The Best Travel Clothes for Women: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

Best Travel Pants for Women

Eddie Bauer Women’s Sightscape Horizon Convertible Roll-Up Pants

These are hands down my favorite travel pants. Heck, these are my favorite pants to wear even when I’m not traveling. They’re incredibly comfortable and versatile. They breathe well and can be worn in a variety of climates. I’m perfectly comfortable wearing them in blistering hot conditions in the jungle to windy and chilly weather at the top of a mountain.

Plus, these pants are very well-made. I bought them over 7 years ago, for my 1st trip to Peru, and have since worn them throughout South America, hiking in Jordan, traveling in Egypt (pictured above), and on safari in Kenya. I’m wearing them as I write this post. If you only add one pair of travel pants to your collection, I highly recommend it be these.

I also find using Eddie Bauer’s size calculator to be accurate when determining which size to order.

Aviator Best Travel Jeans | Skinny | Dark Indigo

I actually have a few pairs of Aviator Travel Jeans! Their Indigo Skinny Jeans are just the ones they currently have in stock. I do love every pair I have, though.

Their jeans are VERY comfortable. I even wore them on a flight from Wisconsin to Russia and didn’t regret the decision! They are stretchy but can be worn multiple days in a row and you don’t have to worry about them getting “stretched out” in the waist. They also have usable pockets, which is almost unheard of when it comes to women’s jeans. I like wearing these for trips that have chillier weather in the forecast. I have an entire post dedicated to them here.

Their sizes are also “normal” and true to size. I am usually a size 28 in other jeans and that is what I am in Aviator sizes.

Carve Designs Brady Straight Leg

Carve Designs is another brand that I absolutely love everything they make. You’ll see them a couple of times in this post!

These Brady Straight Leg jeans are favorites of mine because they look nice and stylish, and it takes several weeks of wear before they start to stretch out at all. These were the only bottoms I packed for my last trip to Peru, besides the hiking pants I used for the Inca Trail. The photo above is after 2 weeks of wear and they are still holding their shape just fine.

These are true to size too. I am normally a size 6 in other brands, and the size 6 in these jeans fits perfectly. Just note, though, that the first day you wear them after washing them they feel pretty tight. So, I don’t advise wearing them on flights, like the Aviator Jeans.

Read next: Honest Carve Designs Review for Swimwear, Jeans, & Tops

Hereafter Earth Leggings

When it comes to simple black athletic leggings, Hereafter makes the best pair. They’re incredibly comfortable, and take a very long time before they get smelly. This is thanks to the material having all kinds of fun tech in it that kills odor-causing bacteria. I love wearing these for hiking trips for that reason. (I have another picture of them in action hiking in Peru at the end of this post.) They also have pockets that are large enough to fit a cellphone and come in 6 colors.

Note: I did NOT find their size predictor to be accurate. It suggested a size medium for me. However, that was far too snug. I ended up exchanging these for a size Large.

XCVI Kativa Leggings

These leggings are stylish enough to wear for a day of touring and comfortable enough to wear for a long international flight or a day of working at home. I like that XCVI leggings have some structure and texture to them to give them a unique and stylish flare. Plus, they have useable pockets!

Unfortunately, XCVI no longer carries this exact pair of leggings, but they have a ton of similar options on their Amazon page and website.

Read next: XCVI Clothing – Full Review From a Frequent Traveler of Their Tops, Bottoms and Dresses

Free Fly Women’s Breeze Cropped Pant

These cropped pants by Free Fly are the newest additions to my travel pants collection, however, they are quickly becoming one of my favorite pairs of travel pants for long plane rides and warmer weather. They are super stretchy and lightweight! Plus, they have deep pockets that can easily fit a cell phone (not always a given with women’s pants).

The photo above is after a full day of driving/flying and finally making it to my hotel in Nashville! These pants were so comfortable I ended up wearing them for touring around Nashville the next 3 days I was there. They also were the pants I wore for an 18-hour journey over to Greece this fall. I also love the Free Fly hoodie I’m wearing in this photo. It’s so comfortable and breathable!

The Free Fly size chart is accurate. Based on my measurements, I ordered a small in these pants and also the hoodie, and they fit great. (I’m normally a size 6 or medium in other brands.)

Eddie Bauer Women’s Mountain Ripstop Long-Sleeve Shirt

These button-up shirts are my favorite travel shirts for exploring in warm weather! They are made of a lightweight fabric that protects my skin from the sun without trapping in moisture. I have these shirts in a couple of different colors and have had them for over 5 years. They’re holding up great for a variety of adventures. They also come in a variety of sizes, including regular, tall, petite, and plus.

Scottevest SUSIE QZIP Sport

This pullover from SCOTTeVEST is so comfortable to wear for a long day of travel and exploring in moderately cool weather. It’s made with high-performance fabric and is lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying. It’s become one of my favorite shirts to wear for everything from a long flight to a long day of hiking mountains or simply going for a run at home. I love that I can stick my car key in the pocket when I’m running or hiking without a backpack.

And if you ever end up on a Zoom call with me, I’ll likely be wearing this pullover too! It’s one of my favorites to wear when working from home because it’s so comfortable! Plus, I love the vibrant color.

Use code HCWT for 15% off your SCOTTeVEST purchase!

Women’s 37.5® Tech Hooded Shirt | UPF 50+ | Cooling

These thermoregulation shirts by Eclipse Gloves are literally some of the coolest shirts my husband and I own. The climate control fabric retains warmth if we start cooling down or releases warmth if our core body temperature starts to rise. When I first read that, I thought it was just a bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo, but these shirts do live up to their claims! They keep us comfortable no matter what conditions we’re hiking in. They have become our new favorite hiking shirts as a result.

I ordered my normal size medium in this shirt, despite the size chart suggesting a small. A small one would have looked nicer and fit better, but I prefer my hiking shirts to be a little looser-fitting.

REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie – Women’s

The downside to the Eclipse Glove shirt is that it is pretty expensive. (And rightfully so, it has a lot of cool stuff going on!) This hoodie from REI is a nice “dupe” of that one, at almost half the price tag.

It’s soft and comfortable to wear for a variety of travel adventures, including hiking. I love the color too (very on-brand for me)! I would say this one isn’t quite as good at regulating body temp or wicking sweat, but it’s still a high-quality travel shirt and at a good price point.

Again, I went with my normal size medium with this one, despite the size chart suggesting a small. I like my hiking shirts a little baggier.

Aviator Merino Wool Travel-T | Women

A slightly less expensive, but still high-quality alternative to Anatomie’s T-shirt, is Aviator’s Merino Wool T. I’ve had this shirt for over 5 years and it is holding up incredibly well, despite being worn for countless adventures and getting washed on my washing machine’s “heavy duty” cycle. It’s a little thicker than your average cotton T-shirt, but it still breathes well and it takes a few wears before it gets stinky.

I followed the size chart for this one and went with a small and it fits just right. I also have an entire blog post about this shirt, if you’re interested in learning more!

Paka The Hoodie – Unisex Sweater

This alpaca sweater from Paka is incredibly soft and comfortable to wear for travel, hiking, or just around the house! Heck, I even wore it to all my family Thanksgivings this year, with a nice pair of jeans. While it’s comfortable, the best part about this hoodie is it takes FOREVER before it gets smelly.

I followed the size chart and ordered this in a size XS (despite usually being a size medium in other brands). It fits perfectly! It’s stretchy enough I could wear another shirt under it if I wanted to layer it for extra warmth, too.

Best Travel Outerwear for Women

SCOTTeVEST Pack Windbreaker Jacket for Women

This travel jacket features over 19 hidden pockets! It’s amazing for traveling, as there is literally a place for everything. Plus, it’s lightweight and water-repellant.

I ordered it originally to be my windbreaker for hiking the Inca Trail (pictured above), and it worked great for that! It kept the wind and rain off, plus, it was easy to pack into my backpack when it got too toasty to wear.

However, now I’ve turned it into one of my favorite jackets for the airport. This is because I can keep all my electronics in my pockets (phone, Kindle, earbuds, you name it), take off my jacket when going through security, and not have to empty my pockets!

It also has dozens of positive reviews on Amazon, so I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a great travel jacket!

Use Code HCWT for 15% off your SCOTTeVEST Order on SCOTTeVEST.com

Denim Jacket

My favorite denim jacket is one I bought from Hollister before I got my driver’s license, roughly a million years ago. So, this jacket is one that I’ve had for 20 years, and it gets more comfortable every time I wear it. I’ve used it on more trips than I can remember, as it goes great with dresses, skirts, and pants and never goes out of style.

I really think having a denim jacket that you feel comfortable in is amazing for any capsule travel wardrobe. I would highly recommend buying one secondhand, as it will already be broken in for you! Otherwise, you really can’t beat Levi’s for denim jackets.

SCOTTeVEST Rhonda Jacket for Women

This is my favorite travel jacket for city vacations. It looks super cute, plus, it has 20 hidden pockets! I also like that it has an optional hood that can be folded into the collar if you don’t want to use it. This is such a beautiful and classic color too!

Use Code HCWT for 15% off your SCOTTeVEST Order on SCOTTeVEST.com

Best Travel Dresses

For this section, I’m not going to get too in-depth in talking about my favorite travel dresses, as I spent a ton of time already putting together a best travel dresses for women blog post, that features travel dresses that are appropriate for a vareity of adventures and events and all seasons! However, below are my absolute favorites.

Karina Dresses – ALL of Their Dresses

Karina Dresses are hands down my favorite travel dresses. Every single one of them! I have 10 of them now. They are so versatile and comfortable, many of them have pockets, and most impressively, they do NOT wrinkle.

These dresses are so well-made too. The floral dress above that I’m wearing in Moscow, I’ve had for almost 7 years now, and I bring it on every warm weather trip I take. It still looks brands new, and I still feel like a million bucks every time I wear it!

Best Swimwear for Travel

Carve Designs Swimwear

When it comes to high-quality, comfortable swimwear, I really love Carve Designs. This is swimwear that is made for moving in!

These swimsuits hold up incredibly well, plus the bottoms are reversible, which I think is great for travel. I also like dark swimwear like this, as you don’t have to worry about stains. I was able to recently wear this swimming in the volcanic hot springs in Santorini without having to worry about discoloration. And I stayed comfortable all day long!

Read next: Honest Carve Designs Review for Swimwear, Jeans, & Tops

Best Swimsuit Coverup for Travel

SCOTTeVEST Dorothy Dress

The SCOTTeVEST Dorothy dress is a great travel dress in general. However, I especially like using it as a swimsuit coverup because I can avoid needing to pack a beach bag. I can pack everything I need in its enormous, zippered pockets! My Kindle, sunscreen, chapstick, phone, and wallet can all fit in this dress. It’s amazing!

Use Code HCWT for 15% off your SCOTTeVEST Order on SCOTTeVEST.com

Best Travel Undergarments for Women

Paka Alpaca Socks

I’m mentioning Alpaca fiber once again! This stuff is seriously amazing for travel clothes, especially in socks. These will help keep my sweaty feet from getting stinky, even after hiking all day. Plus, they breathe well but still keep my feet warm. They are incredible for hiking, or just wearing for daily wear. (These also make great gifts! My mom gets my stepdad a pair of Alpaca socks every year for Christmas, and he absolutely loves them!)

Compression Socks for Women

Compression socks are something that took me entirely too long to figure out that I need when flying or driving long distances. This is because I get horrible ankle swelling if I sit for too long. Not drinking alcohol and caffeine, avoiding salty foods, and wearing these socks have been a godsend! However, these will make your feet horribly stinky! I highly recommend pairing these with footpowder.

Wama Underwear

I am REALLY picky about my undergarments, especially while traveling. There is nothing worse than sitting in an already uncomfortable airplane seat for hours, and also wearing uncomfortable undies. Wama Underwear is by far the most comfortable underwear that I own. They are SO soft and also very breathable.

Their products are all made from hemp and the brand is committed to producing sustainable products.

The bralette is also very comfortable and soft, but it doesn’t provide a ton of support. If you need more support, I prefer wearing Under Armour Women’s Crossback Mid Impact Sports Bra.

Note: Be sure to size up in their underwear for a comfortable fit. I am a true medium in underwear, but I wear a large in Wama Underwear.

My Favorite Women’s Travel Shoes (for Wide Feet and a Bunion)

For this section, I do want to stress that footwear is something that is incredibly personal. What works for me could very well cause you pain. Be sure to test and wear any shoes you want to bring for travel for at least 3 weeks before your trip.

I highly recommend trying out boots from REI, as they have a great area to test them and a wonderful return policy.

Lastly, I have wide feet and also a bunion. If you have narrow feet, these shoes are not going to work for you!

Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots – Women’s

Oboz hiking boots are the most comfortable hiking boots I have ever tried. They fit my feet like a glove, and I can wear them for weeks on end with no issues whatsoever. They are breathable, yet they’re waterproof. They also provide great ankle stability.

Again, hiking boots are very personal. I highly recommend trying them from REI before committing to them. What works for me, could be horribly painful for you.

Nike Experience Running Shoes

The Nike shoes pictured above are my favorite all-around walking, running, travel, and exercise shoes. They are comfortable to wear for an entire day of traveling and walking on a variety of terrain – from hiking trails to city streets.

I’ve had them for about 7 years now, and they are just finally starting to get too worn out to wear for walking or running long distances. (They’re now my gardening shoes.) I’ve never been more happy with a shoe purchase! I’ve used these as my walking shoes for trips to Jordan, Egypt, Peru, Turkey, Jamaica, Argentina, and more. Plus, they were also my exercise shoes 3-5 times a week!

Now, this exact model of Nike Experience running shoes is no longer being made, but they are almost identical to the Nike Experience Run 11. This is what I just ordered in this year to replace my now worn-out Nikes. They are just as comfortable as my old pair.

Keds Champion Canvas Lace-Up

You might have noticed that the majority of these pictures feature me wearing this pair of Keds. I really love these shoes for daily wear and traveling. I think they look good with just about everything, and they’re comfortable to wear. I also like that I can throw them in the washing machine when they start to look gross or are getting smelly.

Birkenstocks Arizona Soft Footbed Sandal

At this point, Birkenstocks are a bit of a traveler cliche. However, there’s a reason so many travelers love them. Birkenstocks are undeniably comfortable and last FOREVER. I’ve tried several pairs, but the Arizonas are my favorite.

These do take a while to break in, I wore them around the house with socks for 3 weeks before I used them out in public. But they are now my go-to travel sandals. They provide just enough support, they’re versatile, and I can walk long distances in them with no issues.

Vivaia Pointed-Toe Water Repellent Ballet Flats (Aria 5°)

I am not a fan of Vivaia’s marketing (they participate in greenwashing, I wrote a really long post about it here), but I have yet to find a pair of flats that work as well as their Aria 5s do for traveling. They are lightweight, comfortable, and they are machine washable. Again, these are shoes that need some serious breaking in before you wear them on any trips, though.

Read more: My BRUTALLY Honest Vivaia Shoes Review: MUST-READ Before Buying

Best Women’s Travel Accessories

I am starting this section off with my favorite crossbody purses for travel, I have a couple I like that are more casual, and a couple “dressier” ones that are designer.

Floto Firenze Women’s Saddle Bag Crossbody Shoulder Bag

I have had this crossbody bag from Floto for several years now and have beat the living daylights out of it, but it still looks fabulous. It gets a ton of use for a variety of trips! It’s very durable, and comfortable to wear all day exploring. I get so many compliments on this bag too. I actually recently had a work dinner with a woman who ordered the same one before we were even done eating she liked it so well!

Casupo Crossbody Bag

If you’re looking for a bit more room with your travel crossbody bag, I also love this leather crossbody by Casupo. This one is big enough to fit an iPad in! Plus, this bag is handcrafted with sustainable leather from responsible tanneries in order to lessen its environmental impact. Casupo also makes some great RFID wallets that are perfect for travel.

Use code HAVE-CLOTHES-WILL-TRAVEL for 15% off your Casupo order.

YSL Lou Camera Bag

Now, if you’re into to designer bags (like me) the YSL Lou Camera Bag is one of my favorites for traveling. It’s a conveniant size, it zips shut, and it’s easy to dress up or down. This a bag I prefer using for areas where I am, of course, less concerned about being mugged. The YSL logo prominently on display is not going to work for all destinations.

Bottega Veneta Small Desiree Cross-Body Bag

If you’re looking to avoid prominently displaying a logo on your designer travel bag, I highly recommend anything by Bottega Veneta. I especially love their Small Desieree Cross-Body Bags for traveling, though. This bag securely snaps shut and would incredibly difficult for a thief to open, and it is very comfortable to wear all day. It’s stunning without being too ostenatious.