Travel Gear Review: Columbia Travel Clothing

Here at Loophole Travel, we are big proponents of packing efficiently.  With this in mind, we sought out lightweight, versatile, travel clothing for our recent Eurotrip.  We did quite a bit of research, and found that Columbia Sportswear offers some travel clothing items that fit our requirements.  

We are already big fans of Columbia’s products.  Our ski gear is all from Columbia.  We reached out to their PR department to see if they could offer additional information and recommendations for travel clothing.  They graciously offered to send samples for us to test and review for all of you!  In addition, we purchased a few items on our own for the trip.  Read on for our reviews.

Brooke’s Travel Clothing

Departure Point Jacket – 9/10

This jacket kept me warm in the cool, windy weather of Ireland and Scotland in March.  It is lightweight, packable, and features Omni-Shield technology to keep it clean and dry.  The sleeves roll up and fasten with tabs, if the weather warms up during the day.  The only complaint I had was that it’s a bit short.

Shimmering Light Tank – 7/10

This tank top combines styling with function.  It features the Omni-Wick technology, which quickly removes sweat.  It also comes in a variety of colors and pairs well with the Departure Point Jacket when the weather cools down.  What you can’t see in the picture is the adorable cutout in the back.  It was too cold in Ireland to show off this feature!  This tank was a great layering piece.  Since returning from our trip, I have also used it as a comfortable running and work-out shirt.

Departure Point Pull on Pants – 10/10

These pants were my favorite clothing item that I took on the trip.  They fit very well, had a nice stretch, and the zippered pockets deter would-be pickpockets.  I wore these things every other day on this trip!  They are SO versatile… an easy day-to-night article of clothing.  These really may be the perfect travel pants.

Vulc-N-Vent Slip-On Shoes – 7/10

These shoes kept my feet well-ventilated and comfortable while walking many miles around Paris and London.  The styling is a bit like a pair of Toms shoes, but with added mesh and footbed air vents.  These also fold up flat and pack very well.

Jesse’s Travel Clothing

IRICO Long Sleeve Shirt – 9/10

This shirt was exactly what I needed.  It is loaded with technology, including Omni-Freeze (sweat-activated “air conditioning”) and Omni-Wick (sweat removal), which combined to keep me cool and dry.  This was especially useful while hiking up the rocky trail to Arthur’s Peak in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Additionally, the sleeves roll up and fasten, to create an attractive short-sleeved look.  The collar on the shirt makes it stylish enough for a night out, but it’s not too dressy to wear for a day of exploring.

Double Crown Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt – 8/10

This shirt is a bit heavier than the IRICO shirt, so it provides more warmth in cool weather.  It comes in a variety of patterns and has a nice modern fit. (Despite what the product image shows… I have no idea why they don’t put the right-sized shirt on their model.)

Featherweight Hike Long Sleeve Shirt – 3/10

I did not enjoy this shirt.  It is designed to be extremely lightweight for hiking, but that makes the fit and look of the shirt rather floppy.  I got frustrated trying to keep the collar upright, and the zipper pocket on the front kills any styling.  I recommend skipping this shirt unless you are a hardcore hiker.

Royce Peak Pants – 10/10

These pants were everything I wanted in a pair of travel pants.  They are crazy-comfortable, due to the 96% nylon/4% elastine material, which gives them the perfect amount of stretch.  The back pockets have a velcro flap to provide security against pickpockets.  The fit and styling is great for a night out or hitting the trail.  The Omni-Shield technology keeps them looking fresh, even if you’re clumsy like me and spill stuff.

Pilsner Peak Pants – 7/10

These pants are a bit lighter than the Royce Peak Pants, with the same comfortable stretch-fit and more breathability.  The fit was also slightly slimmer.  My main issue with this pair was the pockets.  In an effort to save weight, Columbia included netted pockets, which feel a bit flimsy and shallow.

Vulc-N-Vent Lace Up Sneaker – 9/10

I love these shoes.  They have a comfort padded footbed with vents for increased airflow (no sweaty, stinky feet).  The style is great for a casual sneaker look, and they smash almost completely flat for packability.  I tossed these babies in my carry-on bag and wore my Blundstone Boots during transit.

Closing Thoughts

Remember that one of the primary considerations when selecting travel clothing and packing light is every article of clothing should coordinate.  Pick a general color scheme and go with it.  You should be able to wear any shirt with any pair of pants/shorts.  This will allow you to mix and match your tops and bottoms to create many outfits.  Also, if one article of clothing is too dirty to wear, you just take it out of the rotation until wash day.  I hope these reviews and recommendations have been helpful.

What are your favorite travel clothes?

Here at Loophole Travel, we want to share products that we travel with and love. Some we’ve purchased on our own. Others have been graciously offered to us by companies who want the unbiased review of expert travelers.