This post may contain affiliate links.
When we first started traveling full time in 2015, we began in a larger RV and gradually downsized through several campers over the next 6.5 years. With each move into a smaller space, everything we owned had to earn its place, including our clothing. What survived those constant resets were the pieces that truly worked. Over time, a small collection of outdoor clothing proved itself again and again, following us through every rig and every season.
Today, we travel part time, but our adventures have taken us from the glaciers of Alaska to the Everest Base Camp in Tibet, across all 50 U.S. states, and through many countries around the world. We’ve experienced everything from humid jungles and rainy coastlines to desert heat and cold mountain towns in the same few, well-tested clothes.
While specific brands or models have evolved as gear wore out or improved, the types of outdoor clothing we rely on have remained remarkably consistent. What you will find below is exactly what is in our wardrobe right now, the pieces we reach for trip after trip without hesitation.
This is not a technical gear guide or a roundup of the trendiest outdoor brands. It is a practical look at the sun hats, sun shirts, hiking pants, rain jackets, and socks that we personally wear for outdoor-focused travel. These are the layers that have earned their place over the years.
If you are searching for the best outdoor clothing for travel, the kind that works across multiple climates without overpacking, this is the gear that has truly gone the distance with us.
Let us start at the top. No matter the destination or season, a good sun hat is one of the first outdoor travel essentials we pack.
The Sun Hats We Travel With
What’s in our current wardrobe:
- Men: Tilley LTM5 Airflo Hat
- Woment: Outdoor Research Oasis Sun Hat
A good sun hat is essential for us. From desert heat to tropical humidity and long sightseeing days under full sun, this is one piece we use constantly. It’s also one of the items that quickly proved its value back in our full-time RV days, when space was limited and every single thing had to earn its place.
Our go to hats offer reliable sun protection, stay comfortable in the heat, and are easy to pack without getting ruined. Just as important, they are easy to wash. Whether it is a quick rinse in a sink, a campground wash, or a regular laundry day, our hats handle real travel use and come out ready for the next adventure.
We rely on sun hats with:
- Wide brims for better face and neck coverage
- Adjustable straps to stay secure in wind
- Breathable materials for hot climates
- Lightweight construction for all day comfort
- Packable designs that can be folded and squished without losing shape
They clip easily to a backpack or tuck into a suitcase, and they stay comfortable enough to wear all day without constant adjusting.
The Sun Shirts We Travel With
What’s in our current wardrobe:
- Men: KÜHL Engineered Hoody
- Women: KÜHL Suprima Hoody
Sun shirts have long been a staple in our travel wardrobe because they offer reliable sun protection during days we spend mostly outdoors. While the specific brands and models have changed over the years, their role in our wardrobe has stayed the same, mostly because we use them so much that they eventually wear out and get replaced as needed.
The sun shirts we currently travel with are made by KÜHL. They are lightweight, breathable, easy to wash, and quick to dry, which are important details when space and laundry access are limited. They layer easily when temperatures drop and pack down small, making them an easy, consistent choice for just about every trip.
I also wear my Engineered Hoody when I go swimming, similar to a rash guard. The hood helps keep my bald head from burning, and when I get out, the shirt dries quickly.
Before Kait switched to the now discontinued KÜHL Suprima Hoody, she wore a button down sun shirt that appeared in many of our older YouTube videos and blog photos. The Suprima quickly became her favorite because of its soft feel, lightweight fabric, and all day comfort.
The Pants We Travel With
What’s in our current wardrobe:
- Men: KÜHL Renegade Recon
- Women: KÜHL Freeflex Dash
Good travel pants need to handle long days of walking, changing weather, and frequent washing, and we have put many pairs to the test. The pairs we currently travel with offer built in stretch for easy movement, plenty of functional pockets, and zippered pockets for keeping essentials secure. Breathability matters in warm climates, and quick drying fabric makes washing on the road simple.
Because we usually travel with just a backpack and carry on luggage, space is limited. That makes lightweight fabrics that fold down easily just as important as comfort and durability. This balance is what makes these pants easy to pack, easy to wear, and versatile enough for everyday travel.
What we look for in travel pants:
- Stretch fabric for walking and hiking
- Secure zippered pockets
- Breathable fabric for warm climates
- Quick drying performance
- Lightweight and packable
- Comfortable waistband for long travel days
I particularly like the pockets on the KÜHL Renegade Recon pants. There is a hidden zippered pocket inside the right front pocket that is the perfect size for keeping my passport and some cash safe and out of view. There are also two smaller pockets along the sides of the pants that work well for keys, a pocket knife, and other items I do not want in my larger pockets. I love the elastic waistband because I can wear the pants without a belt and not worry about them sliding down. Most importantly, these pants look great and are extremely comfortable.
The Shorts We Travel With
- Men: KÜHL Free Radikl
- Women: Athletics Shorts
After I fell in love with the KÜHL pants above, I picked up a pair of KÜHL Free Radikl shorts to try as a warm weather option and ended up loving them just as much. Even though they do not have zippered pockets, they are still comfortable, durable, and easy to wear for long days of sightseeing and outdoor time. They pack down small and have quickly become my go to shorts for travel.
As for Kait, she has gone through many pairs of shorts over the past decade, and almost all of them have come from Costco. Because of that, she refers to them as her Costco specials. They are comfortable, inexpensive, easy to replace, and work well for hiking, walking, going to the gym, and everyday travel.
The Rain Jackets We Never Leave Without
What’s in our current wardrobe:
- Men: Patagonia Snowshot 3-in-1 Jacket
- Women: The North Face HyVent Hooded Jacket
It is worth noting that neither of these are dedicated rain jackets. They are both waterproof, multipurpose jackets that we use for a wide range of conditions. Both of our jackets are also old enough now that they have been discontinued, but they have held up through years of travel. That longevity is exactly why we are still using them today. They have been with us through countless trips, changing climates, and unpredictable weather, and they continue to earn their place in our bags on a regular basis.
One important thing we always test with a jacket like this is whether our hat of choice will fit comfortably under the hood. Most wide brim hats do not, so when it is raining I typically wear a baseball cap. That way I can still use the hood while keeping rain off my face. We also look for jackets with easily accessible pockets that can hold a phone, so we do not have to unzip everything just to grab it quickly.
Check back in a few years. Maybe we will have finally replaced them by then.
The Travel Socks We Rely On
What’s in our current wardrobe:
- Men: Injinji Toe Socks
- Women: Injinji Toe Socks
Socks might not be the first thing people think about when it comes to travel clothing, but for us they are one of those quiet essentials that make a noticeable difference day after day. We have tested many pairs across different climates and long travel days, and we have learned that the right socks matter just as much as the rest of our wardrobe.
We have tried just about every type of sock over the years, including wool, wool blends, cotton, synthetics, and everything in between. After all that trial and error, we keep coming back to the same brand, Injinji toe socks. For us, nothing beats the comfort and performance of the toe sock design, especially on long travel days when we are on our feet for hours at a time.
We rotate between the Midweight Crew and Lightweight Run styles depending on the weather and what we are doing that day, and we travel with several pairs at all times. They manage moisture well, help reduce friction and hotspots, dry quickly after washing, and do not take up much space in our bags. Simple, dependable, and worn constantly, these are the socks that have earned a permanent spot in our travel wardrobe.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Outdoor Clothing for Travel
After years of full time and now part time travel across a wide range of climates and conditions, one thing has become very clear to us: the best outdoor clothing for travel is the gear you can truly depend on day after day. The pieces we shared here were not chosen because they are new or trendy. They earned their place through real world use, repeated wear, and a lot of miles on the road.
Everyone travels differently, and what works perfectly for us may not be the right fit for someone else. Body type, activity level, destination, and personal comfort all play a role in building the right travel wardrobe. Our goal with this guide was simply to show you what has worked for us and to give you a starting point as you figure out what works best for your own travel style.
If you are just beginning to build your travel wardrobe, start small. Choose versatile pieces that layer well, pack down easily, dry quickly, and can handle being worn often. Over time, your own favorites will reveal themselves through use, just like ours did.
If you have a piece of outdoor clothing you cannot travel without, we would love to hear about it in the comments.
