A travel expert has explained why they always avoid one item of clothing when they board a plane, an item which is loved by many passengers at airports.
For plenty of travelers, putting together the perfect airport outfit matters almost as much as packing the suitcase. But Mitch Glass — a digital nomad who’s spent years on the road — says what you wear through security can make your trip smoother or significantly more annoying.
Known as “Project Untethered” on YouTube, Mitch has backpacked through more than 40 countries. With that much time in transit, he’s learned which common wardrobe choices can attract extra attention at US airport screening.
After countless trips through security lines, he’s noticed certain materials and styles are more likely to confuse scanners or lead to extra checks.
Mitch said: “The TSA social media account posted that the scanners don’t love sequins or and shiny clothes, which are especially popular during the holidays.”
Sequins and shiny fabrics aren’t his only caution, though. He also recommends skipping another travel staple that many people love for its convenience.
Mitch added: “Cargo pants with thick layers of multiple pockets,”
He explained that while some flyers swear they never have issues wearing them, others report the opposite — getting pulled aside far more often when they choose extra-pocketed cargos.
Mitch added: “Many travelers say they have no problems with cargo pants, but I’ve also heard stories of travelers who get stopped every time they wear their extra pockety cargo pants.”
Cargo pants can definitely be practical, given the extra storage for essentials like a passport, phone, charger, or wallet. But he argues that practicality can backfire when it comes time to empty your pockets in a hurry.
Mitch continued: “Either way, I prefer to avoid them because it’s easy to forget you have something buried deep within those pockets that you need to remove.”
He also shared clothing advice for passengers who wear bras, referencing stories he’s heard about what can sometimes set off scanners.
He said: “For women, there are mixed reports on whether their underwire bra sets off security, so perhaps it has to do with how thick the wire is, or maybe certain airports have more sensitive scanners than others.”
Mitch’s life on the move has shaped more than just his packing habits, too — it’s also where he met his future partner.
The backpacker continued: “After a 10-month solo backpacking trip through South America, I stopped in Cali, Colombia to take salsa dancing classes,”
What started as a short stop turned into something far bigger than he expected.
“I only planned to stay for a couple weeks, but God had other plans for me. I met a cute Colombian girl in class, those couple weeks turned into a couple years, and before we knew it…we were married and traveling the world as digital nomads.”