As a first time missionary mom, I am quickly learning all of the missionary must-haves to prepare and send my son on a mission. So, of course I want to share them with you. Now, this list is specific to Elders. If you have a sister missionary, check out these Sister Missionary Must-haves.
I decided to organize this post after the manner of my son’s missionary packing list. It is divided into the same sections and included all (and more) of what is on his list. Most of these items are required for every missionary, and some are specific to my son’s mission (Indianapolis, Indiana). But even if they are specific to a mission, I know they would be beneficial to most missionaries.
CLOTHING
Let me start off by saying that most of the products in this blog post were highly recommended by a large group of seasoned missionary Mommas. We have tried many different types of missionary products and these are the best of the best. These white shirts are no exception. They stand the test of comfort, stretch, stain resistance, yellow-collar resistance, humidity, and most anything a missionary might encounter. Plus, they give a 50% discount for missionary items with code MISSION50! Find their short sleeve shirts here.
This pants are perfect for everyday missionary wear. They are light, comfortable, and stay looking great. I got about 5 pair for my son in a variety of colors.
These dress shoes are waterproof and perfect for everyday walking. Make sure to have your missionary break them in before he leaves!
Here is a classic variety of ties. You can never have too many ties as a missionary!
We love these socks because they are comfortable, breathable, and dressy enough for missionaries.
I swear by wool socks. They are perfect for keeping feet warm in the winter, and cool in the summer (yes, wool socks)! Plus, they keep feet comfortable when walking miles a day (my family all wore these for Pioneer Trek).
These are a great set of ratchet belts which are a favorite for most missionaries because they have no holes, so the fit is much better.
SEASONAL CLOTHING
If your Elder needs a sweater, this one has a ton of color options and fits perfectly over a white collared shirt.
CASUAL CLOTHING
Shower shoes are a must for missionaries, especially at the MTC. We love these ones with tiny drainage holes, plus they take up hardly any room!
PERSONAL ITEMS
Your missionary will definitely want a memory journal. Sometimes they are called Transfer books. Your missionary can keep track of companions, areas, friends, ordinances, and so much more. Plus there are plenty of journal pages!
My son has had an Apple watch for the last couple years, but those are definitely not allowed on missions. After a lot of research, I found this one to be the most recommended for missionaries.
Your mission will probably recommend a crossbody bag. This one was highly rated and looks really nice. It has a lot of organization and storage.
This compact umbrella folds up tiny and is great to throw into that previously mentioned crossbody bag.
I was a little surprised to see this on my son’s packing list, but a thermometer is required for missionaries to take. This one is simple and small – perfect for missionaries.
TOWELS AND BEDDING
Grab this small set of towels for your missionary. They come in a lot of colors too!
Bedsheets are also required for missionaries to pack. My son’s list didn’t mention what size to take, but after asking my go-to missionary Mommas, I found out that most recommended Twin XL.
STORAGE
We love this pants hanger because it saves a ton of space- something that your missionary likely won’t have very much of.
Here’s another space-saver. You can fit a lot of ties and a few belts on this small hanger.
Clothing hangers are another requirement, and our favorites are these wooden hangers. They keep clothing looking great (they don’t stretch the neck and shoulders weird).
Your missionary will definitely want a shower caddy of some kind, and this one is awesome!
Another must-have is a manicure pedicure set. This one includes all the essentials and then some. Plus, it is so tiny!
Your missionary will be asked to bring a laundry bag, and when I found this one that is a travel backpack, I knew it was perfect!
TRAVEL
If your missionary is going foreign, this passport organizer and wallet is a great way to keep their important documents secure!
We love this luggage set and it comes in tons of colors! Some mommas recommend buying a fun bright color so they’re easy to find!
If your son needs some help organizing their luggage, these packing cubes are great for that! They take up hardly any space and make everything super easy to find.
Apple Air Tags
This is one of the best things we got for our missionary. We stuck one in each of his luggage to make sure they didn’t get lost. But what was even better is that we could see where he was transferred before he was able to tell us on P-day. Epic stalker skills 🙂
Of course, this is not a complete list of everything your missionary might need, but it’s a really good start. These are tried and true products that I hope will benefit you and your missionary as much as it has for me! What else would you add to this list?
Follow Becky on Instagram and Facebook!
