Our Favorite Spring Travel Clothes

Spring weather can present quite the packing conundrum. One day might be hot and sunny, the next chilly and rainy. How do you decide what to bring for trips when the weather is unpredictable but you’ll still want to be outside—and comfortable and looking good?

The Best Spring Travel Clothes

Toss these spring travel clothes into your suitcase and thank us later.

Scottevest Cargo Shorts

Want to carry everything you need in a way that looks better and keeps your belongings safer than regular cargo shorts? Get the Hidden Cargo Shorts from Scottevest, which have eight concealed pockets. The pockets have a special NoBulge system, so you can stuff everything you need in, without looking extra bulky. They’re also super comfortable, thanks to the adjustable waistband.

White Sierra Women’s Kool Gauze Scarf

Lightweight scarfs are an essential travel item, no matter what time of year. They double as a blanket, a head/shoulder covering for churches or mosques, and a bandanna. The White Sierra Women’s Kool Gauze Scarf has the important added bonus of UPF sun protection and insect repellent.

Sperry SON-R Flex Slip-on Shoe

Designed for wet weather or the beach, the Sperry SON-R Flex shoes are perfect for spring weather. The specially designed outsole disperses water to give you more traction when it’s wet out. The removable foot bed offers plenty of support for long walks, and the slip-on style makes these perfect for airport security. They’re also lightweight and flexible, and therefore easy to pack.

Canari Cyclewear Men’s Razor Convertible Jacket

Wind, rain, sun, or cold—you’ll be ready for all types of weather with this convertible jacket.

SmartGlamour Arianna Dress

Pack one dress and get a bunch of different looks with SmartGlamour’s Arianna Convertible Dress. It can be a casual or fancy look, depending on which way you tie it. The cotton/spandex jersey fabric is great for travel because it’s comfortable and doesn’t wrinkle easily. The dress (and all of the SmartGlamour clothes) come in sizes that fit everyone, from XXS to 6X (or you get a custom-made item if you send in your measurements).

Thompson Tee

Don’t worry about sweating when you’ve got the Thompson Tee on, which has an underarm sweat-proof design to keep you dry. It’s also machine washable, made in the USA, and available for men and women.

ExOfficio BugsAway Line

Spring nights are made for sitting outside, but they’re also the time when bugs like to come out to feast. Ward them away without having to remember to spray on stinky repellent, with the ExOfficio BugsAway line, which has built-in Insect Shield technology to keep mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges away. For women, we love the Kokua Leggings, which are great for hiking or layering under skirts and dresses. Our top pick for men is the Talisman Plaid Shirt which is designed to give you plenty of mobility, and is made from a loose-fabric weave that provides all-over ventilation.

Montane Minimus Mountain Jacket

The eternal gamble of spring—should you bring a jacket with you in case it gets cold or rainy and have to carry it around all day if you don’t need it, or go without and risk being uncomfortable? Just pack the Montane Minimus Mountain Jacket (available for men and women). It’s got a breathable waterproof fabric, tailoring to let you move around easily, an adjustable hood that can fit helmets, and a zippered chest pocket to keep your stuff secure. It folds down to take up about as much space as an apple, so you can stuff it in your pocket if you don’t need to wear it.

Aetrex Selena Sandal

Fact: Flip flops are terrible for your feet. Unless you get ones from Aetrex, like the Selena, which have built-in Lynco orthotic footbeds to provide support and memory foam cushioning for comfort. The antimicrobial material keeps odors and germs away, which can be a problem with other open shoes.

Wool & Prince Button-Down Shirts

Wool for travel in the spring? Only when it’s this special, lightweight, super soft wool that Wool & Prince uses for their button-down shirts. The 100 percent merino wool is non-itchy and wrinkle- and odor-resistant, which means you can go a few wears without washing them.

Wallaroo Women’s Scrunchie SPF Sun Protection Hat

Sun protection is always smart. The Wallaroo Women’s Scrunchie SPF Sun Protection Hat protects you from the sun with its 4.5-inch brim. The brim is wire-edged, so you can adjust it to any angle—and it scrunches down for easy packing without losing its shape.

White Sierra Men’s Cottonwood Long-Sleeve Shirt

The White Sierra Cottonwood shirt can be worn with long sleeves, or rolled up and buttoned to wear as short sleeves. It’s made from a fabric that has UV protection, and the shirt is moisture-wicking to keep you dry.

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.

More From SmarterTravel:

• 26 Travel-Themed Socks That’ll Add a ‘Kick’ to Your Wardrobe
• Ridiculously Comfortable Travel Clothes That Don’t Sacrifice Style
• 25 Travel-Sized Beauty Products That Are Totally on Trend

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Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2015. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.