Last Updated on January 25, 2019 by eattalktraveljapan
This Baubax 2.0 review will teach you everything you need to know to determine if this is the perfect travel jacket for you.
What stands out most about the BauBax travel jacket is how much you can store in the multitude of pockets. I’ve tried it around the city, at the airport, and on a ten-hour flight. As someone who travels with a lot of gadgets, I found it incredibly useful, but whether it’s right for you depends on what type of traveler you are…
Be sure to check out their website for a detailed look at all the styles, colors, and features.
(Disclaimer: Although we were given a BauBax 2.0 to try out, all opinions are our own. Joshua has worn this jacket at the airport, in the city, and out in nature to really test it out in many situations. However, if you buy through the links in this post, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)
BauBax 2.0 Review: Who is this jacket perfect for?
The BauBax is a minimal, lightweight travel jacket that makes it easy to organize all your travel essentials.
There are an unbelievable number of pockets efficiently placed throughout the jacket, so you can carry almost anything in it. Plus, it comes with travel essentials like a sleeping mask and neck pillow built in and other accessories that can fit in the pockets.
So, if you’re looking for a minimal jacket and you travel with a lot of gadgets, you’ll love the BauBax 2.0.
Who is the BauBax not right for?
What makes the BauBax travel jacket really stand out is how efficiently you can organize and carry all of your stuff. As I get more in depth later in the article, you’ll get an idea of how I personally use it and how much I can fit inside. If you can’t imagine doing something similar than this may now be the right jacket for you.
It’s also not made for extreme weather. If you need something for really cold weather or heavy rain, it’s probably too light for you.
The BauBax backstory
BauBax was founded by a couple looking for an easier way to travel. They lived in different parts of the US, so they had to travel a lot to see each other. The original BauBax was designed to keep all of their travel essentials in one place to simplify the frequent trips.
It was launched in 2015 and went on to become one of the top selling travel jackets in history. The BauBax 2.0 is a new and improved version that’s also boosted the number of features from 15 to 25.
The Best features
This jacket is packed with 25 different features, but rather than list everything I’ll focus on the ones I’ve found most unique. I’ll also share some different ways that I’ve found to utilize them that goes beyond their standard purpose. Be sure to check out the BauBax website for a detailed list of all the 25 features.
iPad pocket
Even if you don’t use an iPad this pocket is still awesome. I use it for carrying things like a small camera and a power bank, but it’s versatile enough to put most anything in there.
Water bottle
The water bottle didn’t stand out to me at first, but I’ve actually found it to be one of the most useful features on the BauBax 2.0. It holds 16 oz. of water and can be attached to a bag or belt loop. But, it also can fits in the iPad pocket, which is what I usually do.
Secret pocket
Inside the iPad pocket is another secret pocket. It’s a small pouch attached to the middle of the larger pocket where you can fit various small papers and similar things.
Interior phone pocket
On the inner left side, the BauBax has another zipped pocket that’s the perfect size for a phone. I use a plus size iPhone that fits perfectly.
Passport pocket
There’s also a zipper pocket on the outer left side. It’s on the other side of the phone pocket.
Zipper side pockets
Cozy side pockets are lined with fleece and comfortably fit your hands or small gadgets.
Glasses pocket
If you wear glasses or sunglasses there’s a glasses sized interior pocket with a cloth on a leash for cleaning lenses.
Another large interior pocket
On the left side is another large pocket that can be sectioned in two. There’s a Velcro strip in the middle so you can either put one large or two small items inside.
Small pockets for cables and pens
Just above the large left pocket are more small pockets for things like pens and cables.
Retractable key leash
There’s an attachable key leash that can fastened inside either side pocket. This is a really handy way to keep track of keys whenever you’re wearing the jacket.
Accessories
Beyond the pockets, the BauBax 2.0 has a number of accessories that come along with the jacket. When deflated, you can roll each of them up and keep them all inside the interior pockets.
Neck pillow
Inflatable neck pillow that fits inside the hood. Just fold it up and keep it inside when you’re not using it. I found it very easy to blow up and to deflate when finished.
Foot rest
An inflatable foot rest also folds up and fits in a side pocket.
Travel blanket
Additionally, the BauBax travel jacket comes with a foldable travel blanket that fits in a side pocket.
Travel pen
There’s a small pen that can attach to the zipper.
Earplugs
Earplugs in a small case.
Bottle opener and whistle
There’s a metal bottle opener with a whistle on the other side that can attach to the inside of the BauBax side pocket.
Using it as a daily jacket
So far, I’ve tried out the BauBax 2.0 Windbreaker in Tokyo, LA, and the long flight between the two. The weather has ranged from cold to warm, from rainy to dry, and sunny to cloudy.
Overall, it’s been warm and comfortable in all these different situations, but on the colder days I needed a sweater underneath. On the warmer days, more than a t-shirt was too hot.
Like I mentioned above, all the pockets are fantastic. In Tokyo, I was using a portable mobile hotspot for internet access, a power bank, and a plus sized iPhone. My wallet was in one pocket along with the key ring, a small camera was in the other, and I kept the water bottle in the iPad pocket. The passport pocket is the perfect size for carrying a Metro pass so I don’t have to open my wallet to use it.
Traveling with it
Before putting together a proper BauBax 2.0 review, I figured that I should test it out where it counts: traveling.
The biggest benefit I found is in being able to carry some extra weight in my jacket. Camera’s, power banks, and phones are heavy and easy to lose track of. So, I added all of them to the jacket pockets, rather than distributing them throughout my luggage and backpack. Keeping these essentials organized and in my pockets made it easier to use them.
On the plane, the phone pocket was helpful so I didn’t need to keep it in the pouch in front of me or in my pants pocket. In fact, it was nice to mostly avoid that seat pocket all together.
Wearing the jacket balanced out the temperature of the ice cold airplane so I didn’t even need to use the blanket. Combining the neck pillow and eye mask was comfortable and worked well at blocking out the light. The mask could be a little longer, but it still blocked light pretty well…
BauBax 2.0 Review: Challenges that I’ve had
Most of the challenges I’ve had are fairly small, but I think they’re good to keep in mind.
While many of the pockets have zippers, there are some that don’t. Stuff can fall out of these pockets if you’re not careful. I’d prefer more zippers instead of velcro to avoid this problem.
I’ve also found that weight can be a problem if you don’t balance things appropriately between right and left. Most of the pockets without zippers are on the left side, which means it’s easier to keep bigger items on the right side. I’d prefer a second large pocket on the left side with a zipper.
Should you get the BauBax 2.0?
Hopefully, my BauBax 2.0 review has shown you what makes this such a unique travel jacket.
If you’re looking for a minimal, lightweight travel jacket that can hold all your gear, than you’ll love it. The pockets and accessories are incredibly useful for travel and for daily life, too.
I can carry a small camera, phone, cables, power bank, wallet, keys, pen, and many other things in the jacket. For me, that means that if I don’t need my laptop I can get around without a backpack.
Where to buy the BauBax 2.0?
The best place to buy the BauBax 2.0 is through their website. You can see a full list of all 25 features, photos with people other than me, and compare the different styles of jacket available.
