Travel gear we use: Best shoulder season hoodie

Everyone needs the perfect shoulder season hoodie, whether they travel with kids, adventure travel, camp and ski, or all of the above (like us!). This review, featuring the Appalachian Gear Company’s All-Paca fleece hoodie, is the last you’ll need to read.

Best shoulder season hoodie: Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca hoodie review

What makes this hoodie so great:

It’s made from 100 percent Alpaca fiber, which makes it super soft, lightweight, easy to pack, never wrinkly, and breathable. This hoodie can take a beating…so far, I’ve traveled with it to rural Mexico where it endured dirt road travel, sandy beaches, and salt water, and into the mountains of Oregon, where it kept me oh-so-warm during shoulder season camping.

Because it’s so warm, despite being fairly thin and lightweight, the All-Paca fleece hoodie saves you all kinds of room in you day pack or carry-on. You won’t need to layer as much as usual; just toss the All-Paca into your backpack, and feel confident you can hike, explore, or bike in just a t-shirt.

The knit structure provides natural wicking, allowing perspiration to escape easily. I usually change out my seasonal outdoor gear and clothing twice a year, but the All-Paca hoodie will be one of those items that stay with me in winter AND in summer. It’s ideal right now, during the shoulder seasons in the Pacific Northwest.

The All-Paca is made in the USA, in Charlotte, NC, and even though it’s made from Alpaca wool, you can machine wash it. The good news: you don’t have to wash this hoodie after every wear. And while you can put it in the dryer, I opted to air dry mine (babying it a bit!) to ensure zero shrinkage. It dries super fast! The All-Paca tends to run a little bit large, so take that into consideration, but it’s nice to have a little extra room to play with, for layering.

Pick up this shoulder season hoodie in XS-XL in four colors for $153. It also comes in men’s sizing, and once you’re sold on the hoodie, you may want to check out Appalachian Gear Company’s alpaca tees and crews.

Discover other travel gear we love!

Aventura Clothing fall leggings and jeggings for travel days

I’m back with this travel season’s Aventura Clothing picks! Listen, I continue to promote this brand as an ambassador because when I travel, I’m wearing Aventura about 80% of the time. Why? Most pieces are organic cotton, which are comfortable and dont’ wrinkle, plus so many of their items are versatile. I can travel carry-on only without a hitch when I pack a lot of Aventura leggings and jeggings, pair them with tunics and cardigans, and wear my favorite boots onto the plane. Here are my favorite fall leggings and jeggings for travel:

Fall leggings and Jeggings:

Liz Jegging: Fits and looks like a pant, but comfier, which makes it the perfect pant for when you want to achieve a tailored look, but not suffer while sitting for a long time, like in a plane or car. Comes in three jewel-tone colors for $77, and it’s organic cotton.

Kody Legging: Aventura has a bunch of different patterned and styled leggings this fall, and as a reminder from past seasons, Aventura’s leggings are like legging/tight hybrids, in my opinion, in all the best ways. They fit snugly and do not sag, but are thicker than traditional tights. This season, I tried the Kody, and love their subtle horizontal stripes, but the Bienne is a solid classic, and the Nordic-looking Sasha is always good in winter. And I love that almost all Aventura’s leggings are around $35.

Karma Jegging: These jeggings fit loosely and have a really comfy waist, plus pockets! The fabric is thin, which is generally a good thing, but they tend to reveal every curve, bump, and bulge. If that’s not a problem for you, go for it! They’re a poly-spandex blend with a 28-inch inseam, which is a little long for me, but worked fine scrunched up with a boot or rolled. $85

Shatki Legging: My favorite of the season! The Shantki is thicker than most of Aventura’s leggings, ready-made for chilly evenings and winter days. It looks more classic than sporty, and has both hip pockets (perfect for your phone) and a zippered security pocket that would fit a car fob or key or a credit card or room key. It’s poly-spandex with a brushed interior, selling for $89 (and worth every penny).

Favorite tunics to pair with them:

Quinlan Tunic: This poly-wool blend is super soft, and the tunic is breathable even though it’s pretty thick. The cowl-neck gives it some elegance, while still feeling like you’re wearing your coziest sweatshirt. Great with any of the leggings above. Comes in four jewel-tone colors. $105

Cheyenne shirt-jac: Everyone needs a shirt-jac in their life, and this one is cozy enough to feel like a blanket. The plush fleece is heavenly, and while substantial, since this shirt-jac lives up to its name, fitting like a shirt while warming you like a jacket, it’s not too bulky. It has a curved hemline for a more tailored look. I wear mine with just a tee or cami under it. Comes in three colors for $115.

Don’t forget! Pit Stops for Kids readers get 20% off Aventura orders! Use coupon code Whitley20 at checkout!