18 Best Packable Travel Jackets
There are two issues that every guy faces when hitting the road — what to pack, and what to wear. What if there was a way to conquer both at the same time? Yes indeed, our guide to the best packable travel jackets does exactly that. We’re talking about mobile-yet-durable layers that work to help fight off blasting airport A/C, yet also provide just as much function and fashion when you arrive at your destination.
The mix of brands on our list of the best packable jackets offers names that specialize in this kind of apparel, plus some options that might not quite be as familiar to you. It’s all in good fun, and this gear will help you tackle your upcoming winter and spring travel with relative ease — not to mention, you’ll be prepared for any situation you encounter (or just the chance to get another beer when you’ve arrived at your final destination). Pack up your bag, get your tickets handy and shop away.
New Balance Ultra Light Packable Jacket
New Balance delivers on apparel as well as its durable, road-ready running and lifestyle shoes – – that much is clear when it comes to the Ultra Light Packable Jacket. Sleek, functional and easy to layer, it features handy details that add to its utility, from 360-degree reflective markings to a full coverage hood and elastic wrists to keep cold air out. It’s the sort of grab-and-go jacket that’s going to work well for a weekend coffee dash when on the road, and it should prove a timely option to toss in your bag, too. – Buy It
Patagonia Houdini Jacket
Simple and classic, yet subtly stylish and modern — that’s the name of the game with the minimal Houdini Windbreaker Jacket from Patagonia, offered in a slim fit for under $100. That’s a deal that really can’t be beat. The nylon ripstop is durable and yet lightweight, crafted with a DWR finish for even more durability than you might expect. A left chest reflective logo adds a touch of functionality that should help no matter where you go when you’re on (or off) the road. – Buy It
Orvis Packable Shell Anorak
Orvis specializes in making an array of gear for every outdoor situation imaginable, including those times when you simply must bring a dependable travel jacket on the road with you. The Orvis Packable Shell Anorak just so happens to be that jacket, with our favorite colorway crafted in striking blue for high visibility — no matter where you travel. It’s a technically-minded piece that looks simple, yet functions well when you need it most (including when the rain comes down — it features water-resistant treated nylon). – Buy It
Nike Running Impossibly Light Packable Ripstop Hooded Jacket
Nike certainly should be on your high list in terms of the right gear for travel, running or exploration — the brand’s Impossibly Light Packable Ripstop Hooded Jacket absolutely has a name that lives up to the challenge. The abrasion-resistant ripstop protects you from harsh wind and rain — essential when exploring an unfamiliar city — and this jacket also looks cool, continental and different than anything you’ve got in your closet right now. The best part just might be that it looks justs as cool with slim denim as it does with your gym clothes. – Buy It
5.11 Packable Jacket
When you find a jacket that features the sort of specs which the 5.11 Packable Jacket can provide, it’d be a safe bet to snap it up as quickly as you can. Made from a lightweight polyester that makes it easily packable — yet still durable — this jacket packs in tough YKK hardware, a step above other similar travel jackets on the market. Need a place to store your valuables? The document pocket at the chest is another unique touch that should make the 5.11 Packable Jacket the next piece of travel outerwear you buy. – Buy It
Tommy Hilfiger Packable Down Bomber Jacket
Ever a master in effective, wearable and functional style that still maintains a bit of prep edge, the Tommy Hilfiger Packable Down Bomber is the sort of travel jacket that makes perfect sense to wear with trusty denim, a classic Oxford and suede chukka boots. If you ask us, that’s as essential of a travel outfit as it gets, and it all starts with a great packable coat. Wear it to the airport, throw it in your bag, then break it back out when it’s time to explore — all for far less than your plane ticket cost. – Buy It
Lands End 800 Down Packable Jacket
Lands’ End is another brand we like for the way they combine effective style with a slight prep look and plenty of functionality. Take the 800 Down Packable Jacket, for instance. We like the wide array of eyecatching colors, from the bright Lava Orange (ideal for standing out in inclement weather) to the Fresh Cosmic Blue, a spring-friendly option that wouldn’t look out of place with stone chinos and suede chukka boots come spring. Since you’ve got some time until then, though … the use of 800-fill down should provide you with enough warmth in the intervening weeks. – Buy It
Eddie Bauer Rainfoil Packable Jacket
Eddie Bauer has a long history of crafting gear that nods to both its heritage and the brand’s distinctly American, sporting sense of style. If that’s the type of style you appreciate, and if that’s the type of style you want to bring with you when you travel, then the Rainfoil Packable Jacket is the one to buy — no questions asked. The seam-sealed exterior features the brand’s 2-layer WeatherEdge technology, geared toward maximum protection from inclement weather. Layer this with a classic crewneck and tan chinos to travel to your next destination. – Buy It
Zero Restriction Packable Jacket
Zero Restriction might not be the first brand that pops up onto your radar when it comes to durable outerwear, but we’d urge you not to sleep on them for one second. The brand’s Packable Jacket is simple, effective and efficient. It can pack into a concealed pocket pouch, for starters. And it comes in just a few sharp, stylish colors — all the more critical when looking for a jacket that can work with a variety of travel outfits. The sleeves also snap off to create half-sleeves, giving you two jackets for the price of one. – Buy It
32 Degrees Nano Light Packable Down Jacket
32 Degrees offers quite the promise when it comes to its stylish, effective and sleek outerwear, including its Nano Light Down Packable Jacket. Starting with the 650 down fill and carrying on through to understated-yet-crucial details like a stand-up collar for added protection in the elements, this straightforward, but highly functional, travel jacket stows in its matching packable bag and looks great with about anything you can think of wearing to hit the road (your favorite blue jeans and broken-in leather boots included). – Buy It
Tumi Patrol Reversible Packable Travel Puffer Jacket
Tumi’s remarkable travel bags have made a name for themselves at destinations across the globe, and they’re certainly much-loved among jetsetters. The brand’s Reversible Packable Travel Puffer Jacket gives more of the same, yet in a neat travel jacket. We love the cool pattern on one side and the neutral, sleek solid color on the other. It’s both water-resistant and filled with down insulation, made to adhere to the Responsible Down Standard. The end result is as good as it gets in terms of style and ethics — that’s something we salute. – Buy It
Orvis Rover Packable Field Jacket
Orvis delivers another packable travel jacket that’s worth picking up if you need to fill such a void in your wardrobe — and we certainly think you do. It’s rugged yet lightweight, made from cotton and nylon in a silhouette that’s neither too outdoors-minded nor too city-ready. In short, it’s the perfect field jacket to wear with everything from a marled henley and denim to a classic Oxford and slim chinos on your next trip. The stowaway hood adds yet another dimension, while the four-pocket front gives you plenty of everyday carry space. – Buy It
Outdoor Research Soleil Jacket
On the more technical and sleek side of things sits the Soleil Jacket from Outdoor Research. It’s got more in common with classic zip-front jackets than field jackets, but that makes it no less worthy of bringing along with you on a trip that calls for outdoor adventure. It’s made from a polyester micro stripe knit, featuring quick-drying and warming capability that should make it an easy choice when it comes time to pack your bag for a spring or winter weekend away. – Buy It
Oakley Halo Packable Jacket
Oakley has long been on the cutting edge of gear that’s strikingly sleek and durable, from sunglasses to bags and now, the Halo Packable Jacket. The durable ripstop fabric puts this jacket in a league of its own, and the multi-panel hood ensures coverage that just works no matter the weather outside. Perforated underarms and a perforated back panel give you a double dose of breathability, providing all the more opportunity to layer with this sleek coat. We like the Blackout colorway, too. – Buy It
Columbia Watertight II Jacket
It should come as no surprise that Columbia makes a heck of an outdoor jacket. What should be surprising is that the Watertight II Packable Rain Jacket just so happens to retail for under $60 — quite the excellent price when you consider how well Columbia makes these type of jackets. The nylon plain weave fabric features Omni-Tech functionality, all the better for standing up to inclement weather in your travels. Plus the range of color options is sleek and offers nice variety. – Buy It
Arc’Teryx Beta AR Jacket
Arc-Teryx knocks it out of the park in terms of gear that’s cool to wear — in terms of style — and durable in terms of functionality. The Beta AR Jacket blends that approach quite seamlessly, featuring both GORE-TEX technology and waterproof capability. It’s among a host of great grab-and-go jackets from our list of the best men’s travel jackets, and with an investment-level price tag and a quality range of color options, who can blame you for picking one up? – Buy It
The North Face Venture 2 Jacket
What’s even more remarkable than the value and quality provided by The North Face Venture 2 Jacket is the array of colors and options you get for your money — not to mention the high quality one always expects from The North Face. The seam-sealed shell is waterproof and crafted with DryVent, all the better for taking on adventures on or near the water — or rainy hikes this coming spring. The question isn’t whether you should buy it, the question is what color are you getting — and what are you wearing it with? – Buy It
Canada Goose ‘Hybridge™ Lite’ Slim Fit Packable Jacket
Think beyond extremely bulky parkas when you think of Canada Goose — the brand’s Hybridge Lite Slim Fit Packable Jacket expands the brand’s focus more toward easily packable, easily wearable travel gear. You still get all of the same qualities you appreciate when it comes to Canada Goose, including uncompromising quality. It’s able to pack into the exterior pocket, but it looks much cooler when you wear it over your casual travel gear any day of the week and at practically any time. – Buy It
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