Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Breathability.
Normal cotton underwear is fairly breathable but it still holds in sweat. This
leads to that swampy feeling we've all experienced. Travel underwear allows more air circu-
lation and it also wicks sweat away from your body. These high-tech fabrics keep you to cool
and dry in all conditions. This is a huge benefit for travelers.
Breathability is also just as important during the winter. Remember, you still sweat when
it's cold. That sweat will chill you down—even when you are bundled up. High-tech materials
will wick the sweat away from your skin and it will help keep you warm and dry.
Odor control.
Many of these fabrics have natural anti-odor properties or a special antimi-
crobial coating. Those benefits speak for themselves.
Lightweight.
Travel underwear is made of extremely lightweight material, which means
less weight in your bag.
Great at home.
Even though they're made for travel, these underwear are so comfortable
that they're great for wearing long after your travels are over (which helps justify their price).
I know many people who have replaced nearly their entire underwear collection with travel
underwear.
The most popular underwear among travelers is the ExOfficio Give-N-Go series of travel
underwear. They are super breathable, comfortable, and only take a few hours to air-dry. They
offer multiple cuts and colors for both men and women. The biggest downside is the price.
Women's styles are generally around $15/pair and men's cost about $20/pair. However, you
can usually find them on sale if you spend a little time searching online.
Under Armour is another favorite brand of high-performance underwear among travelers
and they are priced similarly to ExOfficio. Other athletic companies manufacture similar per-
formance underwear.
If you don't like the feeling of synthetic fibers, merino wool is a great choice. However, be
warned because they are not cheap so expect to pay $35 to $50 per pair. If you choose to go
this route, the best reviewed brands are Icebreaker, SmartWool, and Minus33.
Footwear
Ohh shoes . . . why must they be so difficult? This is probably the area where people really
struggle. Without a doubt, the number-one priority should be comfort. You're going to spend
ten-plus hours each day on your feet and you will be miserable if your feet hurt. That means
you'll have to sacrifice a bit in the fashion department, but it's totally worth it. However, that
doesn't mean you have to completely forgo all semblances of fashion—but you will have to
search a bit.
The solution that many inexperienced travelers choose is to bring multiple pairs of shoes
for multiple situations. This is a mistake. Shoes are bulky, heavy, and they take up a lot of pre-
