How much clothing do you take on a trip.

Space in a VW is limited, so I’ve gradually refined down to get it all into an EasyJet carry-on size bag, then with sub-bags: undies/socks; night attire; tee/polo shirts; spare shorts or jeans. I now wear zip-offs regularly, so that’s two in one. A small calico shopping bag for washing.
I plan an itinerary so there’s a campsite with laundry every ten days. I may carry another small bag with jumper and fleece: (September on the Rhine was particularly cold this year, and found myself longing for Provence. Then saw the Mistral was in full force.)
I’ve got a separate small box for boots and shoes: walking boots, Sketchers slip-on trainers, crocs for the shower trip. Waterproof jacket tends to live on passenger seat.
 
We went ‘naturist’ about 4 years ago and never looked back!! Minimum clothing required! Cheaper/ quieter camp sites, no soggy swimwear, fewer kids and the most friendliest people ever! We are fully converted and saving a fortune on clothes and fuel carrying it all around!!
 
Without me trying to be a trumpet-blower, you've captured it exactly, Birty. 30 years for us, and the icing-on-the-cake is the additional sense of freedom and relaxation that you get from camping. Wake up in the morning and walk straight out into the sunshine. Communal showers areas, no squirming about in cubicles ...

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On our last cruise, I actually managed to get OH down to one large case and a carry-on although there was some of her stuff in my case as well. I didn't bother with my penguin kit this time as we were 'slumming it' on Iona.
 
We always had a rule when going away with the children - you can only take what fits in your locker - because my teenage daughter wanted to bring her ‘penny’ skateboard. She managed to squeeze it in with 5 weeks of clothes! My husband tells me that the rule is still in place, even though the 3 children are adults and no longer come and we have loads of space. Invariably, I have a slight overspill into an adjacent locker if going for 5 or 6 weeks and he runs out of clean t shirts.
 
Reallyretired said:
We take enough socks and underwear for two weeks. Two sets of bedding and a laundrette every week or so. The only thing of mine in the wardrobe full of swmbo stuff is a decent shirt and pair of trousers which she insists I take, never worn yet.
Our occasional cruise is a different matter, 10 cases on the last one.
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We do not own enough clothes for 10 suitcases !!
 
newtonz said:
Without me trying to be a trumpet-blower, you've captured it exactly, Birty. 30 years for us, and the icing-on-the-cake is the additional sense of freedom and relaxation that you get from camping. Wake up in the morning and walk straight out into the sunshine. Communal showers areas, no squirming about in cubicles ...
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That fits in nicely, but what about trips to the shops and restaurants 🤔 No...you don't. Do you?
 
Birty said:
We went ‘naturist’ about 4 years ago and never looked back!! Minimum clothing required! Cheaper/ quieter camp sites, no soggy swimwear, fewer kids and the most friendliest people ever! We are fully converted and saving a fortune on clothes and fuel carrying it all around!!
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But this is Britain. With British weather.
I'm all for naturism but you're lucky if you get 2 weeks of the year here with suitable enough weather for it. Especially these last 2 summers.

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BikerGraham said:
Crickey mate that’s some luggage.
The hand luggage for us is always the alcohol luggage. No limit on Cunard 🤪🤪🥳🥳

Be interested in that 5 week cruise as thinking of taking similar on QV in 26.
👍👍
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Its with P&O dep 11 Jan on Iona. Same itinerary is on sale now for 2026. Very reasonable price.
 
I have 2 overhead lockers for shorts / jumpers etc. The dogs "stuff" takes up 2 lockers. Maps / books etc get a locker to themselves, as does Sharon's Dry Robe - bloody bulky thing that is. Sharon gets the last 2 overheads as well.
We share wardrobe space - plenty of separate shelving space for his / her underwear, my socks, and assorted small garments. The wardrobe hanging space is shared - about 75-25 in Sharon's favour. Shoes go on the wardrobe floor and in one of the side lockers.
We can pack "just enough" for 12 weeks away, covering all weather situations.
 
Me enough clothes to fit in a small carrier bag, her the whole wardrobe 😂
 
steve69 said:
Myself - being minimalist - tend to just pack enough for the time away. For a 10 day trip, or longer, say:
5 T-shirts (it's going to be nice weather obviously)...I wear each T-shirt for 2 days before washing.
Ditto underwear and socks.
2 pairs of jeans/trousers, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 towels, 2 pairs of footwear, 1 sweatshirt (just in case)
1 lightweight and 1 waterproof jacket.
That's about it. I do shower every day.

I recently went on holiday for the first time with an old friend. He could have filled a steamer trunk with all the clothes he insisted on taking. How I found the space for it all I'll never know.
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Join a naturist organisation, and the whole issue becomes moot. The bulky b****rs are the weather proof clothing required for uncertain weather!
 
How do those that claim to have no travel plans manage, they say they just exit the ferry and on a whim turn left or right, what if you end up in Norway or Spain, surely you don't pack enough clothes for every possible climate possibility, or do you?

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We do - as we travel through France in January, we have waterproof and winter-warm clothing. It is usually redundant for the rest of our journey to warmer climes, although next January we are heading for Morocco, so some of the winter-warm clothing will be handy for their cold nights.
 
steve69 said:
Myself - being minimalist - tend to just pack enough for the time away. For a 10 day trip, or longer, say:
5 T-shirts (it's going to be nice weather obviously)...I wear each T-shirt for 2 days before washing.
Ditto underwear and socks.
2 pairs of jeans/trousers, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 towels, 2 pairs of footwear, 1 sweatshirt (just in case)
1 lightweight and 1 waterproof jacket.
That's about it. I do shower every day.

I recently went on holiday for the first time with an old friend. He could have filled a steamer trunk with all the clothes he insisted on taking. How I found the space for it all I'll never know.
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Good advice, which I always do, but then doubt creeps in, and it always ends up to much, but Brexit restricted that cos I can't get away with over staying anymore.
 
Never take anything that will not fit into the emergency sqidge bag that you do not want to leave behind.

Remember it the van is getting repatriated you'll be come home separately.
 
We take the same amount of clothes we would expect to wear during the same period spent at home. We like to hang most outerwear so there are four hanging lockers on the van, one of which (photo attached) is as wide as the rear queen-sized bed. But then, we have a payload of more than a ton, which helps! If we're away for a fortnight or less we make sure that laundry is not necessary. Otherwise, we use laundry facilities at campsites or, sometimes, marinas.



Large Hanging Locker in Rear Cabin.webp

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Twice I've gone away with a selection of clothes but only the one shirt, the one I was wearing. It was a case of trying to find somewhere to buy another couple of shirts and 'cycle' them. This was before the motorhome, one camping with my car to Mull and the second time by motorbike to Eire. The second time I also lost my towel and had to borrow one from someone I vaguely knew who lived in the town where I was staying.
 
I'm embarrassed!

A spare pair of shorts.
A spare t-shirt.

Off when dirty.
Hand wash in bathroom sink.
 
I've spent years travelling light, mountain walking and motorcycling mainly though I've also did a bit of backpacking years ago. So I can do minimalist, but tend to take a bit more in the MH. I tend to pack 14 pairs of undies, 10 or 12 pairs of socks, 7 or 8 t-shirts plus 4 or 5 button up short sleeve shirts and a couple of rugby shirts, a couple of pairs of shorts, a pair of jeans, a pair of smart trousers, swimming trunks and swim shorts. So basically two weeks of clothes, we aim to wash every couple of weeks if we're away. I also take sandals, beach shoes and a pair of walking shoes - sometimes my walking boots. I nearly always bring home a few shirts that I haven't worn.

My wife starts with good intentions but always overpacks.

We use a duvet in the MH so take a spare cover and pillow cases and change weekly.
 
Minxy said:
Definitely ... we usually do 60 days away max and take 63 pairs with us (each I hasten to add!) ... better things to do on holiday than mess about doing washing!:oops:
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Wow! When we were planning our two month trip we had a count up; I only own 18 pairs and my wife owns about 20.

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Birty said:
We went ‘naturist’ about 4 years ago and never looked back!! Minimum clothing required! Cheaper/ quieter camp sites, no soggy swimwear, fewer kids and the most friendliest people ever! We are fully converted and saving a fortune on clothes and fuel carrying it all around!!
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I've tried persuading my wife to go naturist but she said then wouldn't leave the van. :ROFLMAO:
 
Have you not heard the last verse of my ‘Motorhome Song’?

‘Now the last thing I’ll say,
Can the boys turn away,
The rules about packing a motorhome.

You pack it alone,
When he’s not at home,
So he won’t see what goes in the motorhome’

To the tune of Messing about on the river.

I think us girls can say we’ve perfected the art … :rofl:
 
Dolmen said:
How do those that claim to have no travel plans manage, they say they just exit the ferry and on a whim turn left or right, what if you end up in Norway or Spain, surely you don't pack enough clothes for every possible climate possibility, or do you?
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The short answer to that is "layers"

The stuff that's in contact directly with you is the stuff that will need washing.

Three t-shirts / base layers (one you're wearing, one in the wash, one drying) is all you need for several weeks. Your outer jumper / warm layer doesn't need washing but you might want a spare in case you spill ketchup on it or whatever.

I've done trips that varied from borderline freezing to sub Saharan 25º + with that set up. If it's cold, add a layer. If it's hot, shed one.

Water / windproof outer layer helps more than you might imagine, as do base layers that keep you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather.

There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

Quality over quantity.

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