These Are the Best Travel Clothes for Men for Every Type of Trip
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From shirts to linen suits, these are the essential travel clothes for men.
Travel + Leisure / David Hattan
While half the fun of a trip is thinking about what you’ll experience when you get to your destination, it’s equally important to cleverly plan out what you’ll wear. You’ll need comfortable, breathable clothing for the journey there, activewear for walking around or hiking, dressier items for going out, and clothing for anything unexpected your travels throw at you (think: a waterproof jacket and a warm hoodie).
It’s admittedly a lot to think about, but luckily we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together this list of the best travel clothes for men keeping in mind features like versatility, breathability, wrinkle resistance, and style to help you make the most of your next adventure.
Best T-shirt: Ibex Journey Short Sleeve Crew
Why We Love It
This is an extremely versatile, light, and comfortable shirt for any occasion during your travels.
What to Consider
Merino wool is a top-quality material, so the price tag is higher than your average shirt.
Merino wool is a magical material when it comes to travel. It keeps you cool in the heat and warm when it’s cold, it’s very light, won’t stay wrinkled, and wicks away moisture so you won’t have to wash it as often as other shirts. You may find yourself wearing this merino wool tee from Ibex in transit, on hikes, and walking around wherever you travel – so pretty much all the time since it rarely gets smelly.
While other wool shirts can pill, Ibex’s tee looks great after multiple uses and washes. It’s also nice and stretchy thanks to the nylon blend and comes in a variety of fun, bright colors.
Price at time of publish: $88
The Details: 89 percent merino wool, 11 percent nylon | S to XXL
Best Collared Shirt: Percival Crochet Short Sleeve Shirt
Why We Love It
It doesn’t get more high-quality and stylish than Percival’s shirts.
What to Consider
It’s pricey.
Yes, Percival shirts are expensive, but when you put one on you’ll see why. Made with thick, high-quality materials, the British company’s shirts are always heavenly to the touch and lead the way in terms of style – celebrities wear Percival and fast fashion copies it.
The shirt’s crochet style fits with this summer’s trend of knit see-through collared shirts, plus it won’t stay wrinkled. Wear it underneath a blazer, over an undershirt or on its own – it has all the components of being your new favorite shirt for a night out. Just prepare yourself for all the attention you’re inevitably going to get.
Price at time of publish: $270
The Details: Linen and cotton weave | XS to XXL
Best Long-sleeve Shirt: Highland Duds Kenilworth Long Sleeve Shirt
Why We Love It
It’s a comfy travel shirt that’s professional yet relaxed.
What to Consider
It may crease in your luggage.
This travel dress shirt from Highland Duds is perfect for sunny lunch meetings with your boss or a romantic dinner on a terrace overlooking a stunning sunset. Made with high-quality Oxford cotton with a slight bit of spandex, it’s cozy and slightly stretchy for a relaxed fit. Most dress shirts just don’t feel right for travel – this one does, and torso seams keep the shirt fitted so it’s not too boxy. We also love the color options – especially the papaya pink.
Price at time of publish: $118
The Details: 99 percent Oxford cotton, 1 percent spandex | S to XXL
Related: The 16 Best T-shirts for Men of 2023
Best Jeans: Bonobos Stretch Travel Jean
Why We Love It
Bright, comfy, and light, these jeans might be the only pair of pants you need on your travels.
What to Consider
Since they’re stretchy, you might want to size down.
Bonobos has perfected the travel jeans – they’re not too heavy and are stretchy enough to keep you comfortable all day long. Another great thing about these jeans is that they come in five different sizing options: tailored (the slimmest fit), slim (a slight taper), slim, athletic (a bit more relaxed), and straight.
Available in bold colors like olive, jet black, and amarillo tan, these pants are perfect for every occasion.
Price at time of publish: $119
The Details: 94 percent cotton, 4 percent polyester, 2 percent elastane | 28 to 46 x 28 to 36
Best Chinos: Bluffworks Ascender Chino
Why We Love It
These pants offer a professional look with all the travel features we love.
What to Consider
They are a bit pricey.
These chinos from Bluffworks have kept the traveler in mind with a whopping 10 pockets to store your stuff. Among them are three zippered pockets, two phone pockets, a Velcro money pocket and a large secret rear pocket that’ll fool even the savviest thieves.
These chinos look professional while still offering key travel features, including wrinkle, moisture and odor resistance. They’re also lightweight and as comfortable as your favorite khakis.
Price at time of publish: $125
The Details: Polyester | 28 to 40 x 28 to 36
Best Joggers: Vuori Transit Jogger
Why We Love It
These joggers are versatile enough to go from transit days to a casual lunch in your destination.
What to Consider
They run slim and high on the ankle.
As the name suggests, these joggers are perfect for transit on the plane, train, car, or bus. They’re super comfy, soft, have four-way stretch and an elastic waistband. They breathe well so they can be worn in hot or cool temperatures and have four pockets (two in the front and two in the back) to keep you organized. Since these joggers are made with such high quality materials, feel free to throw them in the wash without worrying about pilling.
Price at time of publish: $118
The Details: Polyester and elastane | XS to XXL
Best Swimsuit: Chubbies Lined Classic Swim Trunk
Why We Love It
The inner lining is perfect for beach volleyball and wearing them all day long without chafing.
What to Consider
The range of sizes could be a bit more inclusive.
Chubbies has made a name for itself with its fun, beachy colors, but its innovative inner compression lining is revolutionary. The lining works just like underwear, so you don’t need to worry about chafing, plus it’s made with mesh for easy drying (though you might want to pull out the lining when you dry them so they’re ready with the rest of the trunks). Another great thing about this bathing suit is that it comes in a variety of lengths – 4, 5.5 and 7 inches – depending on how much thigh you want to show off. There are plenty of colors to choose from, so have fun and express yourself.
Price at time of publish: $80
The Details: 92 percent polyester, 8 percent spandex | S to XXL
Related: The 10 Best Hiking Pants for Men of 2023
Best Shorts: Buck Mason Trail Roam Shorts
Why We Love It
They’re extremely light and comfortable.
What to Consider
They might be a bit short for some guys, especially when seated.
The Buck Mason Trail Roam Shorts have all the features we look for in great everyday shorts: they’re super lightweight and not so long that they restrict your legs (they have a 5.5-inch inseam). But unlike other shorts, these have nifty travel-friendly features like a zippered pocket for keys and change and stretchy inner-pocket slits so your phone and wallet don’t bounce around.
Since they’re made with nylon, these shorts resist odor, so you can wear them to the hotel gym and then throughout the day (but if you do want to wash them in the sink they dry super quickly). These shorts also take up virtually no room in your bag, so you can easily bring two to pair with different outfits.
Price at time of publish: $78
The Details: 85 percent nylon, 15 percent spandex | S to XXL
Best Underwear: Smartwool Men’s Merino 150 Boxer Brief
Why We Love It
These feature the comfiest travel material where it matters most.
What to Consider
The waistband is rather thick.
If you’re going to get one item of clothing made with merino wool, make it underwear. Smartwool’s blend of merino and polyester is comfortable, soft, and has a snug, not-too-long fit. The lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric with odor control is key, plus if you need to wash this pair of undies in the sink it dries quickly.
Price at time of publish: $37
The Details: 56 percent merino wool, 44 percent recycled polyester | S to XXL
Best Socks: Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock
Why We Love It
These merino wool socks are high quality and will last for years to come.
What to Consider
These socks might be overkill if you don’t plan on hiking.
Darn Tough has an “unconditional guarantee for life” so you’ll never have to worry about having a hole in your socks. Made in Vermont and built for thru-hikers on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, these socks are made with merino wool so they’ll keep you warm or cool depending on the weather. They are easily washable and are comfy and light. Plus they’re reinforced with cushioning at the toe and heel to avoid blisters.
Price at time of publish: $25
The Details: 61 percent merino wool, 36 percent nylon, 3 percent lycra spandex | S to XXL
Best Sneakers: Allbirds Mens Tree Dasher 2
Why We Love It
This is the one pair of shoes that can do it all.
What to Consider
They don’t have much support and the upper can wear out quickly.
Known for its low carbon footprint, Allbirds sneakers are some of the best travel shoes we’ve tested. The Tree Dashers 2 are some of the only sneakers you can wear all day, to the gym and even to the bar at night (especially if you get the natural black or blizzard white colors), which means you may only need to pack these and perhaps a pair of flip flops. The sequel to the Tree Dashers has better grip than the previous model, so you can take them off-road to the trail, and the sole has a good level of bounce to add to that travel-induced pep in your step.
Price at time of publish: $135
The Details: Merino wool lining, sugarcane outsole, castor bean-oil based insole, laces made from recycled plastic bottles and natural rubber tread | 8 to 14
Best Sandals: OluKai Ohana Men's Beach Sandals
Why We Love It
These are soft, comfortable sandals with solid arch support you can wear all day long.
What to Consider
While water-resistant, these aren’t fully waterproof so they’ll take a while to dry if they get wet.
OluKai stands out as the best of the best in men’s flip-flop sandals. The ‘Ohana has a wide, comfortable sole with a soft synthetic leather footbed, and unlike many sandals, it also has arch support. There's no need to worry about slipping poolside thanks to the grippy rubber sole, and the soft nylon toe post prevents blisters.
Price at time of publish: $75
The Details: EVA foam, rubber, and synthetic leather | 7 to 18
Best Suit: Boglioli Milano Linen K-Jacket Suit
Why We Love It
It’s an iconic style that will keep you looking and feeling cool.
What to Consider
Linen can wrinkle and crease easily.
We love this 100 percent linen suit made by the masterful tailoring company Boglioli. It’s perfect for traveling to warmer climates as it’s light and breathable. It’s also unlined, which delivers a relaxed yet professional look. And bold colors (we’re partial to the dark green) show you’re embracing that time out of the office.
Because it’s linen, it’s likely to wrinkle and may need steaming or ironing on arrival. Travel tip: hang it up while you’re taking a shower and the humidity should do the de-wrinkling for you.
Price at time of publish: $1,850
The Details: 100 percent linen | 46 to 56
Best Jacket: Arc’teryx Men's Beta Jacket
Why We Love It
A light, packable waterproof jacket is a must for any trip.
What to Consider
It’s expensive for a rain shell.
You never know what the weather will throw at you on your travels, so it’s always a good idea to pack a light, truly waterproof rain jacket. Canadian company Arc’Teryx has long been a go-to for its high-quality Gore-Tex jackets, like this shell that’s built to battle mountains and storms. Throw it over a hoodie for extra warmth or wear it as a windbreaker – plus, there are pit zips if you get too hot.
While Arc’teryx unfortunately no longer offers a lifetime warranty on its products, if something goes wrong within the “practical product lifespan” (as long as they expect it to last), they’ll fix it for you or send you a new one.
Price at time of publish: $400
The Details: Gore-Tex | XS to XXL
Related: The 18 Best Travel Pants for Men of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Best Hoodie: Lululemon City Sweat Pullover Hoodie
Why We Love It
This breathable, go-to hoodie will last for years.
What to Consider
It isn’t very thick, so you may want to look elsewhere if you need more warmth.
Travel is like yoga: you need to be flexible, present, and go with the flow. So you might as well embrace the zen with a hoodie from the company most renowned for its yoga-wear: Lululemon. This hoodie is super comfortable, has four-way stretch, and is breathable so you can get away with wearing it in warmer temperatures or on a hike. The terry cloth material gives it a look that’s not overly sporty while offering all the benefits of performance wear.
Combine it with a rain shell and you have yourself warm clothing suitable for chilly temperatures.
Price at time of publish: $128
The Details: Polyester, cotton, elastane | XS to XXL
Tips for Buying the Best Men's Travel Clothes
Think about the material
Traveling is all about movement, so you’ll need something made with materials that are light, breathable, and stretchy, (think: merino wool, elastane, and cotton). That said, you might not want all your travel clothes to look like they’re for the gym, so search for items that have performance materials but still look stylish and versatile.
Prioritize versatility
Today, brands across the board are experimenting with synthetics and blends which offer functionality that far exceeds the simple cottons and wools worn by our forebears. The upshot is that tech materials eliminate the need for packing multiple pieces wherever you’re headed. A proper moisture-wicking t-shirt, for example, can work just as well in a desert climate as it does as a base layer for winter snow sports.
Consider packability
Bulkier items like heavy coats and boots should stay home, in favor of more packable layers with maximized functionality. Also think about whether your clothes will wrinkle when you put them in the bag. You may not have access to an iron or the road (or want to spend valuable travel time ironing out those wrinkles), so opt for wrinkle-resistant clothing whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best clothes for air travel?
Athleisure clothing like joggers, breathable shirts, and hoodies are perfect for air travel as they’re comfy and will keep you warm in the plane’s chilly air conditioning. If athleisure isn’t your style, any comfortable yet put together pieces, particularly those that include pockets for easy storage and are made of sweat-wicking, anti-wrinkle materials, will be your best bet for plane travel.
How can men look stylish while traveling?
The key for looking stylish while traveling is to keep it simple – opt for monochrome or basic colors (think: a white or black T-shirt and jeans) for the most part, and perhaps one or two pieces that are more fun and offer a pop of color and style to switch things up. If you’re traveling for business or a destination wedding, consider wearing your suit jacket during transit to avoid wrinkles and look good all the while.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this story, journalist Joel Balsam drew from his experience as a nomad traveling the world with only a carry-on backpack. Since Joel can’t travel with much, only the most versatile, lightweight, durable, and travel-friendly items made the list.
Related: The 18 Best Shorts for Men of 2023
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