Cold-weather travel season certainly has a lot of pleasant associations — holiday-season reunions with family, festive ski weekends with friends, romantic getaways with a special someone. One not so pleasant association? Lumbering around the airport and onto the plane in a bulky, heavy winter jacket. And, since the temperature is super temperamental on those flying tubes, you’ll likely want to shed that layer before takeoff. And that’s where the hassle starts.
First there’s the in-seat wrestling match necessary to remove your puffed-up parka or anorak; then you get to chuck it in the filthy overhead compartment (flight attendants even admit that it’s rarely ever cleaned). It’s enough to leave anyone hot and bothered. How much saner to have a jacket that folds within itself or that can be squished down to fit into a pouch, right? From a $34 Columbia staple that Amazon shoppers love to this The North Face bestseller that’s a bit of a splurge, we’ve listed some reviewer-tested options for just about every budget.
Amazon
When it comes to outerwear, Columbia is one of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world, and this one folds into itself to save you tons of space in your carry-on. Since it’s waterproof, it’s also handy when running through rain and snowstorms.
One feature that shoppers love is its stowaway hood that tucks into the jacket’s collar. This is a perfect piece for these transitional days — warm enough to keep you toasty, but also light enough to keep you from sweating buckets when running to your gate.
“Nice and thin for the warm weather rain in the south,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “Rolls up easily to stuff into its own hood to store in a backpack for portability.”
Amazon
When more than 15,000 shoppers give a jacket — especially an affordable one — a five-star review, we usually stop in our tracks to see what’s so impressive and this AE pick comes with the goods. Available in 16 colors, this feather-light water-resistant puffer is fully insulated and lined. The real magic, though, comes in how small it contracts. It folds up in a package that’s as tiny as a travel pillow, and you don’t have to worry about finding somewhere to put it since it comes with a carrying pouch.
“This jacket is lightweight and compressible, making it easy to pack for travel,” one impressed reviewer wrote. “It doesn’t take up much space in your luggage.”
L.L.Bean
When traveling in the fall and winter, it can feel like everything you wear and carry is just weighing you down. So, it should help that L.L.Bean created this packable jacket from ripstop polyester. Even though it’s super lightweight, it doesn’t skimp on the insulation and will still keep you warm.
It folds up into a small pouch that’s tiny enough to toss into your personal item bag. It sounds almost too good to be true, but based on shoppers’ reviews, the hype is real.
“I bought this to take to Switzerland with me. It was perfect,” one wrote. “It packs away into a pouch to easily place in a day pack. Kept me warm on top of the Alps and I’m sure I’ll be using [it] a lot this fall/winter.”
Lululemon
You’ve probably already heard the rumblings about this Lulu fall staple. It features so many elements that shoppers love about the brand: its signature DiamondStretch fabric, 100% goose feather down fill and luxe puffiness, to name a few. Somehow, though, that last feature doesn’t interfere with its ability to fit inside the included stuff sack, which makes it easy to pack, and stow, when you’re on the go.
“Love how lightweight it is, but still cozy!” one satisfied shopper wrote. “I am able to zip it into its pouch and carry it in my purse or backpack to pull out whenever needed.”
Free People
If you prefer a jacket that’s a bit boxier and less fitted, this one’s right up your alley. It comes in 22 colors and serves as an easy extra layer during those brisk fall travel days. It folds into its interior pocket easily, and if you don’t want to stow it in your bag, it’ll do double-duty as a travel pillow.
“I have had this puffer for three years now and it is still so amazing,” one fan wrote. “It is easy to wear with anything and the packable aspect makes it great for winter and fall trips!”
The North Face
If you’re looking for an investment piece that will keep you warm in both the fall and winter months, shoppers say this iconic, versatile bestseller is worth it. The 1996 Retro Nuptse has been one of the brand’s most popular styles for years thanks to its old-school design and slightly boxy silhouette that’s perfect for layering. It’s also a bit on the bulkier side since it has 700-fill goose-down insulation. This doesn’t affect its ability to fully compress, though, since it packs up completely into its outer pocket.
“[Perfect for] daily wear, running errands, shopping or hiking,” a five-star reviewer wrote. “Great for vacation as it folds into a small package within a pocket of the jacket… Keeps me warm in 30-40 degree weather.”
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
