Can we talk about traveling with a winter coat? It’s not fun. If you are going from cold to warm, it becomes cumbersome to carry and store at your destination. If you are going from warm to cold, it definitely doesn’t fit in a carry-on if you are team carry-on only. And if you decided to check a bag and pack it, well, there goes valuable packing space.
The solution? Only travel from one cold destination to another.
Kidding! But seriously. I present to you my greatest travel investments yet: the packable winter coat.
When I first started as a flight attendant, much of the country was still experiencing winter. As a reserve, I could be sent anywhere from Puerto Rico to Vermont, so my bag had to be packed and ready to go at all times, for any climate. That’s when I started to look for a packable coat (to go with the swimsuit everyone suggested I pack). I remembered seeing packable coats at Uniqlo years ago, so I went to the mall to pick one up.
As much as I wanted it to work, I returned the coat the next day. I loved how compact it was, but the quality just wasn’t there. When I went back to the mall to return the coat, I ended up finding a few other options at stores I regularly shop at. A sucker for a good sale (and glowing reviews), I ended up picking up this packable hooded puffer coat by 32 Degrees at Macy’s.
While I would typically look to LL Bean for this kind of item, I was happy to get a comparable coat on sale. Mostly because I still had my doubts. Could this seemingly flimsy, allegedly down winter coat really keep me warm? It seemed too good to be true. When I finally decided to rip the tags off and wear it out, I set my expectations very low. If it didn’t work out, I didn’t spend a fortune on it. (And it would be great coat option for fall or late-winter.)
It has now been over a year since I purchased the coat and in terms of both quality and wear, it has far exceeded my expectations. It’s functional while being stylish. It’s also so lightweight and compact that it’s a dream to pack. (Most times I just throw it into my personal bag!) And when it comes to multi-climate trips or destinations with unpredictable weather (looking at you San Francisco), it couldn’t be more convenient. When I went to Barbados last winter, it was the perfect for leaving 3o degree NYC behind. Most importantly, it’s actually warm!
Now while the jacket is great for cold weather, it’s absolutely not a replacement for a winter coat for very cold climates. (Below 20° and you will probably freeze.) But it can go pretty far temperature wise depending on how well you layer. I highly recommend sizing up to be able to wear a decent sweater/sweatshirt underneath. And for extra warmth, I always throw on a Heattech t-shirt from Uniqlo under whatever I’m wearing.
From Montreal to Seattle, this little coat has been a life saver and a game changer when it comes to traveling in the colder months. And the best part is I can still remain a proud member of #teamcarryononly.
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