvantages: the joining zip can feel uncomfortable to some during prolonged use.
Discover our men’s sports trousers and women’s sports trousers
Travel clothing | Shirts and t-shirts
Always bring a long-sleeved shirt or t-shirt, even heading to a hot climate: just like long trousers, it protects from sun, insects and rain.
Knit shirts
Advantages: stretchy, comfortable and available in many styles.
Disadvantages: less structured than woven shirts, which instead offer a front button placket and dedicated vents.
Technical or merino wool shirts
Advantages: sweat and odour management noticeably better than cotton over multiple days of use.
Disadvantages: higher cost; cotton remains an acceptable choice for occasional activities or hot, dry climates.
Discover our Men’s t-shirts and tank tops and Women’s t-shirts and tank tops
Travel clothing | Fleece tops and wool jumpers
Fleece tops and vests
Advantages: insulate well and wick away moisture.
Disadvantages: can be bulky and don’t compress well in a suitcase.
Wool jumpers
Advantages: keep you warm even when wet and don’t hold odours like synthetics.
Disadvantages: like fleece, some wools are bulky in luggage.
Discover our men’s fleece sweatshirts and women’s fleece sweatshirts
Travel clothing | Hats
Rain hats
Wide brim, waterproof/breathable construction and a chin strap; they also work well as sun protection.
Sun hats
Usually cotton or nylon for breathability, with eyelets or mesh for ventilation; some models include a rear cape to keep the sun off the neck and ears.
Casual hats
Beanies and hiking hats: a wider brim provides better protection from sun and rain.
Travel clothing | Underwear and socks
The same rules described for fabrics apply to underwear and socks: synthetic fabric is easier to clean than cotton, while merino wool products offer natural breathability and comfort. For socks, synthetic fibres and wool help prevent blisters by keeping feet drier than cotton socks.
Discover our men’s underwear and accessories and women’s underwear and accessories
Travel clothing | How to pack using the layering method
Even for a non-technical trip, the layering principle used in the mountains applies: a few versatile, combinable garments are worth more than a full wardrobe packed “just in case”. A light, breathable first layer (t-shirts, shirts), a mid layer for cooler moments (fleece or a light jumper), and a third layer for rain and wind (a waterproof or water-repellent jacket) cover the vast majority of climates with a limited number of garments.
Advantages of the layering method applied to travel
Fewer garments to carry, greater adaptability to unexpected weather, a lighter suitcase that’s easier to manage on the move.
Disadvantages
Requires giving up “backup” garments for every possible occasion, a trade-off that can feel uncomfortable for those who prefer always having an alternative ready.
Rolling garments, instead of folding them, further reduces the space they take up and the wrinkles visible on arrival, especially with synthetic or blended fabrics that crease less.
Travel clothing | Hot climate or cold climate: what changes in your suitcase
Hot destinations
Priority on breathability and sun protection (UPF), light colours to limit heat absorption, quick-drying fabrics to manage intense sweating. A light pair of long trousers still comes in handy for evenings or for protection from insects and direct sun.
Cold destinations
Priority on the complete layering system, with a fleece or wool mid layer and a waterproof shell; thermal underwear becomes as important as the outer garments, especially for trips involving long periods outdoors.
Destinations with large temperature swings
The trickiest case to manage: here the modular layering system shows its full advantage, letting you add or remove garments within the same day without needing two separate suitcases.
Travel clothing | Frequently asked questions
Is cotton or synthetic fabric better for travelling?
Synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester) manage moisture and drying better, making them more practical for long trips or variable climates; cotton remains a valid choice for short stays in hot, dry climates, where comfort against the skin matters more than drying speed.
Why choose neutral colours for travel clothes?
Colours like brown, black and khaki mix and match easily, letting you create more outfits with fewer garments and therefore take up less space in your suitcase.
Are convertible trousers really useful when travelling?
Yes, especially for light packers: a single garment replaces both long trousers and shorts, with the only trade-off being a joining zip some find less comfortable.
Do you really need a long-sleeved garment even in hot climates?
Yes: besides protecting from sun and insects, a long-sleeved shirt or t-shirt can prove essential in places where shorts or short sleeves aren’t culturally well received.
How do you wash technical clothes during a long trip?
Synthetic fabrics and merino wool are well suited to hand-washing in a hotel or hostel, thanks to their quick drying: gently wring them (never twist forcefully) and hang them somewhere well-ventilated overnight. Cotton, drying much more slowly, is less practical for this kind of quick wash.
How many garments do you really need for a two-week trip?
With the layering method and easily washable garments, 4-5 t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers (one convertible), a mid layer and a waterproof shell are often enough even for two weeks, rotating garments instead of packing a different one for each day.
Travel clothing | Conclusion
A smart suitcase comes from choosing the right fabrics and a few versatile garments, neutral colours and technical details (secure pockets, UV protection, wrinkle resistance), not from the sheer quantity of clothes packed. Applying these criteria turns packing for any destination into a quick task instead of a source of stress. Happy travels!