If you're planning for your first backpacking holiday, you're probably wondering what the best gear would be to take. After all, you're going to carry your backpack around quite often and you don't want to have to lug around excess weight. Many first-time backpackers make the mistake of packing several pairs of jeans, thinking that these are comfortable and versatile. They then wear those jeans once or twice before spending part of their budget on mens cotton drawstring pants.
There are different types of pants that come with drawstrings. The most common are wide and loose, sometimes with pockets and sometimes without. They can be made of a thin fabric in a color such as plain white or they can be colorfully ethnic in design. Another type is more fitted and look almost like cargo pants or jeans. They're usually made of a thicker, stronger fabric too.
The main advantage of choosing cotton trousers is that they're light and compact. You want your backpack to weigh as little as possible, since you'll be lugging it around on buses, boats, trains and from one hostel to another. Jeans are heavy and bulky, leaving you with less space for other items.
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.
Lighter garments are much cooler too. This is especially important if you're going to backpack through hot and humid regions like Southeast Asia or Central America. You'll be much less prone to chafing in some very uncomfortable parts of your body if you wear wide and loose pants. At the same time, long trousers will protect your legs from the sun and from nasty bugs.
You may think that nothing is as versatile as a pair of jeans, but this is not true. With drawstring trousers in a solid earthy or dark color, the possibilities are endless. The wide type makes comfortable sleepwear but can also look quite smart if you wear them with a nice shirt or even a fitted T-shirt. The type that is quite tailored already can be worn anywhere, whether it's for adventure sports or a night on the town.
The drawstrings make it possible to wear your trousers no matter what your size is. Most people lose quite a lot of weight when they go backpacking. Jeans will soon be too big and you'll have to keep pulling them up but if your pants have drawstrings, you can just pull these more tightly for a better fit.
Finding drawstring pants is quite easy. Many clothing stores stock them but you'll probably have more luck at stores specializing in outdoor clothing. You can also order them online. Many little shops in tourist areas in the tropics sell light, cool clothing too, so you can always pick up another pair on the road.
There are different types of pants that come with drawstrings. The most common are wide and loose, sometimes with pockets and sometimes without. They can be made of a thin fabric in a color such as plain white or they can be colorfully ethnic in design. Another type is more fitted and look almost like cargo pants or jeans. They're usually made of a thicker, stronger fabric too.
The main advantage of choosing cotton trousers is that they're light and compact. You want your backpack to weigh as little as possible, since you'll be lugging it around on buses, boats, trains and from one hostel to another. Jeans are heavy and bulky, leaving you with less space for other items.
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.
Lighter garments are much cooler too. This is especially important if you're going to backpack through hot and humid regions like Southeast Asia or Central America. You'll be much less prone to chafing in some very uncomfortable parts of your body if you wear wide and loose pants. At the same time, long trousers will protect your legs from the sun and from nasty bugs.
You may think that nothing is as versatile as a pair of jeans, but this is not true. With drawstring trousers in a solid earthy or dark color, the possibilities are endless. The wide type makes comfortable sleepwear but can also look quite smart if you wear them with a nice shirt or even a fitted T-shirt. The type that is quite tailored already can be worn anywhere, whether it's for adventure sports or a night on the town.
The drawstrings make it possible to wear your trousers no matter what your size is. Most people lose quite a lot of weight when they go backpacking. Jeans will soon be too big and you'll have to keep pulling them up but if your pants have drawstrings, you can just pull these more tightly for a better fit.
Finding drawstring pants is quite easy. Many clothing stores stock them but you'll probably have more luck at stores specializing in outdoor clothing. You can also order them online. Many little shops in tourist areas in the tropics sell light, cool clothing too, so you can always pick up another pair on the road.
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