It seems individuals are passionate in regards to the quantity of underwear they pack.

“I asked the question in an open ended means … as a result of I needed to listen to all of the options and concepts,” the physician and creator mentioned in an e-mail. Commenters shared the issues corresponding to menstruation and incontinence, and the “pack and launch” concept to solely pack previous underwear so you could possibly toss it through the journey.

The tweet has greater than a thousand replies. Gunter’s commenters swore by particular numbers — or simply packing no underwear in any respect.

The questions impressed emotionally charged responses, very like the suitable time to reach on the airport or whether or not it’s okay to recline on a airplane. Within the feedback of viral TikToks, we see what’s “precisely the proper quantity” to some could also be thought-about “borderline felony” to others.

Maybe the subject brings out a lot ardour as a result of underwear is one in every of our most private belongings, says Seth Miller, editor of airline-industry information website PaxEx.aero.

“The fashion, the colour, the fabric, all these issues folks really feel fairly strongly about for consolation,” Miller mentioned. In case you run out throughout a visit, having to purchase one thing totally different on the fly is disorienting, he mentioned.

Earlier than a visit, I seek the advice of with journey companions about what they’re packing, factoring the whole lot from the climate to restaurant gown codes, however by no means get into delicates. It’s by no means taken up a lot actual property in my mind as somebody who’s comfortable to do laundry on the highway. I’m a “seize some and see what occurs” traveler. However the extra heated debates I saw and movies I watched, the extra I questioned whether or not there was a proper reply. I posed the query to social media and bought extra responses than ever earlier than.

The various kinds of packers

Gunter discovered there have been two primary camps: those that deliver a pair for each day of their journey, and the minimalists, who assume 5 is a lot for a 14-day stretch.

I got here to an analogous conclusion after conducting an unscientific survey consulting with dozens of individuals. Even with our various private fashion and journey preferences, we’re extra alike than we’re totally different on the subject of packing methods. We fall into three patterns, going by both extremely particular math, blind concern or chaotic vibes. I heard from those that resolve by calculations like doubling underwear by the times of their journey or multiplying the variety of days occasions 1.3; others who went with my free handful method; and panic packers who throw total underwear drawers into their suitcases, fearing the worst.

When doubtful, do the mathematics

In case you can’t resolve in your packing fashion, comply with the lead of the left-brained vacationers who go by math and former expertise.

“I don’t really feel emotional about this subject. … I’ve set and tried and true views,” mentioned Ashley Parker, senior nationwide political correspondent for The Washington Publish who spent years on the highway protecting presidents. Her system is among the many hottest opinions I heard: Pack a pair for every day you’re gone, plus an additional pair or two. If it’s a seven day journey, she’ll deliver 9 pairs.

For Miller, the system is N+2, the place N is the variety of days till he has entry to wash laundry. A carry-on solely traveler, Miller used to pack much less.

“One pair a day is theoretically sufficient, however issues occur,” he mentioned. Within the period of flight delays and cancellations, he added that +2 to his calculations. “Possibly in some unspecified time in the future I’ll in the reduction of just a little bit.”

Phil Dengler, co-founder of the Vacationer, bases his underwear math on his journey size, plus estimated variety of showers, and at all times brings an emergency pair. It’s a technique that accounts for bodily exercise, local weather and environmental components, like whether or not he’s happening a hike or hitting the seaside. For a 10-day journey with restricted exercise, that’s 11 pairs. For a seven-day seaside journey, when he could also be taking a number of showers a day, that would imply 13 pairs: one per day, plus 5 for further showers, and that emergency pair.

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Are you able to simply re-wear a pair?

Whilst you can safely put on underwear greater than as soon as, Mark Gendreau, a doctor and chief medical officer of BILH Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals in Massachusetts, says going greater than two days can enhance your threat for yeast or urinary tract infections. He recommends washing within the sink if lodge laundry or close by laundromats aren’t an possibility. (However please, don’t use the lodge espresso maker.)

“I’ve no concern with rewashing underwear within the sink,” Gunter, the gynecologist, mentioned. “I additionally don’t discover it a problem, however generally the ready for issues to dry is usually a minor concern.”

In her Twitter call-out, Gunter realized about small travel-friendly washboards that improve your sink laundry. You may also purchase journey laundry detergent that’s TSA compliant and mini dryers.

Matt Berna of Intrepid Journey, who calls himself a “one a day man plus one pair,” packs with the intention of doing laundry in a sink alongside the best way. He’s realized to do this washing with sufficient time for clothes to get fully dry earlier than shoving them again in your baggage.

The bottom-lift possibility comes from journey author Jennifer Rice: Don’t pack any to start with. “I ended carrying them two summers in the past and by no means appeared again.”

What number of pairs of underwear do you pack for a visit? Inform us within the feedback.