No need to go overboard on underwear.
When packing for a trip, nervous travelers are known to pack plenty of items — just in case — yet never get around to using them.
People do this to make themselves feel prepared just in case something out of the ordinary happens while they’re away.
As one TikTok audio says, “But what if you s–t your pants? What if you s–t your pants every single day?” Or, as some women pointed out in the comments, what if you unexpectedly get your period? Many people feel the need to pack extras to plan for such surprise scenarios.
“The majority of travelers overpack underwear as it gives them a sense of comfort and reassurance,” Amanda Parker, a travel expert at U.K.-based travel company Netflights, told Travel + Leisure.
“For many travelers, packing extra underwear provides a sense of control, especially if they feel uncertain before traveling.”
Besides, underwear is a clothing item so small that it seems like it won’t take up too much space in your luggage.
But even small items like underwear can take up much-needed real estate in your bag.
To remove all doubt about how to achieve the perfect pack, Parker revealed a handy formula to help plan exactly how much underwear is needed for a trip.
“The ultimate hack you need to know when it comes to packing is that you need to pack three pairs of underwear more than the number of days of your holiday,” she said. “That’s the sweet spot! So if you’re going away for five days, pack eight pairs.”
The rule of thumb is simple — take the number of days of your trip and add three.
“The extra three act as your safety net, without overpacking and stuffing your suitcase,” Parker explained.
“So, just in case of unexpected swims, last-minute hikes, sweaty travel days, or even just the comfort of changing into a fresh pair before dinner, you’ll be covered!”
