Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Travelationship
Traveling is like taking your events calendar and putting it on steroids. When you’re at home, you tend to plan one activity at a time. You head into your closet and pick from your whole arsenal for this one specific activity. However, when you’re traveling, you tend to daisychain activities, and you demand more versatility from your clothing.
Building Your Ultimate Travel Wardrobe
There is a lot of trial and error, as well as experience, behind the choices in my suitcase. Having traveled continuously for over five years, you must make wise decisions when it comes to your apparel and how you utilize the limited space in your suitcase. If you are looking for eighty-dollar tee shirts and two hundred-dollar puff jackets, then this list is not for you.
Being stylish is important, but you also need to consider versatility, security, comfort, and even weight, especially with today’s prices for checked bags. If you plan to be away for an extended period and require laundry services, you should also consider durability. Vacation is not the time for “dry clean only” or “wash on gentle cycle and hang dry”. I have taken everything on my list to the local laundromat in multiple countries with no issues to report.
Classic styling and neutral colors are my go-to; that way, you never really have to worry too much about looking like a tourist. With that, it’s best to create what they call a capsule wardrobe, which helps you to keep your packing light. The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is that each top pairs well with each bottom, making everything interchangeable.
My Core Clothing:
Pants
The Don Trouser from Fabletics is the foundation for my wardrobe. The material is everything you need it to be, and the fit hugs and moves in all the right places. You can use the built-in drawstring or add a belt to the loops. The back pockets feature zippers, and a hidden third front pocket with a zipper adds to the overall security.
Fabletics is a bit of a strange company that offers exclusive deals to its members. Whenever I shop there, I make one big purchase and then cancel it right afterwards. That being said, their pants are top-notch.
Whenever I’m headed to the airport, I am wearing my Public Rec Gamechanger Rec Pants. They are super comfy, especially on 10-hour plane rides. They look like business slacks, feel like sweats, and can blend in anywhere. Additionally, I love having a drawstring at the airport because it eliminates the need to remove a belt.
Shorts
Fabletics also makes The Don Shorts. Everything great about the pants is also true of the shorts: zip pockets, flex material, quick-dry, and stain-resistant.
My KÜHL Renegade Shorts are perfect for walking around town, but their increased durability makes them the default for hiking. With moisture wick, stretchy fabric, and a drawstring for extra snug, you can traverse any trail life throws at you.
Shirts
I love, love Uniqlo SUPIMA® Cotton T-Shirts. There are a ton of colors, and the fabric feels great. Nine times out of ten, I’m wearing one of these shirts, including as a base layer.
When I am ready to break out the long sleeves, I turn to the Men’s Voyager Long-Sleeve Shirt from Eddie Bauer. They add a touch of class on those cool or temperate days.
Underwear
I have tried a couple of different routes on this one, but the champion is AIRism Boxer Briefs from Uniqlo. I used to be an all-cotton guy, but weight and bulkiness had me looking for something new. In steps Uniqlo with their AIRism technology, which they apply to more than just underwear, to keep everything cool and odor-free. Additionally, they weigh almost nothing and occupy very little space.
Speciality Items:
I use my Uniqlo Sweat Full-Zip Hoodie almost as much as my underwear; in fact, I am wearing it while I write this. It is one of those items that gets better the longer you have it. I prefer the zip hoodie because it is more flexible. Early in the morning, it is fully zipped, and as the temperature rises, the zipper lowers.
The Uniqlo Pocketable UV Protection Parka is always sitting in one of my two water bottle pockets on my backpack. This super-lightweight jacket is ideal for layering and excels at reducing the breeze, as well as withstanding a light rain shower. It condenses down to the size of a soda can and weighs next to nothing.
When I head to the colder climates, I pull out my Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket. I am always impressed by how warm these jackets are, considering their small bulk. I have used mine as the top layer on many days when it was below freezing.
If you are a person who gets cold easily or are headed to the land of ice and snow, Uniqlo has a line of thermals called HEATTECH. This stuff truly works, and I have recommended it to everyone I know.
Useful Accessories:
When you are not sure what the day holds, a 15-liter Daypack from G4Free that folds down to the size of a passport is just what the doctor ordered. Three zipper pockets, multiple color options, a smattering of water resistance, and two water bottle pockets.
Suppose you are headed out for the day. But don’t need a whole pack, I look to my WATERFLY Fanny Pack. I tend to wear it crossbody style for handy access and security. It is water-resistant, features two zip compartments, and includes organizational pockets inside the main compartment. There are several styles to choose from, and I am sure one will work for you.
I am not sure how I first came across Sungait sunglasses, but it was soon after a way too expensive pair suddenly broke. I love polarized lenses, and I love Sungait sunglasses. They offer a variety of styles and lens colors, all of which are reasonably priced. Plus, once you go polarized, there is no going back; the world is just that much clearer and your eyes don’t get as tired.
Shopping Time!
I can easily fit a weeks worth of clothes into a nice set of packing cubes, and load those into a carry-on size suitcase; all while getting under the weight threshold. Now that you know my philosophy on travel clothes and my favorites, it’s time for you to fill out your wardrobe.
