With so many travel jackets from different brands, it is difficult to choose the best travel jacket for you and your specific travel needs. In this ultimate guide, we look at the features and benefits of outer travel wear for women. Traveling in a dry or rainy climate? Packing only carry-on luggage? Then you need the best packable jacket. Are you off to Europe where more fashionable travel clothes are in order?
In this ultimate guide to the best travel jackets for women, you’ll find complete information about travel coats, lightweight women’s jackets for travelling, the best travel jacket for Europe, the perfect travel jacket with pockets and the best rain jacket for hiking.
Travel Coat Comparison Chart: Our Travel Jacket Reviews
| NAME | IMAGE | Waterproof vs Resistant | Hood | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marmot Women's Essential Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket w/GORE-TEX |   | Waterproof | YES | 5 STARS |
| SCOTTeVEST Womens Pocket Jacket |   | Water Resistant | YES | 4.7 STARS |
| Columbia Women’s Pardon My Trench Rain Jacket w/stylish tie belt |   | Water Resistant | YES | 4.7 STARS |
| Women's TAG Safari Jacket Lightweight w/pockets for explorers, photographers and journalists |   | NO | NO | 4.4 STARS |
| BOMBAX Women 10 Pocket Travel Jacket Hoodie - Bomber-style |   | Water Resistant | YES | 4.3 STARS |
| ExOfficio FlyQ Jacket for Travelers w/ RFID-lined pocket |   | Water Resistant | NO | 4.2 STARS |
| London Fog Women’s 3/4 Length Double-Breasted Trench Coat with Belt |   | Water Resistant | NO | 4.2 STARS |
Table of Contents
Our comprehensive buying guide tells you what to look for when purchasing women travel jackets and coats. We reviewed the best travel clothing brands for
- easy care travel clothes,
- lightweight travel clothes and
- wrinkle free travel clothes.
Finding the right travelling clothes for ladies is one of the things that’s made me UNSTOPPABLE over the years. In fact, our favorite saying about packing for a trip is
“There’s no bad weather, just bad gear.”
But before you decide on the best best travel jackets for you, consider the weather conditions at your upcoming destination. I don’t have one “world’s best travel jacket,” but I have one coat for each of the climates to which I travel. My favorite travel jacket for a trip also depends on my mode of travel. Am I going for business, or will I be carrying a backpack? Do I need clothes for air travel? Or can I throw a heavy coat in the backseat on a road trip? Whatever the mode of travel, you can bet that I go with a travel coat or jacket with lots of pockets.
Let me explain by showing you what I mean…
Introduction to Travel Jackets for Women
When the weather turns, you’d better have the best travel jacket you can afford. There’s nothing worse than reaching into your travel bag and realizing your coat isn’t appropriate for the environment. I know, because it’s happened to me.
Your travel coat doesn’t breathe when you’re in a humid climate. Your high-style jacket won’t compress into your daypack, so it’s inconvenient to take for the day tour around town. And just when you need it, it’s back in your hotel room. Or, it’s sold as the best light rain jacket, but it’s too short when the rain is pelting down. Worse yet, your light travel jacket is water-resistant, not waterproof, and there’s no cute café insight to duck into. And, oh, don’t you wish you had a hood right now?
Best Backpacking Rain Jacket
Your best backpacking rain jacket can double as light rain jacket for travel
I use my backpacking rain jacket for travel to rainy climes even when I am not in a hiking excursion. By adding layers, it is amazing how the light travel jacket keeps warmth in, and so it is a fine lightweight warm jacket for travel.
Further, I find it folds up easily into the small outside pocket of my computer bag and so makes a perfect light rain jacket for travel. The best backpacking rain jacket is also the best packable rain jacket. Oh, my, what a good segue…
Best Packable Rain Jacket
Best Lightweight Travel Jacket
When you don’t need the best travel rain jacket, because it’s not going to rain where you’re headed, then consider the other best lightweight travel jacket options. Many travel clothing brands like KÜHL, BauBax and Chico’s offer lightweight women’s jackets for travelling. I love my KÜHL ladies travel jacket pictured above because its cut is slimming, but I wish it had more pockets. Its few pockets fasten with buttons, which are not as handy as zippered pockets.
Much of the lightweight women’s clothing for travel today has many pockets, but be mindful of the pocket closure systems, such as Velcro, zippers or buttons. I look for zippers and hand-warmer pockets.
Best Travel Jacket for Europe
In the big cities of Europe, style is as important as function. Therefore, the best travel coat for Europe is one that is smart as well as practical. You don’t necessarily need a waterproof travel rain jacket because chances are you’ll find your way into a café for a cappuccino or museum to duck the raindrops.
A jacket with lots of inside pockets is suitable for large European cities and airports where there are higher propensities of pickpockets. A travel jacket with pockets, especially with hidden zippered pockets, will keep your documents and Euros safe. Learn more about staying safe while traveling.
Jacket and Clothes for Air Travel
Another thing to consider while packing jackets and travel clothes for Europe is how they will wear on the airplane. Clothes for air travel should be a blend of cotton, so you don’t get sweaty, the fabric should have some stretch in it so you can get comfortable during your transatlantic flight, and I always wear a shirt with a pattern, in case I spill food—or worse yet, red wine—down the front of me.
Comfortable travel clothes are essential for long flights. And don’t even get me started talking about the necessity of comfy footwear in case you have to run through the airport to catch your next flight.
As for the travel jacket, I like one that compresses so I can put it in the small of my back for lumbar support in the airplane seat. My Patagonia Nano Puff and Down Sweater jackets work so well for that. My safari jacket, on the other hand, is best laid out over my carry-on suitcase in the overhead bin.
Best Pocket Jacket
Conclusion: The Best Travel Coat Womens
The best travel jacket for you depends on where you are going and when. The world’s best travel jacket for you is one that fits right, looks good and protects you from the elements which you’ll find at your chosen destination. In our comprehensive buying guide above, you’ll find the perfect travel jacket for your next trip. Whether it’s a coat with lots of pockets, a travel windbreaker, or the best rain jacket for hiking, you’ll be glad you made the investment when the weather turns sour.
Please use the Comparison Chart above to shop for your next UNSTOPPABLE travel jacket. When you make a purchase through one of the links in the chart, I earn a small commision at no extra cost to you. Thanks for shopping on my travel site.
As is common in the travel industry, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey may have been provided with accommodations, meals or other compensation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, the Arizona travel writer believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
In addition, this blog, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel, contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Stacey earns a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the costs of keeping this travel blog active.
Further, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for reading.
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4 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Travel Jackets for Women”
Great suggestions Stacey! Thanks again.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Kelly. I miss seeing you as we “social distance” apart. It’s good to stay connected here on my travel blog. Have you been walking in the forest?
Thanks for the Info Stacey!
You’re quite welcome, Diane. Let us know if you found a travel jacket on our guide!