Your airplane ticket has been bought and you're gearing up to go backpacking for the first time. Now you just need to decide which clothes to pack. You need something comfortable for travel days, lounging in a hammock or for those treks through the jungle. However, you also need something that you can confidently wear in a club or a restaurant. You probably think that jeans are the perfect choice but seasoned backpackers have learned long ago already that they shouldn't leave home without mens cotton drawstring pants.
Drawstring pants come in many varieties. There are the classic white ones that are wide and look like pajama pants. There are also thicker varieties made of multicolored fabric for a fun, ethnically inspired bohemian look. You'll also find ones that are made of a strong fabric and are more tailored, with lots of pockets. Whichever variety you choose, they're a great option for backpacking.
One of the main reasons why backpackers choose lighter trousers rather than jeans is that they're less bulky. They take up very little space in any backpack, unlike jeans. They also weigh much less, which is good news since you don't want to drag around a backpack that weights about as much as a baby elephant.
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.
Most backpackers prefer traveling through countries in or near the tropics, where they won't have to take lots of bulky, warm clothes. Jeans are very hot and uncomfortable in these parts. They can cause chafing that is at best uncomfortable but is usually quite painful. With cool, loose trousers you won't have this problem.
The main reason why jeans may sound like a good item to pack is that they're so versatile. However, you can get the same versatility with drawstring trousers if you choose them wisely. Wide and loose ones double up as pajamas and you can easily dress them up with a nice shirt or T-shirt. The stronger, more tailored variety is a good choice for a night on the town or even for visiting churches or temples too. Choose solid, darker colors or earth tones because dirt won't show up as easily on these and they're easier to dress up or dress down as needed.
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.
Pants with drawstrings are not that difficult to find. Regular clothing stores may not always stock them but you should be able to find them at outdoor clothing specialists or online. In warm countries, you'll also find especially the wide and loose type for sale in tourist centers.
Drawstring pants come in many varieties. There are the classic white ones that are wide and look like pajama pants. There are also thicker varieties made of multicolored fabric for a fun, ethnically inspired bohemian look. You'll also find ones that are made of a strong fabric and are more tailored, with lots of pockets. Whichever variety you choose, they're a great option for backpacking.
One of the main reasons why backpackers choose lighter trousers rather than jeans is that they're less bulky. They take up very little space in any backpack, unlike jeans. They also weigh much less, which is good news since you don't want to drag around a backpack that weights about as much as a baby elephant.
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.
Most backpackers prefer traveling through countries in or near the tropics, where they won't have to take lots of bulky, warm clothes. Jeans are very hot and uncomfortable in these parts. They can cause chafing that is at best uncomfortable but is usually quite painful. With cool, loose trousers you won't have this problem.
The main reason why jeans may sound like a good item to pack is that they're so versatile. However, you can get the same versatility with drawstring trousers if you choose them wisely. Wide and loose ones double up as pajamas and you can easily dress them up with a nice shirt or T-shirt. The stronger, more tailored variety is a good choice for a night on the town or even for visiting churches or temples too. Choose solid, darker colors or earth tones because dirt won't show up as easily on these and they're easier to dress up or dress down as needed.
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.
Pants with drawstrings are not that difficult to find. Regular clothing stores may not always stock them but you should be able to find them at outdoor clothing specialists or online. In warm countries, you'll also find especially the wide and loose type for sale in tourist centers.
No comments:
Post a Comment