12 Clothing Items Travelers Should Have In Their Luggage

We’ve all been guilty of underpacking, overpacking, or packing the wrong things. Packing, in general, gives people anxiety. Even the most seasoned travelers sometimes leave essentials behind. To alleviate meltdowns, whether you’re on vacation or visiting your in-laws, the following items are foolproof in mitigating a total fire drill.

Raincoat

While this may be obvious to some, rain slickers are often overlooked in a packing list or de-prioritized due to a lack of luggage space. The last thing you need on vacation is a ruined blowout, soaked socks, or drenched kids. Thankfully, raincoats can be folded tightly to give your more luxurious items more real estate in the suitcase.

Bathing Suit

For tropical getaways, bathing suits are the typical uniform. However, no one considers packing a bathing suit for a snowy winter getaway. Even if your vacation is planned around skiing, you never know when you may encounter a hot tub or indoor pool. After a long day (or week) of skiing, there’s nothing better than alleviating your aches and pains in the bubbles of a jacuzzi.

Socks

“A survey of 2,000 US adults, [looked] at the most inconvenient things respondents have forgotten including socks (17%), water bottles (14%) and even their wallet (8%).” Yes, this information from NY Post is true; sometimes, the most necessary and obvious items are left behind. Since re-wearing the same pair of socks for multiple days is not a practical solution, please ensure that plenty of socks make their way into your luggage. More importantly, pack the appropriate socks for weather and activities.

Pajamas

Pajamas are either overpacked or not packed at all, and there is no in-between. My rule of thumb for traveling is one pair of pajamas for three nights. Is this controversial? Well, when suitcase real estate is tight, sacrifices must be made. Similar to socks, consider the temperature and weather of your destination when packing pajamas.