The Only Pair of Underwear You Need for Travel

In the past few years, I’ve zigzagged tens of thousands of miles across the globe, and while I’m always testing new products for review, there’s been one constant in my luggage on every single trip I’ve taken since 2016: ExOfficio underwear.

ExOfficio’s “sport mesh” fabric has tiny perforations that regulate airflow and make it super quick and easy to wash a pair or two in your hotel sink with whatever soap you have on hand—even bar soap works. Lather up, give them a good rinse, wring them out and hang them up to dry. If you’re short on time and need a clean pair extra fast, lay them flat on a small towel, roll it all up together as tightly as you can and stomp on the towel a bit to squeeze out as much extra moisture as possible. They’ll be damp when you’re done, but only slightly—they’ll air dry completely within an hour or two, tops.

Instead of wasting valuable space in my carry-on on a week’s worth of underwear, I can get away with as few as three or four pairs, even for trips lasting a couple of weeks or longer. The most ambitious, ultralight travelers can get away with two: Just stay on top of washing one pair each night before you head to bed.