What Every Man Should Pack For a Spring Vacation

Shorts? Check. Hat? Check. Sunglasses? Check. You’ve been waiting months for spring break, and it’s finally here! A chance to beat the cold and escape to warmer climates with your friends, family, or on your own for a much-deserved solo trip, spring break comes once winter has ended, but temperatures are still pretty chilly in much of the country.

It means pulling the warmer weather clothes out of storage and loading up the luggage with lightweight pieces for exploring places further south. When it’s been a while since you’ve traveled for an extended period of time, it can be easy to forget how to pack properly.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. When packing for your spring break getaway, make sure you go beyond the basics. Here’s our expert advice.

Layer Up

The thing about spring trips, and spring in general, is that the weather is always changeable. So while you’re definitely going to want to pack lighter layers like T-shirts, shorts, and tank tops, you’ll want to make sure to have options for possible temperature drops, especially during the evening hours. We suggest bringing an intermediate layer or two, like a pullover golf jacket or another light jacket to throw on over whatever shirt you’re wearing.

You may want to bring an even warmer option, like a leather or light puffer jacket, if your destination is known for colder temperatures. The key advice is to research temperature averages for the city you’re visiting to try and get a handle on what you may need to pack. You don’t want to overpack if the temperature isn’t going below 75, for example.

But we can guarantee you’ll be glad you allotted for some extra warmth when things get chilly.

Prepare to Get Wet

Spring break almost always spells some sort of trip to the water, whether it’s a beach, a lake, or a river rafting adventure. This means making sure you pack accordingly, from the right swim attire to proper footwear. You’ll definitely want to bring at least a pair or two of swim trunks to be able to enjoy all the water time you desire.

If you’re planning on surfing or just spending a lot of time out in the sun, we recommend a UV-protective rashguard for ultimate skin safety. If you’re going to a rocky beach, make sure you bring a pair of water shoes to protect your feet as well.

Sun Protection

Speaking of sun safety, there are tons of other ways to protect your skin and body from the sun’s rays while still enjoying the warmer weather while on spring break.

Hats are one of the most important elements of your vacation wardrobe, and we recommend bringing several, including a baseball hat as well as a wide-brimmed waterproof hat for water adventures. Sunglasses are a must to protect your eyes and lessen the effects of the overwhelming light from the sun.

Find the Right Footwear

When traveling, having the wrong footwear can turn a good trip into one you’ll want to forget. A good rule of thumb is to focus on having good walking shoes.

Maybe for you, this means a solid pair of sneakers. Or maybe you’re more of a sandals type of guy. If you’re planning on hiking during your spring break trip, a good pair of hiking boots can be a godsend.

And as much as we like to look our best wearing new shoes on vacation, make sure you’re not packing anything you haven’t worn at least a few times first. Vacation is not for breaking in shoes. You want to be sure that you're comfortable when walking around a city—especially if that includes a lot of walking!

Dress to Impress

While most days you’ll simply want to prioritize being comfortable with easygoing outfits that you can move around and be active in, you’ll want to try and pack at least one nicer outfit. This could be for a nice dinner or date night while on vacation, a family outing cultural event like a concert or other live performance, or any other more formal occasion that may arise on your trip. For this, you don’t need to go over the top.

A simple button-down shirt, or even a polo shirt makes a big difference. Basically, anything besides a T-shirt should fit the bill.

You can pair this with a nicer pair of chinos , jeans, or simply stick to your shorts if it feels appropriate and the most comfortable for you.