Travel Light, Stay Fresh: Easy Summer Tips for Minimal Packing and Maximum Comfort!

Our first time in Cascias, Portugal (2022)

You’ve made the decision to pack light, but your destination is hot and sticky. How do you travel minimally and comfortably when you don’t want to spend all your time doing laundry on vacation? These easy tips will keep you looking fresh with minimal hassle. Vacations aren’t the time to live in a fashion show with multiple outfits each day or a ton of brand new clothes you want to show off. In many cases, you’ll be seeing people who’ve never met you, and all your clothes are new to them. If you are traveling for more than a week, doing some laundry may be inevitable. Pack for a week or less regardless of how much time you’ll be vacationing. Choosing clothing that can do double or triple duty will make all the difference.

Fabrics. Choose loose-fit, flowy fabrics that won’t cling to your skin. Did you know that merino wool isn’t just for winter and it’s not scratchy at all? It pulls moisture away from the skin to the surface of the fabric where it evaporates and functions as a mini-air conditioner. It’s better than cotton or linen because it doesn’t wrinkle or hold in moisture and make you feel clammy. It’s soft and has natural odor resistance. If you are buying a blend, make sure that the item is at least 80% wool. Miracle fabric that it is, it can even remove water vapor before it even turns to sweat. You also can rewear it for multiple days without needing to wash it (just allow it to air out overnight). We are huge fans of Wool& for women and Wool&Prince for men. We wore wool even in the heat of summer all through Southeast Asia!

Curate your clothes. Then do it again. Similar to the “measure twice, cut once” method, give yourself more than a day to pack. If you pick out your clothes and then pack them straight away, you likely will have overpacked. Lay out on your bed all the clothes and combos that you can make for each day and evening. It’s common to want to pack extra for “just in case,” but that would be a mistake. Give yourself time to go back to your clothes and reconsider whether you need those extra items. Can you get by with less? You don’t need to bring every favorite outfit you own.

Layers. When you’re sweaty, the clothes that are closest to your skin are the ones you want to change out. So bring extra underwear or again buy wool. Both Wool& and Wool&Prince have undergarments. It may TMI, but Kevin wears these boxer briefs. Light camisoles take up very little space, but they will keep your shirts fresher so that they can be worn more than once. Give your bra a quick wash in the sink before bed and it should be fine for the next morning or swap it with a second bra so that they each can be alternated and air out.

Shoes and socks. Shoes are bulky and heavy. This is one of the best places to save weight. Wear a good sturdy pair of multipurpose hiking, walking, or running shoes like Lems Primal 2 or Altra Lone Peak 6 and pack a pair of sandals—I like Taos and Kevin wears these Keen brand. That’s it. I love, love, love Merino wool, and Darn Tough socks are some of the best you can buy. Let them breathe overnight and you can wear them again the next day. They don’t get stinky and they’re also antibacterial. They’re super durable and have a lifetime guarantee.

Tops. Seven or less, assuming you are traveling for two weeks. Your cami will allow you to wear shirts more than once, especially if you’re not wearing wool. You can get away without changing your clothes before every single dinner. Pack in a capsule format where every shirt goes with every bottom in just a few key colors (neutral palette and one complementary color). Avoid white since it can show dirt or stains more easily. Wear one top for dinner and then wear it again during the day for when you’re touring or exploring.

Staying cool in lightweight wool even in Cambodia’s heat!

Bottoms. Avoid jeans if possible because they will be the heaviest and hardest to dry if you need to wash them. Choose lightweight clothing that is easy to pack and won’t take up much space. Two pairs of shorts, a skirt, and a light dress should do nicely for women. People will mostly be looking at your tops and face anyway. Unless you are super careful where you take a load off, avoid white. Our daughter spoiled a beautiful white skirt by accidentally sitting on a stair with dried gelato in Italy. Fortunately, it was late in the day, but having a chocolate stain on your backside is embarrassing! Dark colored bottoms can be rinsed in the sink or wash without having to scrub or bleach.

Pajamas. One pair, if you wear them. Consider doing a quick swish in the sink so that your exercise shorts and shirt can do double duty as your sleepwear.

Bathing suit. Even though they typically are light, do you really need more than one? If you must bring two because you are spending all your time at the beach, can you eliminate a shirt? A casual dress or skirt/top can double as a coverup.

Sweater. A lightweight sweater that goes with everything is perfect for chilly nights. Alternatively, a pashmina is multipurpose and can function to keep you warm, as a skirt, and as a coverup for your swimsuit. Triple duty!

Sunscreen. Save space in your pack by buying sunscreen when you arrive at your destination. Make sure you buy and use it though!

Give your skin a break. Since you’ll be outdoors and sweating, consider bringing less makeup. Can you skip the foundation and contouring and allow your skin to breathe for a few days and give yourself some time off from that routine? You’ll want to be applying sunscreen throughout the day and your hard work will come off at the beach or pool anyway. It will also help you avoid getting makeup on your clothes.

Miscellaneous must haves. Two items we love to carry are this large Docks & Bay sand-resistant beach towel with its own cloth travel bag that you can use as a beach towel or for a picnic in the park and this super packable ultralight reusable shopping bags for groceries, beach towel, sunscreen and more. When you’re done with it, shove it back inside itself and it compresses back into the size of an egg.

What space-saving tips do you have? Leave them in the comments and help others pack lighter, too!