Stylish Men’s Travel Wear From Norway: Urban Pioneers Clothing Review

Benjamin Juster

5 years ago

I’m easy. Give me travel-friendly clothes that are comfortable, well-made, functional, and good-looking…I’ll throw them on and call it a day. That’s why I’ve fallen in love with a new Norwegian clothing company which does exactly that. They’re called Urban Pioneers, and they make good travel clothes that are exactly what I look for in stylish men’s travel wear.

Urban Pioneers embodies the spirit of travel, with a Scandinavian eye for clean lines and focused details.

What first piqued our interest were the images of their clothing shot against the magnificent, snow-dusted mountains of the Lofoten fjord. Not only do the clothes look top notch: the quality of the Urban Pioneers materials keeps me toasty warm in snowy weather.

Urban Pioneers was kind enough to send us our top picks, which we will review thoroughly in this post.

For winter men’s travel wear that’s comfortable, well-made and stylish, Urban Pioneers is my new favorite.

Urban Pioneers: Stylish Men’s Travel Wear

Urban Pioneers is a fairly new brand from Norway, established in 2016. But what they lack in longevity they more than make up for in quality.

From the point I first opened the package my Urban Pioneers clothing came in, I was smitten. Everything felt incredibly well-made and built to last. The fabrics have a thick weight, while still feeling soft on skin.

And the love only grew when I tried them on. The men’s travel wear feels stylish but classic, put-together but comfortable. In terms of making me feel good, these really are the best travel clothes I’ve ever had.

They also look great with this leather day bag we’ve been bringing around.

Winter Travel Performance

Coming from Los Angeles, where the summer heat can rise to unbearable temperatures, I look forward to winter every year.

Our winter travel this year took us to Northern California. It would be colder than where we live, with a forecast predicting a week of rain, so I needed functional clothing to keep me warm. Enter Urban Pioneers.

One of the places that we traveled to this past winter was my grandpa’s old farm in Northern California, an emotional place for me as I’d spent so much time there during my childhood. But walking around this place so special to me, I felt confident. I felt put together.

The way that my Urban Pioneers clothes make me feel is something I haven’t really gotten from clothing before. There’s a refined ruggedness that makes the clothes suited for the adventurous spirit who still wants to look and feel great. And since the clothes are warm enough for Norway, they can certainly keep my warm for my winter travel purposes.

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Functional Men’s Travel Wear

Deep and dark with a carpet of ferns and redwoods sweatered in moss, the farm and its surrounding forest was wet, cold, yet stunning during our visit, and my Urban Pioneers clothing kept me well-insulated. Through rain, wind, and snow, the clothes proved to be more than simple men’s travel clothes, but functional travel gear for men as well.

We’ve had experience traveling to extremely cold destinations (Northern China, Mongolia, etc.), so we’re familiar with what to look for in winter travel.

We’ve distilled all this knowledge in our Essential Winter Travel Packing List, and Urban Pioneers clothing would fulfill a lot of the needs off our list.

The Urban Pioneers gear kept me warm and dry in light rain and moderate winds, and I’m confident the clothes could also hold up well in worse conditions, too.

The stylish men’s travel wear functioned together as well as independently on their own. In particular, I really enjoyed the multi-functionality of the Christoffer jacket, with its removable sleeves that make it function additionally as a vest.

High Quality

With clothing artfully crafted from materials including wool, down, and even yak, my Urban Pioneers clothing kept me warm and cozy during our travels in Northern California and the snow-covered Twin Peaks.

I’d say the clothes are stylish, without being overly trendy, so they’ll last for a long time. The minute I laid eyes and hands on the Urban Pioneers clothes, I knew that they were all of outstanding quality.

Urban Pioneers construct quality, durable clothes that are still comfortable and easy on the eyes.

What separates the best travel clothing brands from the rest is an attention to detail. The zippers are sturdy, and feel like they’ll outlast thousands of pulls. Multiple pockets ensure that there’s a multitude of places to store your gear conveniently and securely.

Comfortable Travel Clothes

I can really feel the difference and quality with Urban Pioneers’ clothes. They make stylish travel clothes for men that I am excited to wear again and again, not only because they look great, but because of how comfortable they are.

All the fabrics used by Urban Pioneers feel good on my body while also providing protection and comfort from the elements. Sometimes, I don’t like how wool garments can be itchy, but the wool items from Urban Pioneers are without a doubt the softest and least-itchy wool clothes I’ve ever worn.

The stylish men’s travel wear from Urban Pioneers are the perfect balance of style, quality, comfort, and functionality.

Must-Have Pieces from Urban Pioneers

The catalog of clothing from Urban Pioneers is diverse, with options covering a range of tastes and uses, but I’ll go over my favorite pieces below.

Chris Parka in Black

Before I had this Chris Parka from Urban Pioneers, I’d never had a winter jacket I liked.

Up until recently, I’d been wearing my dad’s OLD, ANCIENT ski jacket, even to the coldest place we’ve ever been: the stunning Ice City in China. This old jacket served me fine but was all shades of hideous. The Chris Parka is a million steps up from what I’ve worn before.

Compared to other outdoor jacket brands, the Urban Pioneers parka is functional and fashionable. It’s, hands down, the best men’s travel jacket I’ve ever had.

As we’ve written in our Essential Winter Travel Packing List, a great outer layer is essential for winter travel. This parka is great for the task!

The parka is insulated and thick, making you feel very cozy and shielded from the elements. The padding inside the parka has a nice weight to it without being too heavy and constricting of movement. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever worn a jacket of this type that’s anywhere near as comfortable as this one.

The Chris parka is perfect to wear on its own. Or, there’s enough room underneath to add extra layers if you need more warmth. I like that the hood is easily removable in case you won’t be needing it. As with the Christoffer jacket, the Chris parka offers tons of pockets for easy and convenient storage.

Christoffer Jacket in Bone Brown

Believe it or not, I’ve actually never owned a down jacket of any kind. I’ve also been on the lookout for a handy light down jacket for a long time, and I’m so happy I finally got my hands on one with the Christoffer jacket. This jacket is another fine example of quality mens travel wear from Urban Pioneers.

While I love the Chris parka for serious winter travel, the Christoffer jacket is perfect for daily use.

First of all, I LOVE the color and the fit. This light down jacket is great for layering or wearing on its own, if it’s not too cold. Also, I love how the sleeves have elastic at the wrists to make for a nice seal.

My favorite part of this jacket, though, is that the sleeves are removable to turn it into a vest. It’s a smart touch that increases the jacket’s functionality and mix-and-match quality.

The flexibility of the Christoffer jacket showed what benefits vests can bring to your outerwear gear. A vest will keep your core warm, while your arms don’t get overheated. I like to wear the Christoffer jacket with the Kristian overshirt: they make for a perfect combination.

Kristian Corduroy Overshirt in Black

Overshirts are one of my go-to pieces to wear in slightly chillier weather, and this is one of the best men’s travel shirts I own. The Kristian corduroy overshirt from Urban Pioneers is nice and oversized, and sturdier than other overshirts I’ve worn.

The Kristian overshirt feels soft and comfortable to the touch, but rugged enough to throw it on and not worry about it getting damaged while you’re out adventuring. This overshirt works well on its own as a light layer, or pairs well with other items from Urban Pioneers if you need more protection from the elements.

This shirt does run large. While I got a medium in most of these clothes from Urban Pioneers, I needed a size small in this overshirt.

Chuck Zip Hoodie in Light Grey Melange

With the Chuck zip hoodie, now I can say I’m a proud owner of items made from alpaca wool and yak wool. I can’t get over how soft this hoodie is!

The Chuck hoodie is definitely the softest hoodie I own, having absolutely none of the itchiness that wool items sometimes can have.

It’s probably not intended for hiking or vigorous activity, as it’s a bit less durable than other Urban Pioneers items, but it’s super soft and comfortable to wear for lounging at home or around the city. I’d say this is one of the best clothes to travel in for a long airplane ride, as it’s so incredibly soft and cozy.

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Tobias Sweater in June Bug

Sweaters like the Tobias sweater became part of my daily outfits while we lived in Korea, and I’ve actually missed wearing them. This sweater’s made of lambswool, and feels very soft and smooth.

As with lots of the gear from Urban Pioneers, I’m so happy with the fit of the Tobias sweater. Green is one of my favorite colors for sweaters, and I really like the detail of the brown stripe on the arms. It’s little touches of style like the stripe that elevate Urban Pioneers’ clothes more than just your typical adventure gear.

Oscar Pants in Cox

The Oscar pants are a perfect example of the elevated nature of the clothing from Urban Pioneers. These pants are stylish enough for a day out in the city while being tough and rugged enough to tramp through the forest–trust me, I’ve done both while wearing these pants.

Wearing these mens travel pants pants through the wet forests of Northern California, I couldn’t believe how well they fared. With many stylish pants, I often feel worried about them getting damaged, but that’s not the case with the Oscar pants.

Not only do the Oscar pants look sharp, but they’re so well-made and durable that even after wearing them for days through the muddy forest, they didn’t even have a smudge on them.

These are the best travel pants for men for durability and versatility: I would pack these for any trip that would require a mix of more polished looks as well as some light adventuring.

Lionel Beanie in Forest Night

The Lionel beanie quickly has become a staple of mine. Green is one of my favorite colors, so I’m happy to now own a green beanie. The lambswool construction ensures that it’s warm and cozy, while the added nylon makes it stretch to fit even those with big heads (like me).

Bea Check Scarf in Black Check

I’m not lying when I say that the Bea scarf is the softest scarf I’ve even felt, let alone worn. It’s so comfortable and warm, and I love the classic black check pattern. A scarf like this seals the heat into your jacket, and is the perfect accessory to keep warm on a cold travel day.

I love getting out in nature and experiencing its beauty in all seasons. For winter travel, I can’t wait to put on my Urban Pioneers gear again to help get me there.

Urban Pioneers embodies the spirit of getting out and experiencing the world, and provides clothing that allows me to do that even if it’s snowing, windy, or raining.

Having the best travel clothes for men goes a long way to ensure that you get the most out of your travel experiences, and Urban Pioneers is exactly the type of stylish men’s travel wear I’d love to bring on a trip to somewhere like Europe in winter or late fall. I in my humble opinion, Urban Pioneers has fulfilled their promise to help people look good while experiencing the wild world.

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration with Urban Pioneers, but as always, all opinions are very much our own!

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