You've saved up, bought your ticket and have studied the guide book for ideas on where to go. Now you just need to decide what to pack in your brand-new backpack. If this is your first backpacking trip, you'll probably be tempted to pack a pair or two of jeans. This is not a good idea, though. You'll be much better off investing in some mens cotton drawstring pants.
When you think of drawstring pants, you probably think of two varieties. One is the wide and loose type made of a white muslin type of fabric so thin that you can see right through them. The other is the type with stripes in different bright colors, favored by NGO workers and people with dreadlocks. However, there are many different styles and colors to choose from. You can even buy a more tailored type with many pockets, similar to cargo pants.
One of the major advantages that light cotton trousers has is that they won't take up too much space in your backpack. You can simply fold them up into a small bundle that can even fit into a side pocket. Jeans, in contrast, are bulky and can easily take up half the space in your luggage. They also add quite a bit of weight to the pack.
Another advantage is that the lighter the fabric, the more quickly it dries. Most hostels have facilities where you can wash your clothes by hand but very few have dryers. You have to rely on sunlight to dry your laundry or any clothes that got wet in the rain or on a boat. Jeans can easily take a day or two to dry this way, provided that it doesn't rain. Carrying damp clothes in your backpack is a bad idea.
You don't want to walk around in damp trousers because this can cause painful chafing. This is also why jeans are a bad idea if you're backpacking in a hot and humid climate. You'll be sweating quite a lot and your jeans will never really feel dry. Light and loose-fitting pants are cool and comfortable and they won't chafe your skin.
Jeans are certainly versatile but if you choose your drawstring pants wisely, you'll be able to wear them anytime, anywhere. The slightly tailored type is the easiest to dress up and they're also strong enough to wear when you're trekking through the wilderness or trying adventure sports. However, the loose type can look stylishly smart-casual with the right shirt too and you can sleep in them as well.
Another great feature of drawstring trousers is that you can adjust the waistline. Because you're more active and eat less junk food on the road, you'll probably lose weight. Some backpackers drop two or three sizes during their trip. By pulling the drawstrings more tightly together, it's easy to adjust your pants and wear them without having to pull them up all the time.
Many clothing stores stock the loose-fitting pajama-type of drawstring pants and you'll also be able to find them on the road in towns frequented by tourists, especially in areas with a tropical climate. The more fitted variety is usually easier to find at outdoor specialist stores. However, with many online stores selling either type, your perfect backpacking wardrobe is only a few clicks away.
When you think of drawstring pants, you probably think of two varieties. One is the wide and loose type made of a white muslin type of fabric so thin that you can see right through them. The other is the type with stripes in different bright colors, favored by NGO workers and people with dreadlocks. However, there are many different styles and colors to choose from. You can even buy a more tailored type with many pockets, similar to cargo pants.
One of the major advantages that light cotton trousers has is that they won't take up too much space in your backpack. You can simply fold them up into a small bundle that can even fit into a side pocket. Jeans, in contrast, are bulky and can easily take up half the space in your luggage. They also add quite a bit of weight to the pack.
Another advantage is that the lighter the fabric, the more quickly it dries. Most hostels have facilities where you can wash your clothes by hand but very few have dryers. You have to rely on sunlight to dry your laundry or any clothes that got wet in the rain or on a boat. Jeans can easily take a day or two to dry this way, provided that it doesn't rain. Carrying damp clothes in your backpack is a bad idea.
You don't want to walk around in damp trousers because this can cause painful chafing. This is also why jeans are a bad idea if you're backpacking in a hot and humid climate. You'll be sweating quite a lot and your jeans will never really feel dry. Light and loose-fitting pants are cool and comfortable and they won't chafe your skin.
Jeans are certainly versatile but if you choose your drawstring pants wisely, you'll be able to wear them anytime, anywhere. The slightly tailored type is the easiest to dress up and they're also strong enough to wear when you're trekking through the wilderness or trying adventure sports. However, the loose type can look stylishly smart-casual with the right shirt too and you can sleep in them as well.
Another great feature of drawstring trousers is that you can adjust the waistline. Because you're more active and eat less junk food on the road, you'll probably lose weight. Some backpackers drop two or three sizes during their trip. By pulling the drawstrings more tightly together, it's easy to adjust your pants and wear them without having to pull them up all the time.
Many clothing stores stock the loose-fitting pajama-type of drawstring pants and you'll also be able to find them on the road in towns frequented by tourists, especially in areas with a tropical climate. The more fitted variety is usually easier to find at outdoor specialist stores. However, with many online stores selling either type, your perfect backpacking wardrobe is only a few clicks away.
No comments:
Post a Comment