I speak as a man who once got an extra two hours in El Al security because he was travelling to Israel for ten days with just a backpack. They simply couldn’t believe me. Or I set off some flag. Screener…screener’s boss…to head of security for JFK. God alone knows what background checks they were doing on me while asking repetitive questions.
My theory has always been that clothes and such are disposable. A factor, I believe, of moving so much as a kid (10 schools before I got out of high school). Even in college at the end of each term I would mostly give stuff away to friends and passers-by if I could rather than move it back home.
These days, even though I’m more settled, when vacationing I’m more likely to go light and just buy some clothes at my destination rather than take my own. They’ll be cheap and disposable and it’s even money I bring them back.
Allow me to quote Emmet Swimming:
“I’m there with a cheap beach blanket
The kind you don’t take home!”
It really, really depends on the destination, the activities and the weather. Going to Costa Rica (next week, yay!) is a heck of a lot different that going to Pittsburgh.
I have no problem rinsing things out, and generally try to pack light.
But, I may not have time to let things dry out.
It’s interesting. My Wife is 5’2” and I’m 6’4” tall. I’ve a size 13 foot. My clothes take up a LOT of room compared to hers. It’s a bigger disparity than you might think.
As others have said, it depends on the purpose of the trip, but no matter what, I pack everything into a 22 inch long backpack.
I (female) leave the hair dryer at home, and really don’t bring much in the way of makeup or other maintenance type stuff, but sometimes it is kind of rough bringing only two pairs of shoes.
I voted that I do my own laundry (in the sink) and I do, but I have been known to have my laundry done during a 3-4 week jaunt through Europe. This is a treat and an indulgence and part of the fun of my trip.
I’m getting better about it as I get older and smarten up. I used to be terrible, not just with clothing, but with any other thing I might consider using on the trip.
No, Chimera, you don’t need to bring along half your house on a 2 day camping trip.
I pack enough so I don’t have to do laundry, unless I’m going to a relative’s house or staying somewhere that has ensuite laundry facilities. When I travel, I tend to stay in one hotel or home. I only ever have one suitcase, which goes from my house to the airport to the cab to the hotel. What do I care if it’s a little bit heavy? It beats trying to do laundry in a hotel room sink or rewearing soiled clothing.
I’m past the backpacking stage of my life, and travelling super light isn’t really necessary or desirable for me.
If we go on a trip that long, we’re typically moving around some, and packing light just makes life a lot easier. And I find taking an hour or two to do the laundry oddly restful. By the midpoint of the trip, I’m ready to just sit and chill for a bit, but if I spend a couple hours just lying around the hotel, I feel guilty, like I’m wasting my vacation. It’s kind of nice to have a couple hours that I’m obligated to sit on my ass doing nothing.
I haven’t flown in a long time, so next time I fly my answer is likely to be different. We like to take driving trips, so I can take as much stuff as I want, and I usually do. I take at least a half dozen books, and a pile of magazines I’m getting ready to get rid of. When they’re read and any articles/recipes I want to keep torn out, the magazines get pitched in the next gas station trash can. Also, my medication, toiletries, cosmetics, etc.: I could pare them down if necessary, but there’s plenty of room in the car. Next time I fly, there will be a new order of things.
Why am I going on the trip, what am I doing, and where am I staying? All these things matter.
If it’s vacation, and I don’t have to worry about carrying anything beyond getting it to and from the airport, I pack enough so that I don’t have to do laundry while I’m there. I wear some things more than once of course, but pack enough socks & underwear to have some for each day plus a spare or two. This has never gone beyond a single, regular sized suitcase that still weighed in under the 50lbs (I think) most airlines require (well, they charge you for more). If this vacation is, for example, to a lake-house where I’ll be in a bathing suit for a week, the packing is significantly lighter. A fancy vacation where I’ll want fancier clothes for a few nights out, then I’ll want more stuff.
If I’m going to my parents house (they live in NH, I’m in St. Louis), I’m more lax since I can do laundry whenever, and it’s just in the basement. A carry-on sized suitcase is usually fine for a week or less.
We pack as light as possible. Family of four, small car, leave a little room for stuff we buy on the trip… two or three changes of clothing max, find a washeteria while there. Last trip our daughter brought back a pink vacuum cleaner.
The worst thing for us to pack? Food. The cooler takes up a large part of the trunk. We take snacks and lunches so we don’t eat out a lot, and we need ice for extra insulin. The clothes take up just a little bit more room than the cooler!
I usually pack light if it’s a short trip or I’ll be moving from place to place. If the trip is at least a week long and I’ll be in one location, then I’ll pack more to ensure I’m ready for different weather, casual vs. dressy, etc.