Last Updated on October 12, 2024 by
Continuing on with our travel clothing week series, today’s post is all about the best travel jackets and what type of coat you should bring with you when you travel.
One note about travel jackets that doesn’t necessarily apply to all of our clothing posts.
If you’re investing in a coat that will survive your trip and longer – don’t skimp out.
You’ll be happier in the long run if you get a good jacket that will last for decades and not a cheap off brand jacket that will fall apart after a few trips.
Take it from someone who has been there, Best Travel Pants for Women that are Stylish and Comfortable and my best travel jackets for women articles.
Here are some questions to consider before taking a look at our travel jacket recommendations below:
Before Buying a Travel Jackets Ask Yourself
What Type of Climate Are You Traveling To?
Before you find the best travel jackets you should first consider the type of climate you’re visiting – is it warm or cold, wet or dry?
This may seem obvious but visiting the hot and humid rain forests of Belize will require a different type of rain jacket (i.e. lightweight and breathable) than the kind you’ll want on a chilly, rainy, early spring day in the Pacific Northwest.
The best travel jackets will be adaptable for many types of weather, but before you make a purchase think about where you’ll wear the jacket the most.
How Long Will You Be Gone?
If you’re going to be going on an extended multi-month trip you’ll want a lightweight jacket that you can layer with a fleece that you can layer with a raincoat as it will presumably change seasons while you’re gone.
If you’ll just be gone a week you only need to find something that will meet your needs for one season and one climate.
What Type of Traveler Are You?
If you’re an adventurous traveler on study abroad.
You’ll want something that’s more informal and all-weather, if you’re a person traveling with your spouse and will mainly stay in hotels and not venture out of museums on rainy days.
You’ll want a jacket that is nicer looking.
So think about what kind of traveler you are.
Will Travel Jackets You Already Own Suffice?
Before you go buy a new jacket just for an upcoming trip, first make sure you don’t have a travel jackets tucked away in the back of a closet that will work just as well as a new jack.
If you do, save your money and take an awesome excursion or have a fabulous meal on your vacation.
Is this a Jacket You Will Continue to Wear?
Make sure that you buy a travel jacket that you will continue to wear around after you’ve returned.
Maybe you’ll only need it when you go on hikes or walking the dog or in a crisp fall day, but buy a quality jacket that will last and be practical for other occasions.
Best Travel Jackets by Category
Rain Jackets
If you’re on your way to a destination notorious for rain, I highly recommend investing in a good rain jacket – with a hood.
Find a lightweight rain jacket that you can wear on a daily basis (black coats always blend in well) will be critical to your happiness and comfort.
Places like Ireland, anywhere with a rain forest, the Pacific Northwest all come to mind as places I would want to bring a good rain jacket.
Remember, you can always buy a cheap rain poncho if you’re somewhere and it rains unexpectedly, but for places where it usually rains for a least part of the day you’ll want a raincoat.
Here are the best six rain jackets I’ve come across for men and women travelers:
Best Women’s Rain Jackets
- Basic Black Rain Jacket: [easyazon_link keywords=”womens Trench coat” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Patagonia Long Trenchcoat with removable hood[/easyazon_link]
- For the Adventurous: [easyazon_link keywords=”Womens Patagonia Raincoat” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Patagonia Raincoat[/easyazon_link]
- For the most rigorous rain protection: [easyazon_link keywords=”Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket[/easyazon_link]
Best Men’s Rain Jackets
- Basic Black Jacket: [easyazon_link keywords=”North Face Rain Jacket” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]North Face Rain Jacket[/easyazon_link]
- For the Harder Core outdoorsy type: [easyazon_link keywords=”Mountain Hardware Exposure Parka” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Mountain Hardware Exposure Parka[/easyazon_link]
- For the most rigorous rain protection: [easyazon_link keywords=”Arc’teryx Alpha LT Jacket” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Arc’teryx Alpha LT Jacket[/easyazon_link]
Fleece Jackets
I cannot remember a trip I’ve taken where I haven’t brought along my [easyazon_link identifier=”B015WPZF5W” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Columbia zip up fleece jacket[/easyazon_link].
Even in most incredibly warm climates I’ll find myself in a hostel that’s over air conditioned or an evening with a strong wind.
Even if I didn’t bring pants on my trip I can always throw on my fleece with shorts and stay toasty.
Generally there are two types of fleeces – full zip up and partial zip up.
You’ll have to decide which you prefer.
You may also want to consider whether you want a thicker polar fleece jacket or a thin one.
My preference is for a thin, but warm jacket.
Best Women’s Fleece Travel Jackets
- Good: [easyazon_link identifier=”B072QL1GPQ” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Northface Women’s Osito[/easyazon_link]
- Better [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HDYRTP0″ locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]North Face Recycled Denali[/easyazon_link]
- Best: [easyazon_link keywords=”Patagonia Fleece for Women” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Patagonia Fleece for Women[/easyazon_link]
Best Men’s Fleece Travel Jackets
- Good: [easyazon_link keywords=”North Face Men’s Fleece” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]North Face Men’s Fleece[/easyazon_link]
- Better: [easyazon_link identifier=”B01AHVLMGW” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Men’s Denali by North Face[/easyazon_link]
- Best: [easyazon_link keywords=”Patagonia Fleece” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Patagonia Fleece[/easyazon_link]
Winter Coats
This is an easy one.
If you’re going someplace cold, bring your regular winter coat from home.
You’re probably wonder which winter jacket – my nice wool coat or more casual skiing jacket.
Unless you’re planning on skiing or participating in some other adventurous outdoor sport – bring your wool coat.
You’ll feel more comfortable walking into museums, restaurants, and bars.
Plus you’ll look less like a tourist.
Even if you do plan on trekking on some glaciers or skiing for a day, you’ll be able to either get a travel jackets with your equipment or rent a jacket from the ski shop.
Lightweight Travel Jackets
Lightweight jackets for travel fall into several categories.
Formal and informal and rain proof or water resistant.
Which category you need goes back to the questions I posed for consideration in the beginning.
If you a twenty something traveler backpacking around Eastern Europe you’re probably going to go for a less formal jacket than you would if you’re a middle aged retired couple taking a river cruise down the Danube and stopping off at fancy restaurants in cities in Europe.
Here are the best lightweight jackets I’ve found based on reviews and personal experience.
Best Women’s Lightweight Travel Jackets
- Good: [easyazon_link keywords=”North Face Women’s Windwall” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]North Face Women’s Windwall[/easyazon_link]
- Better: [easyazon_link identifier=”B019JPVREO” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Ice Breaker Nomad[/easyazon_link]*
- Best: [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PIRRGMU” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Nike Shifter Jacket[/easyazon_link]
Best Men’s Lightweight Travel Jackets
- Good: [easyazon_link keywords=”London Fog Men’s Zip-Front Golf Jacket” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]London Fog Men’s Zip-Front Golf Jacket[/easyazon_link]
- Better: [easyazon_link identifier=”B01HQSBBVA” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]North Face Jacket for men[/easyazon_link]
- Best: [easyazon_link identifier=”B06ZYC6C7P” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Nike half zip jacket[/easyazon_link]
*I would highly recommend the [easyazon_link keywords=”IceBreaker Nomad” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]IceBreaker Nomad[/easyazon_link].
We received this jacket to try out courtesy of Icebreaker and I can honestly say it’s awesome.
It’s lightweight, but thin, made of wool and extremely warm.
It’s marketed at adventurous types – it even has a hood and thumb holes for runners.
But because it’s wool I would argue that it’s cute enough to wear at many nice functions.
With it you may still want a rain or wind jacket over it, however.
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