What to Wear in Samoa: Clothes Packing List 👙

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Casual Clothing for Samoa

Due to the warm temperatures, most people in Samoa wear casual and light clothing to keep cool, particularly bamboo, linen or merino wool fabrics. For women, check out the versatile, sustainable and brilliantly breezy bamboo outfits of Moso Morrow.

How to Dress to Respect Local Customs

While it’s fine to walk around in swimwear, short shorts and short skirts and to go topless (that last one is for men) at your resort, you should cover up a little more when leaving your accommodation. Samoan people are quite conservative, with locals even swimming in T-shirts and shorts or lavalava, so be sure to dress more respectfully when you’re visiting towns, villages and public places. You don’t have to be fully covered; just save your most revealing attire for the resort. Our clothes packing list below should give you some ideas of what to wear.

For more information about the local customs, check out Samoan Etiquette: Samoa Customs & Traditions.

Do You Need to Dress for Seasonal Weather in Samoa?

Most people will not need to pack extra layers for keeping warm in Samoa with the exception of those doing one of the mountain hikes such as Mt Silisili. There is very little change in the weather throughout the year, so your clothes packing list for Samoa should look the same for whatever time of year you travel.

Casual Clothing List for Men

• 2 Light shirts
• 5 T-shirts
• 2 Shorts/Lightweight pants
• 1 or 2 Light sleepwear if you’re against sleeping in your undies
• 1 Smarter holiday shirt to look sharp at dinner and/or church
• 1 Sports shorts/Pants for hiking/active activities
• 1 Sports T-shirt for hiking/active activities
• 1 Outfit to travel between Samoa and home
• 6 Underwear
• 4 Socks.

Casual Clothing List for Women

• 4 Singlets/T-Shirts
• 2 Light blouse/T-shirt to cover the shoulders for church, visiting villages and exploring
• 2 Shorts/Skirts which are not too short so you can enjoy wearing them at both your resort and when out exploring
• 1 Light evening dress to impress at dinner
• 1 Dress/Skirt below the knee for church, going to town or villages, etc. We recommend light fabrics such as the sustainable bamboo dresses and skirts by Moso Morrow
• 1 Sarong (Lavalava) will be your best friend for hitting the beach and covering your swimwear in between swimming. You can bring your own or there are plenty for sale once you arrive in Samoa
• 1 or 2 Light sleepwear if you’re against sleeping in your undies
• 1 Light Cardigan/Pashmina/Poncho for windy/rainy days
• 1 Sports shorts/Leggings for hiking/active activities
• 1 Sports T-shirt/Singlet for hiking/active activities
• 1 Outfit to travel between Samoa and home
• 3 Bras including strapless, sports and comfort
• 6 Underwear
• 4 Socks.

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Swimwear for Samoa

The water is where you’re likely to spend A LOT of time in Samoa. For this reason, we recommend packing two pieces of swimwear (because no one likes scraping on a wet bathing suit!)

What Type of Swimwear to Wear in Samoa

For men, boardshorts are the usual choice of swimwear, as opposed to tight Speedos. For women, we recommend a bikini for casual days by the pool or your accommodation’s beach and a one-piece/more stable swimwear for swimming tours, activities and public swimming holes.

Don’t Forget Your Rash Vest!

A rash vest is a good idea for sun protection, especially for children – we like the sustainable ethos and quality of Sharkskin rashies! Additionally, while resorts and tours often provide snorkelling gear, you can’t be sure what state they will be in. If you have the option, pack your own mask and snorkel – TUSA Sport is our go-to.

Swimwear List for Men

• Boardshorts
• Mask and snorkel
• Beach/Travel towel
• Rash vest
• Beach bag/Day pack – we usually travel with Herschel‘s backpacks and tote bags.

Swimwear List for Women

• Bikini for beach/pool
• One-piece for watersports
• Mask and snorkel
• Beach/Travel towel
• Rash vest
• Beach bag/Day pack – we usually travel with Herschel‘s backpacks and tote bags.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

Sun, Rain and Insect Protection

With UV levels ranging from 9 to 11 (which is extreme), short yet powerful rainfall, and mosquitos that can carry diseases, the elements can sometimes look like they are trying to ruin your holiday to Samoa. With this in mind, it is worth packing a few extra clothing items that will protect you from the elements.

For the sun, for instance, make sure that everybody has a sunhat and sunglasses. For the mosquitoes, pack a light long sleeve layer so they have no skin to access. Insect repellent is also useful, but that’s more of an item for the Full Samoa Packing List.

Finally, no matter what time of year you travel but especially during the wet season, which runs from November to April, you might want to take a light rain jacket (unless you plan to duck for cover if it rains or you do one of the 20 Things to Do in Samoa on a Rainy Day).

Protective Clothing for Men, Women and Children

• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Light shirt to cover arms and back
• Light rain jacket (optional – we find that we quickly dry off in the warm temperatures after a downpour).

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

Shoes for Samoa

The last item on your clothes packing list for Samoa is footwear. This depends on what you plan to get up to in Samoa but it’s fair to assume that a good pair of flip-flops and/or sandals would be a good starting point.

If you plan on doing one of the island hikes or land tours, a pair of sturdy sneakers or walking shoes are highly recommended.

Do You Need Reef Shoes for Samoa?

Reef shoes or water shoes in Samoa are recommended if you have them, especially if you plan on snorkelling, but are not strictly necessary. A good pair to have are the unisex Mishansha Water Shoes while Speedo Kid’s and Toddler’s Water Shoes are great for kids.

Footwear for Men, Women and Children

• Flip-flops/sandals
• Walking shoes/sneakers
• Reef shoes/water shoes.