Long Term Travel Packing List Essentials: Global Nomad Clothing Recommendations

Today we’re covering something we get asked often when traveling long-term: what do you pack for multiple months of travel?

Today’s post includes:

1. How to pack clothes for your own style of travel

2. Important considerations when choosing the best clothing for long-term travel

3. Best fabrics and brands for travel clothing (both for cold weather and for hot, humid climates)

4. Our recommended packing list for long-term travel (including the travel shirts, pants, dresses and skirts, socks, underwear, jackets, and shoes that we love the most)

Updated: April 2026. Originally published: December 2017

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. You don’t have to use our links to make your purchase, but we really appreciate it when you do! We also received complimentary items from Kuhl, Duer, and Bluffworks. All opinions are our own and we only recommend products we love.

Long term travel packing tips for clothing

Tip 1: Pack For Your Own Style of Travel

Everyone has their own preferences for how they like to travel. Let your gear enhance your travel experience, not hinder it.

Before you buy anything or start packing, take a minute to define what your trip will actually look like.

Are you:

• Moving frequently or staying in one place?
• Walking a lot or mostly using transport?
• Traveling in hot, humid climates or mixed weather?
• Dressing casually, or needing occasional “nice” outfits?

For example, we personally prioritize:

• Lightweight gear that doesn’t take up a lot of space
• Clothing that works across multiple situations
• Pieces we’ll wear again and again (not “just in case”)

A good rule of thumb here is to invest in great quality travel gear, especially for things you will use regularly like underwear, socks, shoes, etc..

Tip 2: Choose the right fabrics

Here are some important things to consider about travel clothing fabric…

1. Avoid cotton when possible

Pros of cotton:
– Feels great against the skin
– Typically cheaper material than merino wool and high-tech fabrics
Cons of cotton:
– Absorbs moisture too easy
– Does not dry quickly

In hot climates, cotton gets heavy and sticky. In cooler climates, it traps moisture and makes you colder.

One exception is if you love your jeans, bring one pair. Many travelers feel most comfortable in them, and that matters too.

2. Consider merino wool and high tech fabric blends (including ones with a cotton mix)

Pros of Merino wool:
– Naturally odor-resistant (wear more, wash less)
– Regulates temperature well
– Dries faster than cotton

Pros of Technical / performance blends
– Lightweight and breathable
– Moisture-wicking and quick-drying
– Often more durable for long-term use

Cons:
– Not everyone likes the feel of these fabrics
– Typically more expensive material, especially merino wool

These fabrics make it easier to pack fewer items, do laundry less often, and stay comfortable across changing conditions.

Tip 3: Pack multi-use clothing

The easiest way to pack lighter is to choose clothing that works in multiple situations.

Examples:
– Board shorts that can be used for swimming and casual wear.
– A dress that works casually or for formal situations.

Look for pieces that can:
– Go from day exploring to casual dinner
– Work for travel days and light activity
– Be dressed up or down with simple changes

Tip 4: Be selective

We’ve learned the hard way that if we wouldn’t like wearing something at home (it’s not comfortable or not our style), it’ll end up taking unnecessary space in the suitcase and not actually get worn.

When choosing clothing, aim for a balance of:

– Function (quick-dry, breathable, packable)
– Durability (holds up over months of use)
– Style (you feel comfortable wearing it)

Bonus tip: Read online product reviews when possible.

This helps us predict if products will actually do what they say they’ll do.

You can learn about the fit, the features, and look for patterns in the “most critical” reviews.

This is also why we provide recommended gear lists that we’ve tested ourselves or researched extensively – so you don’t have to sort through hundreds of options.

Tip 5: Use the 3-layer system for cold weather

If you’re going to be traveling in cooler climates – something we actually try to avoid – the best thing to do for yourself is learn how to layer properly. The goal: protect yourself from moisture to stay dry as well as warm.

All you have to remember is the 3 layer rule:

1. Base layer (next to skin): 
– Wicks moisture and keeps you dry
– Look for: merino wool or performance fabrics

2. Mid layer (insulation with breathability):
– Adds warmth, protects from wind
– Look for: fleece, lightweight down, or insulated tech fabrics

3. Outer layer (weather protection):
– Shields against wind and rain, doesn’t have to be heavy or insulated
– Look for: waterproof or water resistant with pit vents or breathable material/seams so you don’t overheat

What we personally pack:
– Lightweight running shirts as the base layer
– A soft, versatile hoodie we can wear on planes, cool evenings, or under the outer jacket
– A lightweight rain shell (easy to pack, weather-resistant)

Now that you know what to look for, next we’ll cover the specific pieces we personally use and recommend…

Best Travel Clothing Brands

Because everyone has their own fashion sense, here are some of our favorite brands to check-out:

For Mild to Cooler Weather Look For Merino Wool:

⁃ Icebreaker: An outdoor and sportswear company from New Zealand that specializes in merino wool clothing 
Browse Icebreaker Women’s | Browse Icebreaker Men’s

⁃ Smartwool: Performance apparel that’s moisture-wicking, anti-shrinking, odor-reducing, and itch free
Browse Smartwool Women’s | Browse Smartwool Men’s

⁃ Unbound merino wool: relative new comer that’s getting rave reviews from travelers for their style and quality.
 Browse Unbound Women’s | Browse Unbound Men’s

For Hot and Humid Weather Look For Moisture-Wicking Techwear:

⁃ Patagonia: An environmentally-conscious brand for climbing and other outdoor adventures
Browse Patagonia Women’s | Browse Patagonia Men’s

⁃ Mountain Hardwear: A high-tech outdoor clothing and gear company
Browse Mountain Hardwear Women’s | Browse Mountain Hardwear Men’s

⁃ prAna: Stylish, sustainable clothing for every-day life and adventures
Browse prAna Women’s | Browse prAna Men’s

Save money, work smarter, travel deeper with
our free Resource Guide for Digital Nomads.

Long-Term Travel Clothing Packing List

We would recommend packing the following, assuming you’ll be traveling for several months at a time:

Best Travel Shirts

Pack 6-7 tops that can be used in a variety of situations.

For men, go for about 4 t-shirts, 2 collared short-sleeve polos, and 1 long sleeve shirt. If you are a true minimalist, use the same high tech t-shirts (like this one) for work, day to day travel, and working out.

Jedd’s favorite travel shirts for men:

– Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake™ Short Sleeve Crew – Standard quick-dry, moisture-wicking crew neck tee perfect for hiking, work outs, and every-day wear. He’s had one that lasted over 12 years!

– prAna Natural Flow Short Sleeve Crew – Soft, comfortable and moisture wicking crew.

Michelle’s favorite travel shirts for women:

– Cowl neck polyester blend shirts that work for long walks, long flights, and even work meetings, or just about any Travel Tops by prAna

Best Travel Bottoms

Pack 2-3 long pants or jeans and 1-2 pair of capris or shorts (maybe more if you work out).Try to find pants and shorts that can be used in social, work, and semi-formal situations. Know that shorts are not worn in some cultures so lightweight capris may be more appropriate. Remember to choose colors that can match with several tops.

The best travel skirts and dresses should have the same elements mentioned for tops and bottoms. They should be quick drying, comfortable, and appropriate for casual exploration around town or out to a semi-formal dinner. Michelle packs 1-2 dresses or skirts for a trip, but some women may prefer more depending on their personal style.

KÜHL men’s Deceptr pants and KÜHL women’s Freeflex Metro capri pants

Over the years, we’ve been able to try a lot of different travel clothing. Our preference is for lightweight, tech fabrics in styles that fit multiple occasions.

KÜHL, a technical outdoor brand, is one place to find that magical combo if you’re looking to add high quality, long-lasting pieces to your travel wardrobe.

Duer women’s performance denim slim straight and Duer men’s no sweat pants

Duer is another great brand, combining fashion and functionality, for active lifestyles. The travel pants we got from Duer are stretchy, soft, and durable–perfect for travel.

I always like to pack a stretchy pair of jeans for our trips and when my old pair wore out, Duer’s performance denim fit the bill perfectly.

Bluffworks mens Acendor Chino and womens Petaluma pants and Threshold wide leg

Bluffworks makes versatile, high quality clothing with features like wrinkle and odor resistance, moisture wicking, and our personal favorite: hidden pockets. The pants and tops we received from Bluffworks are delightfully soft and stretchy.

Michelle loves that they offer petite sizing. We both appreciate the genius use of pockets. There’s even sleek, hidden pockets within pockets, which are so helpful for safely carrying valuables out and about on trips.

Jedd’s favorite travel bottoms for men:

– No Sweat Pants by Duer – Dress up or down (or even adventure in the outdoors) in these stretchy, soft trousers that wick away moisture. Available in multiple colors, slim fit or relaxed.

– Quicksilver Amphibian Hybrid Shorts – Stretchy water repellant swimsuit shorts that look like chinos so you can wear them in town. Available in solid colors like red, navy, khaki, grey, black, and light blue.

Michelle’s favorite travel bottoms for women:

– All Season Capri Pants – Quick dry, light weight stretchy bottoms that keep knees covered. Sleek pockets so you don’t look like you’re going on safari!

– Bluffworks Wide Leg Threshold Pants – Soft, comfy performance fabric pants perfect for long airplane rides.

Michelle’s favorite travel skirts and dresses for women:

– Almost anything by prAna or Toad&Co. Browse prAna dresses
– Stylish, wrinkle resistant dresses with smart pockets by Bluffworks. Browse Bluffworks dresses

Best Travel Underwear and Socks

Adjust the number of socks and underwear you pack based on how often you’ll be able to do laundry. We try to have a week’s work, just in case.

If you don’t feel comfortable in your underwear or your socks, you will not enjoy your travel experience no matter what you are wearing on top of it. Things to think about here are staying dry from sweat and avoiding chafing. The last thing you want is a rash or blisters on your feet. Moisture-wicking socks are essential.

Our favorite brands for underwear:

– Exofficio for every-day high tech fabric underwear (they changed the game in the industry)
Browse Exofficio underwear for women | Browse Exofficio underwear for men

– Icebreaker for long merino wool underwear and base layers
Browse Icebreaker for underwear and base layers for women | Browse Icebreaker for underwear and base layers for men

Our favorite socks for travel:

– Smartwool merino wool socks for running and every-day use
Browse Smartwool socks

– Injinji moisture-wicking toe socks (Jedd swears by these)
Browse Injinji toe socks

Best Layers and Outerwear for Men and Women

Michelle and Jedd’s favorite travel jacket for men:

If you have to pick and invest in ONE jacket it would be this. Super lightweight, and can shed some rain. Don’t let the cost intimidate you if you plan to get and use only one jacket. You need it to be multifunctional and this is it.

• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody for Women
• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody for Men

For a more detailed run-down on outerwear, see our Guide to Light-weight Jackets for Travel

Best Travel Shoes and Footwear

Shoes can easily take up a ton of space in your luggage because they’re not usually collapsable. So it’s best to find shoes that can be used in a variety of situations. We suggest bringing the following 3 types of footwear and wearing your bulkiest pair for transit days, to leave more room in your luggage:

– Town shoes: For casual day-to-day exploring and traveling. Think comfortable and durable enough to walk and explore a city like Rome or rugged enough for the dirt roads of Jamaica. It’s ideal if the shoes can be considered dressy and casual at the same time.

– Athletic shoes: Hiking, working out, exploring, etc… your go-to shoe. Try to find athletic shoes that can do many of these things and still match with multiple outfits.

– A good pair of flip-flops, sandals, or mocs: There are so many times where it’s nice to have lounging footwear. In warmer climates you might even use your flip-flops for every-day wear. Again, find the style that best suits your needs and doesn’t take up much space.

If your travel itinerary calls for a specific kind of footwear, then adjust for your needs. For example, if you plan on doing a backpacking trek then you might need really durable hiking boots. If you’re doing a walking trek like the “Camino de Santiago”, you’re going to want comfortable walking shoes that can handle many miles of walking. Plan accordingly.

For water-resistant walking shoe reviews (like Allbirds), see our post: Walking Shoes for Travel

Further reading on what to pack for travel:

– Packing Hacks of Frequent Travelers
– Our Favorite Alternatives to Travel Wallets
– Best Light Weight Jackets for Travel
– 12 Items We Take With Us on Every Trip
– Minimalist Travel Toiletries List for Women
– Water-Resistant Wool Walking Shoes for Travel

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