We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

The 8 Best Packable Jackets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We tested jackets that can fit in luggage without taking up too much space.

Person wearing Columbia Women's Switchback III Jacket outside near a fence and trees
Photo:

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Packing for a cold weather getaway can be difficult since bulky clothes take up a lot of space. To eliminate the stress of trying to fit warm clothing in a suitcase, invest in a packable jacket as the ultimate hack. 

Travel editors already double as packing experts so we researched and tried out 19 portable jackets for various activities. From hiking and biking to sightseeing and air travel, the coats came with us on short and long trips so we could gauge the usefulness, quality, fit, and overall design to endorse the top-scoring packable jackets from our tests. 

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Columbia Women's Switchback III Jacket

Columbia Women's Switchback III Adjustable Waterproof Rain Jacket

Amazon

Why We Love It
  • It folds down to a fraction of the original size and comes with a stowaway hood. 

What to Consider
  • We found that it doesn't have a lot of insulation and is best for shoulder season. 

Columbia is one of the most trusted brands on the market for outdoor gear so it’s no surprise to us that this jacket earned a perfect score in testing. Of course, our favorite feature of this jacket is the ability to fold it into itself to save space in a suitcase. After six months of use including stuffing the jacket into backpacks, duffels, and suitcases, it also still looks brand new.

This lightweight coat is also equipped with other helpful features to ward off rain, wind, and other inclement weather while traveling. It comes with a stowaway hood that hides in the collar of your jacket and can easily be pulled out or tucked in as needed. We’re also big fans of the adjustable velcro wrist cuffs and bungee cord hem to tighten or loosen the jacket for a more customized fit. We found that the jacket runs true to size, but if you want to layer clothing under the jacket (which we recommend for cold weather because the material is relatively thin), then you may want to size up. 

The Details: XS to 3XL | Polyester, nylon

Best Windbreaker: Cotopaxi Women's Teca Half-zip Windbreaker

Cotopaxi Women's Teca Half-Zip Windbreaker

Cotopaxi  

Why We Love It
  • The jacket is ideal for transitional seasons like spring and fall.

What to Consider
  • After six months of use, we noticed it's not very breathable.

This Cotopaxi anorak is the best lightweight layer we tested that is protective against breezy outings. It’s made with a water- and wind-resistant, repurposed polyester taffeta material with a DWR finish to repel light rain for all types of activities. Lightweight and durable don’t always go hand in hand, but after using this jacket for rigorous outdoor adventures over a three month period — like biking and hiking — and even washing it multiple times, the jacket hasn’t wavered in quality even the slightest. We even spilled coffee on the coat and the stain came right out in the wash. It has a slightly oversized fit so we were able to fit a sweatshirt underneath, but the thinner jacket can also layer underneath a larger coat as needed. One slight inconvenience is that the anorak style means it can’t be fully unzipped to cool off a bit in warmer weather, and there aren’t any vents, so it’s not the most breathable jacket. 

The Details: XXS to XXL | Repurposed polyester taffeta

Best Long Jacket: Everlane The ReNew Long Liner

Everlane The ReNew Long Liner

Everlane

Why We Love It
  • It has split zippers to increase range of motion when needed. 

What to Consider
  • During our six month test, an excited dog jumped on the coat, tearing the fabric — pet parents be warned! 

For cold-weather travel, you’ll need a cozy and warm jacket that won’t take up an entire suitcase so we recommend this quilted jacket from Everlane. We wore this nearly every day throughout the cold winter months and it is still just as puffy and stylish as when we got it. The longer length means the hem sits below the knees for more coverage than a regular puffer jacket. Although this jacket has more material than other jackets we tested, it still packs down small enough to fit in a small carry-on or backpack. Made with recycled polyester, the coat has a slightly puffed, quilted design and it provides plenty of warmth in the colder temperatures. For transitional weather, the split zippers were super helpful for breathability and mobility since we could unzip from both the top and bottom. The jacket is designed to be oversized but even when we sized down, it was still roomy which is something to consider for style and fit. 

The Details: XXS to XL | Recycled polyester

Most Size-inclusive: Girlfriend Collective Packable Puffer

Girlfriend Collective Packable Puffer

Girlfriend Collective

Why We Love It
  • The jacket comes in several stunning colorways and 10 size options.

What to Consider
  • This jacket is a little less puffy after six months of use.

Girlfriend Collective constantly wows us with flattering, size-inclusive, and stylish clothing for travel and the Crystal Packable Puffer is no exception. And the cherry on top is that the brand has an excellent sustainability mission so this jacket is made entirely of recycled water bottles. We love that the jacket comes in six earth-tone colors and there are 10 sizes ranging from XXS to 6XL. In testing, the lightweight puffer was warm enough for cooler fall days and there’s enough room to layer underneath for the winter. The material is water- and wind-resistant so it can serve as an outer layer in inclement weather while still being thin enough to be worn underneath a bigger jacket. We had some difficulty getting the puffer to fit inside the stuff sack pocket, but we had no issues folding up the jacket to fit in a suitcase as is, so we still think it’s great for travel. 

The Details: XXS to 6XL | Recycled polyester 

Best for Hiking: L.L.Bean Women's PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket

L.L.Bean Women's PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket

L.L. Bean

Why We Love It
  • It’s warm and breathable for hiking in cold climates.

What to Consider
  • We found that the jacket runs big, so we recommend sizing down if you want a tailored fit.

Since the weather can change drastically in the great outdoors, it’s important to bring layers when you’re on a trek. Space can be limited in a hiking backpack so this L.L.Bean packable jacket is the best option for staying warm and saving space. It can be tucked away in its own pocket, and the packed jacket measures 6 x 11 inches so it can easily fit in a daypack or even a fanny pack. Besides its packability, the jacket is water- and wind-resistant, and each jacket has 60 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation to keep you plenty warm in cold weather. Throughout our six months of tests, we even found it to work well for more mild winter days when you're keeping active. We love that the outer layer comes in six sizes in regular, petite, and plus cuts but we felt like even the petite size was slightly oversized so you might want to size down for a slimmer fit. 

The Details: XXS to XL | Recycled ripstop polyester 

Best Lightweight: Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Jacket

Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Jacket

Patagonia

Why We Love It
  • The featherlight material is flexible and doesn’t feel restrictive.

What to Consider
  • After six months of wearing, we do wish it had a hood and we think it is best for shoulder season.

If you’re in search of a jacket to toss on for pretty much any activity, then Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket is the one for you. This nearly weightless jacket is made with recycled polyester filled with 60 grams of the 100 percent recycled PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, which makes this an excellent option for those looking to reduce their ecological footprint with a consciously-made coat. The most-loved aspect of the Nano Puff is that, although it’s technically a puffer, the materials are so lightweight that it doesn’t feel bulky or too hot for a range of activities. It’s warm but breathable and there’s plenty of stretch for a full range of motion. Plus, the thinner materials make it easy to fold the jacket into its own pocket for excellent portability. We do wish it had a hood and waterproofness for outdoor activities but the shell is still water resistant. 

The Details: XXS to XXL | Recycled polyester 

Best Down-filled: lululemon Pack It Down Jacket

lululemon Pack It Down Jacket

lululemon

Why We Love It
  • The goose down fill jacket is so cozy and toasty.

What to Consider
  • After six months of regular use and machine washing, white spots have appeared on the sleeve.

For ski trips or any other winter travel, this goose down fill jacket from Lululemon is your best bet for staying warm in cold weather. It’s made with 100 percent goose feather down fill packed between the brand’s DiamondStretch fabric that boasts resistance against water, wind, and offers plenty of stretch for mobility. While this jacket is quite puffy, it effortlessly fits inside the included stuff sack and we love that the coat doesn’t wrinkle even the slightest when it comes out of the pouch. This is a seriously warm and cozy puffer so we think it’s best for leisurely activities rather than hiking since we got fairly sweaty and had to take it off during a trek. Our other favorite features include the removable hood, fleece-lined pockets, and hidden phone or passport sleeve for safekeeping. Throughout three months of tests, we washed the coat a number of times in a washing machine and it still looks good as new.

The Details: 0 to 14 | DiamondStretch fabric

Person wearing lululemon Pack It Down Jacket

Travel + Leisure / Elena Garcia

Best Budget Down: Uniqlo Women's Ultra Light Down Jacket

Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket

Uniqlo

Why We Love It
  • It comes with a sleeping-bag-like stuff sack to compress the puffer jacket down.

What to Consider
  • The quality seems a bit lower compared to other jackets we tried and after six months of use, the threads are starting to come loose.

This packable puffer from Uniqlo comes with a stuff sack similar to a sleeping bag, but much easier to pack. We love that the stuff sack comes with a drawstring cord so you can really compress the jacket to a size that easily fits in a carry-on without taking up much space. This even fit inside the Calpak Luka Mini Backpack (that also held a wallet and a book!) The jacket is quite puffy but not in a bulky way so we’re big fans of the lightweight nylon shell filled with 90 percent down fill. It has the perfect balance of warmth and breathability for various activities and, although it doesn’t have a hood, it does have a cozy puffed collar for extra warmth around the neck. The only downside is that the stitching and materials feel slightly lower quality compared to pricier coats we tested, but we didn’t notice any damage to the jacket during testing so we think the price matches the quality of the coat. 

The Details: XXS to XXL | Nylon

Other Packable Jackets We Liked

The jackets below still earned high scores during testing, but we ran into a few issues that prevented us from adding them to our winner’s list. 

Decathlon Forclaz Women's MT100 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket: This down-filled puffer jacket is super cozy and warm but it takes some serious elbow grease to get it to fit inside the stuff sack.

Orvis Pack-and-go Jacket: It’s not the warmest jacket (so you’ll definitely want layers underneath), but it is a very compact and lightweight jacket that packs down easily into a pouch.

Our Testing Process

Packable jackets are essential for traveling in cooler climates so we researched all the best options and selected 19 jackets from trusted outerwear brands like Patagonia, Everlane, Cotopaxi, and more to test out. We made sure to pick packable jackets that range in style, material, size, and color to find ones that fit the needs for all types of travelers.

We tasked 19 travel editors and product testing experts to wear the jackets for over six months to get a feel for the fit, quality, comfort, and design of the coat. And, of course, the most important aspect of these outerwear pieces was the packability so we made sure to use the stuff sacks (if included) to pack and unpack the jackets many times. If the jacket didn’t come with a case, we still packed them in carry-ons, backpacks, and purses to see how much space they would take up. 

Tips for Buying a Packable Jacket

Consider your activities

Before you start shopping for a packable jacket, ask yourself what its main use will be. Is it for outdoor activities? Or more leisurely or style purposes? The answer to this question will greatly impact the traits to look for in a packable jacket. Nature enthusiasts should opt for sporty coats that feature water and wind resistance with breathable and lightweight materials. Longer packable jackets with down fill or thicker outer materials will be best for casual wear rather than rigorous activities. 

Look for thoughtful features for travel

Most of the jackets we loved came with stuff sacks for superior portability. While that didn’t necessarily mean they were better than jackets that didn’t come with a case, it’s certainly something to consider for personal preference. Other helpful features to look out for include removable hoods, hidden pockets for valuables, and customizable features like bungee cords at the hem and adjustable wrist cuffs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you fold a packable jacket?

    There isn’t a right or wrong way to fold a jacket and it depends on the size of the jacket and stuff sack. Some jackets are easier to fold up than others, so whichever way you can get the jacket into the bag gets the job done. The jacket might come out looking wrinkly whether you shove it in the sack or fold it up nicely and it ultimately depends on how prone to wrinkling the material is. 

  • Are packable jackets warm?

    Packable jackets come in various styles, which means it depends on the material and intended use of the jacket. Down-filled options will be the warmest and rain jackets will likely be the least warm, but the intended use for each item is different. 

  • Are packable down jackets waterproof?

    Not all packable jackets are waterproof so if you’re looking for a truly waterproof jacket, it’s important to read the specifications section on the website. Most rain jackets will be waterproof but others could just be water-resistant instead.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer who writes nearly all of the Travel + Leisure Trusted articles, and participates in product testing from luggage and shoes to outdoor gear and apparel. Anna reviewed the team’s insights to compile this list of the best packable jackets for travelers, plus did additional research as needed.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Edited by
Morgan Ashley Parker
Morgan Ashley Parker, Senior Commerce Editor
Morgan Ashley Parker is an associate editorial director at Travel + Leisure where she works on commerce content and strategy. She has been writing and editing lifestyle content since 2007, traveling since birth, and shopping since she earned her first allowance. 
Updated by
Taylor Fox
Taylor Fox, Commerce Updates Writer at Travel + Leisure
Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years.

Related Articles