Paire underwear is extremely easy to store while traveling. – Photo courtesy of Paire
In 2024, my husband and I went on a two-week trip to Japan for our honeymoon. It was late September which, for many parts of the world ushers in the arrival of autumnal weather. But in Japan, where summers can be long and unrelenting, we were exploring in 90-degree temperatures for most of our stay.
Now, I pride myself on being a ruthless packer. If it can’t be mixed and matched several times with other clothes I’ve packed, then it’s not coming with me. But if there’s one thing I notoriously overpack when traveling, it’s underwear. A fresh change of undies after a multi-leg flight or a day spent walking around in sweltering heat is absolutely non-negotiable for me. For our two-week Japan vacation, it felt like an inordinate portion of my suitcase was dedicated to underwear. If only I’d heard of Paire’s Lipstick Underwear then.
The entire shtick with these undies is that they’re super lightweight, fold down to the size of a tube of lipstick, and dry in just seconds — making them the perfect travel panties. They’re made of a thin layer of antimicrobial and odor-blocking fabric that stops bacteria from building up to keep your bits fresh all day, whether you’re in a pilates class, on a camping trip or a long-haul flight. The barely-there fabric feels almost like you’re wearing nothing at all, and underwear lines won’t show under yoga pants and other fitted bottoms.
What I find most intriguing about them is that, because they’re ultra lightweight, they can be hand washed in a sink and dried in just 60 seconds using a standard hotel room hair dryer. Packing only a handful of undies for my multi-week Japan trip would’ve saved me a not-insignificant amount of luggage space for souvenirs like matcha KitKats, my favorite Japanese bath salts, and my latest obsession, these steam eye masks.
One solution to the whole clean-underwear-while-traveling problem is, of course, to do laundry halfway through your vacation. But that requires you not only to stay somewhere with access to laundry facilities, but to take time out of your adventuring to do everyone’s most-hated chore.
What do reviewers say?
It’s not hard to see why many reviewers say the Australian brand’s “lipstick” undies have become their go-to summer, gym and travel undies. Out of more than 1,100 reviews on the brand’s site, they have an impressive 4.47-star rating.
“Washed these knickers out overnight and they dried beautifully,” wrote a reviewer who brought them on a “hot and sweaty” holiday in Bangkok. “Very happy with them.”
Because of their quick-dry design, users say they’re excellent for multi-day trips. “Fantastic quality, super comfortable, dry super quick,” another shopper wrote. “Only used 2 pairs for a week away.”
Other reviewers echoed this sentiment, noting that they’re great for cutting down on pack weight when on the move. “These were great for a recent hike, where I was trying to keep weight to a minimum,” wrote a 5-star reviewer. “So light, easy to wash and dry, and super comfy. No wedgies! These are my go-to hiking underwear now.”
Paire’s lightweight, sheer material makes it perfect for traveling. – Photo courtesy of Paire Underwear
The most common complaints about these underwear have to do with the quality of the ultra-thin material and the stretch-fit sizing. Because they’re made of a barely-there material, it’s easy to snag and rip the underwear if you aren’t careful. “Very comfortable but beware if you tend to have longer nails,” wrote a 3-star reviewer. “It’s very easy to punch through the fabric with them if you’re not careful (lesson learned lol).”
While the underwear are tailored with super stretchy fabrics, they come in two sizes that fit most bodies: XS-M, and L-2XL. Unfortunately, some reviewers have found themselves in a Goldilocks situation between the two size offerings. “I have tried both sizes and several styles but just didn’t find them comfortable,” wrote a reviewer who gave the lipstick undies a 2-star rating. “The smaller size is tight and uncomfortable but the big size is too loose and falls down.”
Do you need them?
If you have a multi-day trip on the horizon and want to cut down on essentials, this is one way to do it. You’ll save space in your luggage or backpack, and don’t have to worry about running out of clean undies if you end up extending your trip. The brand also offers a 100-day risk-free trial so you can try them out, adjust sizes and get your money and shipping costs back, no questions asked.
AloJapan.com