18 Things You Need for Your Best Travel Outfits Ever

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Comfortable, stylish, and resilient enough to look good after a red-eye flight: That’s what every traveler wants from a travel outfit. These pieces will help you put together your new go-to looks for travel.

Randolph Aviator Sunglasses

No matter the season, sunglasses should top off all travel outfits. Ultraviolet rays can still harm your eyes on a cloudy day (and you never know when you’ll need to cover up some under-eye bags after a long trip). Randolph’s Aviator Sunglasses come in a variety of sizes to fit every face (man or woman), and can be customized so you have the perfect frame/lenses color combination to fit your style. The lenses are scratch-resistant and offer 100 percent UVA/UVB protection, so they’ll stand up to your toughest trips.

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoodie

Be prepared for chilly planes or cold but victorious summits with Patagonia’s Micro Puff Hoodie.  Since it weighs under 10 ounces and packs down into a tiny pouch, it’s easy to always have on hand. It’s water and wind-resistant, so it will protect you in any kind of weather. The Micro Puff Hoodie comes in a wide range of colors that will look good whether you’re wearing it on an outdoors adventure or just in the airport.

Clothing Arts Pick-Pocket Proof Business Travel Shirt

Some travel shirts make you look like a tourist on safari—which is fine for actual safaris, but not so much for city sightseeing. Protect your stuff while still looking like a normal person with Clothing Arts’ Pick-Pocket Proof Business Travel Shirt. Clothing Arts’ Pick-Pocket Proof Business Travel Shirt. The cotton/poly twill fabric is super soft and comfortable (plus washes easily and dries quickly), and will protect you from both wrinkles and the sun. A secret zipper pocket masquerades as a regular button-down shirt pocket, but can hold your passport and cards securely. Click here for a similar shirt option designed for women from Clothing Arts.

Icebreaker Tech Lite Long Sleeve Low Crew Approach & Tech Top Long Sleeve Half Zip

Merino wool is lightweight, breathable, and soft, and it works equally well in both cold and warm weather. Pair the Icebreaker Tech Lite Long Sleeve Low Crew Approach Shirt (available for men and women) with the unisex Tech Top Long Sleeve Half Zip, and you’ll be comfortable no matter what the weather has in store. Both shirts have flatlock seams that prevent chafing, and built-in odor control that lets you go a few wears without washing.

Toad & Co Fuera Dress

Toad & Co’s Fuera Dress has the perfect midi length that will keep you warm without restricting you. The long sleeves and high neckline work for visiting temples or other sites where you need to be covered up, but the overall look is fashionable instead of frumpy. The cotton/polyester/jersey blend resists wrinkles and wears well in a wide range of temperatures—plus a secure pocket on the side can hold your cards or hotel key safely.

Reef Escape Lux T Sandals

Flip-flops are so comfortable—until you actually try to walk more than a few feet (or down stairs). Reef takes the best parts of flip-flops (easy to put on, suitability for water/wet conditions, casual style) and turns them into a sandal that actually works for walking with the Reef Escape Lux T Sandal. An ankle strap keeps these securely on your feet and helps prevent trips and slips (and eliminates the annoying flip-flop sound), and there’s bonus anatomical arch support to make these shoes even better for you.

lululemon Baller Hat

Plane hair, don’t care—just cover it up with lululemon’s Baller Hat, which comes in a variety of solid colors to match any travel outfit. The cap has a built-in mesh fabric sweatband to wick away moisture and help keep you cool, and the reflective details keep you visible in low lighting situations. It has a hidden adjustable closure on the back, so you can get the perfect fit.

Orvis Guide Capris

Not too long, not too short—the Orvis Guide Capris are the perfect choice for in-between weather. The slim leg gives these a more stylish silhouette than most hiking pants, and a stretch fabric makes these easy to move in. Quick-drying and wicking, these pants will keep you dry in a downpour or sweaty workout, and will protect you from the sun as well.

lululemon Swiftly Long Sleeve Shirt

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lululemon’s Swiftly Long Sleeve Shirt is the ideal base layer for all kinds of travel outfits. It’s lightweight and thin, so it can be worn alone or underneath jackets, and since it’s made without side seams, you don’t have to worry about chafing. Sweat isn’t a problem either, since the shirt has built-in ventilation and a silver fiber fabric that prevents odor-causing bacteria from growing.

Coalatree Trailhead Adventure Pants

Coalatree’s Trailhead Adventure Pants are the bottom half of the best travel outfits for outdoor fun. These pants raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter thanks to their cool design that looks like a fashion item rather than the durable hiking pants they are. These pants are waterproof, breathable, stretchy, odor-resistant, tear-resistant, and lightweight (10.9 ounces)—and they even pack down small into their own front pocket. The pants convert from long to capri length using drawstring ankle ties (so you don’t have to carry around excess pant material as you do with zip-off varieties).

Angela Roi Zuri Multi-Function Pouch 

Carry the essentials and nothing more in Angela Roi’s Zuri Multi-Function Pouch. This perfectly sized purse can be worn as a crossbody, over-the-shoulder, or clutch, thanks to the three included detachable straps that give you different looks (two vegan leather straps of different lengths and one chain strap for a dressier option). The zippered pouch is made from an animal-friendly vegan leather material that looks and feels like the real thing but is easier to care for. The lightweight bag will hold your phone, passport, and other essentials, but won’t weigh you down or give you back pain—and it looks much more chic than most travel day bags.

Orvis DriRelease Conservation Tee

Help save the world while looking good with Orvis’ DriRelease Conservation Tee, a quick-drying shirt (that feels like cotton but dries four times faster) with a cute retro nature print. Orvis will donate $5,000 from the proceeds of this shirt to the National Wildlife Federation, so you can feel good while wearing this shirt in the wild.

Suavs Zilker

The right shoe can make or break a travel outfit, so finish yours off with a pair of Suavs’ Zilker shoes. The digital knit upper is breathable, lightweight, and sweat-wicking, so you can wear these without socks (one less thing to pack). The Zilkers pack down flat or can even be rolled up and tossed in a bag. The microfiber terry insole absorbs even more moisture, and can be removed and washed to keep your shoes smelling fresh.

Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants

Eddie Bauer’s Guide Pro Pants (click here for men’s version) will keep up with you no matter how hardcore an adventure you have planned. The pants are made from a lightweight, two-way-stretch Flexion nylon/spandex fabric that lets you move and climb, and has a water-repellent finish. The Freeshade UPF 50+ sun protection guards against solar rays, and two zip pockets will keep your essentials safe. The straight leg design lets these pants pass as regular pants if you want to wear them out for a post-hike dinner or celebratory drink.

Dish By DU/ER Adaptive Denim Straight & Narrow

Jeans that aren’t stiff and constricting? They do exist, in the form of DU/ER’s Adaptive Denim. This fabric isn’t like ordinary denim—it’s stretchy, light, durable, moisture-wicking, temperature regulating, and anti-microbial. I like the Straight & Narrow style for travel, as it’s not skintight skinny but a more polished straight leg. There are plenty of options for men, too; click here to check them out.

Patagonia Skyline Traveler Pants

Patagonia’s Skyline Traveler Pants have a slim, feminine fit with an adjustable waistband and internal tie for a custom fit, plus a back-yoke detail to keep you covered. The legs have a zipper opening that allows you to wear them over your hiking boots. I love the fabric on the Skyline—the spandex and nylon blend offers four-way stretch, and it has a water-repellent finish that makes rain or spills roll right off. The pants even offer 40 UPF sun protection.

Mobs Rue

Mobs’ Rue shoe (available for men and women) has a knit upper that makes this style lightweight and easy to pack. The molded footbed is responsive and shock-absorbing to help prevent your feet and legs from getting too tired. The casual, low-profile style pairs well with most travel outfits.

More from SmarterTravel:

• SmarterTravel Shopping Guide
• 11 Travel Clothes That Feel Like Pajamas (But Look First Class)
• Which Travel Clothes Are Worth the Money?

Caroline Morse Teel has travel outfits planned for every possible destination. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for style and travel photos from around the world.

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