TravelSmith’s Disposable Underwear

TravelSmith’s Disposable Briefs—You read it right, underwear you toss instead of washing or packing dirty.

So, I know what you are thinking. “Disposable underwear? Really?” To be honest, I thought the same thing when I first heard about this Travel Smith product that is supposedly supposed to make traveling easier. My original thought was “Why on Earth would you need something like this?” I mean, is it really that big of a deal to wash your underwear and bring them back with you? But, to be honest, these things actually aren’t so bad. Contrary to what you may expect, these undies are made out of lightweight cotton (so, no, they don’t disintegrate on your body) and they feel and look a lot like regular cotton briefs. The difference is that these things are biodegradable, so when you do toss them they have a very low ecological impact, which is great. You also can wash these things a few times before you toss them, so you don’t have to feel like you are being totally wasteful.

My original reaction to this product was that they were totally unnecessary and a little weird, as I thought about the usefulness of this product I actually started to change my mind–especially once I got my hands on these things and realized there were a lot more like normal, cotton underwear than I thought. I could actually see these being useful on a backpacking trip. Take a pack of these along, wear them during your travels (washing them and everything) and then toss them before you fly home. It’s not like underwear takes up a huge amount of space in your bag, but if you are already operating at near capacity and want room for that last souvenir, every little bit can help. Plus, these things are made of a super lightweight cotton so they are actually comfortable (contrary to my original thoughts) and they dry super fast, which makes them ideal for sink washing on vacation. Overall, not a totally necessary travel item, but hey, for 7.95 for a pack of 5, they certainly aren’t a bad deal and could come in handy on the right kind of trip.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get them: Travel Smith $7.95

Why They Rock:

• Made of super lightweight cotton, which is both compact and quick drying
• Because these dry fast, they are perfect for quick sink washes in hotel rooms or hostels
• You can wear and wash them several times before tossing them, they will probably last the duration of a trip and you can just chuck them once you are homeward bound or along the way
• Biodegradable for a very low ecological impact
• Made from soft, breathable and lightweight cotton

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 5 out of 10

These disposable underwear are certainly a lot better than I thought they would be, but they still are not a total must-have. I could see them coming in handy on a backpacking travel trip, where you could wash them out quickly and toss them before you head home, but again, you could easily find this in a lot of other products. They are lightweight and compact and the breathable cotton makes them a lot more comfortable then I imagined when I heard “disposable” and “underwear” in the same sentence. The idea of disposable underwear also kind of rubs my aversion to wastefulness, but I appreciate that they are eco-friendly and biodegradable, so at least if you are going to go around throwing out your underwear after only wearing them a couple of times they won’t sit in a landfill forever. But, hey, they are cheap, so they might be a great option for your next trip. If these interest you, this company also makes disposable socks you may want to check out.

Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:

Travel Smith $7.95