Traveling With Tie

Before you start packing for your trip, ensure you know the exact events you'll be attending. Imagine needing a formal tie for a dinner and realizing your black tie is left at home.

When deciding how many and which ties to bring, stick close to your usual habits. If you enjoy wearing a different patterned tie daily, pack one for each day of your trip. If you're comfortable repeating a striped tie after a day or two, you can pack fewer ties. There's no right or wrong choice, just consider your storage space.

For most men, a short trip typically requires one black or solid dark-colored tie, a somewhat formal patterned or striped tie, and a more casual tie.

Regardless of the ties you choose to bring, ensure they are neat and clean before packing.

Packing neckwear can be stressful. Tears, spills, and creases are ongoing risks to even the most meticulously packed clothing, but ties are especially vulnerable.

One of the most common methods to pack a tie for travel is to roll it. You can use an empty toilet paper roll or another small cylindrical tube, or you can simply wrap the tie around itself carefully. Once finished, place the rolled tie in a shoe or, if you're worried about spills, a sealable sandwich bag serves both as storage and protection.

For a more elegant solution, you can buy a tie case. A good tie case can hold and safeguard at least two ties while fitting snugly in your suitcase. They usually look stylish, but prices can vary greatly based on your preference.

Another tip: Even the best storage techniques can occasionally result in wrinkles. If you end up with a wrinkled tie, hang it in the bathroom while you shower and let the steam help smooth it out. If that doesn't work, ties can be ironed. Just be careful with the material and heat setting to avoid damaging the tie. 

First, try to avoid wearing your tie on the plane. Although this might save some storage space, airplanes present too many unpredictable factors that can dirty your tie. You not only have to worry about your own spills but also those of the person sitting next to you. A sudden bout of turbulence could easily cause a drink to splash onto your tie.

When packing, try to avoid placing ties near anything that could spill. It's best practice to put both spillable items and ties in sealable bags to minimize any potential damage. A soapy suitcase would be bad enough, but hopefully, you can protect your ties.

If you happen to spill something on your tie during the trip, refer to our guide to cleaning ties. Remember that it's not always possible to clean a stained tie, especially when your resources are limited while traveling. If wearing a tie is essential for your trip, make sure to bring an extra.