Traveling in summer is wonderful – the absolute vacation of vacations. But even with the sun in your sky and temperatures in the 80’s, it’s a good idea to have a light jacket in your day bag to avoid a trip back to your hostel or hotel before nighttime festivities begin.
The sarong, cardigan, kimono jacket, blazer, and denim shirt will all get the job done. Find out why we love these lightweight jackets for summer travel!
Lightweight Jackets for Summer Travel
Versatile Travel Jacket
The Anatomie Kenya jacket has a timeless, classic design that will far surpass the livelihood of most trends. It resembles a military style anorak with hidden metal popper buttons in addition to a gunmetal zipper.
It looks chic and even a little edgy. I’ve worn it with jeans or over my favorite travel dress. It’s gone with me to the city everywhere from London to Paris, Basel to Los Angeles, San Diego to Quebec City. I also wore it with shorts and trainers to explore Arizona’s national parks. It’s now a staple in all my airplane outfits, too.
Sarong
Are they scarves? Are they cover-ups? Are they the lightweight jackets of your dreams? When draped over your shoulders, a sarong can bring a bit of whimsical to any outfit.
Often found in bright colors and patterns, it’s the perfect piece to liven up a more practical daytime get-up. In addition to cooled-down nighttime-wear,sarongs are great to have for travel in general, taking up minimal space in your packing cube in your carry-on.
Wrap it around you and it becomes a changing room. Ball it up under your head and you’ve got a pillow. Hang it on your wall and you’ve just decorated the room with a tapestry! In other words, long live the sarong. Great for beach side trips!
Cardigan
A classic piece, cardigans add refinement to any outfit from your travel capsule wardrobe. They’re sold in a variety of cuts to flatter any figure and will keep you looking smart and sophisticated.
And with their thin material, they’ll take up no room in your day bag making them versatile lightweight jackets for many trips.
Grab a neutral tone to go with all your outfits, or go for turquoise or coral to add a splash of color to your look. No matter which direction you go, this old stand-by will do you justice all vacay long.
Kimono
These lightweight jackets made their grand entrance in spring at festivals like Coachella. Kimono jackets are sure to be everywhere this summer. With their oriental leanings, the kimono jacket immediately adds culture and charm to your outfit.
It can go laid-back on top of jean shorts and a white tank, or dressed-up on top of a midi dress. Talk about the perfect layering piece for travel!
Blazer
If your summer destination is known for a quick turn from hot days to chilly nights, blazers have a heavier weight than the others on this list, and might be the best lightweight jackets for you.
While the blazer used to be synonymous with work-attire, it’s been reworked to suit any style. In addition to its classic cut, you can now find it with draped lapels, flowing fabrics, and even without a collar.
Denim Shirt
Long gone are the days where we look at Justin and Britney’s matching jean outfits with shame. Jean-on-jean is in its style glory right now, which makes the denim shirt as versatile as ever.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve been sporting during the day, denim shirts act as perfectly diverse lightweight jackets and can be easily slide over overalls, a summer dress, or even running gear. And unlike others on this list, they can stand on their own when buttoned up.
How to Pack Denim Jacket
Packing cubes can help organize all the clothes you intend to bring, along with your jacket! We designed our own brand of slim packing cubes, with a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything.