Are you saying I need 8 pair of pants??

Most mission calls being issued now ask for one or two suits (two-pant suits are a must) and then a couple of items down, you'll see that they ask for washable dress slacks. A common misconception, especially for first time missionary parents, is that the pants that come with the suits are enough. That since the suits come with two pants, and they ask for 3-5 dress slacks, then pants are done!

When that happens, we often hear from missionaries in the mission field (or their moms) and usually what they tell us is that after the first summer out in the field, for some reason the suit pants don't match the suit coat anymore. The sun, even in moderate climates, takes it's toll on those suit pants they have been wearing without the coat for the past 3 to 6 months. This issue can be avoided entirely by leaving the suit pants with the coat when you aren't required to wear a suit and get separate dress slacks for those months.

The concept is simple: you wear four pants (from your two 2-pant suits) in the winter, and then you have four dress slacks in the summer. Yes that's 8 pair of pants, and yes you will need all of them.

Wearing 8 pair of slacks for two years (730 days) means every pair of pants will be worn about 91 days before the end of your mission. That may not sound like a lot, but considering the heavy wear they will encounter every day they are worn, it adds up. Taking just the four pants (assuming you get two 2-pant missionary suits) means each pair gets 181 days of constant wear. Ouch. Let's not even talk about the bargain suits that only come with one pant... (how many pieces of clothing do you wear 365 times and are still in good shape?)

Save yourself time, and over the long term, money, by buying as many dress slacks as the call asks for right at the start. You'll be ready to go, you won't have to worry about getting new pants sent from home, and your suit pants won't be fading day by day during those white shirt and slacks only months.

Missionary Backpacks - Don't Skimp on Luggage

A question we hear nearly every day from our Missionaries is this: does my missionary backpack count as my carry-on?

Answer: No. Not in the way a full size carry-on does.
 

In reading most calls, the luggage specifications are pretty much the same. Two large bags that are no larger than 62 dimensional inches(height+depth+width) and no heavier than 50 pounds. In the second paragraph in the luggage section you'll notice that it also says you can take one bag that can be no larger that 45 dimensional inches.
 

Those can vary slightly, but for the large bulk of missions, those bags are all they'll allow you to take on the plane unless you want to pay hundreds of extra dollars per flight for overage fees. I don't know anyone who actually wants to pay those, but luckily you shouldn't have to.
 

Nearly every airline, international or domestic, will allow those two 62 (or smaller) cases and the 45 inch carry-on plus your backpack/shoulder bag/man purse. "Hey Pomeroy's, that's four pieces of luggage where they say only three..."
 

Yes but the airlines do not count your backpack as a carry-on piece as long as you can fit it under the seat. It's considered a personal bag instead of a carry-on. Which means you have a full size (45 inch) carry-on plus a backpack with you when you go onto the plane.
 

Why is this important? Do you really need that much luggage? Yes. Getting all two years worth of clothing across the globe is much easier this way. The airlines generally only weigh the two checked bags (the large ones) and since they have to be under 50 pounds... guess where you can put those heavy shoes, books, and overcoat? That's right. Into your 45 inch carry-on and your backpack. As long as you can lift it, you can carry it on.

Save yourself some money, don't pay overage fees to the airline.

Get yourself a 3-piece set and a backpack and make life easy on yourself.