👖 The Best Travel Clothes and Accessories for Nomads on the Move

The best travel clothing and accessories—lightweight, layerable, and built to keep up wherever you land.

April 07, 2025

Here’s what you have to look forward to: 

  • 🩳 Quick-dry travel outfits made for movement, weather, and repeat wears

  • 👟 The most comfortable shoes for walking, hiking, or beach-hopping 

  • 🧥 Layer-friendly essentials, from breathable base layers to packable jackets

  • 🧢 Sun-protective hats and sunglasses for all-day wear

Some of the links featured in this issue are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. 

☀️ Quick-Dry Travel Clothes

Breathable, quick-dry, and built to move — these travel-ready staples make packing light and adventuring easy.

🐑 Icebreaker Merino: 

Icebreaker is the go-to for merino layers that don’t quit. Breathable, odor-resistant, and naturally temperature-regulating — their gear is built for long hauls and light packing. Pair their signature base layers with quick dry pants or quick dry shirts and you’ve got a travel uniform that works from airport sprints to mountain treks.

🌊 O’Neill’s:

O'Neill’s got the gear to take you from surf break to street stroll without skipping a beat. Their quick dry pants for women and men's quick dry shorts are lightweight, fast-drying, and made to move — perfect for beach towns, boat days, or breezy layovers. Easy to wear, easy to pack. These are the comfortable travel clothes you’ve been missing. 

🏕️ Lands’ End:

Columbia’s travel-ready gear hits that sweet spot between rugged and practical. Think quick dry swim shorts and UPF-rated layers that handle sweaty hikes and surprise layovers with ease. From packable jackets to sun-smart fabrics, this collection’s built for movement — wherever your itinerary goes.

Best Travel Shoes

Walk, hike, or swim—these travel shoes are built to move, wherever you go.

1. Walking Shoes

👟 Orthofeet: 

Orthofeet specializes in comfort-forward shoes built for serious walkers and travelers. If you're on the hunt for the best walking shoes for travel in Europe, their lineup delivers cushioned soles, arch support, and stylish designs that won’t wreck your feet after 20,000 steps through cobblestones.

👟 Hoka Boni:

The Hoka Bondi SR isn’t just insanely cushy — it’s a powerhouse for people who are on their feet all day and still have places to be. With max cushioning, slip resistance, and serious arch support, it’s one of the best shoes for standing all day and walking everywhere after. Nurses love it. So do nomads.

2. Hiking Shoes 

🥾 Salomon Hiking Boots: 

Salomon’s gear isn’t just for runners — their waterproof shoes are a dream for nomads who walk everywhere. Whether you're hiking through Iceland or navigating rainy city streets, their trail-tested designs keep your feet dry and comfy. Lightweight, rugged, and adventure-ready.

🥾 Merrel Hiking Boots:

Merrell makes shoes that are built to move — whether you're wandering a city, hiking a trail, or racking up steps in unpredictable weather. Their collection blends athletic comfort with outdoor durability, from travel-friendly sneakers to grip-heavy hikers. And yes, if you're heading somewhere wet, they’ve got waterproof hiking boots that keep your feet dry without weighing you down.

3. Swim Shoes 

🌊 Water Shoes for Women and Men: 

UBFEN makes lightweight, flexible footwear built for movement — and most of their bestsellers are water-friendly. Whether you're kayaking, beach-hopping, or just want breathable slip-ons for hot-weather travel, their collection is made to dry fast, pack small, and keep up. Great for minimalists and anyone living out of a backpack.

🧥 Travel Layers & Jackets 

Layer up without the bulk — these basics and packable rain jackets are made to handle any climate, any trip.

🧣 Merino Tech Base Layers: 

Merino’s collection uses 100% merino wool — soft, breathable, and naturally odor-resistant — making it perfect for layering, re-wearing, and staying cool (or warm) wherever you land. They’ve got a full range of base layers, from tees to long sleeves, plus packable midlayers like hoodies and joggers that fit right into a one-bag setup. Looks sharp, feels effortless.

🧳 North Face Jackets:

Whether you're chasing sunrises in the Andes or dodging rain in Kyoto, The North Face has a jacket for it. Insulated, waterproof, windproof, breathable — their outerwear tech covers every climate and layer. From lightweight rain jackets to rain-ready shells, you can build your full travel layering system right here.

🧢 Best Sun Hats for Travel

Sun-safe, packable, and adventure-ready — these travel hats bring UPF 50+ protection without sacrificing style or space.

Bucket Hats:

Tilley’s iconic bucket hats are designed for serious wear — with UPF 50+ sun protection, water resistance, and packable structure that bounces back every time. Built for adventurers and travelers alike, these are the kind of hats you buy once and take everywhere.

SPF Hats: 

Wallaroo makes packable sun hats that don’t skimp on looks or function. Their styles also come with UPF 50+ protection, lightweight materials, and travel-friendly designs that bounce back after being crammed in your bag. Whether you’re wandering markets or kayaking in full sun, they’ve got a brim to match.

Wide-Brimmed Protection: 

LCZTN makes travel-ready sun hats that do more than just block rays — many styles include neck flaps for full back-of-the-neck protection, ideal for hikes, garden days, and long hours outdoors. Lightweight, UPF 50+, and super packable, these are built for serious sun and easy stashing.

🕶️ Travel-Ready Sunglasses

Sandy beaches or screens, these vision-friendly sunglasses keep your eyes sharp, protected, and healthy.

Maui Jim: 

Maui Jim is known for its crisp, color-enhancing lenses — but if you need vision correction on the go, you’re in luck. They also offer prescription sunglasses, combining their iconic PolarizedPlus2® tech with custom optics. Whether you're driving through Tuscany or reading on the beach, you’ll get max sun protection and sharp vision.

ROKA: 

ROKA makes high-performance sunglasses that look just as good off the trail as they do mid-run. They're ultralight, stay put through movement, and bring premium optics to everything from workouts to travel days. Bonus: many of their styles are available as prescription sunglasses, so you don’t have to trade vision for performance.

Horus X: 

Horus X makes stylish, high-performance blue light glasses that help protect your eyes from fatigue and overexposure — perfect for remote workers, gamers, and anyone logging long hours online. They’ve got lightweight frames, anti-glare lenses, and even polarized sunglasses for sunny work setups.

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Until next time,
The Nomad Cloud Team ⛅