A few years ago, I was desperately searching for ideas on how to minimize packing clothes for a 16-day trip abroad. I probably spent hours online researching packing tips, but I was not finding the answers I wanted. What I was really hoping for was some kind of formula that would help me quantify how much I truly needed and what I could cut. Then, I came across the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method.
Initially, I was hesitant about the 5-4-3-2-1 approach because I had never packed so few clothes for an extended period. There were also some aspects of the method I found that did not fit my needs or interests. I decided to follow parts of it and adapt others to what I needed. And it worked! I traveled 16 days with the same 5 t-shirts.
How to Make Limited Clothing Last Longer
It is a sad truth that sometimes chores must still be done on vacation. Seasoned travelers keep their luggage light on even extensive trips by doing laundry while they travel. Laundry facilities are often easily accessible at vacation rental homes or major hotel chains; however, even if your lodging does not offer laundry services, you still may have other avenues available to clean your clothes.
Laundry drop-off: These services are our preferred option when there are no laundry facilities in our accommodations. As the name implies, all you need to do is drop off a bag of laundry with your name and return at the suggested time to pick it up. This system is great if you have a busy schedule since you won’t miss out on any sightseeing. You may be surprised how easy it is to find these drop-off services in most cities, even abroad, and normally for very reasonable prices considering that they are folding the clothes as well. Just do a basic search for laundry in the area and check out reviews to find a decent one.
Laundromat: We have only used laundromats in the States and on very rare occasions when we had downtime in our schedule. The downfall of laundromats is the time consumption factor, but it is certainly better than nothing!
Handwashing: In dire circumstances, we have used our hotel sinks or tubs to handwash a couple of items. This is a last resort laundry method for us, and we have learned that it works best with quick-drying clothes. Things like jeans or thick socks will take days to dry, and often, we do not have the time to wait for them.
Re-wearing Clothes: When all else fails, the good ole Boy Scout method always comes in handy. We don’t actually flip our clothes inside-out, but we will re-wear pants as much as possible as well as shirts that are still in acceptable shape.
How to Adapt the 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Adults (and Teens)
The 5-4-3-2-1 method is not a strict formula that works the same way for every person or trip. It is more like a flexible guideline that is open to multiple interpretations. You can mix and match what works for you to create your own version. There is no one “right” way to pack, but this method does simplify the process. Here are some ideas for following the 5-4-3-2-1 packing plan by weather type.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Warm Weather
When headed somewhere with hot weather, our priority is to stay as cool as possible. It may also be wise to slow down and avoid heat stroke with more relaxation time, so I use a simple template for vacations in warm locations.
The Warm Weather 5-4-3-2-1 Method (for a week or more):
- 5 shirts
- 4 pants/shorts
- 3 dressy casual outfits (for photos or nice dinners)
- 2 shoes
- 1 swimsuit, 1 layering option (for cool nights), 1 hat
PERFECT FOR: a beach vacation, a tropical cruise with lots of relaxation and pool or beach time, or maybe even a partial business trip somewhere warm
Trail Tips: Need less? Great! You can always downsize! J almost never needs 4 pairs of pants, so we pack less for him. Afraid it won’t be enough? Add an item, but challenge yourself to keep it limited to necessities.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Mixed Weather
A typical trip for us involves moving around enough that we need to prepare for temperature differences between regions and elevations. One of our more extensive family trips included a temperature variation from a high of 50°F to 90°F. We needed mostly lightweight clothes but also a few warm clothes for colder climates. The method below is the one we have used the most in our recent trips to help us prepare for all sorts of weather. Again, use it as a general guideline and modify it to fit the needs of your trip or style.
The Mixed Weather 5-4-3-2-1 Method (for a week)
- 5 shirts
- 4 pants/shorts
- 3 shoes (tennis shoes, hiking shoes or sandals, dressier shoes)
- 2 layering options (sweater/sweatshirt/etc.)
- 1 swimsuit, 1 dressy casual outfit, 1 hat, 1 rain jacket, and 1 coat or fleece (depending on weather)
PERFECT FOR: traveling in or between areas with temperature fluctuations
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Cold Weather
For cold destinations, I would suggest more layers and, of course, appropriate outdoor gear.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Cold Weather (for a week or more):
- 5 shirts
- 4 pants
- 3 layering options (sweater/sweatshirt/thermal underlayer/etc.)
- 2 shoes (snow boots and tennis or hiking shoes/boots), 2 dressy options
- 1 heavy coat, hat, pair of gloves
PERFECT FOR: A ski trip or Christmas vacation in a northern climate
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method for Kids
Typically, the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is used in the context of adult travel, but I think the same premise can be applied to packing for kids with a few tweaks. Kids are messy. I don’t think it is just mine. Generally, I expect that there will be food or dirt or any number of unspeakable things on their clothing by the end of the day. I do not anticipate being able to reuse clothes (except maybe pajamas) between washes. I would rather keep this expectation low and be delightfully surprised if we can re-wear a pair of pants than be in a sticky situation (perhaps literally) if those pants we needed for two days have chocolate milk all over them. Since re-wearing clothes may not be an option for your kids, laundry access will determine whether or not you will be able to stick to the 5-4-3-2-1 method.
Frequent Laundry Access
If you will have frequent or continual access to laundry, you can keep your kids’ packing list light, though it may look a little different from the adults’ 5-4-3-2-1 method. I find that I need to pack just as many pants as shirts for the kids (since they seem to think that they are wearable napkins).
For a 13-day mixed-weather trip (where temps ranged from 50-90°F), we took the following for each boy:
- 5 t-shirts, 5 shorts
- 4 long pants
- 3 pajamas, layers (for cool temps)
- 2 shoes (1 for walking, 1 for water), 2 dressy casual options
- 1 swimsuit, 1 raincoat, 1 hat
We technically had laundry access for 11 of those days, and we probably washed clothes 2-3 times for maintenance and accidents (more for swimsuits).
Limited Laundry Access
Our next big trip is 17-days long, and we will only have free laundry access up to the fourth day. If we wash clothes the day before the cruise, that leaves 13 more days. I refuse to pack 13 days of clothes for the boys (I’m not sure they have that many pants that fit anyhow!), so my goal is to do laundry on the 7th day. Then, we should have 6 outfits for the last 6 days of the trip. Since accidents happen, we may also do some handwashing on the ship if we just need a few pieces cleaned.
This is a trip with mostly cool weather (40-50°F) and a couple of days in the 60-70°F range. Here is my current packing plan, as an example for how to modify the 5-4-3-2-1 method when laundry access is limited.
- 6-7 long pants
- 5-6 long-sleeved shirts
- 4 layers (sweater, flannel, fleece, sweatshirt)
- 3 pajamas, 3 shoes
- 2 dress casual options, 2 t-shirts
- 1 warm jacket, 1 hat, 1 pair of gloves, 1 raincoat
Focus on the Necessities, Not the Numbers
I can’t reiterate enough the importance of flexibility with this packing method. The key is not in the numbers themselves but in bringing only what is necessary. It may not result in a perfect sequence of numbers, and that is fine! If you are a chronic over-packer like myself, I hope that having a general guideline and challenging yourself to take less will ultimately result in more peace of mind. Most of all, I hope that you simplify your perspective on what truly matters on a journey: not the things we bring with us (which are just things and thus replaceable) but the memories we bring home with us. So, take what works for you, and adapt what doesn’t. 😊
Looking for more tips on packing? Well you are in luck–a post on general tips for packing is headed your way next week!
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