Now that my gear packing list is all but finalised, I’m up to deciding on the clothing I should be taking with me to Europe. At home this is normally a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, simple right? No need for the extra options that girls contend with like skirts, bra’s etc…
Other travel blogs are quick to suggest clothing advice (which you take with a grain of salt to some degree) because it worked for them. To me clothing is a personal thing. Sites say to take zip off pants with 50 pockets and so forth because they are practical, but really that’s just painting a big target on your back saying TOURIST HERE. Not that you won’t look like one anyway, but I’d like to make it at least a little less obvious.
All over the world people wear clothes that are comfortable and practical. Your jeans and t-shirt are just as common in Australia as they are in America, its only the brand that changes.
Hiking gear has its benefits, I just don’t see how walking the streets of Paris has anything to do with hiking, especially when everybody else is wearing just the same thing you would back home. If its comfortable to begin with, walking 2 or 10 kilometres a day shouldn’t matter.
There is a couple of points I think we all should take note of though. One is to pack for the weather conditions expected and not for every season. You can always buy more if needed, the rest of the world does sell cloth’s just like back home you know.
As I’ll be hitting Europe around May/June I can expect to find a temperature range some where between 10-20 degrees celsius. To me that says pants and t-shirt, with a jacket for the really cold days. I’ll take a pair of shorts too, and if I find there are more hot days then first though I can just buy another pair. Why pack for all conditions when you already know what season your travelling into? This helps keep your options simple and leads into my next point.
The second point is thrown about as the holy grain of travel and somewhat of a competition. Travel light and your some sort of god, not to mention saving your back from hours of pain. You can’t really argue with it either I mean nobody wants to carry about 50+ pounds in their backpack do they? (Isn’t that right Wes). So while most of your clothing from back home can fit that mould, you need to be conscious of space and weight when making the final choice.
Like I said before take all clothing advice with a grail of salt, my words included. Everybody is different and has their own ideas and preferences to what they pull on in the morning, this is just my thoughts on the topic.
With all that said and done here is my current list of clothing that will accompany me to Europe.
4x Boxers
4x Socks
1x Jeans
1x Casual Dark Pants
3x T-Shirt’s
1x Polo Shirt with Collar
1x Light Casual Jacket
1x Waterproof Jacket
1x Shoes – Study Sole
1x Thongs – Shower
1x Shorts
1x Singlet
1x Sleepwear
All items of clothing will be of the darker shades because how much fun is it going to be getting a stain out of whites clothes when dark clothes can hide it. Also feel free to offer suggestions on something I have forgotten or should change.
Once my final list is set, both my gear and clothing list will be combined and I will create a pdf document you can download to help prepare for your own trip.
Every other packing list I’ve read (which isn’t many, its up to me what I pack right?) has said no jeans. I always wear jeans, I want wear jeans, I think I will take some jeans.
I agree Poi. If I’m going out somewhere and needs to wear pants, I’m wearing my jeans at home. Why change my entire way of life just because I’m going travelling.
If your wearing your jeans half the time they aren’t adding to the weight in your pack now are they? Like I also said, clothes shops are everywhere just buy something else if they aren’t working for you.
Clothes will come and go while travelling I think so as long as your willing to discard if needed who cares.
The problem with jeans is the fact that they are heavier and take a long time to dry. It also depends on your travel style. Jungle trekking or city hopping… quite different.
.-= Brooke vs. the World´s last blog ..Yesterday Was My Anniversary =-.
I didn’t pack jeans but a few days ago I caved and bought a pair because I missed them so much.
Yup, they take forever to dry and are a bit bulkier in the pack but I’ll take personal comfort over the ‘traditional travel pants’ any day. I’ve also noticed that I get mistaken for a local occasionally since I started wearing clothes I bought here as well, it’s wonderful to not immediately be spotted as a tourist.
So I’d say take the jeans if they’re comfortable!
.-= Catia | Vagabond Roots´s last blog ..Packing List for Round the World Travel =-.
Hi Catia. While I doubt I’ll ever be mistaken for a local its nice to know just changing what you wear can adjust how people see you.
With my intention to live in the UK I’m also expecting to buy a few things as I go, slowly discarding the stuff I brought with me.
Hey Brooke. I hear you on the drying time for jeans and it does worry me a bit. I’m also aiming to be in europe as it begins to warm up so hope that will help and I’m not below finding a laundry mat to dry them.
Yeah, just be prepared to pay for it. Laundromats are kind of costly – 4 Euro for a dry? Not sure about exchange rates now.
.-= Brooke vs. the World´s last blog ..Vegemite: The Aussie Version of Peanut Butter =-.
Oh really, hmm guess I’ll pray for some warm weather then. Thanks as I didn’t expect it to be that much.
I took a pair of jeans with me on my trip and ended up leaving them behind once I got to Ireland. After that I realized life without jeans isn’t the worst things that’s ever happened to me! LOL. I just had two pairs of hybrid travel pants (zip off to shorts when needed). Interesting topic… Jeans or No Jeans… HMM.
This is good advice. I always end up bringing too much, which works for me. I’d rather have a choice of what to wear than get sick of seeing myself in the same clothes. Question – the photo of all the clothes – is this an actual pile that you’ve packed before? I sure can’t get that money clothes stuffed into my suitcase.
I actually just wrote a some-what related piece yesterday on my blog, about items to bring along to ensure your feet don’t fall off your body when traveling.
.-= Sabina´s last blog ..Traveling Pain – When Shoes Aren’t Made For Walking =-.
Sabina I hate the idea that all of my pictures will show me in one or two outfits but really it will only be in photos. While travelling I’ll be meeting new people everyday so they won’t have a clue 🙂
hehe no that isn’t a photo of my clothes its just one I grabbed off flickr to make my point. I don’t even think I own that may clothes. I’ll have to check out your blog post too as I’m a bit behind with my reading.
I’m a bit in a different camp – I’m overpacking a little bit and bringing some clothes for multiple seasons. A few reasons – one, I can load it on my bike so as long as I don’t go crazy, a couple extra pounds won’t be noticeable. Second, since it’s stuff I already own, I’d rather make the choice to shed stuff along the route and save a few dollars while I’m traveling. Third, some of my stuff is cycling gear that cost a few bucks so I’d like to use it.
I’m also thinking about sending a 6 month clothing refresh by mail to a friend in Europe. $30 in postage can save me a couple hundred for stuff I already own and will probably need.
Now that is a smart friggin idea…Brilliant! In fact let me open a Guinness in honor of that great idea (to go along with the hoakey commercial)
Especially with the new ‘If it fits it ships’ the US post office is desperate for mail and sending some clothes to a friend you’ll visit along the way is enough not to be a burden to them but more than something to look forward to. This probably could go the same with books. Let your friends read through them while you travel and you have a new book to read along the way.
.-= Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..The Real Rio =-.
Joel mate where we differ is I’m just city hopping before landing in the UK to work. Your all ride your bike across the place so I can see why your taking the stuff you do.
I guess what I’m saying is that if your just wandering around different cities like you would back home why change something that works.
Don’t forget to bring a belt. You might be shedding some pounds too with all that trekking. 😉
Belt will defiantly be going Monica, I need something to keep my stomach in check.
Ahh I love it when guys say they are bringing thongs. Moving on from the juvenile snickering I agree with bringing jeans. if you love them, bring them.
Have you seen the Travel Show, Departures? It’s Canadian but I’ve heard a lot of non-Canadians talk about it. One of the guy always wears jeans, even in what appears to be really humid weather. Now that guy loves jeans.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..My Traveling Companion =-.
lol Ayngelina and I thought I was the juvenile around here 🙂 It’s just what we call your flip flops down here in Australia. Had I said g-string then we would be playing a whole different board game.
Can’t say I have ever heard of the show but might look it up. I know I’m comfortable in jeans so why not and it saves me a few bucks as I don’t need new pants.
Yeah, it’s all a matter of opinion and preference. Personally I’ll never travel like I did in England again…all comfty clothes and athletic wear. I stood out like a sore thumb.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..A Toast to Some Travellers: Round 2 =-.
Yeah Candice I’m leaving the runners at home. While the shoes I have bought are a nice mix they aren’t your everyday footwear.
I just want to attempt to look like I fit in so as to hide the awkward tourist that I am so going to be.
I like that you are taking jeans!
The weather will probably be more like 18 – 25 degrees I think when you arrive, may is usually pretty warm already. But taking a jacket for the colder days is always a good idea anyway!
.-= Elke´s last blog ..Brussels on Stage =-.
Hey Elke. See I knew I should have just asked you about the weather instead of relying on google 🙂 If the weather is going to be like that I may re-think my waterproof jacket and just go with the casual one.
I can’t speak much on mainland Europe, but when I lived in Ireland and Scotland, the charity shops were choice! If I could do it again, I’d pack much, much less and pick up clothes I needed as I went along.
Thx for the comment Matt. I didn’t even consider the charity shops. That’s an awesome way to pickup local clothes for a bargain price. Add’s more weight to what Elke said about the weather. If I need a weatherproof jacket I could look for one there. Cheers mate.
Well,you already might have hit Europe ,so useless to give you advice on that .By the way how was your trip.Did you enjoy the summer,though the summer is not that harsh in Europe as in Australia.