FRENCH football star Thierry Henry has revealed the items of clothing he never travels without to protect his “soft spot”.
The France and Arsenal legend is a frequent traveller, with his role as a coach and a pundit taking him all over the world.
So much so that he has designed and created his own suitcase to make sure he can travel exactly as he likes.
However, one item that won’t be packed away in his case is his hoodie, which he needs to cover his cold neck on flights.
He told Sun Travel: “I don’t travel without a hoodie because my neck is my soft spot and the air conditioning on the plane blasts my neck, so I need to protect it.
“If I sleep on a plane it is always my neck I have to protect so the air con doesn’t affect it.”
With the rest of his travel outfit, Thierry said he likes to keep it casual, with trainers and tracksuits keeping him comfortable on his journeys.
He added: “I love my trainers and t-shirts are a must. I live in them and tracksuits. I also always wear sunglasses and a cap.”
One of Thierry’s favourite travel past-times is shopping and he always makes sure he leaves enough space in his suitcase for extra luggage, should he end up buying a lot.
He continued: ” You never leave the same way you arrive on holiday.
“When I travel I always end up bringing more home than I took, either things people have given me to bring home, or extra stuff I have bought on my travels.”
That’s part of what inspired him to design his new suitcase, which he has created with Kabuto.
Each case comes with several custom-built features that he said will cater to each and every moment of the travel journey.
That includes a cabin sized suitcase that can increase its volume by 50 per cent, which Kabuto describe as “the most expandable suitcase in the world”.
Thierry explained: “My new suitcase that expands is a first of its kind.
“If you buy say ten jumpers abroad you have the choice to add space to your luggage to fit them in.
The Sun's resident flight attendant reveals what passengers should and shouldn't wear on flights
“Wear whatever you’re comfortable wearing, but bear in mind, it’s usually pretty cold on board the plane.
“I would always recommend wearing a jumper, or at least having one in your bag, just in case you do get cold.
“My advice is to not travel for the destination you’re heading to, but travel for the flight specifically.
“You can always take layers off when you arrive, but you can’t add them if you haven’t got them with you.
“Avoid wearing high heels and flip flops on the flight as well.
“It could be risky and dangerous if we need to evacuate the plane in an emergency.
“Instead, I’d always recommend wearing a comfortable pair of trainers.”
“To have a luggage that is expandable blows me away. I am unsure why nobody has ever thought of it before.”
Thierry has also helped to create a trunk containing 100L of storage, which transforms into a vertical wardrobe, complete with optional fold-out shelves.
He claims that allows clothes to arrive at their destination exactly the way they were packed, ready to wear without any creases.
He said: “I like to pack a certain way. I like my suitcase or carrier to be a certain way. But I love the cut of a Tom Ford suit as I like the way it fits on my body.
“The Kabuto has a loop so if I want to hang my suit up inside the case it does not crease. The clothes are secure and don’t move in the luggage.”
Of all the destinations he’s been to on his travels, one sticks out in Thierry’s mind as his favourite, as it enables him to explore different cultures, which he said is “very meaningful”.
He also revealed which destination he’s never been to that he would love to visit in the future.
He said: “I would have to say I have travelled twice to Rio de Janeiro and that is my favourite place.
“I like the fact everyone in Brazil listens to samba, eats the same food
and the connection is all the same.
“Rio is always such an eye opener to me as there are very few countries that have a sense of community in the way Rio does.
“To explore different cultures and religions is a very meaningful thing.
“The one country I would love to visit is Australia as I never had a chance to go there as there was never enough time to do so during my football career because of the distance and getting over the
jetlag.”
Meanwhile, this suitcase flash sale has travellers racing to get a bargain before their holidays.
And this woman revealed a “flat packing” suitcase hack that she swears by.
