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Flight turbulence, butter-fingered bellhops and back-back-to-back meetings wage war on the busy man’s blazer during his travels, and unless your hotel’s hooking you up with day-of dry cleaning or clothes renting service (good luck), the suit jacket you’re flying home with is too often a wrinkled shell of its former self. Better just opt for a chore coat and a Weezer tee, right?
Which is really a shame, because most men packing or wearing blazers for trips are doing so for busy days of business, or because they’re trying to look particularly good on vacation, and, unfortunately, a crumpled mess of a sport coat lends itself to neither.
We’re here to tell you that doesn’t have to be like this — there’s another way to survive traveling in suited style, and it’s not a pair of sweat-wicking underwear, although that’s equally as important. There’s a new breed of stretchy, comfy sports coats out there, and the best of these travel blazers can stand up to overhead bins and airport trams without so much as a creased lapel.
What Is a Travel Blazer?
A travel blazer is just that — a blazer designed specifically for the unique challenges of long hours on a plane and sweaty taxi commutes. Given the particular demands surrounding a conventional jacket, most differ from traditional suiting specifically in the fabric department.
These garments, no matter their exact tech, project a more casual fit without sacrificing anything in the way of looks. They fold easy, allow for the inevitable second or third use, and work with a variety of outfits.
What Are Travel Blazers Made Out of?
For years, the answer has been hopsack, which is used on many travel blazers. It’s a material constructed using a basket-weave technique that can be applied to a blazer made of wool, or a wool and cotton blend, and it absolutely refuses to wrinkle. The pattern also resists stains, and thanks to its construction, breathes better than most suits. (Think of the performance you’d expect from waffle-weave towel compared to standard terrycloth cotton.)
Hopsack isn’t the only fabric tech keeping suits fresh for travel. A bevy of suit suppliers have taken it upon themselves to release “jetsetter” lines, which often feature “unstructured” or “unconstructed” blazers. These are jackets with unpadded shoulders, little or no lining, and a lightweight fabric blend, most often wool or cotton (unfortunately, not linen), that either come with natural stretch, or feature a minuscule percentage of a stretching agent, like elastane.
With a newly acquired 411 on everything TB — short for travel blazers, keep up — all that’s left is to check into your long haul and express ship one of the many superior coats that we’ve neatly rounded up for you. From a classic Brooks Brothers hopsack coat to a pleated Japanese layer that’s so bold it just might close the deal, find the best travel blazers for men below. Happy shopping and safe travels.
The Best Travel Blazers For Men In 2023:
The Best Hopsack Travel Blazer: Brooks Brothers Regent Fit Hopsack Blazer
A hopsack option from the most famous name in suits, woven in Italy and cut to relaxed perfection. As the hopsack fabric generally creates a slight discoloration pattern, it’s smart to go with the dark navy here.
The Best Affordable Unstructured Blazer: J.Crew Garment-Dyed Cotton-Linen Chino Suit Jacket
One of J.Crew’s newest blazers, the Garmented-Dyed Chino Suit Jacket is already one of our favorites to travel in. It’s tough to pull off easygoing and appropriate in formal dress, but that cotton-linen fabric gets the job done, with a little help from a tough, workwear-inspired cut.
The Best Dressy Travel Blazer: Bonobos Jetsetter Stretch Italian Wool Suit Jacket
Bemberg lined, unconstructed, supple wool, a hint of elastane and a whole lot of houndstooth. This is an immaculate blazer…and we haven’t even mentioned the passport pocket.
The Best Travel-Specific Blazer: Eddie Bauer Ultimate Voyager Travel Blazer
Eddie Bauer is famous for their travel clothes, so it’s no surprise that their Voyager Blazer is something special. It’s made from a versatile polyester fabric that has a beautiful texture and drape. The blazer is half-back and sleeve lined, making it easy to get in and out of. Two spacious front pockets and two internal pockets make this blazer ideal for work or travel. A DWR finish protects the fabric against moisture and light rain.
The Best Fashion-Foward Travel Blazer: Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Tailored Pleats 1 Blazer
“Travel blazer” and “fashion” are two words that you typically hear together, but that doesn’t mean that ultra-stylish joints that actually travel well don’t exist. Case and point: this pleat-pilled blazer from Japanese legend Issey Miyake’s Homme Plissé can scrunch, fold and bundle in virtually any manner thanks to its unique garment-pleated polyester twill blend.
The Best Splurge Travel Blazer: Boglioli Unstructured Wool Hopsack Suit Jacket
If your concerns skew deciding which jet to charter over worrying about wrinkling your blazer in the middle seat, then Milan-based Boglioli is right up your alley. Tailored to perfection by Italian masters, the 100% wool (with buffalo horn buttons, to boot) blazer has notch lapels, patch pockets and an unlined finish fit for a certain Roy.
More Travel Blazers We Love:
Wills All Season Stretch Wool Blazer
Yards of stretch and an all-season wool weave make Wills’ Blazer ideal for long trips and suitcase stints, especially considering its eyecatching hues and trim cut.
Lululemon New Venture Blazer
We’re not encouraging you to run a couple of miles in Lululemon’s performance-informed New Venture Blazer…but then again, we’re not not?
Banana Republic Signature Hopsack Suit Jacket
Brooks Brothers may have the hopsack title on lock, but Banana Republic is a close second, with fabric straight from Italy’s famed Reda mill and a streamlined cut for minimal wrinkles and maximum breathability.
Buck Mason Herringbone Twill Carry-On Jacket
Aptly named, the Buck Mason Carry-On Jacket is crafted with a pre-washed 7.5 oz. sueded cotton herringbone twill, meaning an instant lived-in feel and advanced durability, even in the most cramped conditions.
Percival Linen Tailored Blazer
You might be confused — after all, linen is notably delicate. But really think about it — what is a few more wrinkles on this suave Percival number?
Ministry of Supply Kinetic Blazer
Somewhere between a travel blazer and a supercomputer, the Ministry of Supply Kinetic Blazer is teched out to the max: its specialized warp-knit fabric offers virtually uninhibited movement, and with a DWR water-repellant coating, it’ll stay dry and clean when you need it most. MOS has even updated the fit to run close to TTS than its small-running predecessor.
Todd Snyder Knit Madison Sport Coat
Ready to join the mile-high club? No, not that one — we’re talking about the literal country club you’ll surely get invited to after pulling up in Todd’s Knit Madison Sports Coat.
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