Q re packing shirts: is it 5 plus the one wearing?

There's nothing sacred about a number. It just depends on how you want to handle laundry. I wash a few things every 1-3 nights, and do fine with 5 tops, including the one I'm wearing on the plane. (I travel in shoulder season, so I to be ready for a mix of weather. If you're traveling in summer, you could make do with even less.)

If you want to wash less often, or want to use the laundromat, bring more.

When people share their packing lists, it's the total amount going on the airplane whether on your body or in your suitcase.

To each his own. I could get by with 3, wearing one, plus additional garments as needed for active travel ( I.e skiing, trekking, bicycling etc). For winter, spring, fall (cooler seasons), wash quick drying undershirts and stretch wear time on outer shirts. You're on holiday. Who's checking to see if you wear the same shirt every other or third day?

For warm season travel, bring quick dry shirts (and pants, shorts) that dry somewhat wrinkle-free and rinse more often.

More important to have dry socks than dry shirts and I can get buy with 3 pr of socks in case one pair takes more than a day to dry.

I agree that packing lists include everything going with you whether packed or on you. For me, 4 shirts including the one I am wearing is plenty.

Thank you all for your replies, they're most helpful.
Yes, I realize it's to each his/her own, depends on the season, how much work you want to do, etc.. We just wanted clarity on the suggested number is all.

Thanks!

Pack what you think you'll need. No one else's packing list can do it for you. For example, we carry along casual clothes, swimsuits, shirts/blouses, pants/jeans/shorts, sweaters (some areas are cool even in summer), rain gear and shoes for walking and for going to theater, symphony, ballet, etc. Obviously since we travel first class and never haul our own luggage around, we can get away with carrying more. If you plan to go cheap and have to haul your luggage around town and up stairs in cheaper hotels that have no bell staff and no elevator, you'll want to carry the bare minimum and wash it often. A lot depends too on the sort of activities you plan to do. We dress casual for walking around and hiking and more formal for the opera or symphony.

Terri Lynn likes to let us know that she travels at a different level and life style than the majority of us on this site. Which is fine because it works well for her but those trying to travel lighter it is not practical. And I take some offensive at the idea that if we do anything less than Terri Lynn, we are going cheap. It is a different travel style and not cheapness. We tend to wear one and pack two changes of clothes plus a few extra items - like two extra shirts - to keep the weight in the 20 lb range. My guess at his list is wear one, pack 4. Same as we do except that we were doing it years before he was.

I wanna be a front-door traveler when I grow up...

When I make a packing list, it is what to put in my suitcase, so I won't leave anything out when I'm packing. I'm not likely to leave without wearing clothes, but elsewhere on the page, I do have a "wear list", and it include things like my moneybelt and passport. Everything on the pack list has been previously weighed, as well as my empty bag, so I know what my packed bag will weigh. This parts is probably unnecessary now since I've gotten the weight down to about 11-12#, packed, but for someone who pushes the limit, that could be important.

I might have seen Terri Lynn in Berchtesgaden, in front of the Four Seasons. The main floor of the Four Seasons is one level above the street, apparently, because there is a wide staircase leading up one floor from the street to an entry. The woman was standing at the top of the stairs talking to a man standing on the sidewalk with one of the largest wheeled bag I have ever seen. "Well", she said to him, "you'll just have to pick it up and carry it."

I agree with Lee about my packing list: I say what goes in the suitcase, not what I'm wearing. I guess I take the word "packing" literally.

And packing light isn't cheap, it's efficient. I do have a question for Terry Lynn: how does one "never" carry one's own luggage?

Obviously it depends on how you use your list. My list includes everything with a star next to items I am wearing going over. But what I think is critical is having the list. For both of us we spending our time working the list so that actually packing is a fairly easy, simple one hour task. We do use zip lock bags and mark what does in each bag. Double check against getting everything in the bag. Everything in our bag is packed in another bag. We have nothing loose in our bag. Probably a carry over from backpacking days.

...how does one "never" carry one's own luggage?

Fans on the Masterpiece " Downtown Abbey" series saw how the the "tenth of a percenters" of the Edwardian Age travel. The butler and footmen carry the luggage. Those who saw last week's second to last episode would have seen a large pile of bags and hat boxes lashed to the back of the auto.

On this side of the pond, the Longwood Gardens country home of the General Motors Dupont had a display of the lady of the house's overseas travel pile of steamer trunks, suitcases and hat boxes. I suspect the Mrs Dupont didn't carry luggage let alone cut wood or carry water.

International first class air allows two free checked bags and I believe even two carry-on bags plus personal. Something for the little people to think about.

Veras,

Rick's packing list is his suggestion... You &/ or your husband may choose to pack 6 shirts instead of 5 ;-)

I actually pack 6-7 tops (among the other clothes suggested) & plan to do laundry every 6-7 days while traveling.
I also pack 6-7 pairs of socks & underwear-- they are small & fit in the corners of my suitcase.

Zoe, well said! -- "packing light isn't cheap, it's efficient "

One of the big issues that is never addressed in this discussion is, "How big are you?" Most of this discussion assumes we are in the normal range. I have cousin that is a former lineman for the SF49ers. One pair of his jeans weight twice as much as mine and take up three times the space. Really big people will have a very had time fitting into one small carryon and 20lbs. Just a law of physics.

I pack 2 pairs of pants and 4 shirts, 3 pairs of socks and 3 pair of undies. All of these are polyester/nylon material so I can wash them in the sink and they dry in ~6hrs. The other things I pack is a very light weight Marmot water-proof jacket with hood & a Kuhl fleece pull over. I only take one pair of shoes with me. Add my toiletry bag and liquids zip lock bag and I am good to go for 2-3 weeks. I do laundry every third night. (be sure to get a fleece that packs very flat, some of them can be quite bulky)

Big vs small.

...one small carryon and 20lbs .

Lufthansa's carry-on weight limit is 8kg, about 18 pounds. The good news is that if the big people's strength is proportionate to their weight, the gate agents may not suspect that their bag is overweight.

With each trip I take I find I'm able to allow myself to pack lighter, last year for a 2 week trip in summer I think I brought 8 or 9 tops--and ended up wearing the same 5 and washing, so that tells me 5 or 6 is more reasonable for me--but I needed to see the process in action to feel comfortable with it, if that makes sense.

Absolutely, it makes a lot sense. I have always posted that packing light is learned behavior. Most travelers do not believe they can do it until they have actually done it. And some never try.

depends on season. just got back from 16 days england and france. was pretty cool with some rain. wore one shirt, packed 3 and 4 tshirts (1 used as pj top) the rest used under a sweater. layered depending on weather tshirt, sweater and light jacket or light rain jacket or all of the above if needed!

Whether one has servants or bell-staff or an unfortunate pack mule of a husband to handle one's bags, it just doesn't make sense to haul every last thing you think you might need on vacation. If you've done your research you get a pretty good idea and go from there. If the hotel catches fire no one's saving your bags but you.

FWIW, I normally take two long sleeve and two short sleeve shirts, one of which I'm wearing. As someone mentioned earlier, there's nothing special about the number. The answer will depend somewhat on individual circumstances. Some people perspire more in hot weather, so for them and extra shirt or two may be advisable.

How much crap you haul with you has nothing to do with your financial status, or your intelligence for that matter. You can only wear one outfit at a time, and if you are smart, you can plan that outfit well.

I am leaving home... not taking it with me:)

Bill... are you sure??? Look who you would miss out on!

I have always thought Ricks packing lists had too much stuff. I usually have a couple pair of pants, maybe a Capri, and four tops....including what I am wearing. I take silk long underwear and camisole, which I use to sleep in, or under my clothes if it is chilly. I take a rain jacket and a lightweight fleece. Walking shoes and sandals. A couple scarves.

The important thing is that the clothes are made for travel...meaning they can be washed in the hotel sink and dry overnight. Many good resources for this...

Www.travelsmith.com
Www.llbean.com
Www.rei.com

To name a few. Good walking shoes are critical! Ecco, Reiker....something in a dark color that can be worn day or night. And 3 pair of smart wool or other good sox.