Top Lightweight Travel Hoodies 2024
For one-bag, minimalist, and ultralight travelers, a good lightweight travel hoodie is a crucial piece of gear. It needs to be light, packable, comfortable, and versatile enough to handle a range of climates and situations; and in a perfect world, zippered pockets!
But with so many options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. This article is your guide to the top lightweight travel hoodies according to Reddit user, a lot of testing, and a lot of research.
Get ready to pack your (one) bag, we're heading to hoodie (hoody? hood?) town. We're going somewhere.
Features to Look for in a Lightweight Travel Hoodie:
- Fabric: Merino wool if you're looking for warmth and odor-resistance, or moisture-wicking, polyester blend for a lightweight, packable, wrinkle-free option.
- Weight and Packability: Lightweight and easily compressible for packing.
- Durability: Strong enough to withstand regular wear and tear, and the occasional cool-weather hike.
- Features: Thumb loops, hood, zippered front (optional), zippered pockets, stain-resistance, odor resistance, sun protection.
- Style: Your choice, but we always recommend neutral colors for maximum style pairing.
Top 10 Travel Hoodies:
- Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck: This popular option is praised for its warmth, breathability, and comfort. The R1 Air is made with a merino wool blend and features a zippered neck for ventilation. $129.
- Unbound Merino Compact Travel Hoody: Sleek, timeless, and minimalist, this hoodie is lightweight, breathable, odor-resistant and quick-drying. $178.
- Arc'teryx Ionia Merino Wool Hoody: This versatile softshell hoodie is water-resistant, windproof, and breathable, making it perfect for a variety of activities. The Gamma MX is also durable and comfortable. $140.
- Western Rise Session Sun Hoody: This travel hoodie features an ultralight, odor-resistant micro-mesh fabric for unparalleled comfort. $88.
- Icebreaker Merino Quantum 260 Line: A slim-fit fleece, full-zip 100% Merino wool mid-layer with thumb loops and a chest pocket. $220+.
- Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie: This lightweight hoodie is perfect for layering and offers UPF 50+ sun protection. $75.
- REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie: This top-rated affordable option is made with recycled materials and offers UPF 50+ sun protection and thumb holes using a polyester/spandex blend. $50.
- Kuhl Engineered Hoody: Superior moisture management and odor resistance combined with strategically placed breathable, open-knit panels and UV protection. $85.
- Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie: Incredibly lightweight, breathable, naturally odor resistant, and SPF 20+ protection. $68.
Our Take:
We're not shy about it, we prefer warm-weather travel and when it gets cold, we head to the nearest beach, so we prefer the lightest-weight, functional hoodie with all-day comfort; that crown (at least for us) goes to the Kuhl Engineered Hoody, even though they spell hoodie wrong and it doesn't have zippered pockets, we find this hoodie to be the perfect balance of weight, packability, sun protection and comfort.
But don't take our word for it, choose a few that look right and try them out before your next trip! Remember, comfort is king when it comes to one-bag travel, so don't skimp on the perfect travel hoodie, your bag (and back) will thank you.
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And as always, happy travels.