10 BEST Travel Vests With Pockets For Men & Women (2023)

Orvis Quilted Vest

Orvis designs some of our favorite items for stylish outdoor wear — perfect for travel. The vest’s weight has a nice balance between wearing it independently in warm weather or as an outer layer for cooler days.

It’s pretty lightweight and can fold down into an included stuff sack. A waist cinch and multiple pockets also deliver the practicality and features we want in a vest. As a bonus, the polyester material is Bluesign® certified and dries out fast.

Patagonia Down Sweater Vest

Patagonia makes our favorite packable down jacket, so it’s no wonder they make one of the best down vests for travel. The down vest uses 800 fill down and their new recycled polyester for the shell. The result is a down vest that keeps you warm and does decent job-fighting moisture. We also find Patagonia’s nylon material extraordinarily comfortable without the obnoxious crinkly/swishy sounds cheaper down items make.

With its wide range of colors and appealing brand name, the down vest feels at home in the mountains, the beach, or city streets. The only drawback to the garment is the high price tag that comes with Patagonia vests. It’s also not the warmest down vest on this list, but it remains slim fit and is attractive.

ExOfficio Women’s FlyQ Vest

For the female traveler that goes everywhere, from the occasional jungle trek to exploring a big city and a safari here and there, there is the FlyQ vest. The FlyQ has many different pockets – one of which is RFID blocking – to keep all your essential items close at hand for any adventure, all arranged in an attractive style that is suitable just about anywhere.

The built-in water, wind, and stain resistance ensure this vest keeps pace with all your adventures, while the durable construction will keep it in your travel clothes rotation for many future trips!

Columbia Benton Springs Fleece Vest

Many outdoor and travel enthusiasts associate Columbia’s name with quality and decent value. Columbia’s Women’s Benton Springs vest is one of the most affordable on the market, priced at less than $50.

The fleece vest is full-zip and features two zippered front pockets to warm your hands. Basic and comfortable polyester fleece is used in construction but offers little durability or natural warmth. Fit is decent and strikes a nice balance between roomy and athletic to fit most body types excellently.

It’s best utilized as a layer because any breeze tends to pass right through the thin fleece material. Finding a more affordable fleece travel vest in terms of quality is challenging. Color choice is also plentiful, with well over 20 color options to choose from online.

SCOTTeVEST Q.U.E.S.T. for Women

If you have worries about finding a vest with enough pockets for all your things, the QUEST vest categorically puts those fears to rest! With an incredible 42 total pockets, it’s guaranteed to find a place for everything you need on your travels. Amongst these pockets, you have an RFID-blocking area for credit cards and an oversized pocket for tablets such as a Kindle or iPad.

The material is also treated for water and stain resistance to maximize outdoor fun; you even have a storable hood for when the weather turns cold or nasty! So if you’re planning on lots of gear for your trip – from camera lenses to souvenirs – we highly recommend this slick-looking vest for every occasion!

Ranking Vests For Travel

Pockets and Pockets

The ideal travel vest is, first and foremost, an array of different pockets to ensure that everything you possibly need on a typical day in your trip can easily find a home. It can benefit female travelers; we all know that many of the best and most comfortable women’s pants are painfully pocket deficient. Therefore, a good travel vest can eliminate a clunky purse that risks theft in an unfamiliar city.

But the male traveler can equally benefit from a travel vest that compiles everything you could need into one place—no more unslinging a backpack to try and hunt for tickets or opening and closing a briefcase to fish out a passport during your travel day. So once again, pockets and more pockets! Make sure your travel vest can fit everything you want to have on you for your day.

Construction

It’s always important when purchasing travel clothes to consider the quality and material used. Synthetic materials for standout vests as they’re quick to dry, which can keep you cool or warm. At the same time, cotton articles tend to hold moisture and are slow to dry. It is crucial in cold weather destinations with snow/rain or tropical destinations high in humidity.

When looking through different brands and types, one element that we are always looking for is durability. You want to ensure the vest lasts for your trip(s) and beyond! Pay close attention to your vest’s manufacturing and material/stitching quality. Is it an established manufacturer or an off-brand?

Do they stand behind their product and offer an extended warranty? While at it, look and see if the vest is water-resistant if you’re heading into a wet environment. If you’re traveling to dry and sunny climes, check if the vest is UV-resistant.

Security

As we alluded to earlier, traveling the world always risks becoming the victim of petty theft. A vest eliminates the need for extra bags by condensing all your gear down. It isn’t foolproof protection from pickpockets or thieves, but it allows you to keep a better eye on your belongings. It is essential because it reduces risks, as thieves have fewer opportunities with a travel vest.

An RFID pocket is a nice touch, but it’s a little outdated and more for marketing. It’s an obsolete tactic, as skimming a chip card is impossible. So the practice is falling out of fashion with thieves, particularly in Europe, where everything is a chip. We highly recommend you look for travel vests with hidden pockets to carry your valuables, as the classic pickpocket is a more significant threat.

Comfort and Style

It may seem like a no-brainer, but please try to track down a vest that will be comfortable for you to wear and is suitable for your travel plans. If you’re heading to a warm tropical location, a bulky and heavy-duty vest may not be the most appropriate – aim for something a little lighter such as nylon or polyester!

Along these same lines, you’re likely to draw some unneeded attention if you’re strolling down the city streets in an oversized, safari-style vest draped with pockets; aim for something more city appropriate, eh?

So now that we’ve covered the critical buying points for the ideal travel vest let’s move on to our top suggestions!

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