Hi to all but I think this is one for the girls.  I am terrible as a holiday packer and always take way too much clothes with me.  Any thoughts on how much/how little to take when we are looking at about 3-5 months on the road?  cheers Ann

hi Ann I would be the worst to ask !! always take far toooooo much !!! Some people say to take 4 sets of clothes, and one good set, and, sandals, thongs, walking shoes and one other pair, me I take everything!!! Good luck with it anyway and have a great time on the road !! Val

Since I'm the first to answer then I'll ask the obvious question then let others give you an answer.
Where are you going, North or South? What seasons? and what weather will you be travelling in?

Cheers
Jon

From experience, just completed 5 months on the road, we figure we could adequately get by with 7 changes of undies, and four changes of everything else.

One, maybe two, warms stuff changes depending on time of year you are on the road, walking shoes, sandals and a pair to just slop around in going to the shower etc.

Now that I have said that I am going to have to practice what I preach for the next trip aren't I...........lol

Hopefully we will be heading off July/August, not necessarily up QLD. on the Pacific Highway, possibly inland.

If going up into the heat make sure you have sleeveless as well as short sleeve and long sleeve. I always find I need long sleeve for the evening, not so much for the cool but in case staying where there are mozzies etc. Also a long sleeve light weight jacket, very necessary for evening walks. Walking shoes, slop around shoes, thongs and dress shoes. I always take too much but have only travelled by car so far and stayed with people. You can always op shop along the way if you don't take enough, I bought some gorgeous clothes on my last visit to Bundaberg, Great op shops there. Also will need long pants, 3/4 pants and maybe shorts (not me with my legs).

From practice, it really does not matter whether you are travelling for one month or five.

You just re-wear everything. Ensure you don't have too much that needs ironing.

One good frock for that unexpected evening affair (may or may not ever get used) - see my avatar for my one good frock. I call it my patio frock, and never have to iron it. Has been camping with me on several trips and just pull it "out of the box"

If travelling into summer, make sure you have long sleeved light weight cotton shirt to wear when hiking. The sun in the north can be pretty harsh, and this protects you from the elements and insects. Dont forget a hat. Pair of comfy jeans - can be dressed up or down.

Along with the previous responses, you should have a pretty good idea now of what to start thinking about packing.

having said all that, when we take off, we have to take everything with us, summer, winter and everything in between. Wet, dry, office clothes, farm work clothes, casual, good..... shoes to go with all the above - as we won't be coming back, and will be working as we go

Yep, Dunmowin, we will also be in the same situation as yourselves, on this last trip, although only 5 weeks, we became aware of what to take and what no to, so I think I will be doing quite a lot of culling between now and when we hit the road for good. We found around the 4 of each summer & winter, plus lots of undies etc. and it goes without saying that the bedsocks got thrown in as well!!

A week and a half's worth of warm weather clothes and half a week's worth of cold weather (because you can always pad out with a jumper). Assuming you are travelling around, you can wear the same clothes over and over each week and no-one will know the difference (except perhaps for your loving travel companion, and are they really likely to notice?) At most a single 'dress-up' outfit.

7 days of undies etc is not enough - if you wash once a week you need a minimum of 8 days worth, plus you may use more than one set in a day if the weather is particularly hot and humid or you go out at night.

Essentials are a good pair of runners, a warm windcheater/jumper and a light one. We do lots of bush walking so have polo shirts with collars rather than collarless t-shirts, plus these tend not to look like rags quite so quickly....

Do not pack anything that needs dry cleaning or hand washing or stockings.

Don't forget your bathers.

I have started culling already, lots of office clothes going to a charity called "suited for work" which helps disadvantaged ladies get back into the workforce. Our company has chosen this charity to support this year, so have found lots of shoes, bags, clothes & blings to discard to them.

Endeavour Foundation, Athsmar foundation & the Blind all have bins near where I work, so have a bag in the boot of 15 yo camry allways ready to put into one of these bins.

I have a fetish for coats & boots, so having problems in culling in that area.

I also always take too much, but had a win the other day when hubby decided he hadn't brought enough clothes. My tip is - Don't go out and buy lots of clothes to take away. Its always fun picking up a special along the way and you don't feel guilty. It's amazing how many more great specials you can find when you have plenty of time and are just brousing around the shops. Its also good later as you can think "I bought this in ......."

do what we do,,,, put all of your clothes on the bed,, then put 2/3s back in the wardrobe and take half of whats left,,, if we find that we need something that we should have taken well we just find a shop and buy it
bb

Leave them at home, it gives you a good excuse to go OP Shopping.

beachball57 wrote:

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do what we do,,,, put all of your clothes on the bed,, then put 2/3s back in the wardrobe and take half of whats left,,, if we find that we need something that we should have taken well we just find a shop and buy it
bb

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cant do that, wont have a wardrobe left to put anything back into

 

When i retired I said to management "I am not going to buy any clothes until all those i have turn to rags". Its been 18 months now so I have a perfect fishing/camping wardrobe. Its all so thin it dries in minutes.

You can only wear one set of clothes at a time. Then there are washing machines, or you can wash by hand. Shorts and t/shirts or singlets and tank tops. Tracky dacks for around the camp in the cool days and evenings. Jeans or cotton pants will do the job. "Flanno" shirts cover a lot of occasions when it's cool. For the ladies a blouse over a tank top will also keep the draft off the shoulders. I have camp clothes and going out clothes, for summer and winter. I live this way all the time, and I've lived in the tropics since '96, with an occasional visit to the south in winter or spring. When I went south in June I didn't have enough warm clothes to keep out the SA cold. Yet I have too much clothes. There's no room for anyone else's gear in my van. Unless you plan to go to dinner and dancing you don't need formal clothes. Neat casual with sandals or shoes will get you in to clubs and hotels anywhere except the very finest place for a formal occasion. Please throw high fashion out the window unless you have heaps of cupboard space. Only you will care. You can still look really nice and well dressed.