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rh2010 | Adobe Stock

10 Warm, Lightweight Jackets and Coats for Travelers

Bulky jackets are the bane of cold-weather travelers. If your coat isn’t taking up precious space in your carry-on, you’ll have to lug it around the airport to avoid sweating profusely and looking like a nervous security risk. Here are 10 of the best packable, lightweight winter jackets for travelers that will keep you feeling warm and looking stylish on the road.

Columbia Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange 3-in-1 Jacket

Two views of the Columbia Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange 3-in-1 Jacket, open and closed
REI

Travel clothes that do double duty are invaluable, and this jacket from Columbia gives you three outerwear options in one. The waterproof shell and fleece lining can be worn independently or zipped together for extra warmth. Although thin and lightweight, the outer shell is designed to lock in body heat, perfect for rainy autumn days. The removable hood and adjustable cuffs add extra customization.

Arc’teryx Men’s Atom Hoody

Model wearing the Arc'teryx Men's Atom Hoody in bright yellow
Arc'teryx

The Arc’teryx Men’s Atom Hoody is a packable jacket that delivers the warmth needed in a whole host of situations and environments. Insulated with lightweight, water-resistant Coreloft™, this hoody maintains thermal performance if exposed to moisture, and compresses into the tiny nooks of your backpack when not in use.

L.L.Bean Quilted Riding Jacket

L.L.Bean Quilted Riding Jacket
L.L. Bean

Most easy-to-pack winter jackets look like activewear and are tough to pull off on a city trip, but L.L.Bean’s Quilted Riding Jacket is the ultimate winter coat that can do both. Its classic design goes with any outfit and won’t make you look like a tourist who just wandered into town off a hike. Thanks to the insulated synthetic lining, it will keep you warm without weighing you (or your suitcase) down. Want to layer this jacket? It has adjustable waist tabs that let you customize the fit based on what you’re wearing.

The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hoodie 2.0

Two models wearing the The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hoodie 2.0 in men's and women's sizes
The North Face

The ThermoBall Eco Hoodie, available for women and men, is water-resistant and made of recycled polyester and nylon, made with ThermoBall™ Eco Insulation that performs even in wet conditions. Best of all, this jacket packs down into its own chest pocket, which transforms into a zippered carrying case when not in use.

Columbia Women’s Mighty Lite Hooded Jacket

Model showing two views of the Columbia Women's Mighty Lite Hooded Jacket in teal
Amazon

Omni-Heat lining and insulation give Columbia’s Mighty Lite Jacket plenty of warmth. It comes in a range of colors and can be found for a surprisingly low price when on sale. This lightweight coat won’t add much bulk to your bag and has a handy interior security pocket to stow valuables.

Obermeyer Women’s Tuscany II Jacket

Model showing two views of the Obermeyer Women's Tuscany II Jacket in light blue
Dick's Sporting Goods

Based in the snow sports mecca of Aspen, Colorado, since 1947, Obermeyer knows a thing or two about cold and wet weather. It’s developed a patented HydroBlock Sport fabric tested to resist nearly 400 inches of rain (and roll stain-causing liquids right off). Find it in the Tuscany II Jacket, which also uses another unique Obermeyer material: Thermore Classic insulation, which is thin and light but still warm. The hood is removable and adjustable, as is the faux fur trim.

Patagonia PrimaLoft Nano Puff Coat

Models wearing the men's and women's sizes of the Patagonia PrimaLoft Nano Puff Coat
Backcountry

Patagonia’s PrimaLoft Nano Puff Hoody (available for men and women) is the lightest jacket I’ve ever owned. The women’s version weighs just 10 ounces (the men’s is 12.8 ounces), yet is ultra-warm and water-resistant. Unlike some other methods of insulation, you can feel good about this jacket: Its 60-g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.

The Antora Triclimate Jacket

Model showing two angles of the The Antora Triclimate Jacket in tan
The North Face

The North Face’s versatile Antora Triclimate Jacket (available for women and men) is a three-in-one coat that’s perfect for travel: You can wear the waterproof shell or comfy inner liner by themselves, or combine them to make a warm winter jacket. The hood and wrist cuffs are adjustable for a better fit and to accomodate ski and general winter gear. This breathable coat is designed for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Lululemon Pack It Down Jacket

Model showing two angles of the Lululemon Pack It Down Jacket in maroon
lululemon

The Pack It Down Jacket can be folded up into its own small carrying case, making it one of the best packable down jackets for women. The fabric is weather-resistant, and the 700-fill-power goose down is certified to the Responsible Down Standard. You can remove the hood to further cut down on weight and space.

Arc’teryx Men’s Cerium Hoody

Model showing two angles of the Arc’teryx Men’s Cerium Hoody in black
Arc’teryx

The Cerium Hoody from Arcteryx is incredibly lightweight—just 11.9 ounces—yet it’s surprisingly warm thanks to its combination of goose down and synthetic insulation. (Note that on rainy or extremely cold days, it’s best combined with a weatherproof shell.)

Caroline Morse always packs lightweight winter jackets for travel to cold destinations. Follow Caroline on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for style and travel photos from around the world.

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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