Best Travel Clothes for Women

prAna Mantra Pants

I literally live in loose, free-flowing pants when I’m at the beach; they are some of the best travel clothes for women. Actually, I live in them all the time! (I may or may not be wearing them right now). My favorites are made by prAna, and I firmly believe they make some great travel clothes for women.

Their Women’s Mantra pants are made out of hemp and recycled polyester while offering 50+ UPF protection. They are perfect for beach destinations, especially if you find yourself in more conservative areas. These pants are lightweight and weigh nothing in a carry-on bag. They sell out a lot, and if they are another great alternative are the prAna Summit pants and my favorite beach pant (the FERNIE), however they sell out fast!

Handful Leggings

I love wearing yoga pants and activewear when I travel. One – because I like to practice yoga, two – I like to stay active, and three -I find activewear to be the most comfortable type of clothing around. I’ve tried Lululemon before, but I personally like Handful way more.

Their signature leggings are durable enough for hiking, but also light enough for a yoga sesh or just walking around. They aren’t see-through at all.

They have a plethora of awesome features. Such as temperature-regulating technology that keeps you cool when hot and warm when cold, they are quick drying, and are tight around the booty to give an extra lift. The top has a “squeeze play” high waist that provides excellent coverage and is super comfortable around your curves as you move. (Use code TWP15 for 15% off!)

prAna Halle Pants

You may have noticed prAna mentioned here a few times. No, this post is not sponsored by prAna or anyone else, I genuinely believe they make great high-quality women’s clothes for travel. I’ve had prAna Halle pants for years and think they are the best all-around travel pants for women.

I bought them at REI before we started traveling seven years ago, and they still sit in my bag today. They are durable, water-resistant, roll up into capris, and come in many colors. There are also multiple pockets to stash all your knick-knacks when you are traveling. I typically wear these when I’m hiking or being active, but choose the right colors and they can go with casual days out. These pants run large so consider purchasing a size down!

Romwe

Romwe sells curated collections of ladies’ travel clothes at an inexpensive price. They have many fun styles and designs that really make for some cute travel outfits. I love coordinating the colors and patterns with the destinations I am going to. (Which is easy to at Romwe since it’s so affordable).

Salty Crush Dresses

Salty Crush makes some absolutely awesome easy-care travel clothes. Easily some of the best clothes for women on this list!

They make cute bohemian clothing for women. I always get compliments when wearing their pieces.

Fair Indigo Dresses

When I heard about Fair Indigo, the sustainable travel clothing brand for both men and women I knew I had to give their clothes a go. They make the best travel work clothes for women and even men.

Fair Indigo sources organic Pima cotton from small family farms in Peru. I love buying clothing that is sourced ethically from workers making a fair wage – not sweatshops. They use Peruvian cotton and alpaca because it is ultra soft, and you can feel it with these clothes. I chose some very simple black, navy, and grey skirts and dresses as Fair Indigo uses only certified earth-friendly dyes. Now, it just has to get warm enough in the mountains that I can wear them – yes, it still feels like early Spring here.

Oh, yea and none of these dresses came with tags, and came in a fully biodegradable bag!

Pitusa Cover Ups

If you’re after hip travel clothes look no further. Some of the best travel clothes for women are made by Pitusa. A cover-up is another one of those beach vacation clothes you should always travel with.

Not only do they look cute but they will also protect you from the sun’s harsh rays. Many establishments don’t allow beachgoers to wear just a swimsuit so this is where the cover-up is essential. Most of my cover-ups come from Pitusa.

Pitusa only uses Peruvian and Indian cotton and employs women from Peru, Bali, and India to make the products. As a fan of fair trade, I love that these are made in ethical work environments. These Pitusa dresses are also so beautiful they double as a night out dress (but are sheer so wear something underneath).

REI Travel Dresses

REI makes some of the best comfortable and outdoor dresses. These aren’t to go walking around a city and look glam in, but they are super practical when you travel. The REI Co-op Aoraki travel dress will keep you cool in the sun with lightweight fast-drying fabric. It’s also great as it will dry overnight after a quick wash along the in your washbasin, plus it’s a travel dress with pockets!

The outer layer of fabric is treated with (DWR) so if you get caught in a rainstorm the dress will handle the moisture well. The zippered pocket is also great to stick a small tube of sunblock or lip balm.

prAna Jumpsuits and Rompers

Whenever I wear a prAna romper, I am almost always complimented! They make the most stylish rompers that are eco-friendly and super stylish.

I love traveling with rompers as they can be as stylish or casual as you want them to be! Just pair them with the perfect women’s travel accessories to achieve your desired look. The one in this photo is the Bahia jumpsuit.

Topo Designs

Topo Designs makes some excellent travel wear for women. A few comfortable tank tops and shirts are always in my bag. I typically pack solid colors so that they can with everything. My travel shirts range from tank tops to stylish tops, and then just regular sold shirts that go with everything. My main goal with a women’s travel shirt is that it’s an easy-care travel clothing item.

I recently found Topo Designs travel clothing and LOVE the vibrant colors. Their whole travel line looks straight out of a stylish 80’s movie. It’s comfortable, durable, and very fetch.

United By Blue Wear

Another great brand that makes fantastic women’s clothes for travel is United By Blue. If you follow our Instagram at all you’ve probably seen I’m not the type that dresses up in floppy hats and sundresses every day. It’s rare that I dress up while traveling, instead, you’ll find me in graphic tees and comfortable mountain clothes. Now that we live in the mountains I’ve found an all-new love for cute outdoor wear.

What I love the most about United By Blue is how sustainable they are. For every product sold they remove one pound of trash from the ocean and waterways. To date, they have removed over 1,500,000 pounds of trash!  They frequently host cleanups and are passionate about cleaning up ocean trash and plastic. Many of their women’s travel shirts are made out of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and bison that the ranching industry discards.

Bluffworks Blouses and T-Shirts

Bluffworks is a travel-specific clothing brand that makes super high-quality blouses and shirts for women. They have travel in mind with their products that wick moisture, dry quickly, resist odor and wrinkles all while being extremely soft, stylish, and stretchy. They’re often running deals like buy one get one!

Teva Sandals

I’m sorry, but the Teva Hurricanes have to be one of the most comfortable women’s travel sandals on the planet. Sure, they may look a little nerdy and the stylish celebrities may laugh at you. But who cares! Seriously though Teva’s have long been regarded as a top-rated women’s travel shoe and for good reason. They are comfortable, durable, and come in hundreds of different styles.

Rainbow Sandals

I’ve said it before (okay, I’ve mentioned it all over this site), but I’ll mention it again. Rainbow Sandals are my absolute favorite flip flops in the world. The first time I picked up a pair was in college. I was hesitant to spend $50 on a pair of flip-flops, but all the beach kids raved about them so I went out and reluctantly purchased a pair.

Those leather flip flops ended up lasting me four years, and they probably would have lasted longer if they weren’t stolen from my bag in Thailand. I am now on the second pair that I bought when we lived in NYC four years ago and they are still going strong.

Allbirds

If you’re shopping for a new pair of travel shoes, likely, you’ve already come across Allbirds on the internet. They’ve billed themselves as the most comfortable shoes in the world, made to fight odor, be worn without socks, and generally handle the demands of travel exceptionally. Those are all some tall claims – I knew I had to have some.

We both got a pair this month and love them. The feeling of wearing them is best compared to wearing a wool sweater – comfortable and cozy. They are so soft and will be our new all-around travel shoes. Allbirds try their best to source sustainable materials for their shoes, which we love. The style is also great, and they look even better in person than online with high-quality details. We also have the Allbirds Tree Runners for when we are in hot destinations!

Sanuk Sandels

When I want to put together a cute women’s travel outfit, but still make sure my feet are comfortable I opt for Sanuk sling sandals. I have multiple pairs of yoga slings. Why? Because it literally feels like you are walking on a yoga mat all day long!

I wore these all over Egypt, Greece, and on African safari and I still have them. They are easy to wash and are insanely stylish for such a small lightweight travel item.

Down Jacket

If I’m traveling anytime besides summer you can bet there’s a down jacket in my bag. Packable down jackets are well fitted, warm, have a good shell weight, and are comfortable. However, their most favorable aspect is their portability and just how lightweight and packable they are.

A good down jacket should be able to pack into the shape the size of a football or smaller and not take up much room in your suitcase. I have one main down jacket that gets me around the world and holds up well here in Canada. Feathered Friends are environmentally friendly, and all their products are made from Environmentally Sourced Down and adhere to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). My other favorite down jacket is the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody Jacket and a synthetic down option is the Arc’teryx Atom.

Bugs Away Shirt

One button up hiking shirt always finds a way into my bag or suitcase. This is exceptionally necessary if you’re hiking a lot or on safari in Africa. A good hiking shirt or safari shirt should be lightweight, comfortable, breathable.

Both ExOfficio and Columbia make insect-free, light, and loose shirts like these. A light shirt like this is one of the best women’s clothes for travel you can have in your suitcase.

California Cowboy High Sierra Shirt

If I’m traveling in the fall or winter there is at least one flannel in my bag. Flannels are good ladies’ travel clothes because they are comfortable, warm, and can be work over and over before they need to be washed. Also, in the right setting, they look super chic.

They’re the ideal Instagram fashion choice in the fall and winter. My favorites are from California Cowboy. California Cowboy is a small apparel store out of California producing hip, crazy comfortable, and functional clothes. Their High Sierra shirt is made out of super soft flannel and warm thermal lining. Plus, it has all kinds of pockets to keep a phone, chapstick, or a cold beer.

Patagonia Synchilla Vest

Like prAna, Patagonia is another brand that I will always buy again and again. Although expensive, their products last for years so I find most things from the company to be a great purchase. I love wearing vests, particularly in the fall and winter, and Patagonia are my all time favorite.

Although I even have one in my summer bag right and now and just pulled it out in Peru. You never know what the weather will be like so it’s not a bad idea to always have something that will keep your body warm on you.

Patagonia Fleece

Patagonia makes some of the best travel clothes for women. I know you’re probably rolling your eyes at all the Patagonia mentions, but they really do make some of the best travel clothes for women! We were on a three-month snowboard trip last winter and I wore the Patagonia Synchilla Fleece almost every day.

Guess what? It still looks and feels amazing, after I washed the smell out of it of course. Their fleece jackets like these keep me warm and comfortable in the fall and winter.

Arc’Teryx Beta AR Jacket

I don’t travel without a rain jacket. They are so easy and light to pack up there is no reason to not have one in your suitcase just in case!

My rain jacket has come in handy so many times. Many places where it wasn’t supposed to rain and completely unexpected. The Arcteryx Beta is waterproof, windproof, and breathable and made with Goretex Pro. It’s not just good for traveling and rainstorms but is a protective shell against all levels of weather.

Swimsuits

There should always be at least one swimsuit in your luggage no matter where you are going. You never know when you will find yourself at the beach or with a pool.

I travel with at least five bathing suits so that I have options and never have to put on a wet bathing suit. My favorite bathing suits lately have been made by Andies Swim.

Rashguard

If you plan on doing any surfing, snorkeling, diving, or spending a significant amount of time in the water, you should invest in a rashguard.

A rashguard not only protects you from skin rashes, but also keeps you warm, and protects from the sun. I travel to all beach destinations with mine from Body Glove.

Handful Sports Bras

I could probably count on two hands the number of times I wear a regular bra in a year. I usually live in sports bras because they are comfortable and keep me motivated to stay active. No matter what kind of bra lover you are there should always be at least one sports bra in your bag, they are an essential women’s travel clothing item.

While I have tried many throughout the years and have found Handful the most supportive and reasonably priced. Handful makes activewear products that empower women. All their pieces are supportive, stylish, and durable. (Use code TWP15 for 15% off).

Buff Headband

I travel everywhere with a Buff because it pulls my hair back when it looks like crap, keeps the sweat out of my face, and also protects from the sun. They are one of the best travel accessories for women (and men!).

Smartwool Socks

One pair of long hiking socks are always in my bag, especially because I like to hike when we travel. My favorites are made out of merino wool from Smartwool.

I always usually have at least two pairs of wool socks in case I am in cold destinations. Real merino wool socks are ideal to have as they are moisture-wicking and comfortable on your feet when partaking in outdoor experiences.

Travel Towel

Even though most places we stay provide bath towels there is still always a travel towel in my bag just in case. I’ve had the Packtowl for three years now and it’s still in great shape. From hostels in Europe, to hiking in the Rockies, to camping across Africa it hasn’t let me down. A cheaper alternative is the Youphoria travel towel on Amazon.

Packable Stylish Hat

I love having a stylish packable hat when I travel. Not only do hats look great in photos, but they protect your forehead from the sun. Hat Attack makes stylish travel hats for women that pack up well in suitcases.

They are a bit expensive, but cheap hats don’t pack or travel as nicely.

Osprey Fairview Travel Backpack

The Osprey Fairview is the bag I have had for years and love it. I’ve repeatedly named it as the best travel backpack, and for good reason. It’s a unisex bag, but I still find it one of the best Osprey backpacks for women, and it’s definitely the best backpack for Europe on this list

It has become the golden standard for women’s travel backpacks. The backpack is referred to as the front loader meaning it opens similar to a suitcase for easy access. It’s pretty lightweight, features a removable daypack, zip-away suspension, and a side handle to top it off.

The side handle of the bag is a bonus, making it easy to grab out of an overhead bin and carry it off of a plane. Most backpacks are built for hiking, but with the Osprey, you get a travel-specific bag.

Nomatic 40L Carry On Travel Backpack

Nomatic is fairly new to the anti-theft backpack game, only getting started after raising over 5 million dollars on Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

A roomy 40L bag, individual removable organization panels, headphone and charger cord pass-throughs, magnetic snap-back side pockets, and backpack to briefcase versatility, it really does seem like they have thought of everything. 

However, it would be better stated that this is a business/travel backpack with anti-theft features, such as RFID protection and lockable zippers, rather than calling it primarily an anti-theft bag. This isn’t just great as an anti-theft backpack, but a general travel backpack for Europe. This is a great pack for women looking for security and something to travel carry on only comfortably. Read the full Nomatic backpack review here.

Camelbak Daypack

Whether I’m at home hiking in the mountains or our traveling around the world, one thing is for sure – I need a travel daypack.

Daypacks keep all my goods safe. While my clothes go in my main suitcase or backpack all my electronics go into my day back when I travel. My daypack never leaves my sight as it holds my laptop, camera, and any other important documents.

When I am hiking I need something that is comfortable on my back, holds water to stay hydrated, and provides plenty of space to hold anything I could need while outside.

Camelbak is perfect for both of these scenarios and is my brand of choice for a daypack. Plus most of their backpacks come with a water bladder! Check out their Fourteener backpack!