Disposable Underwear
There are several good reasons to travel with disposable underwear, particularly on extended trips:
1. Space: Disposable underwear needs very little space compared to regular underwear. One can easily pack enough disposable underwear to last a whole month in the same space one would need for three or four jockey shorts.
2. Virtually essential in some countries: In some areas, such as safari camps staffed by Moslem men workers, there is no laundry available for women underwear. We found that out in the Serengeti in Tanzania. Luckily for us, we were traveling with disposable underwear so there was no issue.
3. Convenience: I am aware that some travelers travel with only a few pairs of underwear and wash their underwear in the sink or bathtub of their hotel room during their trip. That practice only makes me more careful when entering my hotel room’s was the bathtub reglazing lakewood and also explains why I never use the bathtub and always place a towel on the sink for my personal effects to lie on. In any case, the practicality of simply throwing away every day the disposable underwear rather than having to worry about washing dirty underwear or having it laundered is for me very valuable. The alternative of bringing with us enough underwear to last a whole trip is usually impractical for us as we travel for three or four weeks at a time.
4. Comfort: Interestingly enough, there is plenty of disposable underwear on the market today which is quite comfortable. I will admit that some brands of disposable underwear are flimsy and “paper-thin”; however, there are several brands which provide very comfortable disposable underwear, in various colors and shapes, for both men and women.
So, when packing for your next trip around the world, think about going the BonVoyageurs way, with disposable underwear!
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What a great idea! I often go on five and six week trips and the whole underwear thing becomes an extreme pain in the nether regions. Are there some specific brands that you can recommend? I have a safari trip coming up in early 2015 and I will stock up ahead of time 🙂
Kirsten,
I purchase the disposable underwear from Amazon and favor the Underworks brand, which is available for both men and women. Enjoy your safari!
On a similar note to this, I usually take old t-shirts and underwear (not socks) on hikes and camps, and after using them, they are great for starting fires or even just throwing away. So I always come home with less weight in my pack than when I left.
One issue of course, is keeping that pile of old clothes in the corner of the wardrobe ready for camps (and remembering to take them!)