How to Travel with a Suit: A Wrinkle-Free Guide for Frequent Flyers

A suit should make you look sharp and sophisticated. But traveling with one can be a tricky conundrum, fraught with the perils of wrinkling, dirt, impact from the elements, and more. So if you’re planning to pack a suit for your next trip, whether traveling for work or a wedding, it’s important to choose a carry option that will protect your suit and help keep it in pristine condition. Below you’ll find handy tips for traveling with a suit, along with a choice of carrier options to suit a range of budgets and needs.

Tips for Traveling With a Suit

Use a Good-Quality Garment Bag

A good suit is an investment. So it makes sense to protect that investment with a quality garment bag. A good garment bag provides various benefits such as protecting your suit against dirt, moisture, and wrinkles. It should be large enough to keep folding to a minimum, helping to avoid unnecessary creasing. Make sure you choose one that’s durable enough to stand up to regular travel use, crafted with water-resistant fabric and durable hardware and zippers. ​

Use an Appropriate Suit Folding Technique

If you’re not using a garment bag, how you fold a suit can make a big difference in minimizing wrinkles. First, turn the jacket inside out and fold it in half so the shoulders touch. Then fold the suit trousers in half and lay them on top of the jacket. Finally, fold the jacket and trousers together once. This will help keep wrinkling to a minimum during your journey.

Alternatively, you may prefer options such as rolling the suit. For this method, place the jacket face down on a flat surface, fold the shoulders inwards so the lapels are touching, smooth the lining if needed, and then roll from the base of the jacket to the top. For the trousers, fold them along the existing natural creases and then roll from the base of the legs to the top.

Unpack Immediately

Once you’ve arrived at your accommodation, unpack your suit as quickly as possible. Remove it from the garment bag and hang up the trousers and jacket on sturdy hangers to help remove any wrinkles. Additionally, hanging the suit in a steamy room can help remove creasing. So consider placing the suit in the bathroom while having a hot shower. Some accommodation options may also offer ironing services (or provide an iron for you to use) if required.

Use Wrinkle-Resistant Fabrics

While folding appropriately and hanging your suit as soon as possible can help avoid wrinkles, you can also be savvy with your fabric choices by opting for suits made with wrinkle-resistant fabrics. The likes of wool, polyester or wool blends, or custom-developed travel-friendly fabrics help keep wrinkling at bay and can be equally helpful whether you’re packing a suit or wearing one during your travels.

Choose Neutral Colors

Choosing a suit in a neutral colorway such as navy, gray, or black helps maximize its versatility, making it easy to pair with various shirts and suitable for diverse settings and occasions. This helps keep your packing bulk down and ensures your wardrobe remains adaptable throughout the trip.

Pack Accessories Separately

When you’re traveling with a suit, you’ll likely be bringing accessories too such as a tie, cufflinks, and/or a dress watch. Storing these separately from your suit helps avoid any creasing they may cause in the fabric, while also keeping them easily accessible. ​

Top 5 Suit Carrier Bags

Choosing a suitable suit carrier bag takes a lot of hassle out of suit maintenance while traveling. So we’ve picked five great options below that are all worth considering when you need to pack a suit.

WallyBags Deluxe Slim Travel Garment Bag (US$39.99)

The WallyBags Deluxe Slim Travel Garment Bag is a budget-friendly but dependable option with a slim design that’s easy to travel with and store when not in use. ​Made with durable and water-repellent polyester, the bag has a full-length central zipper and an accessory pocket. The WallyLock® hanger clamp can hold up to six hangers and secures them at the top of the bag to help avoid wrinkling. The fabric handles wrap together and can be secured around wheeled luggage handles. Suitable for carry-on use, the bag lays flat to fit in most airline overhead bins or to store easily in a car.

TUMI Alpha 3 Garment Bag Tri-Fold Carry-On (US$750)

Tough and versatile, the TUMI Alpha 3 Garment Bag Tri-Fold Carry-On fits up to two suits, with an assortment of pockets available to accommodate accessories and toiletries. Crafted with TUMI’s burly FXT® ballistic nylon, the bag has zippered access to the main compartment, with a compression strap and wrinkle guards to help prevent creasing. Multiple interior and exterior pockets provide storage for smaller items, while leather grab handles, a removable padded shoulder strap, and a luggage passthrough option provide flexible portability.

Mismo M/S Suit Carrier (US$880)

Stylish and practical, the Mismo M/S Suit Carrier comes in durable canvas or waterproof Italian nylon options, with full-grain bridle leather detailing. The full-sized carrier accommodates up to three suits, with two interior pockets and a business card slot. The full zip opening enables easy packing and access, while a large external pocket stores shoes or other essentials you want close at hand. The carrier includes a rear leather strap to secure it to wheeled luggage and fastens closed with brass sailor-hooks on each gusset and buttoned grab handles.

Bennett Winch Suit Carrier Holdall (from US$1500)

Handcrafted in England, the Bennett Winch Suit Carrier Holdall is a premium two-in-one design featuring a suit carrier and a holdall. The detachable suit carrier wraps around the cylindrical holdall, thereby avoiding tight folding and wrinkling. The suit carrier secures to the holdall with magnets and straps, enabling easy all-in-one carry but also allowing each piece to be used individually if desired. The holdall is crafted with British-dyed and proofed 18oz canvas twill, while the exterior of the suit carrier comes in a variety of attractive and durable materials including 24oz British-dyed waterproof cotton canvas, full-grain leather, and suede. The carrier comes with a removable fully waterproof shoe bag and a slimline coathanger and also features an exterior pocket for storing small items such as a passport or wallet. In addition to top grab handles, there’s a removable military-grade cotton shoulder strap with solid brass clasps. The Suit Carrier Holdall is carry-on compliant for most premium airlines, though you should always check baggage restrictions before flying.

Métier Closer Suit Carrier (US$2950)

Looking to travel in ultimate luxury? The Métier Closer Suit Carrier delivers elevated sophistication with a pared-back aesthetic and practical design. Available in three colorways, it’s handcrafted in Italy with premium vegetable-tanned buffalo leather featuring an understated texture that looks refined in any setting. The buffalo leather is sourced from Métier’s bio-based leather program that repurposes clean production waste to make eco-friendly bio-fertilizers. The carrier features a front external pocket for organizing small travel essentials such as a passport and wallet, while the back zipper also converts into a luggage handle passthrough. A choice of interior pockets provides additional organization for small items and the carrier also comes with a removable padded shoulder strap.