These Editor-Approved Travel Blazers Can Dress You up Anytime, Anywhere

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NEXT TIME you're packing for a trip, the top of your prep list should include travel shoes, a dopp kit, and a men's travel blazer. That’s right, we said blazer, because the best men’s travel blazers are easy to pack in your luggage, is super comfortable, and wrinkle resistant. Most importantly however, they give you a stylish and refined look that attracts only the best kind of attention. While men don’t really travel in three-piece suits anymore, you can still look sharp and put-together while exploring the world.

Men’s travel blazers provide style and function throughout your trip, not just in transit. Anytime you are away from home, you tend to carry more stuff around. Which is why you’ll be glad to have three to five extra pockets on you. You can’t always predict weather in your final destination, so having an extra versatile layer comes in handy. The best advice for any travel is to be prepared for the unexpected, so having a semi-formal jacket on hand is always clutch.

What really sets men’s travel blazers apart from traditional jackets are fabrics and construction designed for comfort and wrinkle resistance. Instead of traditional suiting wool or chino cotton, you’ll find fabric blends that provide stretch, breathability, and hold their shape. The fits are often cut looser, with seams moved around to allow better range of motion. Whether you wear it during travel or unpack it when you get to your destination, once you’ve experienced the benefits of a men’s travel blazer, you won't leave home without one.

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Flyweight Flex Blazer

Functionality is key to a great travel blazer, and Relwen has it in spades. The three exterior patch pockets are similar to any casual blazer, but the large interior pocket has a zip closure with a vertical opening for easy access. It is ideal for stashing valuables. On top of that, a discrete snap closure pocket is tucked into the back along the right hand vent.

A four button design plus a throat latch allow you to button all the way up to your neck like a true jacket, while functional buttons on the sleeves allow you to roll them up. That means this blazer covers a very wide range of temperatures.

What impressed us most was the look. At face value, this is a just a great looking cotton blazer, appropriate for work or semi-formal events. All that function is cleverly tucked away in a stylish package.

Madison Hopsack Blazer

If you prefer a more traditional sports coat look, then hopsack is the way to go. It is a special type of weave designed to resist wrinkling and enhance breathability. Brooks Brothers has been making hopsack blazers since your grandfather wore them, and they still make one of the best out there. Essentially, this is a classic sport coat built in a light and flexible fabric.

It is fully lined, which is actually great for keeping the shape of the jacket intact. Standard three exterior and two interior pockets provide plenty of cargo space. Double vents allow the jacket to drape comfortably when you sit.

We loved having this traditional look on vacation, because it allowed the rest of our attire to skew even more casual. A proper suit-esque jacket can elevate shorts and a polo with near mystical ability.

Carry-On Jacket

Carry it on or wear it, either way, this is one of the most comfortable blazers we've ever worn. Buck Mason, one of our favorite menswear brands, built an unstructured jacket that feels closer to a shirt in the best way. The sleeves are cut like a shirt with a soft shoulder and no buttons on the cuff. No vent was added to the back because honestly the fabric doesn't require one. A three-roll-to-two button button design allows you to wear the front relaxed and open or close it up with a lifted collar.

The fabric was the true standout to us. The cotton with a touch of spandex is incredibly light and flexible, really driving home the shirt-like feel of this jacket. If we had to pick a single jacket on this list to wear on a long flight, the Carry-On would probably be our choice.

All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer

So admittedly, Wills doesn't advertise this jacket as a travel blazer, but from our field testing, we found that it definitely performs like one. The key factor is the stretch wool fabric, which is actually 60% wool, 38% polyester, and 2% elastane. That particular blend makes the jacket lighter, softer, and more flexible than a standard wool blazer. Other than that, it is tricked out with all the features you would expect from a traditional blazer.

That said, we recommend reserving this one for travel during colder months. It is still mostly wool, half canvas, and fully lined, which is great when you need a light outer layer for brisk weather. The bottom line is that we loved this blazer for the traditional look and we were pleasantly surprised by the comfort on the go.

Proper Blazer - Navy

For those trips that require you to look your best - be it business or pleasure—you need a travel blazer that looks like a proper suit. Fortunately, Charles Tyrwhitt has you covered with the Proper Blazer. A strong shoulder, eloquent pocket design, and kissing cuff buttons all portray classic tailoring. So what makes this a great travel blazer? A combination of the fabric and the interior design.

Charles Tyrwhitt uses a loose basket weave wool that adds breathability and flexibility while fighting off wrinkles. The interior is only half lined and features a front panel canvas, which means the back is only a single layer of fabric. So you have less weight and more ventilation.

We wore this blazer with a hoodie and jeans on the way to a wedding. Then we outfitted it with a shirt, tie, and pinstripe slacks and nailed the "formal attire" dress code.

Italian Linen Madison Suit Jacket in Naval Blue Pinstripe

There are few looks more elegant than a pinstripe blazer. Todd Snyder created one that is actually part of a suit but we argue works even better solo. The 100% linen fabric is breezy and leaves you unencumbered. A partial and vented lining provides just enough structure without limited any flexibility. Large patch pockets allow for easy carrying.

What really sold us on this blazer is the overall look. The indigo blue pops, especially in sunlight. We wore it with linen trousers and a t-shirt on vacation and felt like billionaire going low-key. It matches perfectly with jeans and loafers. You can even make a proper suit out of it if you get the matching pants.

Techno Jersey Blazer

Armani is famous for top-of-the line suiting, but its take on the travel blazer is a complete reinvention. The fabric is a unique blend of polyamide and elastane that feels more like workout gear than a suit. Cuff buttons were removed from the sleeves and the chest pocket is gone too. There are exterior pockets, but with vented openings and no flap. No canvas, no vents, and hardly any lining make for a featherweight feel.

We loved the sleek, high fashion appearance that you would expect from Armani. However, the ridiculously comfortable feel of this blazer stole the show. Think of a track jacket mixed with your favorite cardigan sweater, and you're getting close to how cozy this blazer is. It is the blazer equivalent of flying first class—in look, feel, and price.

Smart Wash Performance Blazer

Haggar went with a tried and true classic here. A patch pocket sport coat in stretch cotton chino is the fundamental travel blazer. There is no lining, canvas, or vent because there doesn't need to be. The cotton is sturdy enough to hold its shape, with just enough stretch to move with you. A boxy shoulder makes more free range of motion. Three patch pockets provide easy access.

Honestly, the feature that impressed us the most here is the price. A well built causal chino blazer for under $100 is a steal. We've tried our fair share of similar jackets that cost much more, and the Smart Wash Performance Blazer more than holds its own.

More Travel Blazers that We Love

Navy Spirit Slim-Fit Wool-Hopsack Blazer

Richard James makes a gorgeous hopsack blazer. An unlined back allows the jacket to breathe and your body to move easily. Classic horn buttons and a wider lapel make for a more formal look. We loved the supple feel of this high end hopsack wool.

Inlet Knit Blazer

In an effort to max out comfort, Faherty made a blazer out of a stretch jersey knit. This is seriously the most comfortable blazer we've ever worn. However, it comes off more like a cardigan-blazer hybrid, which we think is the point. You could just as comfortably lounge around the house as travel the world in this blazer.

Slim-fit garment-dyed cotton-linen chino suit jacket

For year now, J.Crew's cotton-linen chino suit jacket has been in regular rotation for us at the office and pretty much everywhere else. This blazer embodies the idea that if you nail the simple things, you can't go wrong. Three exterior and one interior pockets are all large, allowing for plenty of cargo space. The fabric is super soft and has plenty of give. Best of all, it just goes with everything.

Venture Blazer

Lulelemon's put their signature touch on the travel blazer. We have to start with the fabric, which lives up to the brand's reputation as unbelievably soft and stretchy. With snaps instead of buttons and side vent pockets, there is inspiration from a coach's jacket here. Where there isn't much pocket space, the comfort factor more than makes up for it.

Kin Two-Button Blazer

Reiss built a blazer out of 100% viscose fabric, and we're absolutely here for it. The material that you usually find in aloha shirts, makes for a super lightweight and soft jacket. Thanks to the pearly white color, this is the perfect beach vacation jacket.

Garment Dyed Cotton-Twill Blazer

Mr. Porter offers a luxe version of the patch pocket chino blazer from its in-house brand. While the blazer-meets-chore coat look is similar to other brands out there, the fabric really set this one apart for us. We loved how soft it felt and the slightly boxy fit made for great layering.

Madras Check Unlined Sport Coat

Everything that we love about madras shirts is on full display with this madras blazer. The fabric is soft, breathable, and vibrantly colorful. This jacket got compliments literally everywhere we wore it, from the bar to a wedding.

Why You Should Pack a Men's Travel Blazer

You don’t necessarily need to wear a travel blazer while traveling to your destination but it will certainly come in handy when you get there. Two great travel tips are to always have lots of pocket space available, and always be prepared for unexpected weather. Not only will you look more stylish, you’ll be able to stash any items you accumulate along the way. If the weather turns, you can button up and even flip up that collar.

How Do You Wear a Travel Blazer?

Think of your travel blazer more like a lightweight jacket. Any blazer in a dark, neutral color or simple pattern can go on top of pretty much any outfit. Whether you wear a button down shirt or a hoodie, throwing a blazer over it instantly levels up your look. Alas, we tend to not use the pockets of suits or formal blazers very often, but you should utilize all the pocket space of travel blazers.

What Is the Best Material for Men's Travel Blazers?

Comfort is key here. Men’s travel blazers are built to look like traditional blazers, while providing the feel and function of athletic outerwear. You can go the traditional route with linen or cotton hopsack, linen actually looks better with a little rumple to it and hopsack is the original anti-wrinkle fabric. Or you can go the modern route with tech fabrics that are stretchy and breathable, often woven in with wool or cotton.

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