The Ultimate Spa Day Packing List

Keep things breezy and basic for a trip to the spa. “For optimal comfort before and after treatment, I recommend guests come in with or wearing loose-fitting clothing made from natural, breathable fibers like cotton or linen,” says McAninch. “Don’t overthink it — your favorite loungewear should do the trick!”

Given that you’ll change into a robe soon after arriving, it’s best to dress simply — there’s no use fussing over layers and accessories that you’ll just take off. “Many wellness facilities and destination spas offer all the necessities, from plush robes to comfortable slides and even personal care and hygiene products for guests to use,” adds McAninch.

I always pack a swimsuit, just in case there’s a pool or steam room available. “Many spas that offer cold plunge sessions require guests to wear swimsuits for sanitary purposes, whereas a swimsuit for a steam room or sauna may be suggested for privacy and comfort,” McAninch explains. He adds that it’s also a good idea to bring comfortable athleisure or workout clothing, as many wellness destinations offer fitness facilities or yoga studios.

Best Swimsuit for Women

Left On Friday Pool Days Top

View on Leftonfriday.com

Of all the items I make sure to pack for a spa day, a trusty swimsuit is my nonnegotiable. Whether it’s to take advantage of a pool, hot tub, hydrotherapy circuit, steam room, or sauna, I always reach for my Pool Days Top and Hi Tide Bottom from Left On Friday, which boast a flattering and functional fit that’s ideal for swimming or sunbathing. Crafted from the brand’s proprietary Smoothing Dream Fabric, the suit feels as great as it sounds. The soft, smoothing fabric is compressive, quick-drying, fade-resistant, and machine washable for easy care, meaning I can dip in and out of saltwater pools or hot springs without worrying about unsightly stains.

I’ve had this suit for years and it looks and feels as good as the day I got it. While I prefer a semi-modest coverage style, like this scoop-front top and high-waisted bottom, the brand offers dozens of cuts, colors, and cup sizes, making it easy to find an option that best suits your style.

Best Loungewear Pants for Women

Subset Organic Cotton Wide Leg Pants

View on Wearsubset.com

Nothing snaps you back to reality faster than having to zip yourself into a form-fitting dress or tight jeans after a full-body massage. To maximize your relaxation time, pack a pair of breezy, breathable loungewear pants, like this organic cotton option from Subset. They’re swishy yet substantial, making them a great all-season pick to slip into after a treatment. Plus, the high-rise, elastic waistband stays comfortably in place without digging into skin, thanks to a hidden adjustable drawstring.

Best Loungewear Top for Women

Alo Sheer Glow Tank

$58 at Aloyoga.com

Stretchy, smoothing, and just a touch sheer, I could live in this lightweight tank that's an easy layer to throw into any tote. While a looser fit may be more comfortable for throwing on after a body scrub or wrap treatment, I find that this curve-hugging tank is my idea of a spa-to-street outfit — sort of the day-to-night equivalent of something I can wear straight from the spa to lunch or to lounge around the house (or hotel). The second-skin silhouette is flattering without feeling constricting, and it’s versatile enough that I can pair it with anything, so I don’t need to overthink my outfit planning.

Best Swimsuit for Men

Vuori Banks Short

$54 at REI $68 at Nordstrom $68 at Vuoriclothing.com

Of more than 40 men’s swimsuits that we tested over a period of six months, the Vuori Banks Shorts earned our top pick thanks to their buttery-soft and quick-drying material. Thanks to the comfortable drawstring waist and unlined, quick-drying design, we found these to be an ultraversatile pick for poolside lounging, contrast therapy, or active swimming. We also love that they’re made from the brand’s VCycled fabric. In terms of practicality, there are two side pockets as well as a handy zippered pocket for keys or other small essentials. Something to consider, though, is we found that the 7.5-inch inseam is a bit long on men under 5 foot 9 inches.

Best Sweatpants for Men

Mack Weldon Sweatpant

View on Mackweldon.com $88 at Saks Fifth Avenue $88 at Bloomingdales

These ultrasoft, breathable, and versatile joggers earned our top pick out of the 37 pairs we tested and are ideal for changing into after a deep-tissue massage or lounging in after a sauna session. Crafted from a supercozy microbrushed French terry knit blend, these are soft enough to sleep in yet sleek enough to wear to the hotel spa. They even boast zippered pockets, so you can safely store your phone, keys, or other valuables inside. The drawstring waistband provides a perfectly snug and adjustable fit, while the legs feature a tapered cut and ankle cuffs for a flattering, sporty silhouette.

Best Hoodie for Men

Cozy Earth Bamboo Hoodie

View on Cozy Earth

A perfect day of rest and relaxation starts and ends with this bamboo hoodie, which is made from luxuriously soft viscose. The supersmooth handfeel and slim design make this easier to pack than a bulky, oversized hoodie, plus the midweight fabric is perfect for layering up after a cold plunge. In terms of design, it checks all our boxes, thanks to an easily adjustable drawstring hood, a roomy kangaroo pocket, and wrist cuffs for a polished finish. We appreciate that the sizing also runs through men’s 3X, and comes in seven subdued, earthy tones like hunter green or charcoal.

While you’re welcome to pack your own comfortable slides or cozy slippers to change into, most spas will provide a pair for you. “Many spas and wellness centers provide cushioned slides or slippers for guests to wear in and around treatment rooms, locker rooms, and waiting rooms, so there is no need to worry about which shoes to pack,” says McAninch.

If you’d prefer to bring your own shoes, McAninch recommends supportive flip-flops or slides with plenty of traction for safely navigating locker rooms, pool areas, steam rooms, and other potentially slippery surfaces.

Best Slides for Women

Freedom Moses Women's Slides

$50 at Amazon View on Freedomoses.com $50 $35 at Shopbop.com

In addition to robes, most spas will provide waterproof sandals or slippers to guests — but if you prefer to bring your own, look no further than the Freedom Moses Two Band Slides. I love to bring my own sandals, as it’s easier to spot which ones are mine when I slip them off by the pool or sauna. Travelers and spa-goers alike will appreciate this pair for their molded footbed, slight arch support, and cushioned soles, which make them comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time. Beyond their waterproof construction, these durable PCU slides also stand up to a fair amount of wear and tear — we’ve tested pairs that have lasted us over three years, which is a major feat considering the low price point. We love that the affordable price tag means we can stock up on these in multiple colors — luckily, there are over 38 options currently available, all of which are made from vegan materials and created with fair labor practices.

Best Slides for Men

Crocs Classic II Flip Flop

$30 $25 at Amazon $27 at Zappos $30 at Dicks Sporting Goods

These Crocs flip-flops pair minimalist design with maximum comfort. They’re a great vacation companion, offering all-day comfort whether you’re heading to the beach or walking between treatment rooms at the spa. Certain resort spas feature indoor and outdoor components, which can be more comfortable to navigate in your own footwear.

Featherlight and bouncy, these are made from Crocs’ Croslite foam, which is water-resistant and dries lightning fast, so there’s no worry about pool-adjacent puddles. The true standout with these simple yet sturdy sandals is their impressive tread, which will help prevent any slips in wet locker rooms.

A good spa bag is spacious, lightweight, easily portable, and water-resistant. It should be large enough to store a change of clothes, your toiletries, a water bottle, and a book, with pockets to organize your phone, wallet, keys, and other small essentials. For day trips, I tend to stick to a tote bag, but I’ll size up to a weekender bag if I’m heading to a wellness retreat or resort spa, which tend to have fabulous gift shops, so it’s always nice to have some extra room for any product purchases.

Given that most spas will provide the essentials — robes, slippers, and sometimes even disposable underwear — McAninch suggests keeping things light in terms of any accessories. “I highly encourage guests to disconnect from the outside world (and external stressors) to connect inwards with themselves. Whatever guests might need to help them do so, whether that be their favorite book, journal, essential oil, or personal care product, is what I recommend they bring with them,” he says.

Best Water-repellent Backpack

lululemon City Adventurer Backpack

$178 at Amazon $89 at Lululemon $120 at Farfetch.com

While a chic tote may feel more appropriate for an ultra-high-end spa at a luxury hotel, the ideal bag for most day spas is a spacious, water-resistant backpack with zippered compartments and multiple pockets for easy storage. This way, you can easily store a change of clothes, any toiletries or accessories, and a book or journal. This sleek, compact backpack from Lululemon boasts a side zip pocket for easy access to your water bottle, plus a small internal zip pocket for organizing keys, cards, and other valuables. Its 21-liter capacity is perfectly sized to safely stash all of your essentials, while still being able to fit in most spa lockers. We tested it out, and found that it kept all of our belongings dry, even while walking in the rain.

Best Tote Bag

Béis East To West Tote

$108 at Nordstrom $108 at Beis $108 at Revolve

For an equally fashionable and functional pick, look no further than this chic and sturdy tote bag from Béis. It’s spacious enough to fit everything you’d need for a spa day, and its minimalist silhouette is versatile enough to bring to the gym or office. Light packers might even use it as a weekender. It’s equipped with plenty of organizational features like an external zippered pocket that keeps your phone within easy reach, plus two water bottle pockets, a padded laptop pocket, and a leash to secure your keys. There’s also a trolley sleeve, which makes it easy to slip over a variety of luggage pieces if you’re heading out on a weekend getaway. The wide base means it will stand up on its own, which makes it easy to rummage around in, but a bit tricky to squish into more narrow spa lockers.

Best Wet Bag

Alvababy Wet Bags

$10 at Amazon View on Alvababy.com

Not sure what to do with your wet swimsuit after a relaxing soak in a hot tub? In a pinch, I tend to wrap mine in a disposable shower cap if it’s available, but a far more environmentally friendly and efficient option is a wet bag. I love this lightweight option because it’s foldable, plus it has two zippered compartments, so you can store wet and dry clothes in the respective pockets. It’s perfect for keeping wet swimsuits or dirty gym clothes separate from clean and dry belongings — it can also be used as a diaper bag, and comes in over 30 different colors and patterns.

Best Toiletry Bag

Aer Travel Kit 2

View on Aersf.com

If you’re bringing along a few toiletries of your own, you’ll want to keep them secure in a water-resistant bag. The Aer Travel Kit 2 is thoughtfully designed for those on the go, with a stowaway hook for hanging, plus pockets galore. There are two external pockets, as well as a side slip pouch for a toothbrush. Inside, there’s another zippered storage compartment for hair ties and small accessories, as well as elastic bands to keep travel-size toiletries and a razor in place. The ballistic nylon exterior is durable and water-resistant, so you can confidently place it on the sink knowing your things will be protected.

Best Water Bottle

Thermoflask Stainless Steel Water Bottle

$30 at Target View on Mythermoflask.com

While spas will provide bottled or filtered water, it’s convenient to bring your own reusable bottle along to ensure you don’t get dehydrated after unwinding in the hot tub or sauna. Insulated, stainless steel options like this leak-proof and ultradurable model from ThermoFlask — which earned our top pick out of dozens that we tested — are ideal, as they’ll keep your water refreshingly ice cold for 24 hours. Choose between a straw top and a chug cap based on your preferred drinking style; both are comfortable and securely sealed, so you can toss this in your bag without worrying about accidental spills.