What to Wear for Men

What Kent said - but if you're having diffculty getting eveything ito the hand luggage alowance ..... lose the socks

Men have it too easy, I am not helping them, LOL
They get to wear big ugly comfortable shoes , and it doesn't matter as they don't have to wonder how their shoes will look with their dresses and skirts,, LOL
They can wear pants with lots of pockets( cargo type) and not worry that all the pockets make them look fat and lumpy.

They only need two pairs of shoes, as I said, no need for " dress" shoes.

Mens fashions are pretty static, pants and top , pants and top, pants and top,, LOL< Women are always trying to figure out what length skirt to bring, what colors are "in" , and we don't like the idea of wearing the same outfit more then 2 or 3 times but a man would wear the same outfit every single day for two weeks( " whats the problem, I 'm never gonna see those people again" ) , as long as it was washed in between, they simply are not as uptight.

Well refusing to help is not the spirit of this board,, so ,
Men should pants and a top.
there, I helped.

Actually I still follow one of the cardinal "man rules"...if it isn't too wrinkled and doesn't smell bad...wear it! ;)

Actually I have had great success with docker style slacks for travel. I buy the "no iron" versions, they wash by hand well. And there are some available these days with Scotchguard "no stain" treatments. I pack boring colors, khaki and black, as they are easy to match with shirts.

We are, after all, just guys...and if our clothing options are simple that would be because so are we!!

it's GOOD to be the guy!.....

Skip

It's way easier for men! My daughter and I have been agonising over our wardrobe. We want to pack light, but not look like Rick Steves. No offense, but every DVD I look at with him, he goes about with the same blue/green shirt and khakis, lol

My husband said he's going for that look. If he does, I shall call him Rick :-)

I'm not an expert, but this is what I'd suggest: black pants, khakis, or dark wash well-fitting jeans, button up collared shirts (plain or thin striped), plain colored t-shirts, and a pair of black or brown shoes that can be dressed up or down. It is also good to keep logos/words to a minimum on shirts.

Rick has a packing list under "travel tips" on this website. Start there.

Pat you've got us men figured out. I have used the "I am never going to see those people again" line many times to justify my deficiency in my travel clothes. Shirts, pants, shocks and shoes. That is why I never have to check a bag. Oh, you forgot the belt. Get a reversible brown/black belt and you are all set to for your khakis and black pants. No offense to the fashion concious but if my one pair of shoes don't always match my pants or belt then I apply the aforementioned "I am never going to see....well, you know the rest.

If you are going to pack light:

Two pairs of pants, Microfiber golf pants in a couple of neutral colors are perfect.
A swimsuit with pockets to double as shorts.
A pair of walking shoes that can dress up for dinner.
A pair of light shoes or sandals for other activities.
Two or three button up shirts made of modal, rayon or washable silk, Neutral colors that can mix and match.
Two or three t-shirts made of tec fabric that dries quickly, Neutral colors that can mix or match.
Two lightweight crewneck or v-neck sweaters made of acrylic or washable wool, darker neutral colors, you can layer both if it gets cold.
A rainproof, windproof shell with a hood (no lining).
Three pairs dark socks that mix and match with pants and have little or no cotton for quick drying.
Three pairs underarmour underwear that washes and dries quickly.

That's all you really need for clothes. It fits easily in a carry on and allows me to feel appropriately dressed through a wide range of activities.

My husband wears 1 pair and packs 2 of cotton blend dockers-type pants. He wears a polo( in winter a denim button up) and packs 2. He wears 1 pair socks and underwear, pack 2 each. He takes a hooded windreaker in summer a wears a leather jacket in winter with a hat and gloves. In winter he also wears full(top and bottom) long-johns. He does not take extra shoes- wears solid black leather "trainers". Then he takes all his electronic "stuff". Without that "stuff" his suitcase weighs less than 6 lb- with, less than 10.

Brad, I think that is about as good of a packing list as I have ever seen.
Men are so lucky, but ok, who cares what men are wearing anyways,, women actually dress for other women and we know most men don't care what other men are wearing either.
Women , we are defeated by our vanity,, if only we had no shame, like men ,, LOL

Ditto Kents comments...

also agree with the 2 pants (lite), 3-4 button shirts (long or short - one nice one for fancy dinner - all NO iron!) A few t-shirts preferably the new-cotton-quick dry blend with odor guard! (so we can continue exhaustive beer research instead of doing sink laundry). Merino wool Socks (3-4 pair!) and your choice of Exoffico underwear (3-4 pair) or underarmour if thats how you roll... but gotta have quick dry and odor block too (again - allows for more beeresearch!) I add a merino-wool sweater and long shirt from Icebreaker (30 days 1 shirt fame) and also a great pair of shoes (ecco or merrel) and a greal water=proof gortex or similar jacket/shell (like Mountain Hardwear!) The rest is camera and guide book and all the stuff the girls cant carry in their bags!! :)

Kim,

I use "travel friendly" Tilley clothing almost exclusively on trips. Most of their line is robust, can be washed in a hotel room sink and doesn't need ironing. Also, the line seems to be designed for easy "mix and match" use.

I usually try to keep the weight down with two pairs of trousers (one zip-off), two LS and two SS shirts, four pairs of socks,etc. I usually only take one pair of Shoes (the pair I'm wearing) but lately I've included a pair of flip-flops for Hostel showers (they don't take up much room), a pair of shorts, one T-shirt and a bathing suit.

Have a look at their web site or catalogue.

Happy travels!

The key thread in all of the above is to pick a small array of nuetral pants and button shirts that mix and match and can double as comfortable casual wear and as semi-dress wear for a decent restaurant or more formal event. Shoes the same, a sturdy black or dark brown comfortable shoe (Dexter, Red Wing, etc) Shorts, Sandals, t-shirts only as sleep, swim, or underwear. Keep it light, light, light, three pairs of pants (one you wear, two packed) are plenty; shirts: just a few, maybe even pick up a cheap one along the way. If you want to splurge on something, make it socks and underwear.

Brad, what are microfiber pants, and where to you find them? Are they hard to find? And as to the shirts you recommend, again where do you find them?

I know these are probably silly questions, but I honestly don't know.

Kim - Silk boxers are good for the quick dry factor. As for the shoes and matching them to clothes, European men are not so matchy matchy as North American men. They will wear black pants and brown shoes and often times pull this off quite well. Of course, after 4 trips over there, my husband is still very matchy matchy. It is good to have a change of shoes in case you get wet or your feet give out. Will someone please tell me what underarmour is? I could google this but I think what you will have to say could be far more interesting. Pat - best.post.ever.

I forgot one important piece.

I also bring a very light-weight pair of warm up pants. They are good as pjs. To wear to the bathroom at a hostel or to wear while doing your laundry. They pack to almost nothing in your carry-on.

Underarmour is a brand of underwear and t-shirts made of non-cotton material.

Brad, thanks....ANOTHER great tip!

You should write a book...I know I'd buy a copy!

Are the microfiber pants lighter then cotton blends? I'm just curious...

I'm generally on board with Tom's comments except that I tend to dress up a little more. I have a black pair of slip on ecco's that are both dressy and comfortable (best walking shoes I've ever owned). I usually take two pairs of summer weight wool pants...(Brooks Brothers)...these pack well, are very comfortable even in the heat, and after hanging for a few hours, most of the wrinkles disappear. Match them with a couple of dress shirts (you could even pack a tie if you wanted...I don't). My sandels are ecco's and I carry two very light weight knee length shorts. I bought the shorts, the eccos and two micor fiber tees in Denmark a couple of years ago...they work great. My RS back door bag with all of its contents weighed in at just a little over 17 lbs last year (and that included 2 hide away totes).

I saw someone use this on another travel website, so I thought I'd try it.

Copy the link below and paste in the address line above to see a visual pack list.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=1440268

It's not exactly what I pack. I buy most of my stuff on sale so it's hard to find a current link on the web. Hopefully it will give you some ideas.

Wow, I don't know what I like more...being able to see the type of clothing Brad selects for traveling light...or a website that allows him to do that...

VERY COOL!!!!! ;)

Rick Steves has an excellent packing list for men - it has certainly worked for me the last 5 trips to Europe - look elsewhere on the Graffiti Wall for a connection to it or use the "Search" feature. Good luck, charlie