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When this blog first began, we discovered what we believed to be the impossible: the best travel pants for women.
Almost four years later, we’re re-visiting this topic but this time we’re going to take a look at the best pants for travel to various destinations. Keep reading to find out what styles top our list!
Best Pants for Travel
Written By: Niki Landry
Travel Fashion Girl help! A reader asks:
I know this has been discussed before, but I guess I did not pay enough attention. What are your favorite travel pants? Any favorite brands or styles? I am looking for pants that are lightweight, breathable, easy to pack and wash.
Pants are a travel essential for your capsule wardrobe, whether you’re heading to a cold or warm weather location. The best travel pants are comfy, stylish, and easy to pack and wear anywhere. Here, we share the best pants for travel based on your destination.
Best Pants for Travel to Beach
Easy, breezy, comfortable linen pants. These casual pants can be used as a swimsuit cover-up, to walk around beach towns, as a casual dinner outfit, or just lounging.
You may also like:
Relaxed Fit Linen Pants | Wide-Leg Linen Pants | Drawstring Linen Pants
Many people opt for summer shorts, dresses, and skirts for the beach, but there are a few reasons beach pants are a great addition: it can get chilly on the water at night, they protect your skin from sun and insects, and they keep you cool but conservative when necessary.
Linen pants are also be a good option for cruise, resort, and sailing vacations, or anywhere with a casual environment and high temperature.
Read this post for a full round up of our favorite linen clothing for summer!
Best Pants for Travel to Trek
While some travelers swear by the infamous convertible trekking pants as the best pants for travel, it’s one item that never makes it onto my packing list. I’m always on the hunt for alternatives to bring on multi-day hikes.
One reader swears by Eddie Bauer, saying “I like the Horizon Roll-Up Pants from Eddie Bauer and they come in petite as well.”
You may also like:
Black Capris | Plus Size Cargo Capri | Active Woven Jogger Pants
Currently, I love leggings, but I think I will try the above joggers on my next trip. The streamlined cut, performance fabric, and muted color options are exactly what I’m looking for in a great outdoor pant.
(Note: the best pants for travel to destinations with extreme weather and challenging conditions, would need to offer additional technical benefits such as the styles suggested in this post).
If you prefer a traditional tech trouser, take a look at these convertible travel pants women might actually like!
Best Pants for Travel to Cities
You have a lot of packing options when you are traveling to a big city; the activities you have planned will dictate what to bring. I tend to lean toward a more polished look in cities, so I leave my distressed pants at home.
You may also like:
Dark Dye Skinny Jeans | Ankle Skinny Jeans | Plus Stretch Trousers
Generally, I like to pack a pair of slim fit dark wash jeans. You can dress them up or down depending on your shoes and top, and they hide stains easily. To avoid looking sloppy, make sure whichever style you choose has the perfect fit. Pair with a button down shirt and flat boots for an easy no fuss travel outfit.
You may also like:
Plus Skinny Legging Jeans | Verdugo Ankle Jean | Brooke Legging Jean
Want to wear jeans but don’t want to pack the bulk? Chambray trousers or stretch denim may be what you’re searching for. Stretch denim provides comfort and the faded wash is casual enough for everyday wear. Pair with a button down shirt and flat boots for an easy no fuss outfit.
The secret to packing light is to use packing cubes to compress your clothing shown in this video!
Best Pants for Travel to the Tropics
Need to stay covered up but still cool in a humid destination? Harem pants featured above are for you. However, its cousin–the lightweight jogger-style pants is a little easier to wear. It provides air circulation and modesty without being overly trendy.
You may also like:
Pure Body Modal Joggers | Women’s Petite Jogger | Lightweight Woven Jogger
I am less inclined to wear busy patterns, so I prefer the simple look of these pants in the rust color. It’s a nice change from the neutral bottoms I typically lean towards.
Take a look at more travel-friendly joggers for women!
Best Pants for Travel to the Cold
It’s hard to stay stylish in really cold weather. Outfits tend to look bulky, and layering fleece under jeans or pants is not super comfortable. Luckily, there are options like these insulated leggings that provide warmth without weight.
You may also like:
Plus Zella Leggings | Merino Wool Bottom | Double-Layer Thermal Leggings
All of my favorite travel bottoms are Athleta brand, and I’m considering bringing the Heathered Polartec® Power Stretch® 2 Tight for my trip to Iceland this year.
Readers also love Athleta’s Lined La Viva pant, with one saying, “I wear the lined La Viva in winter. They’re great on the plane to prevent me from getting too cold, but the lining isn’t so thick that I’m overheated. They’re great in a light rain and do well w/a moderate wind.”
For more ideas, see what brands travelers voted as the ten best leggings for women for travel!
Shop Sizes XS-XXL: Amazon | Eddie Bauer
Best Pants for Travel Everywhere
Looking for a pair of pants that is suitable for a range of travel activities? Eddie Bauer’s collection of trousers still tops TFG’s list as the best pants for travel and continues to be a favorite of other female travelers, too.
The best style is by far the Departure Pants, which offer a sleek and polished fit in a delightfully light technical fabric that’s moisture wicking and has UPF 50+ sun protection! They’re also available in a wide range of colors to suit any destination. Take them from your office to sightseeing, dinner or a mountain – they’ll fit in everywhere.
One reader raves about these pants, saying, “I now own two pairs and they are my favorite pants ever. I can dress them up or wear them on hikes, and when out and about. They’re the best!”
Another reader recommends the Eddie Bauer Departure pants, saying “I’m pretty convinced these Eddie Bauer Departure Pants are the most spectacular travel pants (and every day pants) on the face of the earth. They are SO lightweight and dry quickly, you could easily wash these in a hotel sink and they’d be dry in an hour. And they’re very slimming and figure flattering!”
For travelers that aren’t a huge fan of a slim fit, they also have other styles such as the ones shown above with various designs. All made with fashionably functional fabric, you’re sure to find one to work with your style and travel type.
A similar alternative that readers often recommend for travel pants are by Athleta. One reader says, “My favorite is Athleta’s Trekkie North pants. They are very lightweight but can be worn as pants or capris so they’re very versatile.”
Read the full review on why these are the best travel pants for women!
What do you think are the best pants for travel? Share them below!
For more recommendations for women’s travel pants, please read:
- Best Travel Pants for Women: Function Meets Fashion
- Style Guide for the Ultimate Women’s Travel Pants
- Convertible Travel Pants Women Might Actually Like – I Do!
- Joggers for Women: Don’t Miss this Travel Fashion Trend
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Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs.
My favorite pants for travel are Athleta’s Trekkie North Jogger. I have them in tan and I love them! So comfortable and easy to wear.
Some great suggestions here. Pants are always the hardest thing for me to find for travel. Do you have particular recommendations for those of us with curvier bottoms/hips? I have difficulty finding things that look good, as well as being light, movement-friendly, and travel durable. Thanks!
If you’re looking for a slim fit pant similar to the Skylar but a lot less expensive, check out Prana’s Brenna or Meme pants. Personally I don’t like the side pockets on the Meme, but I’m obsessed with my Brenna’s — I have them in black and in dark gray, and I wear them everywhere as an alternative to jeans. Tech fabric, but thicker than hiking pants. Slim fit but not skintight through the calf, mid-rise, so they are very much like the Skylar except they have a little more of a moto style. Plus they are 1/3 of the price, so great for the more budget-conscious among us (and if you are lucky enough to have a friend who can score you a Friends and Family Pass like me, you can get them for under $50!!!). I am hoping they will one day offer them in a dark blue color.
Great advice Rachel! Love personal recommendations from readers! We will have to look into these! Safe travels!
NYDJ Women’s Petite Samantha Slim Ponte Pant, black. I bought these pants last fall for a Viking river cruise and was so glad that I did. They are super versatile, dress up or down and look more polished than my wider leg Ponte pants. I had my doubts about them because I’m short and prefer a wider leg pant that covers my shoe for the longer leg length look. I went with these though as I thought they’d be more practical. I was right. Toilet stops in less than pristine conditions were easier–no worry about soiled pant legs. I wore them over the top of ankle boots and didn’t feel that I looked chopped off at all [the curse of being 5′ 1″ tall]. The back pocket was handy for my room key card and the boarding passes we were issued each time we left the ship.
Thanks for sharing this Peggy 🙂 Glad you’ve found the perfect pants!
How about boot cut jeans recommendations. I have one pair of skinny stressed jeans Dear John brand that I feel you cannot wear everywhere. Like jeans to wear with cowboy boots. Couldn’t find in any the blogs or topics on this.
Hi Kathy, you may this article interesting about choosing the best jeans for travel: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/how-to-choose-the-best-jeans-for-travel/ I would also highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question about recommendations for jeans there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/ Its a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that love to share their recommendations for their favorite products and clothing items. Hope this helps. Safe and stylish travels!
I don’t usually wear leggings, but for a two-week UK trip last October, I packed several pair of fleece leggings (black, grey, and maroon) and was so glad I did! I wore them almost every day and became hooked on leggings! They were much more comfortable than jeans, especially for walking around a different city every day, and since they were lined they kept me warm.
Thanks for sharing this Stacy! I’m glad you found some pants that are perfect for you!