The Best Wrinkle-resistant Clothing for Travel Is Packable, Wearable, and Fuss-free (2024)

Columbia's Boundless Trek Shirt is the perfect button-down for travel — I was glad to have it with me on my last trip. It's made of a stretchy, wrinkle-resistant blend of polyester and elastane. Beyond that, the fabric draws sweat away from your body, repels stains, and even offers UPF 50 protection from the sun.

It's technically a hiking shirt, but I think it's ideal for travel days, sightseeing, shopping, and other casual outings as well. Thanks to the long length and relaxed fit, I was able to wear it both as-is and layer it over tanks and tees. You could even use it as a swimsuit cover-up. I also appreciate that there's a front chest pocket and a hidden internal pocket that fits an ID, credit card, or room key.

The Details: XS to 2X | Polyester, recycled nylon, elastane

Athleta's Ascent Seamless Top is just the thing for travel. This long-sleeve shirt is woven from a blend of nylon, merino wool, and spandex. The fabric is wrinkle-resistant, lightweight, and oh-so-soft, while the close-to-body fit makes for a great base layer.

Since the wool content adds warmth, it might be best for cooler weather — but wool is a temperature-regulating material, so you probably won't overheat. The mesh-like back panels and pointelle strip down the front offer breathability, too. Wool is also naturally antimicrobial, meaning it repels odor-causing bacteria.

The Details: XXS to XL | Nylon, merino wool, spandex

Everyone's idea of the perfect T-shirt is different, but if you ask us, this one from J.Crew checks all the boxes. You get the lightweight, easy-breezy feel of linen (which, yes, is known for wrinkling) with the flexible crease resistance of polyester and elastane.

This crewneck tee can be worn with just about anything — we're talking jeans, trousers, shorts, or athleisure. You can rock the T-shirt on its own and dress it up or down by layering it under a flannel or blazer. Just a heads up, it runs a little small, and since it's a slim fit, you may want to order a size up from what you normally wear.

The Details: XXS to 3X | Linen, polyester, elastane

With elbow-length sleeves, a sophisticated scoop neck, and a slim (but not too tight) fit, this is the ideal in-between shirt for travel. The versatile design can be worn in transitional weather and dressed up with professional attire or down with jeans or linen shorts. You can also layer it under a blazer, cardigan, or button-down.

This shirt is primarily Supima cotton, a supremely breathable and naturally moisture-resistant fiber, with a small amount of elastane woven in for stretch and wrinkle resistance. Even though it's ribbed, the fabric is a bit thin. It's not sheer, though, and long-staple cotton like Supima is much more durable than regular cotton.

The Details: XS to 2X | Supima cotton, elastane

We're also big fans of this blouse. The fabric promises reliable wrinkle resistance, so you can fold it, roll it, or compress it into a packing cube without worrying about creases. It's also very accessibly priced and comes in nearly 30 colors and prints, ranging from neutrals to florals to bolder hues.

The sleeveless, slightly flowy design can be tucked into dress pants and layered under a blazer or cardigan. You could also wear it with jeans, either untucked or with a French tuck (just in the front).

The Details: S to 2X | Polyester

Our favorite packable, low-maintenance travel sweater comes from Banana Republic. You'll get the lightweight breathability of linen, plus the wrinkle resistance of viscose rayon. The material is super soft and drapey with a luxurious feel.

This sweater has a classic crewneck, raglan-style shoulders, a relaxed fit, and a boxier cut. We love the modern silhouette, but bear in mind tucking it into low-rise pants might be tricky.

The Details: XXS to 2X | Linen, viscose rayon

This tank from L.L.Bean is the best of both worlds. It's 95 percent cotton, so you can bet it's breathable, moisture-wicking, soft, and gentle against the skin. Since cotton is known to wrinkle in the wash, the remaining 5 percent is spandex. The result? A stretchy sleeveless top you can roll as tightly as you want when packing your suitcase.

The cut is on the longer side for easy tucking and a little extra cover when wearing it with form-fitting bottoms, like yoga pants or bike shorts. Since this tank top is so reasonably priced, you might consider getting it in multiple colors.

The Details: XS to 3X | Cotton, spandex

Unbound Merino's aptly named Travel Dress is woven mostly from merino wool, with small amounts of nylon and spandex for durability, stretch, and extra wrinkle resistance that never needs ironing. I own one myself and can attest to these qualities. The sturdy yet soft and flexible material also repels odors and dries quickly.

Since it doesn't harbor funky smells, I've worn this dress multiple times while traveling without having to wash it — meaning I could pack fewer items. The sleeveless, midi style is great for warm locales, but you can also layer it under a sweater, blazer, or jean jacket.

The Details: XS to XL | Merino wool, nylon, spandex

I love traveling with this T-shirt dress from Cozy Earth. The short sleeves, crew neckline, and midi length are just right for casual outings, while the knee-high side slits give me a full range of movement. Plus, as a one-and-done ensemble, packing and outfit planning for trips are much easier.

This wrinkle-resistant dress is woven from bamboo-derived viscose, acrylic, and spandex. The fabric is on the heavier side, but I find this helps prevent creases. I also appreciate that it's totally opaque yet still plenty breathable.

The Details: XS to 3X | Bamboo viscose, acrylic, spandex

Lululemon's Utilitech Trousers are made of an exceptionally stretchy fabric that's not just resistant to creases but is actually entirely wrinkle-proof. But on account of the twill texture, pleats, back darts, and welt pockets, they look just like tailored dress pants to the untrained eye.

With a mid-rise waist, a slightly relaxed fit, and straight-meets-wide legs, these travel pants have a modern look without being too trendy. We also like that there's a hidden card slot in one of the front pockets.

The Details: 0 to 14 | Elastomultiester, cotton, elastane

These shorts from Spanx are a wise choice for travel. The fabric is more than 50 percent cotton for softness and breathability, while rayon, polyester, and elastane provide stretchiness and crease resistance. In true Spanx fashion, there's a built-in tummy shaper that helps smooth your midsection.

With no zippers or buttons, the pull-on style is convenient and incredibly comfy. Meanwhile, the belt loops and front and back pockets deliver functionality where you need it. The garment dye is supposed to fade over time for a worn-in look, but it might transfer onto other fabrics or materials before the first wash.

The Details: XS to 3X | Cotton, rayon, polyester, elastane

This skirt is made primarily of Tencel lyocell with a bit of spandex woven in. Sourced from wood pulp, lyocell is breathable, lightweight, and, most importantly, resistant to wrinkles. The jersey-knit fabric is soft, airy, and comfortable — everything you want in travel clothes.

Though it only comes in black, the Maria Skirt is undeniably versatile. The ultra-stretchy, tube-style design can be worn high-waisted, mid-rise, or low rise, giving you flexibility when curating outfits. We also like that there's a side slit to allow movement with the maxi length.

The Details: XS to XL | Tencel lyocell, spandex

When it comes to comfy clothes for travel days, padding around your rental, lounging on vacation, or even working out, Vuori's Performance Joggers are hard to beat. Made of the brand's DreamKnit fabric, these Travel + Leisure editor-tested and -approved pants are stretchy, lightweight, remarkably soft, and wildly comfortable. More to the point, the polyester-elastane blend is wrinkle-resistant.

These best-selling joggers are ankle-length, but there's also a full-length version. We should note that the relaxed fit runs a bit large, so think about ordering a size down from what you usually wear unless you prefer a slouchier look.

The Details: XS to 2X | Recycled polyester, elastane

We love jumpsuits for travel because they're a whole outfit in a single piece of clothing — except maybe on a plane when you want to be able to easily go to the bathroom. This one from Patagonia offers next-level convenience with a fabric that can be tightly rolled or compactly folded without sustaining creases.

The polyester-spandex blend is moisture-resistant and quick-drying, while the stretchy quality and side slits on the pant hems allow you to move freely. Other standout features include front and back pockets, a hidden zippered pocket, and a drawcord waist for an adjustable fit.

The Details: XXS to 2X | Polyester, spandex

Blazers are great to have on trips, easily dressing up and adding warmth to any outfit. Plus, they're appropriate to wear both inside and outdoors. We're particularly fond of this one from Quince, which promises never to wrinkle while the antibacterial material keeps odors at bay.

The smooth fabric has a drapey quality that lends to a polished yet laid-back appearance. It's meant to be worn open so the shawl collar and pointed front hems fall just right. This blazer is versatile enough to wear with tailored pants, pleated shorts, jeans, or even athleisure wear — think yoga pants and chunky sneakers.

The Details: XS to XL | Polyester, recycled polyester

Aday is a stellar place to shop for wrinkle-resistant, packable travel clothes. We can't get enough of the Up In The Air Jacket, a biker-inspired coat with a dramatically oversized collar, an asymmetrical front-zip closure, and a subtle sheen.

Crafted from recycled polyester and elastane, the scuba material is thick and sturdy yet lightweight and breathable. It's also resistant to pilling, sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and (notably) wrinkle-free.

The Details: XS to XL | Recycled polyester, elastane

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it better to fold or roll clothes to reduce wrinkles?

  When it comes to preventing wrinkles, rolling your clothes might be best because it sidesteps any sharp bends that may result in creases. However, it depends on the garment and how tightly you roll it. For instance, a tightly rolled long-sleeve starchy shirt might unroll to reveal big creases, and a carefully folded knit sweater may do just fine placed on the uppermost layer of your main suitcase compartment.
  

• How do I wash wrinkle-resistant clothing?

  It depends on the material and clothing item. But generally speaking, you can machine wash wrinkle-resistant clothes on a delicate or regular cycle with warm or cold water, then tumble dry them on low heat. To prevent pilling, shrinking, and misshaping the garment, you can also hang it or lay it flat to air dry. When in doubt, go with the brand's care instructions, which you can find on the tag or product webpage.

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