Clothes for the car trip through Europe

Short answer: Long stretches in a car mean many hours in the same position. Choose clothing without hard seams, and have a change ready for the first evening so you can start the next day fresh.

Seams you sit on

Back seams make themselves felt after three hours at the wheel, because your weight rests on the same spot the whole way. A seam that is fine on a short drive can leave sore points after a day on the motorway. Flat seams spread the pressure better, see bamboo boxers. Check pockets and rivets too.

Heat in the car

Sun through the window warms one side of your body while the air conditioning cools the other. It is an odd mix of warm and cold that is hard to dress for. A thin layer that feels light on the skin helps, because it gets neither too warm nor too cold, see bamboo T-shirts for men.

A change for the evening

After a long day in the car, the inner layer is full of heat and moisture. A clean set makes the evening better, whether you go out to eat or relax at the hotel. Pack it at the top of a small bag rather than at the bottom of the suitcase, see bamboo underwear for women.

A break every two hours

Ten minutes out of the seat changes the whole day. Walk around the car, stretch your back and let your clothes air out. It helps both concentration and body, and gives your back a rest from the seat. On long stages through several countries it is easy to forget, so set a fixed rhythm.

The climate changes along the way

A trip through Europe can start cool in the north and end warm further south. You need to be able to dress up and down on the same day. Pack layers that are easy to take on and off at a rest stop, and keep a thin jumper at hand for cooler mornings and evenings.

Clothes that do not crease

Clothes that have been squashed in a bag in the boot often come out creased. Soft, stretchy fabrics handle it better than stiff materials. Roll your clothes instead of folding them, so they take up less room and get fewer sharp folds. You look tidy when you step out at the next stop.

Pack smart in the car

Keep a small day bag on the back seat with what you need for the day's drive. An extra layer, a pair of socks, water and the clean set for the evening. The rest can stay in the boot. That way you do not unpack the whole car each time you stop somewhere new.

Washing on the road

On a long trip you will run out of clean clothes sooner or later. Underwear and socks can be washed in the hotel sink and hung to dry overnight. Thin, soft fabrics dry faster than thick ones. Use a mild detergent, wring gently and hang the items with air around them.

Frequently asked questions

What matters most on a long car trip

Underwear without hard seams and a thin layer that copes with the heat from the window. Keep a clean set at hand as well, so you can change when the day is over.

How often should you take a break

Every two hours. Ten minutes out of the seat changes the whole day, because your back, legs and concentration all get a rest before you drive on.

Should you change during the trip

With two stages in one day, it is worth changing at lunch. Clean underwear and a fresh pair of socks take five minutes and make the second half noticeably easier.