Products and Tips for Your Missionary

Insights From
Mission Families

Everything I wish I'd known before sending my missionaries out the door, gathered from forums, groups, and years of collective experience.

Below you'll find the most universally recommended products for missionaries in general. You can also find information about your specific mission here:

Go To Missions
Product Recommendations

Sisters' Clothing

Sister missionaries have a lot more options than elders, in terms of clothing. You can find mission-appropriate blouses, skirts, dresses, and slacks at most retail stores, thrift stores, Amazon, and other online retailers.

This section contains links to the products and stores recommended most frequently by the community.

ⓘ Amazon products use affiliate links

Sisters serving in hot and/or humid missions generally prefer lightweight, loose, breathable dresses that don't require any extra layers (slips, T-shirts, etc.) However, in cold areas, layering is the key to staying warm. Thermal garments, fleece-lined tights, and sweaters/cardigans are great for layering whether wearing dresses, skirts, or slacks.

Online stores most frequently mentioned in the community:
Called to Surf Modest Molly JanieLanie Petallush Baltic Born Lena Layne Bohme Shein Lulus
Frequently Recommended Picks:

Sisters serving in Central and South America or wet/cold climates tend to find that pants are essential for long days of proselyting. Tip: try looking for slacks in the men's section at thrift stores.

For taller sisters (5'10" and above) — finding clothes long enough can be a real challenge. These stores have been specifically recommended by the community for having options that fit tall sister missionaries:
It's always best to try on shoes in person, but if ordering online, make sure the retailer has a good return policy. Even the most highly recommended brands or styles may not work for your feet. Many missionaries recommend having 2–4 pairs of shoes, rotating them daily — this also helps with foot odor! If you are serving in a rainy area, you need waterproof shoes.
Everyday Shoes
Boots
Product Recommendations

Elders' Clothing

ⓘ Amazon products use affiliate links
The most frequent suggestion for suits is to purchase a washable one. Dry cleaning is not always possible in the mission field, so being able to wash a suit at home really helps.
Most missionaries go through 10-12 shirts over the course of their mission. Whether or not you need to bring that many with you to start depends largely on how available clothing is in your mission.
Golf pants. Just golf pants. Places to purchase and prices vary, but really the main takeaway is to find golf pants you like at a price that feels right. Another tip from missionaries who have served in hot/humid climates is to only wear dark pants; they hide sweat spots much better than light colors. Here are some of the most often mentioned stores and brands:
Most recommendendations are for white golf pants from Amazon. Whatever you choose, make sure they are not see-through for baptisms.
It's always best to try on shoes in person, but if ordering online, make sure the retailer has a good return policy. Even the most highly recommended brands or styles may not work for your feet. Many missionaries recommend having 2–4 pairs of shoes, rotating them daily — this also helps with foot odor! If you are serving in a rainy area, you need waterproof shoes.
Everyday Shoes
Boots
If your missionary is serving in a rainy area, make sure to waterproof the bag! Water resistance details are noted for each option below. Every day carry bags are sometimes mission specific. Some missions in South America use backpacks, while backpacks in other areas are not allowed. Sling bags are more universally accepted across missions, but be sure to check with your specific mission for any guidelines or restrictions.
Product Recommendations

Supplies

ⓘ Amazon products use affiliate links
There are two schools of thought on luggage size. One is to bring two large suitcases and one carry-on; the other is suitcases that nest inside one another. Two large suitcases allows for more belongings, while nesting sets are nice in small apartments where space is limited.

With the cost of shipping outside of the United States - if you're worried about not being able to fit everything in your missionary's luggage within the allotted weight limit - most missionary parents recommend paying the weight overage at the airport rather than trying to ship things later, especially since packages don’t always make it to the missionary in certain countries.

While some mission packing lists don't include backpacks, other missions use them every day. Regardless, one of the most consistently suggested items across all missions is a small backpack for overnight exchanges.

If serving in a really cold location, many recommend waiting until the missionary arrives in their area before buying a coat. It saves room in luggage, and the local mission will know what actually works for those specific conditions. Whatever you choose: make sure it’s waterproof. A coat with a flap covering the zipper goes a long way in keeping wind and rain from seeping through.
Brands commonly recommended for coats & rain jackets
Columbia ↗ Patagonia ↗ The North Face ↗ Land’s End ↗ Mountain Hardwear ↗ Canada Weather Gear ↗ Eddie Bauer ↗ Sierra Trading Post ↗ Lululemon ↗
Specific Recommendations

These items repeatedly come up as genuinely helpful for missionaries to have — not just "nice to have" in theory, but things missionaries and their families actually wished they'd had from day one.

About This Site
Deanne's missionary daughter Deanne's missionary daughter

Hi, I'm Deanne!

Welcome to MissionaryDetails! I'm a somewhat neurotic (two-time) missionary mom who has scoured the internet looking for the best advice about clothing, accessories, technology, and about every other topic you can imagine regarding the missionary experience from a parent's perspective.

I created this site because it's something I really wish existed when I was in the early stages of preparing my girls temporally for their spiritual journey. Everything here is information and advice I've compiled from hundreds of posts across several forums and groups — organized in one spot so you don't have to do what I did.

Product recommendations reflect what real missionaries and their families have found helpful. No single item works for every mission or every missionary, and prices change — so please shop around, check your local options, and trust the community advice that resonates most with your missionary's specific situation.

If you've served, sent a missionary, or have advice to share, I'd love to hear from you.

ⓘ The information and advice contained here is subjective and not in any way sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Amazon links on this site are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this site. All other brand and retailer links are not affiliate links. Prices vary by location, season, and availability, and we always encourage you to shop around for the best deal in your area!