Men's Travel Clothing

See links to individual items

by Durant Imboden

I bought my first item of travel clothing in 1966, before sailing for Europe on the S.S. France. It was a white "wash and wear" traveler's shirt made of nylon. The semi-transparent cloth had the texture of synthetic fishing line, and the shirt trapped moisture like Saran Wrap on a hot day. My experience left me skeptical about travel clothes and modern fabrics, and for the next three decades I put my faith in cotton and Harris Tweed.

Not long ago, I decided to give travel clothing another try. I invited L.L. Bean, Norm Thompson Outfitters, and Tilley Endurables to supply samples for field testing during a Mediterranean cruise in August. I wore the clothing in the summer heat of Greece, Croatia, and Italy, and I laundered it the way any other traveler would: by hand, with an occasional spin through the laundromat. I also tested the travel clothes for more than two months in the U.S. before and after my cruise, and I field-tested many of the items on subsequent trips to Bavaria and Southern Italy.

Later, Magellan's supplied items for review; these were field-tested in locations that ranged from the Outer Hebrides to Spain and Portugal.

In the accompanying pages, I've rated the travel clothing for comfort, ease of care, appearance, and special features such as hidden security pockets. I've also given prices in U.S. dollars and included links to the L.L. Bean, Norm Thompson, Tilley, and Magellan's product pages.

Important points:

The pages in this report are objective reviews, not catalog descriptions.

If the reviews seem mostly positive, there's a reason: I tested only garments that seemed likely to meet my requirements of comfort and easy care, and--for the most part--the tested products met or surpassed my expectations.

Few of the tested clothes are inexpensive, and some are fairly high-priced. Whether the more expensive items are worth the extra cost depends on your budget and how long you keep your clothing.

Descriptions and prices are accurate as of March, 2005, when this article was last updated.

Also see my reviews of Z-CoiL shoes, which put a spring in your step to prevent sore feet, and the SCOTTeVEST (SeV), which turns the travel vest inside out with a stylish design that frustrates pickpockets.

To read the reviews, use the navigation table below:

Click links for product reviews:

Jackets/Trousers

Magellan's Pro Spin Wrinkle-Free Khakis

L.L. Bean Microfiber Blazer and Pants

Magellan's Men's Travelite Microfiber Jacket

Norm Thompson Carefree Traveler's Suede Jacket

Tilley AdventureCloth Classic Shorts

Shirts

Ex Officio Air Strip Shirt

Norm Thompson Uncanny Cotton Shirt

Tilley Short-Sleeved Bush Shirt