The surprising reason people pack so much extra underwear for a trip

You have just finished loading Suitcase and go through your checklist one last time. Shirts? Check. Pants? Check. Expedited Passport? Check.

Underwear? Check it out – but let’s add a few more pairs in case the unthinkable happens, shall we? The 333 packing rule – or packing three tops, three bottoms and three pairs of shoes – certainly doesn’t apply here.

If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Social media users often joke about how many couples they throw into their already full suitcases, resulting in thousands of likes and affirming comments.

But why are some of us so convinced that we will get our underwear dirty? Or do you somehow need multiple emergency options? Are 14 pairs of underwear necessary for a week-long trip?

Below, experts explain the psychology behind this packing habit and whether it is the case Strictly speaking helpful:

The most surprising reason? Packing extra underwear provides a sense of security in an unfamiliar place.

Underwear “protects” a sensitive part of our body and is a staple for many people. It can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, which is particularly helpful in situations that may be new.

“Many people may associate underwear with security because it is an everyday staple from birth — first diapers and then underwear,” said Gabrielle Schreyer-Hoffman, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Upper East Side Psychology in New York. “These items provide a sense of comfort and routine.”

A more common reason might be that it’s easy to throw more in your bag.

Compared to a bulky, cozy sweatshirtmore underwear can easily be stuffed into a suitcase. So why not, you know?

“One of the likely reasons we pack more underwear than we need for a trip is simply because we can!” said Penelope Bielckusa full-time travel blogger and chronic underwear overpacker. “It’s the easiest all-case overpacking you can do – it takes up minimal space and the benefits far outweigh the negatives.”

therapist Whitney Colemanan avid traveler and self-proclaimed overpacker, said the same thing. “Underwear takes up almost no space and weight in our luggage compared to other items,” she said. “With something so small and light, it’s easy to pack more.”

Or you’re worried you’ll need an extra pair due to extenuating circumstances.

Underwear is something that many of us like to change regularly, and in many situations a fresh pair is necessary. Coleman cites going swimming, getting sick and extending the trip as examples.

“For those of us who were sick while traveling (and had to go through an unfortunate amount of underwear because of it), it’s definitely a ‘but what if it happens again?’ pack quirk,” Bielckus noted.

You may not want to purchase underwear while traveling or risk wearing it again.

Pack the essentials for a trip can be stressful, especially for those of us who worry about forgetting something at home. Of course we can just walk into a supermarket at our destination, but that’s not really practical.

“We’re worried that we’ll run out of essentials and have to buy more,” Coleman said. “You can easily buy soap or toothpaste at the drugstore, but who wants to buy more underwear when traveling?”

And while it’s socially acceptable to wear the same bra or shirt two days in a row, wearing the same underwear twice may make you feel gross.

“Many people put clothes on more than once without washing them, especially on a trip,” Coleman said. “No one wants to wash underwear while traveling, and no one wants to rewear dirty underwear, so it’s handy to have extra underwear just in case.”

So is packing extra underwear necessarily a bad thing?

Overall, no. Some of us are actually more prone to this habit. Coleman lists parents or caregivers, but also people who think too much, have experienced emergencies on previous trips, or are very organized and detail-oriented.

“This could be related to personality traits or individual history,” said William Schroeder, co-owner of Just Mind Counseling. “I know some travelers who travel with two pairs of underwear and wash them regularly. They accept uncertainty and prefer to travel light…Others who appear more anxious or neurotic may prefer the security of knowing there is no way they will run out.”

people with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or sensitive stomachs might also pack more as a precaution, Schreyer-Hoffman said.

Bielckus also noted that worriers typically overpack. She fully understands the reasons and wants to make it clear that this does not mean that the dreaded accident will happen.

“When we travel, do we usually have an ‘accident’ and ruin our underwear? No,” she said. “Do we always have a slight ‘But what if…’ in the back of our minds, meaning we pack eight pairs of underwear for a long weekend? Yes, yes, there is.”

Ultimately, do what feels best for you. “As a therapist, I would simply suggest doing what feels comfortable for each person,” Schroder said, “and noticing what was helpful and what wasn’t.”

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