Reviewed: Western Rise Travel Clothing – Simply the Best

Wouldn’t it be nice to travel light and not worry about packing different outfits for various climates and activities? Ever take a hike or drive to the city outskirts only to crave a cafe stop or meal in a fancier restaurant, only to realize your clothing looks wrinkled or stained? Add a lack of time to change because the hotel is too far away. What if I told you that you can still enjoy outdoor exploration, restaurants, and attractions and still look tailored and great? Well, you can with Western Rise’s travel clothing!!

In this post, I will review the Western Rise Meta Soft Shell Jacket and the Evolution Pant to see if they are as versatile, lightweight, and durable as they claim to be. 

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through our links result in a small commission to us at no charge to you. We only recommend products that meet our brand standards based on testing and first hand use by our authors.

Let me start by saying that I met a fascinating elderly man many moons ago while working at a luggage shop. This man travelled the world with just a duffle bag and nothing else. And he travelled happier than most! When everyone was still waiting for luggage (off the plane, train, bus, etc), he was already taking in the sights. Or better, he was snug as a bug in the hotel thanks to the non wrinkle travel clothes.

If you have not heard of Western Rise, they are a company that designs sustainable, versatile travel clothing for men. Their objective is to bring together the world of travel and the enjoyment of the outdoors (and urban life) through the functionality and comfort of a travel wardrobe. All without the need to buy and carry vast amounts of clothing. The founders are experienced in travel, enjoying the outdoors and creating clothing that lasts and is fashionable no matter the trend.

Let’s start with the Meta Soft Shell Jacket. Whether you’re hiking, boating, seeing a movie, or taking a long drive, the Meta jacket feels very comfortable. Having worn everything from inexpensive clothing to Armani and John Varvatos, the Meta Soft Shell Jacket would be considered a more premium product at a $322 price tag, hence my high expectations.

The Meta Shell is a waterproof rain jacket that looks and feels like a million bucks. Amazingly, something lightweight, breathable and soft to the touch can protect you from the elements.

Not long ago, we had a light coat for cool days and thick, heavy ones for the cold ones. We would freeze if dressed lightly and, of course, sweat profusely if overdressed. Somewhere along the line, “layering” became a thing. And rightfully so, you can add or subtract layers based on your activity level and thermal needs, solving many problems. For instance, a cool morning hike heats up fast by the midday sun. But this also works with the rigours of travel! With a small handful of garments, you can cover all your bases while employing less.

Price Matters

A good shell should cost money. It does something magical, like keeping the wind and water out while remaining breathable so you don’t sweat. It’s mind-boggling how particular fabrics control water that goes in 1 direction. Think about that for a second! 

We talked about layering and the elements. The shell is what connects the dots. It protects you, but it also protects your inner layers. An expensive thermal or mid-layer, such as a sweater, will do nothing under a cheap shell that soaks through.

My advice is the same for the outdoors as for travel – invest most of your budget into a quality shell! It opens the doors to do more activities when the weather does not cooperate with your travel plans.

Some Perspective

Years ago, Canada Goose released a “Technical Shell” – a light jacket for $600, which I didn’t get. Why so much??? And with no feathers??? Ok, perhaps there’s a little branding going on, as someone has to pay for all that advertising. It’s a great jacket, which my wife has, but it’s not any better than Western Rises at half the price.

In the price department, I think Western Rise is VERY fair. It’s a quality jacket with fine craftsmanship that you won’t get for $99.99 in a dusty discount bin. But you’re not blowing the bank either, essentially paying for the ad campaigns of big brands.

Stand-Out Features Suitable to Travel Clothing

Seam Seals

Water seeps through the stitching. A genuine raincoat will have seam seals, which are easy to spot on the inside of the Meta Shell.

Stain Proof

Clothing doesn’t look so good when it’s dirty! I spilled cheese sauce on my Evo pants at the theatre and wiped it up right away in the dark. It wasn’t until I got home that the stain reared its ugly head. The stain was removed easily by dabbing with a wet paper towel.

Stain proofing is an important quality for the context of this post. When travelling, laundering isn’t always available, nor should one waste their time sitting in a laundromat when you should be sightseeing.

Fast Drying

We know it’s waterproof, it’s also a quick drying shell, and that’s a HUGE attribute. While strolling the town, I got caught in the rain and slipped into a nearby coffee shop. By the time my coffee was finished, you would have never known it rained. This feature alone gives great comfort knowing that you can continue to enjoy your activities without taking the time to dry up.

Packable

The Meta Shell has a soft hand and is very packable. One of my favourite features is that I can toss this jacket into my backpack, duffel or sling it over the shoulder as it comes with a built-in stuff sack!! You no longer have to tie the jacket around your waist or carry it when not in use. That’s smart and not something found on a run-of-the-mill shell.

4 Way Stretch

No explanation is needed! For an article of clothing that’s stylish, classy, AND waterproof, the Meta Jacket is insanely comfortable! I should add that this 4-way stretch material makes the shell moisture wicking, breathable and wind-proof.

Back to the Basics

Cuffs

The Meta Shell has two adjustment points around the cuffs. I prefer the looser setting myself. However, in cold weather or rain, when your hands are facing up (like fishing), the tighter adjustment will keep the water and wind out.

Hood

Of course, there’s a hood! It’s a travel-inspired raincoat, so why be forced to pack a hat? Not to knock a good hat, but it should be optional. Further, only a hood can keep the back of your neck warm and dry the way a hat can’t. The lack of a hood here would be a total dealbreaker for me.

Most importantly, the hood is adjustable via cinches. If you have ever had an annoying hood that covers your eyes or constantly gets blown off your head, you’ll know exactly why this matters.

Pockets

As more of an outdoorsman than a traveller, I wish the jacket had more pockets. I often carry a lot of stuff such as a multi-tool, compass, matches, and so on. It would be nice if the Meta jacket had pockets inside to protect items from the elements or to separate delicate such as a phone from tools and keys.

However, the two outer pockets are zippered. While the pockets are deep, and it’s doubtful anything would fall out (like when sitting down), the zippers are an added layer of security. This is fantastic, especially in travel clothing, where every bit of added security is paramount to a good trip.

Fit and Finish

Being 6′ 2.5″ tall and about 185 lbs, I’m tall and slim, which generally means an LG or XL in jackets. The Western Rise Meta Shell was ordered in XL (for sleeve length), which fits perfectly. I am not drowning in an oversized XL jacket, which is often the case.

While the Meta Shell is fitted, it’s a relaxed fit. It also drapes very nicely and has a classy look with a hint of sportiness. Quality oozes in the fabric and general finish.

The Verdict

I LOVE my Meta Shell! It’s functional and looks fantastic to the point that I’m proud to wear it. From a traveller’s perspective, what more could you want? It keeps you dry, dries fast, doesn’t stain, is wrinkle resistant, light, and packs well. Is it a bit pricey? Sure, but it’s a quality item backed by a lifetime warranty.

I don’t wear the Meta Shell when I go fishing. For this, I have an inexpensive rain suit that I don’t mind getting hooks through:) It’s reserved for better uses like urban travel, long flights, weekend getaways, hiking, boating, golfing and so on. In other words, the Meta Shell is a travel essential – if you take care of it, it will take care of you. 

What About the Old Guy and His Travel Clothing Secrets?

Ok, fine, we’ll finish that story and move on to the pants:)

In a nutshell, travel clothing doesn’t stain as badly, washes easily, and dries fast! So, within that single duffel bag, my world travelling friend explained that all he carried was a basic set of wrinkle-free travel clothes and a spare pair of socks and underwear. He would wash dirty clothes in the hotel sink with mild soap, and the clothes would be dry by the morning.

The last thing you want to do is bring half the house when travelling. You are there to make memories, not drag your baggage – no pun intended. My friend was nimble, never waited for luggage, never checked his bags, and ENJOYED his travels to the fullest, all thanks to travel clothes!

The Evolution Pant Classic

Everything said about Western Rise’s Meta Shell is amazingly replicated in the Evolutuion pant. The qualities are virtually identical, from having a soft hand and being stretchy to exuding a classy look but a casual and comfortable feel. fundamental

There is a fundamental difference – the Meta Shell is polyester and polyurethane-based, while the Evolution Pant is 90% nylon and 10% elastane. We won’t dive into too many details here as the specs and their explanations are on Western Rise’s website. But nylon and elastane are all about stretch. And nylon, as far as I’ve always known, is a premium fabric known for durability.

Polyester VS Nylon

After reading the specs, I can see the difference in the garments. The jacket feels a titch heavier than the pants, and the pants are more stretchy than the stretchy jacket. Hopefully, that makes sense. The point here is that Western Rise is using different proprietary materials to achieve various goals, such as keeping the elements out versus a fuller range of motion.

Odour Proof & Antimicrobial

Speaking of fabrics, an intriguing entry on the product specifications is the mention of odour control. Western Rise attributes odour control and antimicrobial properties to their clothes, claiming that “polyester holds stink.” 

But isn’t the Metal shell made of polyester? It’s a blend of knitted fabrics and perhaps treated with something. The bigger picture is that the clothes are breathable, and if you don’t produce too much sweat in the first place, it’s half the battle. Once you do, certain fabrics handle that better, and Western Rise is doing that across the board.

The only personal BO discussion I will ever share with you is that it’s non-existent with these pants. The same holds with the Meta shell. Anyone inquiring further on this topic in the comments will be permanently labelled weird and banned from BushLife:) Now, let’s just move on to a fresh topic. 

Wrinkle Free

Both the Evolution Pant and Meta Shell arrived wrinkle-free. They have also stayed that way! 

The sad part is when purchasing “wrinkle-free” clothes from those “work clothes” stores, I couldn’t see the difference between them and regular clothes. Frankly, Western Rise has the best clothes I have ever seen in the anti-wrinkle department, and it’s funny that they don’t even advertise this amazing feature.

Don’t skip over this section lightly. If you have ever arrived at your hotel and opened your suitcase to pants that look like they came out of a cat’s mouth, you’ll know the nuisance. And the panic if your reservations, such as dinner, are closing in like a freight train.

Zippered Wallet Pocket

Again, Western Rise showcases its travel clothing roots here. The Evo pant has two big pockets – one for a phone, the other a pick-pocket proof for your wallet, cash or cards. Yes, a zippered pocket does deserve its heading regarding travel clothes.

One Pant for Different Occasions

The Evolution pant is a pair of travel pants from a company that makes the best travel clothes. During a long flight, a pair of comfortable pants becomes insanely important, doubly in the anti-wrinkle department.

But what if there was a perfect pair of pants out there that does it all? From breathability in hot weather once off the plane,to stain resistance, to the security of a wallet pocket, I’d say travellers are well covered with this single pair of pants.

As to the everyday use types, from looking classy for an evening out to being casual enough to fit in at a ballgame, these pants can also do it all in the looks department. I wore a cowboy hat for the photos because I like them and don’t care for the receding hairline, but such is life. The practical point shows how some simple accessories can easily change the styling for the day – even if that means fitting in at the fall fair or rodeo – these pants and shells are amazing.

Sizing Charts

Does Western Rise have a sizing chart? Yes. When looking at the product details on their site, there is a little sizing chart popup specific to the item you are viewing. So far, so good.

But they also have a sizing configurator that asks a handful of basic questions about you so that it can recommend the correct size travel clothes based on your responses. It’s a pretty cool tool, which I used when placing an order.

The Verdict

I wholeheartedly recommend the Evolution Pant from Western Rise! From the comfort they provide to the compliments I get when I wear them, I love my pair, and I know it’s going to be a good day when I put them on. If you’re tired of looking unkept or despise travelling with a ton of clothes, then Western Rise travel clothing is definitely for you. Get your pair here while you can.

Is There a Western Rise Store?

Unfortunately no, but they do have an on-line store and there are several retailers that carry a select sku’s.

Disclosure

Let’s get the disclosure part out of the way. Western Rise sent the Meta Shell and Evolution Pant to review at no cost. I am so glad they did because this combo is now one of my absolute favourites!

We also must acknowledge that Western Rise did not pay or sponsor this review. We do receive a small commission on our affiliate links, but frankly, our reviews are always brutally honest and based on our findings.

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