Packing light for men--two pair of trousers---really????
 

My husband and I are trying to pack lighter with each trip---at least I am. Most of the sites for packing lists state the number of pants for men to be 2 pair whether it's a trip for one week or several.

Ron and I pack our clothes together between two suitcases so if one suitcase gets delayed/lost we both have clothes in the surviving luggage. I also carry a change of tops and underwear for each of us in my carryon.

I'm suggesting that he should only be packing two pairs of pants (actually increased to a third which is a pair of dress pants) I know he thinks I'm being stingy with his clothing space in the suitcase---we've been married 40 years---I know what he is thinking ;;)

If you are trying to pack light, how many pairs of pants would a man be packing for a 4 week trip to France in September. We will be doing sightseeing in the Loire region and Paris, no hiking, biking or water activities this trip. Three pairs of trousers should be sufficient, right???

Thanks for any comments/opinions you can give supporting my efforts to pack lighter. I'm willing to toss in another pair of Ron's pants if recommended ;;) Deborah

I'd say the same amount of pants as you will be bringing would suffice.

The alternative would be you pack his clothes and he pack yours.

Three pairs of trousers is plenty since he will be wearing a pair (at least I hope he's getting on the plane wearing trousers)! LOL So that makes four pairs total.

I really think 3 trousers is enough, including what he wears to get there.

I bring two pairs of shorts and one pair of long pants on every trip. We use carry on only. I now know from reading Fodors that I look like a dork on vacation. :))

I look like a dork, too, Cold. ;) I will definitely not be appearing in the next issue of Vogue with my jeans and fleece pullovers, but I could care less.

We pack for a week-long trip, whether we're gone for a week or four.

We do carry-on only, too (each bag weighs about 20 lbs), and only bring one pair (gasp!) of pants/jeans each -- knowing we'll do laundry while we eat breakfast one day.

adrienne, actually it was 3 total--wearing one pair and packing two--and we will have a washing machine available for most of our trip.

apersuader--your alternative is NEVER going to happen ;;) I'm bringing only two pairs of pants but Ron points out I have my skirts and dresses as well. Packing doesn't have to be equal in numbers--Ron's stuff is heavier and larger than mine ;;)

colduphere--there are no dorks on Fodors ;;)

Deborah

DH takes 3 pairs for summer hols of over a week - 1 as part of a linen mix suit which he travels in & then wears with a dark t shirt in the evenings plus 2 cotton or linen pairs for daytime, wearing each for a week at a time before washing.

Sorry, your husband is right. You are being stingy. He should get as many pieces as you get. Heck, given the likely fact that he sweats more than you, he should probably get more. That he is bigger is irrelevant.

Bear in mind that packing light, for a man, entails looking like Rick Steves.

I think 2 is stingy; 3 or 4 should be OK-hopefully some in lighter weight fabric so they pack easier.

My husband usually brings just two or three (one for "dress"), but the man can live for a week in one pair of jeans. If it's summmer and we'll be in the countryside, he throws in a pair of shorts.

I myself think three or four is perfect, assuming one of those is worn on the plane.

My husband (English but fairly smart) wears one pair and packs another pair for our ten-day trips to Italy. He has never needed more.

Hi DA,

>how many pairs of pants would a man be packing for a 4 week trip to France in September. <

I would pack one pair light and one pair dark trousers.
One sports jacket, one dress shirt and one pair dress slacks.

((I))

ha ha ha -- "packing light, for a man, entails looking like Rick Steves."

We're just testing our packing for a bit over a September month trip. My DH is taking 3 pair of trousers, one pair of walking shorts, and wearing a pair of blue jeans on the plane. Everything is washable. His will need to fit a carryon as well. All my stuff is in my carryon, and not straining it, either. (whew).

We did November in France last year (heavier clothes required) with 2 carry-ons and 1 checked bag. We learned we didn't need that much.

DH probably looks more like Rick Steves than Tony Bourdain, but then I'm no Giada di Laurentis, either.

2 pairs of trousers is plenty for me, keeping in mind that one of them will be jeans that I can wash if necessary (and wearing them damp is by far the fastest way to dry them, although this might not be a good idea during the winter).

Two pairs is plenty for me, too and it DEPENDS on which trousers you take.

I usually take a pair of black cotton trousers which can be transformed into shorts (if it is really hot and a whole bunch of absurd Fodors fashion police aren't hiding out in the manholes with cameras) and they can easily be WASHED OUT and dried overnight and worn again the next day.

". . .and wearing them damp is by far the fastest way to dry them. ."

Well, this is definitely the case when your alternative is a French dryer.

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travelgourmet on Aug 30, 11 at 11:12am
Bear in mind that packing light, for a man, entails looking like Rick Steves.
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I wear one pair and pack one pair for a month or more of travel. Charcoal slacks and dress shoes. Rick Steves wears frumpy khakis and white socks with his hiker shoes.

Thank you for all the helpful comments. I think Ron should be comfortable wearing one pair and packing two pairs of pants.

carolyn_edinburg, I like the travel style of your husband. I wish I could get Ron to wear linen pants or shirts--I like the look but he doesn't.

Ron does a kind of Rick Steves look because he packs a couple of RS travel shirts but never khakis for Europe--on Ron khakis are "dirt magnets" Thanks again, Deborah

Just had 3 weeks in UK,Europe & China, one pair on, 2 pair packed, and 2pr shorts. One pair never got taken out of suitcase. Yes we did have washing machines in 2 places.
Pack light, if you get caught short buy a pair. I brought 2 pair but never wore them. Very cheap shopping with sales every where.