I love versatile clothes, and how it makes packing simpler. We’ve seen a lot of outdoor brands creating more lifestyle clothes as well as newer brands that are popping up all about making clothes that can transition seamlessly from the office to going out in the evening.
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Last Updated: May 5, 2023
In this post, we check out highly rated and recommended travel pants and also include our personal favorites that we’ve discovered over the years.
Things to Look for in Travel Pants
- Comfort – Comfort is big for us, especially if we’re wearing them all day long in multiple scenarios.
- Versatility – Our typical trip is a mix of fine dining, outdoor activities, exploring cities, and more. We want pants that can handle it all.
- Wrinkle Free – Who wants to spend time ironing clothes when you’re traveling? Not me.
- Packable – Light and easy to pack.
- Performance – Sweat-wicking, quick-drying, or waterproof features are always great to have, but sometimes that comes at the expense of looking too sporty or outdoorsy. We love clothes that can handle both.
17 Best Travel Pants for Women and Men 2023
1. Du/er All-Weather Denim – Best Waterproof Everyday Denim →
We both love our Du/er All-Weather Denims. They don’t look like waterproof or rain pants, so you can wear them around town without looking like you came from an outdoor adventure.
PROS
- Waterproof and windproof membrane
- Comfortable and stretchy
- Easy to wash and clean
CONS
- One length so you’ll need to hem or roll them up
2. Boulder Denim – Best Denim Travel Pants →
I don’t know about you, but I’m never wearing stiff denim again. Ever since discovering Boulder Denim jeans, they’ve been our go-to jeans for any occasion. We first discovered them at a demo at our climbing gym, and we loved how stretchy they felt since mobility is so important for climbing.
We started with their original design, but they’ve improved the comfort and stretchiness for version two.
I currently wear the women’s straight-fit surf blue and skinny-fit new moon blue, and Jacob wears the men’s slim-fit. As you can guess, they are great for climbing, but they look great for any occasion. We wear them around the city and on all our travels.
PROS
- Comfortable and stretchy
- Deep-pocket and hidden zipper pocket
- Stain & water-resistant (for climbers, chalk comes right off)
- Ethically-made and vegan-approved
- Memory-shape denim
CONS
- They come in standard lengths which require you to hem them yourself
Boulder Denim Coupon Code: Use code LOCALADVENTURER for 15% off your order.
More:15 Practical Gifts for Rock Climbers That They’ll Love
3. Topo Designs Boulder Pants – Best Pants for Outdoor Adventures →
Activities: Climbing, Hiking, Camping
Material: 95% Nylon, 10% Spandex
Size Worn: XS in Brick (true to size on me)
I wear these a ton around town, and they go in my suitcase if we plan on climbing or doing anything outdoors. They are lightweight, comfy, and I love that they come in bright colors that other pants typically don’t. These are the ones Jacob wears.
PROS
- Comfortable and casual
- Built to handle the outdoors
- Water repellent finish
- 7/8 length with adjustable hem
- Elastic waist
- Zippered back pocket
CONS
- Great for casual trips but can’t really be dressed up
- No belt loops
- Feels very durable but also more rigid and less stretch
4. Mott & Bow Jeans →
Activities: Travel, Urban, Hiking
Material: 90-98% Cotton, 0-5% Polyester, 1-2% Elastane
Size Worn: 25/28 (Esther) || 30/32 (Jacob)
We wanted to check out jeans from Mott & Bow since they have so many different cuts and washes so you can find the one that is perfect for you. I went with the Slim Boyfriend Jean and Jacob went with the Skinny Wooster Jean. So far, they’ve been great and comfortable. We haven’t taken them to anything too active, but they’ve been great for our city adventures.
PROS
- Comfortable and casual
- Stretchy material
- Great for urban and active adventures
- Each jeans comes in different cuts
- Machine washable
CONS
- Fixed length inseam so you need to hem them to your length
The Best Travel Pants for Women in 2023
5. PRana Halle Joggers II →
Activities: Urban exploration, Travel, Hiking, Climbing, Camping
Material: 95% Recycled Nylon, 5% Elastane
Size Worn: 0 in Earthbound (fits large on me)
These are so comfortable, that they’re my go-to pants if I’m headed to the airport or on a road trip. The waist fits large on me, but I was surprised that the length wasn’t too baggy around the cuff for being petite. If you’re much taller, I’ve seen reviews say it’s not long enough.
PROS
- Comfortable
- Uses a recycled nylon blend
- Stretchy
- Durable and abrasion resistant
- UPF 50+
- Bigger pockets that fit phones
- Water repellent
CONS
- Slightly baggier than I would like.
Pro Tip: Jogger pants can be challenging to dress up, but it’s still possible. Look for both slim-fitting pants and fabrics that give it structure.
Purchase Halle Jogger II Pants + More Reviews
6. Anatomie Skyler Travel Pants →
I had been looking for one for the longest time when I finally found the Anatomie Skyler Travel Pant. I love the versatility of these pants and it’s a great addition to any capsule wardrobe.
PROS
- Can easily dress up or down
- Low maintenance fabrics
- Breathable, stretchy, and comfortable
- Lightweight and extremely packable
- Moisture-wicking and wrinkle-free
- Machine washable
CONS
- The waistband is not as stretchy, so I don’t have as much room to eat a gigantic meal.
- They require air dry so if you like washing your clothes while you’re traveling you need enough time to do that.
Pro Tip: I have both the gray ones and the black ones, but the black ones seem to run a bit smaller than the gray.
Purchase Skyler Travel Pants + More Reviews
7. Black Diamond Women’s Technician Jogger Pants →
Being petite, I love it when pants fit well without having to alter them. These joggers did just that! They’re also super soft and flexible making them comfortable for travel while technical enough for climbing and outdoor adventures.
PROS
- PFC-Free DWR for weather resistance
- Primary Fabric is Bluesign approved
- Harness compatible hand pcokets
- Zippered thigh pocket
CONS
- Nothing so far!
- Not sure if they will run short for taller people
Purchase the Technician Jogger Pants + More Reviews
8. Prana Kanab Pant →
These joggers are made to handle the outdoors and abrasion from climbing. They’re comfortable with a knit waistband that moves with you.
PROS
- Comfortable and durable
- Zipper pocket on left leg for secure storage
- High and stretchy waist band
CONS
- Looks outdoorsy so it’s less versatile
Purchase the Kanab Pant + More Reviews
9. Royal Robbins Spotless Traveler Pant →
These pants are included in a lot of the best travel pants post so I had to check them out. Unfortunately, even the XS looks too big for me. I did however fit their culottes version much better (pictured below).
PROS
- Really soft and built for travel
- Spills and dirt wash out easily
- Bluesign approved lightweight stretch fabric
- Zippered hand pockets
CONS
- Have seen multiple reviews stating that they fit baggy
Purchase Spotless Traveler Pant + More Reviews
10. REI Co-op Take Your Time 7/8 Leggings →
Leggings are always a part of my packing list. I can lounge in them, climb, or hike. I’m always looking for ones with pockets, and I love wearing these REI leggings (though pockets can be both a pro and con).
These are my go-to for flights.
PROS
- Moisture-wicking and breathable
- Wide waistband that keeps leggings snug and provides core support
- Thigh pockets
CONS
- Since they have pockets, these leggings are harder to dress up.
- A bit long in the legs if you’re petite like me, but I always have this problem.
Pro Tip: The black ones are much more versatile. I ended up with the odyssey gray since I have way too much black in my wardrobe.
Purchase REI Co-op Take Your Time 7/8 Leggings + More Reviews
11. Livsn Women’s Flex Canvas Pants V2 →
Jacob loves his Livsn Pants so I was excited to try their women’s pants. They fit well and I’m excited to put them to the test while bouldering!
PROS
- Deep front pockets
- Flattering fit but still flexible
- Zippered security pockets
- Adaptable cuff
- Reinforcements at stress points
CONS
- Looks outdoorsy so it’s less versatile
Purchase the Women’s Flex Canvas + More Reviews
12. Uniqlo Legging Pants – Best Affordable Travel Pants →
These are the best bang-for-buck pants that I really loved. I used to own them in so many colors. Over time, I’ve replaced them with better-quality pants that last longer, but I still have a few.
PROS
- Priced lowest out of all the travel pants
- Soft and fits well at first
- Comes in a ton of colors
- Doesn’t look like leggings
CONS
- They stretch out over time, so at the end of the day, they fit loose.
- It isn’t the best quality, so you may go through them quicker if you wear them a lot.
Purchase Legging Pants + More Reviews
The Best Travel Pants for Men in 2023
13. 686 Everywhere Pant Slim →
These have been the perfect pants for summer here in Vegas. They are lightweight and super stretchy. He wears them to the gym, outdoor adventures, and to run errands. Right now, he only has them in Golden Brown which looks more outdoorsy, but the black and navy can be easily dressed up.
PROS
- 10 pockets without it looking overly cumbersome
- Super stretchy and breathable material
- DWR water and stain-resistant finish
- Drawcord (can be adjusted to run inside or outside the waistband) and belt loops
- UPF 40+
- Packs into itself for easy travel
CONS
- We’ve read reviews that darker colors will show dust easily
- The material still looks casual
Purchase the 686 Everywhere Pant + More Reviews
14. Prana Double Peak Slim Pant →
These are a great option for trips where you’ll be spending more time outside. They fit well, are comfortable, and stretchy. Plus they are moisture-wicking and UPF 50+.
PROS
- Stretchy and soft material
- Moisture Wicking
- UPF 50+
- Ventilated Inseam Gusset
- Hidden Zipper Pocket
CONS
- Ripstop fabric looks more outdoorsy
Purchase the Double Peak Slim Pant + More Reviews
15. Livsn Ecotrek Trail Pants →
I love these pants. They are light and comfortable but still can handle being beaten up while bouldering. I’ve used it more than any other climbing pants this year.
PROS
- Very comfortable and durable
- Made with sustainable Blue Ocean Nylon
- Breathable and water-resistant
- Can blend into the urban setting
CONS
- Some colors look more outdoorsy than others
Purchase the Livsn Ecotrek Trail Pants + More Reviews
16. Prana Stretch Zion Slim Pant II →
Made with ReZion, Prana’s earth-friendly performance fabric, these pants are made to go from the conference room to the crag. I’ve taken them climbing and have worn them in urban settings too. The color does make a difference on how well it blends into the city.
PROS
- Recycled nylon blend performance fabric
- Adjustable waistband
- Good slim fit with tapered leg opening
- UPF 50+
- Stretchy and comfortable
CONS
- The thigh pocket makes it look a little less sleek
- Some colors look more outdoorsy than others.
Purchase the Prana Stretch Zion Slim Pant + More Reviews
17. Royal RObbins Alpine Road Pant →
Whereas most outdoor pants can disguise as city pants, these look more like city pants that can perform like outdoor pants.
PROS
- Clean city style but proven trekking performance
- Bluesign approved durable stretch fabric
- Zippered thigh pocket
- UPF 50+
- Hidden corded angles
CONS
- The thigh pocket makes it look a little less sleek
Purchase the Alpine Road Pant + More Reviews
Can you think of any others that belong on our best travel pants list? What are your go-to pants for travel?
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Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
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