Best Brands for Travel Clothing | Buyers Guide

When on the road, whether for work or pleasure, efficiency is a key trait that allows you to make the most of the world you’re seeing. Simplifying, streamlining, and refining your wardrobe is a key component of that. These brands provide multiple travel clothing options to make your travel experience more fulfilling and less stressful.

Western Rise

We’ve been big fans of Western Rise ever since its inception. Constantly impressing with timeless, multifunctional designs and textile technologies, Western Rise sets the bar for travel-friendly clothing. Founded by Kelly and Will Watters and based in Colorado, the brand creates pieces that transition smoothly from work to play and even the outdoors, allowing you to pack less while still exploring freely at your destination. Pants that can take you from work meetings to hikes? No problem. Wardrobe staples that work equally well for day-to-day wear and last-minute getaways? Consider yourself covered.

Products of note – Evolution Pant 2.0, AirLoft Series

ExOfficio

ExOfficio are well known for offering some of the best travel underwear around, with options for men and women alike. The brand’s Give-N-Go line has been a suitcase staple for savvy travelers for years now, but you’ll also find additional travel-friendly offerings from a brand with over three decades of industry expertise and innovation behind them. From early innovations in creating a “climate control” shirt, to the use of technical materials to create clothing with inbuilt UPF protection and insect-repellent properties, ExOfficio provides a variety of useful travel wardrobe options for both urban and outdoor settings.

Products of note – Give-N-Go 2.0 Boxer Brief, Women’s Give-N-Go® 2.0 Full Cut Brief

Mack Weldon

Mack Weldon is on a quest to prove that basics don’t need to be basic. Through focusing on consistency in fit and quality, the use of innovative fabrics, and versatile and timeless styling, Mack Weldon brings a premium feel to your wardrobe staples. The brand is based in New York City and uses WRAP-certified factories around the world to ensure ethical manufacturing of its products. From underwear to activewear and more formal pieces that will keep you looking smart in work settings, you’ll find a wide range of offerings to help you tailor your ideal travel wardrobe setup.

Products of note – AIRKNITx Boxer Brief, Merino Fleece Shirt Jacket

Veilance

Arc’teryx has built a reputation for technical clothing prowess, primarily focused on outdoor use. But Veilance provides the opportunity to explore and experiment with urban-focused designs. Founded in 2009 by Arc’teryx, Veilance blends advanced technical know-how with minimalist design, resulting in apparel pieces that are clean, timeless, and built to perform day in and day out. You’ll find lines for both men and women, with pieces ranging from coats and pants to shirts, tees, and more.

Products of note – Field Jacket, Align MX Pant

Fjällräven

Swedish brand Fjällräven is one of the most respected names in outdoor clothing, recognized for its commitment to durable, practical designs that are built to offer many years of dependable use. Founded in 1960, Fjällräven has spent over half a century creating pieces to help you get out and explore nature. And while there is an undeniable outdoor-focused slant to its designs, the hard-wearing functionality makes its offerings not only great options for exploring the outdoors but also trusty pieces for taking on demanding travel use in urban environments too. Add in the responsible manufacturing and you get high-quality wardrobe pieces you’ll be reaching for on adventures not just tomorrow but decades from now.

Products of note – Keb Trousers, Bergtagen Collection

Unbound Merino

Merino wool has long been praised for its excellent travel-friendly performance properties such as odor resistance and temperature regulation. But for many years, this miracle material tended to dwell in the realm of activewear and outdoor clothing. Unbound Merino was founded by three friends who loved to travel and wanted to integrate the awesome performance properties of merino wool into more understated, adaptable, and urban-friendly designs. Unbound Merino designs clothing for men and women with simplicity and practical performance in mind; the goal being to pack less but still explore without restrictions. Pieces are created for travel and everyday wear, but you’ll find offerings that easily jump into active use too, whether that’s hitting the gym or the local trails on your travels.

Products of note – T-Shirt, Compact Travel Hoodie

Proof

Proof is a Huckberry-owned brand focused on creating adaptable, technical clothing for work, travel, and play. And if you’re looking for key travel capsule pieces that integrate comfort, technical properties, and versatile style in one, you’ll very likely find them here, with offerings ranging from tees and pants to jackets and long-sleeved shirts. Proof’s 72-Hour Merino T-Shirt has proven its performance credentials time and time again, while the Rover Pant (available in a range of fits to suit different body types and preferences) is a great go-to option for traipsing through airports, along city streets, or up a hill to take in the scenic views on your next trip.

Products of note – 72-Hour Collection, Rover Pant

Ibex

Founded in 1997, merino clothing brand Ibex is a big proponent of buying less but better. So the Climate Neutral Certified brand creates high-quality pieces that are ethically made and designed to be worn for many years to come. Finding the sweet spot between urban and outdoor/active use, Ibex combines the performance properties of merino wool with understated, practical styles that can hop from hikes and bike rides to lunch at the cafe and city sightseeing.

Products of note – Wool Aire Hoodie (Men’s / Women’s), Indie Hoodie (Men’s / Women’s)

Houdini

Founded in 1993, Swedish brand Houdini brings a modern spin to outdoor clothing, with a big focus on sustainability and circular production too. Case in point: 100% of all fabrics it uses this season are recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable, or Bluesign certified. The brand also champions repairing gear rather than simply throwing it away, as well as a Reuse second-hand buying and selling platform to keep top-quality gear in use for as long as possible. Minimalist designs and long-lasting durability make Houdini’s offerings a smart choice for travelers who want sustainable, timeless pieces that will endure travel use.

Products of note – Alto Houdi (Men’s / Women’s), Daybreak Jacket (Men’s / Women’s)

Smartwool

One of the big names in merino wool clothing, Smartwool was founded in 1994 and today offers a wide range of outdoor-focused clothing for men and women. While the brand is keen to encourage people to explore outdoors, its adaptable and responsibly made clothing can put in the miles in urban environments too, making the pieces practical picks for travelers who want outdoor/urban flexibility in their travel clothing. With all the benefits of merino wool, lightweight packability, and a variety of men’s and women’s styles to choose from including base layers, sweaters and hoodies, socks, underwear, and more, you’ll find plenty of foundational pieces for an adaptable travel wardrobe.

Products of note – Men’s Active Hoodie, Women’s Active Ultralite Hoodie, Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew (Men’s / Women’s), Socks (Men’s / Women’s)

SAXX

Comfort down below is key on your travels. And this is where SAXX steps in. The underwear brand has made a name for itself with its patented BallPark Pouch technology, a 3D hammock-shaped pouch that keeps everything securely in place and reduces skin-on-skin friction. Reversed stitching on flat seams does away with chafing, while you also benefit from 3D support around the glutes, thighs, quads, and hamstrings. The result? Super-comfy underwear that lets you move freely and confidently, all day long. Additionally, you’ll also find a range of clothing beyond underwear too, from base layers to shorts, pants, and tops, designed with comfort and performance properties in mind so you can focus less on your clothing and more on embracing the adventure at hand.

Products of note – Volt Breathable Mesh Boxer Brief, Vibe Super Soft Boxer Brief, Kinetic Light-Compression Mesh Boxer Brief

Outlier

Outlier has been doing cool things with clothing since 2008. Founded by Abe Burmeister and Tyler Clemens in Brooklyn, their passion to push the performance of existing pants and shirts would eventually lead to a brand that isn’t scared to dive deep into developing innovative, technical materials while creating clothing honed for flexible performance with clean, urban style.

Products of note – Slim Dungarees, Futuredarts Pant, Bomb Dungarees, Ultrafine Merino Cut One T-Shirt, Dreamweight Raw Cut Shortsleeve

Darn Tough

Travel can be tough, especially on your feet. So keeping them comfy is important if you want to keep going strong on your trips. Enter Darn Tough. This Vermont-based brand lives and breathes socks and is so confident in the quality of its offerings that the socks come with a lifetime guarantee. Each pair is made in the USA and designed for long-lasting durability and comfort. There are plenty of styles to choose from for men and women, with or without cushioning, in a range of heights and weights, and with understated and bold designs alike. So whether you’re after a running sock, work sock, ski sock, or everyday lifestyle sock, you’ll find it here.

Products of note – Men’s Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock, Men’s Run No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock, Women’s Treeline Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock, Women’s Run No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock

SUAVS

Shoes are often some of the bulkiest items on your packing list. And when luggage space is at a premium, you need footwear that can take multiple environments in its stride. SUAVS was founded by Monxi Garza to create shoes that could adapt to a variety of activities and settings, without sacrificing sustainability. The breathable, moisture-wicking, packable, and flexible yet durable designs keep you comfortable while you’re on the go. Each pair of SUAVS has been designed to enable you to wear them during a minimum of three different activity types, and with a range of styles to choose from, you can find the perfect pair to suit your travel style and interests.

Products of note – The Classic Sneaker (Men’s / Women’s), The 247 (Men’s / Women’s), The Zilker (Men’s / Women’s)

White’s

White’s has been making boots by hand in Spokane, Washington since 1853. And its expertise shows in every pair. We dig them so much we even collaborated with them, a true honor for us to create the Khonsu Boot. Built tough enough for the likes of loggers and smokejumpers, with meticulous attention to detail at every stage of construction, White’s boots will travel the world and relish a lifetime of adventures. The brand offers a variety of different styles, from legacy boots to lifestyle and work boots, so you can find a great pair that suits your needs and style preferences.

Products of note – MP-M1 (Half Lug), Original 350 Cruiser, Journeyman, Perry