10 Great Travel Jackets That Are Easy to Pack

The North Face Thermoball is everything we look for in a travel jacket: warm, eco-friendly, water-repellent, and super compressible. The Thermoball insulation technology mimics goose down in that it traps heat within small air pockets to retain warmth. It’s also incredibly lightweight, clocking in at just 10 ounces.

Packable jackets are usually on the shorter side, which is why we’re amazed at how compactly this long water-resistant jacket squishes down into its included stuff sack. This jacket won’t make you look like a shapeless lump, either, thanks to a hidden drawcord.

This is a great plane jacket—with 18 hidden pockets, it can practically double as a carry-on bag. The wrinkle-resistant ScottEVest trench coat has spots to hold your cords and keep them tangle-free, plus a weight management system to keep your back and neck from getting sore.

Craghoppers’ Nat Geo 250 Jacket was designed with National Geographic readers (and journalists) in mind, so it will last through pretty much anything. We’ve put the AquaDry outer layer through some severe weather and it has always kept us dry. The interior lining is soft without being bulky, so the jacket can fold down surprisingly small. It’s perfect for travelers thanks to the six pockets (including one that’s RFID-blocking) and a removable hood.

For seriously cold destinations, you’ll want Eddie Bauer’s Astoria Hooded Down Parka, which is rated for sub-zero temps. The 650-fill premium down is responsible for this warmth, while the exterior repels water to keep you dry. Extra touches include adjustable cuffs, fleece-lined zipper pockets that keep your hands warm, and a snap-off hood (with a detachable faux-fur trim for different looks).

Canada Goose jackets are super popular in cold-weather cities, where iconic logo pops up on every street corner come winter. With the Blakely Parka, we see why the coats are ubiquitous—it will keep you warm in temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but it’s also lightweight, breathable, and portable, so you’ll be comfortable even while active. The front zipper has a protective wind guard underneath, and the hood has a stretch binding to keep it secure—both of which ensure your warmth. The Blakely has interior backpack straps that allow the jacket to be carried hands-free over the shoulder. 

Sometimes ski jackets are unnecessarily bulky. Not Helly Hansen’s Express Jacket, which has ultra lightweight and slim PrimaLoft Black Insulation throughout the sleeves and body which provides warmth without weighing you down. (Meanwhile, a venting system keeps you cool when you’re heating up on the slopes). The Express Jacket is really designed with skiers and snowboarders in mind—think wrist gaiters, pockets for your ski pass, phone, and goggles, a detachable helmet-compatible hood, a snap-away powder skirt, and a built-in RECCO rescue reflector.

Craghoppers’ Compresslite Jacket is our go-to hiking jacket. Windproof, water-resistant, and just as insulating as down, it’s kept us warm in serious wind gusts above the tree line. It’s super lightweight, so it doesn’t take up too much space in a day pack, plus it’s roomy and flexible for when you’re doing some serious physical activity. It’s also very affordable for its performance level.

Stay dry no matter what the weather with Eddie Bauer’s Girl on the Go Trench Coat. The StormRepel outer layer means water (or spills) bead up rather than soak in. When you’re back home, you can just toss this machine-washable travel jacket in the laundry. Zippered pockets keep your stuff secure, and the two-way front zipper lets you open the jacket from the top or bottom.

The Columbia Switchback is the perfect jacket to pack when you’re not sure if you’re going to need a jacket. It will keep you dry if it rains and warm if it gets chilly, plus it folds down into its own pocket and takes up less space than a book.