You just finished loading your suitcase and are going through your checklist one last time. Shirts? Check. Pants? Check. Expedited passport? Check.
Underwear? Check — but let’s add a few more pairs in case the unthinkable happens, right? The 333 packing rule — or packing three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes — surely doesn’t apply here.
If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Social media users often joke about how many pairs they throw in their already stuffed suitcases, racking up thousands of likes and affirming comments.
But why are some of us so convinced that we will, uh, dirty our underwear? Or somehow need multiple emergency options? Is 14 pairs of underwear necessary for a weeklong trip?
Ahead, experts explain the psychology behind this packing habit and and if it’s actually helpful:
The most surprising reason? Packing extra underwear brings a sense of security in an unfamiliar place.
Underwear “protects” a vulnerable part of our bodies and is a staple for many people. It can bring a sense of comfort and familiarity that’s helpful, especially in situations that can be new.
“Many people may associate underwear with security as it’s been a daily staple from birth — first diapers and then underwear,” said Gabrielle Schreyer-Hoffman, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Upper East Side Psychology in New York. “These items offer a sense of comfort and routine.”
A more common reason could be because it’s simply just easy to throw more in your bag.
Compared to a bulky, cozy sweatshirt, more underwear can easily be stuffed in a suitcase. So why not, you know?
“One of the likely reasons that we pack more underwear than we’ll need for a trip is simply because we can!” said Penelope Bielckus, a full-time travel blogger and chronic overpacker of underwear. “It’s the easiest ‘just in case’ overpacking you can do — it takes up minimal space, and the upside is far better than the downside.”
Therapist Whitney Coleman, an avid traveler who is a self-proclaimed overpacker, said the same. “Underwear takes up almost no space or weight in our luggage compared to other items,” she said. “With something so small and light, it’s easy to pack extra.”
Or you may worry about needing an extra pair for extenuating circumstances.
Underwear is something many of us like to change regularly, and many scenarios call for a fresh pair. Coleman lists going swimming, getting sick and extending…
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