Have you ever started packing for a trip and realized that you have nothing to wear?
It’s forecast to rain and you don’t have a waterproof jacket. You realize that none of your shoes other than your workout sneakers are actually comfortable enough for a day full of walking. You start packing and realize that, to bring clothes that work for every activity and weather condition, you’re going to need a giant checked bag. Or maybe two.
It’s infuriating. Nobody loves ruining the anticipation of a trip with packing stress, or looking back at photos wondering what on earth we were wearing, or paying too much money to two-day ship a bunch of okay pieces that we’ll never wear again after the trip.
Ready to solve that?
Let’s talk about the super-helpful travel clothing items both Adam and I depend on for travel (and wear when we’re not traveling, too)!
Why you can trust our travel clothing recommendations
Adam and I both travel multiple times per year. And whether I’m flying to DC for work, Adam is heading to a conference where he’ll sneak in a hike, or we’re taking a road trip to visit family, these are the pieces we toss into our suitcases again and again. Most of them we’ve owned for years.
We’ll get into the specific categories and our recs in a sec. But before we do, a few big caveats.
You do not need to buy all of these items all at once.
We’ve built up our packing tool kits over dozens of trips, and there are still some pieces I’m looking for. Plus, depending on your travel style, some of these items might not be necessary at all. Use your best judgement, and don’t blow your budget.
Shop your closet first
Social media and influencers have led us to believe that it’s normal to undergo big shopping sprees to have an entire suitcase of perfect, never-been-seen pieces for a trip.
You don’t have to do that.
You might already have similar things to what we recommend below in your own closet. Use those things.
Look for things you’ll use beyond your trip
Single-use clothing isn’t great for your budget or the planet. Adam and I personally choose to invest in fewer pieces of travel clothing that we’ll get more wear out of rather than throwaway items that will get shoved to the back of our closet as soon as we unpack. You’ll see that quality and versatility reflected in the prices of some of these items, but our goals are to get years of use from them. You’ll see just how often we rewear these pieces in the images below.
You won’t need all of these items every trip.
We’re covering multiple seasons here. If you’re going to the beach, you likely won’t need the puffer jacket.
Okay, enough caveats.
Here’s our travel clothing guide! We’ll include our travel clothing recs for both men and women.
Heads up: you’ll find a few affiliate links below. If you purchase through these links, I’ll receive a few pennies of commission, but the price will not change for you. I only recommend things that I honestly and sincerely like – none of this is sponsored or gifted.
The best travel clothing for Women
Comfortable travel shoe recommendations for women
Most of these shoes are included on my favorites page, I love them so much. I wear these all the time, not just while traveling, and every pair has excellent arch support.
Also, please be sure to break all of these in before throwing them into your suitcase! The sandals and boots need to form to your feet for maximum comfort.
Neutral sneakers
White sneakers are the first shoes I pack for nearly all trips in the spring, summer, and fall. I own and love the Taos brand sneakers – their insoles are as supportive and comfortable as orthodics, and they pair well with everything from loungewear to dresses. My sneakers are canvas, which is breathable but will show grunge. I sprayed these with waterproofing spray for a little more protection and scrub them up at least once a year, but go with their leather option if that will bug you. These fit TTS.
Neutral casual sandals
The Birkenstock Mayari in Antique Lace are my go-to slides in the summer. Fair warning, these are annoying if you’re walking somewhere with a lot of gravel or it’s going to be rainy, but for normal days on city streets, they’re very supportive and look cute. These fit TTS.
Neutral outdoor sandals
Chacos are my pick for a great reliable water and hiking-friendly sandal. I’ve owned a pair of black ZX/2 Classics (the double strap version with the toe loop) for 10 years at this point, and they’ve followed me from river tubing in Minnesota to walking on the Great Wall of China. The bottoms do sometimes eat up my extremely blister-prone feet if I walk in pouring rain for an entire day, but a bit of Foot Glide usually prevents that. At this point, the tread on my pair is worn down to nothing and the straps are beginning to dissolve, so I’m testing out a pair of Chaco Lowdowns for this summer. If I love them, I’ll report back. Both pairs fit TTS and do require breaking in the footbed.
Trail runners
I tried Hoka Challengers with very high expectations based on recs from Outdoor Gear Lab, my in-laws, and a friend who’s an orthopedic surgeon. They’re great if you’ll be walking or running on a variety of terrain and don’t want to lug full-on hiking boots with you. They aren’t quite as comfortable for lots of standing, though, so assess your needs before investing. These fit TTS.
Casual booties
if it’s going to be snowy or cold, Blundstones dress boots are a reliable option that will keep your feet dry and comfy. Plus, the dress boots look just a little sharper-looking than other Blundstones while still handling the elements well. I have extremely high arches and have comfortably worn these for walking around local museums, though if you have a condition like plantar fasciitis, you may need to swap out the insoles. I got my usual US size in these.
I have not yet found flats or loafers with enough arch support to be included on this list, and I only ever travel with heels if I have a specific occasion (like a wedding) that requires next-level dressing up.
packable Travel Layers for Women
A packable puffer jacket
Ideally this would be in a color that coordinates with your closet. You can find decent options at all kinds of price points – over the years I’ve had everything from a $30 Marshalls clearance find to a splurge-y hiking one Adam bought me for Christmas last year. They’ve all done their job. Currently I pack a taupe Calvin Klein one if I’m not doing anything outdoorsy and a deep teal Arc’teryx one (that coordinates with all my hiking stuff) if I am. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, check Patagonia’s Worn Wear or an outdoor consignment store.
A packable rain jacket
This can layer over a puffer for added wind and rain resistance. I’m not super picky about rain jackets – my current one was a $30 Amazon find from a brand that no longer exists, and it’s good enough – but you can get nice breathable ones with ventilation and pit zips if you have the budget for that and want something that won’t make you sweat. I’d trust anything Outdoor Gear Lab recommends.
A packable windproof layer
You can absolutely use your rain layer for this, but if you want something more lightweight, both Adam and I really like the Patagonia Houdini jacket. I can smoosh this jacket down so small that it fits in a belt bag, but it provides just enough wind protection and a little water resistance for warmer weather. It’s not stylish, exactly, but it’s extremely functional. Like most Patagonia items, women’s sizes run small, especially in the hips, so I sized up.
A neutral zip-up sweatshirt
Choosing neutral color helps keep this layer versatile, and I appreciate a full zip for maximum temperature regulation and less elbowing fellow airplane passengers when I inevitably get hot and take it off. I’ve lately been relying on an off-white zip-up from The North Face for plane rides, lounging, and chilly days. The cream was a bold, possibly foolish choice, but it goes with everything and has washed up well after recent travels.
A structured, more stylish jacket
If I have room in my bag, I love a stretchy moto jacket or a denim jacket. (Don’t throw shade at my millennial choices.) I’ve worn a Kut from the Kloth denim jacket for years, which is stretchy enough to be comfortable but still stylish, and recently got a Madewell ivory denim jacket secondhand that goes with everything.
comfortable Travel Dresses and Jumpsuits for Women
I’m very partial to dresses and jumpsuits that are cut well but secretly made of athleisure material. Here are some of my favorites:
Athleta jumpsuits and dresses
These are so cute and comfortable. I’ve worn their midi dresses in particular on planes, to work events, to outdoor concerts, and while working from home, and they’re 10/10 in every situation. The Brooklyn Heights jumpsuit is similar – I wore it to my sister-in-law’s graduation one week and on a flight home from a work event the next, and I felt magically comfy yet pulled-together in both situations. Yes, these items are a bit expensive, but they’ve held up so well for me through many, many washes and multiple seasons, plus they come in petite and tall sizes.
Patagonia Fleetwith jumpsuit
I’ve owned this jumpsuit since 2020 – it’s cute on a wide range of body types and could go from a hike to dinner with just a swap of shoes and accessories. My version is being discontinued, but the new edition looks very similar.
Travel Pants and Shorts for Women
Athleta Trekkie North shorts
I struggle to find shorts that don’t ride up or make my athletic thighs feel suffocated, but the Athleta Trekkie North shorts are great. They’ve got a stretchy waistband, roomy legs, and durable ripstop material, and they can function well in both casual and hiking settings.
Ponte knit pants
I specifically have some Quince ponte knit bootcut pants in black that are polished enough for work but feel like yoga pants. I have gone straight from an airport to a work meeting to a nice dinner in these, and they come in multiple inseam lengths.
Quality leggings (or joggers or flare leggings)
If you need to upgrade your ratty home loungewear and are looking for something that doesn’t scream “gym,” Beyond Yoga makes my absolute favorite comfy leggings. I save these more for plane rides and lounging than sightseeing or sweaty activities, but they are hands down the best leggings I have ever worn. I’ve had them for at least 3 years, and they show practically no signs of wear.
Jeans with stretch
With stretch is key! You can likely wear stretchy jeans on a plane if your bag is too heavy or you’re running out of space. Madewell’s stretchy jeans (especially their Roadtripper line) are some of my favorite ones. Otherwise I’ve heard good things about Good American jeans, but I haven’t tried them since they don’t have tall sizes.
Travel Tops for Women
Ebb to Street white tank
I wear a lot of white tanks and tees both for everyday and travel, and the Ebb to Street tank from Lululemon was an excellent purchase last summer that I’m still wearing. It has a built-in bra, isn’t see-through, and works for a range of activities — including anything that might get sweaty. Because it’s Lululemon, the size range isn’t great, though.
Otherwise travel tops are likely going to be very specific to your personal preferences – you’ve probably got what you need in your closet.
the best travel clothing for men
Comfortable travel shoe recommendations for men
Neutral sporty sneakers
Adam wore Allbirds Tree Dashers all over Europe last summer and reports that they’re very comfortable for walking. They have more substantial support than other Allbirds and come in half sizes for a better fit. He’s not yet sure about their longevity, but he loved them for last summer’s travels and is excited to continue wearing them.
Dressy leather sneakers
Adam has been living in a pair of leather Ecco sneakers this winter, and they’re a great option if you need a nicer-looking pair of shoes that are still extremely walkable.
Trail Runners
Adam also has and loves Hoka Challenger trail runners. Yep, we matched.
packable Travel Layers for Men
A packable puffer
Adam loves his Arc’teryx jacket so much that he bought me the same model as a Christmas gift. It ain’t cheap, so save up or wait for this one on sale, but Adam thinks it’s worth it. He loves that it’s trim-fitting, doesn’t have a ton of snag-able stitching, and has good temperature regulation (the breathable side panels are great if you work up a sweat, but they still seal out the wind). There are lots of good options in this category, though – if you’re on a budget, try Patagonia’s Worn Wear or an outdoor consignment store.
A packable rain jacket
Adam previously used the same inexpensive jacket I have and has since upgraded to an Outdoor Research jacket during a sale. He’d say the pit zips and stretchy, quiet material are revolutionary for hiking, traveling, and rainy bike rides to campus.
A packable windproof layer
There’s a reason we both have the Patagonia Houdini jacket.
A neutral zip-up sweatshirt
Adam loves the Fjallraven Keb fleece hoodie and wears it on planes, for hikes, and on cozy days. (Watch for this one on sale, too.)
comfortable Travel Pants for Men
Pants with stretch
Over the last few years, Adam has converted all of his daily-wear khakis to the Bonobos Chino 2.0. Once he tried the 4-way stretch, he saw the light and could no longer tolerate non-stretchy pants. Insert Nacho Libre joke here. He also appreciates that these pants look like normal, non-stretchy khakis so no one will judge him for wearing “kheggings.”
Adam’s only critique of these is that after a year of near-daily wear, one of his pairs did start to show wear where his keys and phone sit in his pockets. However, he’s literally repurchasing as I type this.
Travel Tops for Men
Merino wool base layers
Adam wears a button-down over a white undershirt 95% of the time. When he’s traveling, though, he swaps his white tees for his small collection of Smartwool base layers because they can be worn multiple times before laundering. He can also wear these solo as loungewear or activewear, so they’re extremely versatile.
Happy trails and safe travels! May your pants be stretchy, your shoes be comfortable, and your travel clothing be exactly what you need.