Checklist before you pack

Short answer: Check the weather, count the days, add one extra set, and put a set in your hand luggage. These four points cover both the trip you expect and the mishaps that can happen along the way. The rest of the packing gets easier once they are sorted.

Check the weather at your destination

A ten degree difference changes the whole packing list. Look at the forecast for the full stay, not just the day you arrive, and note the gap between day and evening. A place can be warm in the afternoon and cool after sunset. Pack for what you will meet there, not for the weather at home. See bamboo sweat for men and women.

Count days, not items

One set per day plus one is the simplest rule. Count how many days you are away and pack underwear and socks to match. That is easier than looking at a pile and guessing. Tops can often be worn more than one day, so you need fewer of them. The rule works up to about four or five days. See most popular for men.

One extra set

The extra set is there for the unexpected. A spilled coffee, a rain shower on the way to the hotel, or a day that runs longer than planned. It takes little room in the suitcase, but it means you are never left without something clean. An extra pair of socks and an extra set of underwear are usually enough.

A set in your hand luggage

If the suitcase goes missing, one set saves the first day. Luggage can be delayed or sent to the wrong place, and it can take a day or more to get it back. A set of underwear and a T-shirt in your hand luggage take up almost no space. It lets you wait calmly without having to buy something right away. See most popular at Copenhagen Bamboo.

Wash along the way on longer trips

On trips longer than four or five days, washing along the way is quicker than packing for the whole stay. Underwear and socks can be washed in a sink in the evening and hung to dry overnight. That means fewer sets and a smaller suitcase. Ask about a washing machine if you are away for longer.

Choose items that go together

Pack clothes that combine easily. If every top works with every bottom, you get more outfits from fewer items. Stick to a few colours that go well together, so there is nothing to think about in the morning. One layer that fits over everything covers both cool evenings and a cold flight.

Roll the soft, fold the firm

Soft clothes like T-shirts, underwear and sweats can be rolled tightly. They take less space and often crease less than folded clothes. Firmer items are folded and laid flat on top. Socks fit inside shoes to use the space. Put the heaviest things at the bottom near the wheels so the suitcase stands steady.

Pack worn clothes separately

Bring a bag for worn clothes. That way they do not mix with the clean ones, and you can always see what you have left. A cloth bag or a thin laundry bag works fine. When you get home, empty the bag straight into the laundry basket and skip sorting through the suitcase.

Frequently asked questions

What should you check before packing

The weather at your destination, the number of days, one extra set, and a set in your hand luggage as a backup. With those four in place, the rest is simple.

How much should you pack

One set per day plus one, up to four or five days. On longer trips it is quicker to wash along the way than to fill the suitcase for the whole stay.

Why a set in your hand luggage

Because the suitcase can be delayed. A set of underwear and a T-shirt cover the first day without any trouble while you wait for the suitcase to turn up.