A travel hoodie is a necessity for any trip—and I don’t care if you’re going by plane, train, automobile, or a majestic schooner on the Seven Seas. A well-made hoodie wraps around your body like a hug, and the hood itself blocks out any disturbances like a window light or a nose-picker in the aisle seat. Honestly, how do you travel without a hoodie?
When it comes to choosing the right travel hoodie, a few considerations become even more important than on your regular shopping expedition. Material. Do you like simple cotton or moisture-wicking, high-performance polyester? Function. Do you just want something comfortable for the trip, or is this a crucial part of your active wardrobe? And of course, price. Do you want something reasonably priced that you can replace when it gets worn down, or a travel hoodie with a jaw-dropping price tag that you’ll want to last a decade?
Frankly, you can put as much or as little thought into a travel hoodie as you want. Some have been designed specifically for athletes to hit the ground running, and others to transform into pillows or backpacks for the journey. Others are just simple, old-fashioned, pullover hoodies. It all comes down to your vision.
Below, we’ve collected our favorite travel hoodies that scratch every itch (but aren’t scratchy). Read up on our ten favorite travel hoodies:
1) Men’s Merino Cobra 3.0 Hoodie: $185.00
This travel hoodie uses Merino wool, a material famous for its insulation, moisture-wicking properties, and sheer comfort. It’s also pricey, which accounts for this hoodie’s serious cost. But as an investment, we love this travel hoodie — breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and combined too with recycled polyester. Top notch for comfort and ideal for a run in any location with a chill.
2) Patagonia Men’s Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Hoody: $47.99
This travel hoodie has what’s described as a “generous hood,” meaning it’s deep and roomy. Patagonia designed it that way for sun coverage, but we like it especially for its ability to provide your head its own little cozy cave on a long flight. Patagonia’s added some moisture-wicking and odor control to the material blend as well, and we love the seven color options.
3) SCOTTeVEST Cotton Hoodie for Men – 21 Hidden Pockets: $154
Another travel hoodie with a very high price tag, but wearing this one is like having a sneaky little trench coat in the form of a normal hoodie. It has no less than 21 pockets, which makes us wonder if you could load this baby up and simply skip the carry on. Of course, the pockets make it great for other active pursuits like fishing, golfing, or anything else that requires a ton of little accessories.
4) HoodiePillow Memory Foam Travel Pillow: $39.99
If this travel hoodie looks familiar, it’s because you’ve seen it on Shark Tank. And to be clear: this isn’t a hoodie in the conventional sense. It is truly just the hood, with a neck pillow made of memory foam attached. At a reasonable price, it’s comfy and designed so you can pull the drawstrings on the hood to block out light while you sleep.
5) Montauk Hooded Sweatshirt: $194
You don’t see a travel hoodie made of hemp too often, which is what makes the Montauk Hooded Sweatshirt so intriguing to us. Lightweight and cozy, this hoodie blends hemp and cotton for a breathable, relaxed fit that’s as stylish as it is functional. It’s expensive, definitely, so be sure to choose your favorite of the eleven colors on offer.
6) Nike Yoga Dri-FIT: $51.97
A supremely comfortable hoodie by Nike made from 75% recycled polyester, this hoodie’s highly stylish and highly cozy, and great for travel for anyone who plans on landing and doing a light workout. It’s one of the higher performance hoodies on this list, as befits the brand, and includes a bit of spandex in the blend in case you wear it for yoga.
7) MERIWOOL Men’s Base Layer Hoodie: $54.99
Made of 100% Merino wool, that means this hoodie is quick-drying and super breathable, designed for athletics but ideal too for a long, grueling day of travel. It’s both lightweight and soft, and the price is right for those who don’t want to go all out on one of the bigger name brand hoodies. Call it a starter hoodie, but don’t call it uncomfortable.
8.) City Sweat Pullover Hoodie: $128
Another big brand that makes an extremely high quality hoodie perfect for a long day of travel. Made with French terry fabric that’s soft and breathable, the fit is classic and not too tight, and the hood is roomie enough to block your peripherals. They’re harder to see than the average hoodie pockets, but this hoodie does come with “hidden media and coin pockets” on the front for added convenience.
9.) 10-Year Pullover Hoodie: $118
We love the Huckberry brand for its functional and stylish apparel. With the 10-year pullover, they’ve made a hoodie that promises to only get better with time. In other words, the more you wear this fleece and twill masterpiece, the softer it becomes. By year one, we think it’ll be your travel hoodie go-to. By year ten, it’ll be your best friend. They’ll repair it if it rips, tears, or splits at the seam.
Sometimes a travel hoodie isn’t something transformative, it’s just a reasonably priced, well-made piece of clothing from a trusted brand like Hanes. Made with 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester, here’s one you can throw in the washing machine without a second thought, with those classic, roomy front pockets and a zipper.