As hard as it can be to admit, especially in the slaphappy state that often accompanies travel to fresh destinations, we all have to sleep eventually. The sting of leaving the dance floor (or taking a melatonin at 9 p.m. so that you’re rested enough for your 8 a.m. breakfast meeting), will be a lot easier to bear if you know you packed a sumptuous pair of pajamas among your usual clothes and toiletries.
The best men’s pajamas can make any sleeping experience feel luxurious—you can’t feel the scratchy fabric or slick vinyl surface of a stiff futon if you’re swaddled in silk. But if you’re a hot sleeper who often opts to sleep in little more than cotton boxers, you know any additional clothing you wear must be breathable enough to keep you from sweating through your sheets.
Luckily, there is a pajama set available for any kind of traveler and trip. There are simple bamboo separates perfect for visits to your normie in-laws. Thick flannel sets that will keep anyone warm, even if you are tasked with the first early morning dog walk. And there are, of course, the classic piped sets that will make you feel as dashing as a fictional father about to reach for a bent apple pipe. Here, the 11 options we’ve found worth bringing in your carry-on.
Our top picks:
Cozy Earth Stretch-Knit pajama set
As T-shirts have become stiffer and more boxy, the time honored tradition of just sleeping in the shirt you were wearing all day has become harder to maintain. Seekers of that perfectly worn-in softness can find it in the Cozy Earth short-sleeve pajama set. Made of a blend of breathable bamboo viscose fabric, both the T-shirt and shorts here are smooth to the touch. The effect is so comfortable, you might find yourself wearing both parts much longer into your day than you expect. Luckily, the shorts have pockets.
CDLP Pyjama set
The Swedish designers of CDLP are known among menswear obsessives for making shockingly soft, supportive underwear. The company’s pajamas mercifully don’t hug the body in the same way as its delicates, but they do offer some structure. You could reasonably confuse the pajama shirt for a vacation-ready camp collar button-down, especially in the handsome dune shadow check pattern. The difference comes down to feel. The CDLP pajamas are made from a light and airy wood pulp fabric that’s ideal for hot sleepers who can admit they still want to look cool, even if there’s no one around to see it.
Eberjey pajama set
Anyone who has ever had the misfortune to wake up to chattering teeth can understand the appeal of flannel pajamas. What the thick fabric lacks in breathability it more than makes up for in heat retention prowess. You’ll be able to appreciate this fully when you don the flannel set from Eberjey, constructed of a brushed version of the fabric that’s soft against the skin. The set is currently sold in two evocatively classic patterns, but available sizing is limited.
L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid pajamas
Over 100 years ago, a fisherman named Leon Leonwood Bean started selling a single waterproof hunting boot. L.L.Bean is now a go-to source for sturdy clothes and outdoor equipment, which includes a robust line of sleepwear. The brand’s flannel pajamas, made in a plush, ultra-soft cotton, come in a wide range of handsome tartans and plaids. Sizing is also robust, with options from small to 3XL and inseam lengths for shorter and taller folks.
Ralph Lauren Monogram Linen pajama set
Linen is not the most obvious choice for a sleep shirt, but its prodigious breathability is a godsend for anyone who sleeps hot. Rumors of the fabric’s scratchiness are overstated, especially after the set has taken a tumble or two in the washing machine. It also helps if you start with Italian linen of the highest quality, as is the case for the pajama from Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label. The set also features stately details like mother-of-pearl buttons and wide notch lapels, like a suit you can sleep in.
Piglet Gingham pajama shirt
Piglet Gingham pajama pants
Piglet launched in 2017 with linen bedding. The brand has since expanded its product line to include a much wider range of textile goods and sleepwear made from the material. The Portuguese linen used in its pajama set is stonewashed, which helps eliminate unwelcome potential scratchiness. It also gives the colors on the fabric a muted, friendly quality. The fit is relaxed, which is to say, extremely oversized—make sure to take a look at the size guide before buying.
Petite Plume men’s silk pajama set
The silk pajama is a timeless staple for good reason. When you’re sleeping in one, you’ll appreciate the fabric’s characteristic smooth surface and soft handfeel, but also its breathability and temperature regulating prowess. And when you’re up and out of bed, you’ll appreciate the crisp drape of its silhouette. That’s especially true of the set from Petite Plume, printed with a wide bengal strip in either black or seafoam green. If you take good care of it, you can probably hand it down to your kid. Don’t worry, it’ll still be in style.
Quince Washable Silk Button-Down set
This more affordable silk pajama set from Quince doesn’t have quite the eye-catching sheen of the Petite Plume version. It’s also constructed of a slightly thinner 19-mm fabric. But it maintains the most important qualities you expect from silk: softness and breathability. Quince also makes sustainability claims of its products that its competitors do not, including that the fabric used in its pajama sets were dyed in a mill that meets Bluesign efficiency standards.
Brooks Brothers Cotton Broadcloth pajamas
Broadcloth cotton is a pajama material for the performance-fabric averse. It is neither particularly breathable nor warm, a welcome quality for people that like the feeling of a crisp top sheet against their skin. The Brooks Brothers version reads a bit formal, likely because of its narrow collar and piping. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you’re the type of person prone to pontificate on the differences between tartan, plaid, and gingham, you might as well embrace it.
J.Crew lounge short
Experiment with material choice all you want, but there’s probably no better way to stop yourself from overheating at night than merely shedding layers. But people who sleep in the near nude know it’s important to always have a pair of comfy shorts handy when they’re being hosted. (There’s no worse feeling then running into your aunt on the way to the bathroom in your skivvies.) Any short will do, but it’s a good idea to get something with a medium length in-seam, just for the sake of modesty. The colors and patterns of this J.Crew lounge short will also look excellent at the breakfast table.
Hanna Andersson Long John pajama top
Hanna Andersson Long John pajama pants
If you prefer to go to sleep in something even thicker than flannel, like a hoodie and sweatpants, consider a set of long johns. The rib knit cotton tops and pants are meant to fit snug against the body, which makes the experience of wearing them feel kind of like you’re being swaddled. We love the many whimsical patterns and bold color options of the style at Hanna Andersson, which are sold separately to ensure you can get a perfect fit up top and down below. Do not feel like you need to get the same pattern for your pants as you do the shirt—a lot of the options look best when they’re mixed and matched.
