Obviously, one wants to be comfortable when traveling in any mode, and The Google will happily return many articles on how to dress for the airport and the pressurized-aluminum-tube experience you’ve signed up for. But car travel is a little different; for starters, you don’t have to care about being a decent human being for the sake of your fellow travelers, so not only are shorts and sandals perfectly acceptable, so is completely nude. Also, you don’t need to worry about carrying anything on you (particularly difficulty while naked), as the glovebox, center console, and assorted cubbies offer more than ample capacity for wallet, sunglasses, snacks, etc.
Shout out to anyone going this hard for the drive to their niece’s graduation. Deets at Outfit Trends, Alex Costa’s Instagram via Pinterest, and Condé Nast Traveler if you’re so inclined. I would be if I were young, thin, and good looking. Zero for three!
But back to our question: what are you wearing for an 8-hour (or longer) driving sesh? You’re going to have to get out and refill or recharge your ride, so that’s a wrinkle (ugh) to consider if it’s cold and/or rainy on your route. Is there a certain level of sartorial sophistication you demand of yourself for dining at a Mos Eisely-esque “travel center,” or a stroll amongst the beaver-themed trinkets at Bucc-Ee’s while you stretch your legs?
If you’re grabbing a pulled-pork sandwich for the second leg of your drive after topping off at Bucc-Ee’s, the best fashion choice you can make is bib. Image: Bucc-Ee’s
What about your copilot, if not traveling solo—do they affect your apparel choices? I always make sure I’m dressed as warmly or coolly as my wife, because if I’m in short sleeves and she’s wearing a sweater, the AC will be absolutely cranked and I’m going to be shivering. And vice-versa, wherein I roast because she’s cold. “The rule is the driver controls all the settings.” Yeah, not in my car. Or house. Or life. Which reminds me, this Sunday is Mothers’ Day. Get your acts together now, fellow partners-to-moms!
But for now,
You’re Going To Spend Eight Hours Behind the Wheel. What Are You Wearing?
To the comments!
The same thing I wear when I’m not driving 8 hours – it’s a car, not a covered wagon. The only thing I do on longer trips is remove my shoes, but slip-ons make putting them back on quicker for fuel stops.
Full plate mail. Can’t be too safe out there.
I prefer elven chainmail, but I’m kind of a rogue.
Mind your own business, pervert. 🙂
Baggy jeans or cargo shorts, with a t-shirt. I don’t mind being cold for a few minutes while stopping for gas, so long sleeves aren’t necessary, and additional insulation gets in the way if I want to use the heated seat. (It’s counterintuitive, but don’t bundle up inside the car: you’re just preventing the vehicle’s heat from reaching you.)
Hiking shoes, tied loosely.
If I need to look decent on arrival I can throw something on over the t-shirt. Easy.
I know right.
Autopian asks.
“What are you wearing?”
None of your business, perverts.
Well, that was weird: we posted at the same time.
They say great minds think alike.
I’m sorry you’re stuck thinking like me.
No apologies necessary!
On the old German lighting site, Mercedes would have features on different types of tools. I fully realized I was among like-minded folks when we had a discussion about multimeter preferences – this model for quick diagnostics, that model for more detailed work, etc. – and I think most of us are on this site now. We’re probably more alike than we are different. 🙂
“multimeter preferences”
I prefer I never need one.
I’m terrible at diagnostics.
I’m more hands on mechanical.
I’m better at taking stuff apart, figuring out the problem, then putting it back together.
Multimeters confuse me.
But, I can make a hell of an improvised pipe wrench to hold a crankshaft in place out of ratchet straps anchored to the frame of a truck.
“We’re probably more alike than we are different.”
I’m what you skeleton bound creatures might describe as a cephalopod from outer space. I wouldn’t be to sure about that.
Just did a 13-hour trip last Sunday from Nebraska to Texas after visiting Uncle Warren. T-shirt, unknown sport mesh shorts, and Birkenstock sandals. Personally, I do my stops at Costco Gas and use the restrooms and food court in the store when I’m not in Texas. Otherwise, Buc-ee’s for all Texas stops.
Depends on a number of things, but I tend to a good lightweight polo for long drives. If I’m going to need to be dressed a certain way when I arrive, the most comfortable version of that I have. If I’ll need to be in a suit, I’ll wear a breathable shirt and leave the jacket nicely folded in the back seat. Ventilated seats are on the whole time.
Tennis shoes
comfortable socks
athletic shorts
tank top
baseball cap
nothing
I live in Colorado so clothes are very weather dependent. I do like to wear a button up shirt with a chest pocket so I look a little nicer in case I get pulled over.
When traveling with my wife, I always dress lighter than she does as she is always cold. It’s usally something like this:
Wife: “Honey can you turn the heater up. I’m a little cold.”
Me “But it’s 80 degrees outside.”
Wife: “I know but all the sun is shining on you and I’m in the shade.”
Me: “Yes dear.”
Winter (Dec-Feb): L.L. Bean Shirt, Double Kneed Carhartt, boot socks, 10″ steel toes. Difficult to describe but it is comfortable for me.
Summer (Any time over 60): L.L. Bean Shirt, Shorts, flip flops (removed while driving)
Assumes functional AC & Heat.
The most important thing to wear on a long road trip is a Buick or a Lincoln.
I prefer comfortable, properly sized athletic attire. BMWs do pretty well, particularly if there are twisty bits to go through.
BMW on I-80’s transverse cracks in Nebraska-
thwup thwup…thwup thwup…thwup thwup
T-shirt, basketball shorts with boxer briefs (with the ball divider), ankle socks, either my Lakai Atlantic’s or Adidas Daily 3.0’s, and carbon fiber Ray Ban aviators that I’ve been rocking for well over a decade. Phone goes in the cupfone in the Camaro, or wedged in the seat in the Beige Unicorn, wallet goes in the door grab handle.
Same thing I wear every day.
Jeans, tee shirt, a leatherman and maybe a light jacket.
The important thing is the footwear.
Nothing beats suede soft sole moccasins.
I often run 8 hour rallies in old cars like my ’64 Corvair. The only stops are for pee breaks, grabbing the next clue sheet, and dumping 5 gallon gas cans. For this duty, I wear a T-shirt with full front zip windshirt, loose-fitting jeans or nice long shorts, breathable shorty socks, and comfortable supportive narrow gauge sneakers (Converse, Puma, or similar). Add sunglasses and a hat if Miata or Austin Healey. Add outer vest if headed to high altitudes or in the winter.
I wear my crash test dummy Halloween costume. I find that other drivers on the road leave me plenty of space after they see me 😉
I once drove a totally stripped car (no glass, trim, taillights, etc.) to the body shop for paint. It was really cold so I wore a padded coat and my race helmet. I looked like something from Mad Max. Boy did people get out of the way!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YJ7JtXX3Y64P1t458
I hate to break it to you, but they were getting out of your way because you were driving a BMW !! ⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
t shirt, except in winter then light fleece, jeans and light hikers. Bucc-ees is jerky and beaver nuggets.
Unless it’s well below freezing (and it would be rare for me to plan a road trip in those conditions except for brief stops at high altitude), there is one and only one item of clothing that is a must have. I found a particular brand of soft athletic shorts at Target that I have been buying extras of ever since because they are my go-to for comfort in general but especially on long drives.
Jeans/cargo shorts with a belt just put a ton of pressure on my belly to the point that if I drive wearing a belt there’s an indentation in my skin at the end of the day. I also tend to run a bit hotter than my wife so if we’re traveling together I’d probably get hot in sweatpants. And maybe it’s just me but I feel like walking around in sweatpants in public is another level of “I’ve given up” than athletic shorts (not to say that I never do it, mind you, but I feel better about myself in shorts).
If it’s a little cold out, I throw on a hoodie/jacket for fuel stops, bathroom breaks, etc, and I’m fine for a few minutes. Of course I’ve got warmer clothes in my luggage in the event of a breakdown or anything.
Same thing as every day, Pinky. Prana Stretch Zion pants, either a Hilo Hattie aloha shirt or Carhartt flannel depending on the season, Carhartt Billings bronze safety sunglasses, and probably Carhartt chelsea boots. Comfortable and functional, not too sloppy, works in most contexts.
Underwear that breathes….I’ll just leave it at that.
Go one level further, it’s awesome for long drives. Light pants or shorts that breathe … I’ll just leave it at that.
Shorts, tank top, and flip flops south of the Mason Dixon line (we’re driving from Tampa Bay).
North of that, as little as possible while being warm.
In extreme circumstances, add Depends.
We don’t travel in any season that is remotely winter-ish.
Of course we carry the full panoply of clothing for any circumstance, like 48 degrees in the UP in early August. (Hence why we live in Tampa Bay).
Athleisure, every time. If it’s hot it’s a dry fit shirt, gym shorts, and a pair of light/comfy shoes. If it’s brisk I usually add a light pullover to the equation but stick with shorts. If it’s cold it’ll be sweat pants, a dry fit shirt, and some sort of pullover or sweatshirt. De or re layer as needed.
This was pretty much going to be my exact answer. I don’t typically do sandals, as 8 hours in a comfortable pair of shoes will not bother me.
I don’t like driving in sandals or flip flops. They make me feel too disconnected from the pedals. I like a light athletic shoe with some grip.
Loose fit jeans. You want to make sure that nothing is getting crushed for 8 hours while you are sitting. Wallet does not go in the back pocket.
Nothing goes in the back pockets for me except a folded bandanna.
My wallet goes directly into one of the cup holders if the drive is more than an hour.
99% of the time it’s Jeans and light weight shirt. I also always carry an easy to access change of clothes for long trips
OK, so I do this once every week to two weeks (in-person meetings at the home office), 3-1/2 to 4 hours each way. I wear jeans, boots, and a button-down shirt. Plus a coat/jacket that’s easy to take off when it’s winter, since the car is cozy inside, but I still have to get gas and coffee periodically.
If it’s 8 hours each way, no change except hopefully it’s not for work and I can wear a t-shirt.
Depends on outside conditions. 8 hours in summer. I will wear shorts. 8 hours in winter, T-shirt and jeans.