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Jeans are one of the most popular and debated travel fashion topics for women: To pack them or not to pack them?
The truth is jeans are actually necessary and ideal in many travel journeys especially in cold weather. Jeans don’t take up much more space than some bulky travel tech convertible pants and you can buy them in a variety of fabrics making them more lightweight and travel friendly than ever before. Here are a few key points helping you choose the best jeans for your trip:
When you Need Jeans
Jeans are essentials when visiting large cities and they are also the perfect travel clothing item in cold climates.
I’m going to use Africa an example because this is one destination where everyone thinks you need Safari gear. Believe it or not, jeans are great travel pants if you are doing an overland tour in Africa. If you find this surprising, the fact of the matter is, with the exception of the Congo and the Okavango Delta which are standard destinations on many safari trips, you’ll hardly spend much time out of your off-road vehicle so as long as you’re comfortable, it doesn’t matter how many cargo pockets your pants do or don’t have.
In fact, the majority of safaris in Africa are experienced from a vehicle, so travel pants or cargos can only take you so far. When you’re just sitting on your bottom 70% of the time on your overland tour, why not just wear leggings or jeans if you feel comfortable wearing them for long periods.
Also, as I experienced on two separate occasions in May and August in Kenya and South Africa. It gets cold! Jeans are a life saver in cities like Nairobi and Capetown.
Switching continents – I can’t imagine not having jeans in Peru or for cities in Europe, Oceania, and North America. They’re a must!
Why Jeans make Great Travel Pants
Although jeans don’t dry quickly when you wash them, you hardly have to wash jeans making them ideal travel pants. Because of their sturdy fabric, they are also very durable and don’t show stains easily.
The biggest argument against jeans is that they don’t dry quickly. Well they don’t, but unless you’re only planning to hand wash your clothing; there are cheap laundry services in every part of the globe. From Africa to South America, and hostels in Australia and Europe; you can pay someone to wash your clothes starting at just $1/kilo or wash them yourself using hostel machines.
Jeans are also versatile. You can mix and match your clothing with ease and dress them up or down. With so many options in fabrics to flexible sizing options such as petite or tall womens jeans, denim is scoring high on comfort level making them practical and functional. You just can’t go wrong with denim.
How to Choose the Best Jeans for Travel
❶ Fit: Choose a style that you find most flattering to your body. Pack clothes you feel great wearing!
❷ Fabric: Look for lightweight fabrics that use minimal space and weight. Stretch denim fabrics are good.
❸ Color: The color should match all your clothing to maximize your travel outfits- the key to packing light.
❹ Cost: Choose a price tag you’re comfortable losing, giving away, or damaging – especially if on a RTW trip.
My personal choice for the best jeans for travel are “disposable” ones from Forever21 or H&M that I can easily give away or ditch should I decide jeans are no longer necessary for my trip. Lightweight and easy to wear in a stretch denim fabric, you can’t beat their price points starting at just $10!
When Not to Pack Jeans
The main time when you should avoid jeans is when you plan to strictly hand wash your clothing items, are planning to spend the majority of your travel time doing trekking activities, and when you will be in high humidity destinations.
The only time I don’t pack jeans is when I go to South East Asia. On my RTW trip in 2010, I ditched my jeans after I left Australia and bought some denim shorts instead, and when I lived in Thailand last year for 6 months I much preferred my new Anatomie travel pants. However, some travelers find the heat tolerable in this part of the world and happily wear denim.
My best tip is to travel with inexpensive jeans you can giveaway on your trip should you not need them anymore or buy some cheap ones along the way if you decide you want them. For more help deciding on what the best jeans are for your trip, check out this post for some more insight on theDenim Dilemma.
Hi Alex,
As I am over 60, Jeans are tough to find. I am definitely NOT into skinny jeans, and they still rule the market. That said, I found the perfect jeans for me and for travel! They are Prana, with a low-fit waist and boot leg. I have them in indigo and a color best described as med gray. They work with everything, and pack very well. I
just can’t imagine tossing them as they were close to $90 each. Well worth it though!
Connie
Hi Connie, that’s a great suggestion, thank you for sharing it!
Are white jean appropriate for summer travel in Europe (Bucharest, Budapest, stops in Croatia and Serbia) or should I stick to only dark jeans?
I would say they’re appropriate when the weather’s warm but if you only take one pair then a classic blue is most versatile 😉
When in Rome, do like Romans do… For hot and humid weather I would recommend inexpensive south asian made jeans, that you can find in outdoor markets/little stalls, etc. (you will also find them in outdoor markets in Europe) These “summer” jeans generally come in very lightweight stretch cotton fabric, and do not take more space than cotton trousers. Their drawback is that you have to search well to find plain ones, as they sometimes come with embroideries/rhinestones on pockets, or some are quite acid washed. But once you have a stylish pair that fits you, they fit the bill and can last easily a couple of years.
I would suggest minding colors or getting thicker fabrics for jeans to wear in countries where Malaria and Dengue fever are common, like in certain regions in Africa. Indeed, the carrier mosquitoes are attracted by certain colors like black and blue, so would bite through thin fabrics on those colors. I would therefore go for more neutral hues summer jeans (browns/khakis/tan/offwhite etc.), or wear a thicker darker pair…
My two cents…
Hi Hania, thank you for your helpful tips! Choosing summer jeans for warm climates and lighter colors in certain areas are definitely good guidelines to follow. Thanks again!
I love jeans when the weather is cooler, and only avoid them in heat. The first time I went overseas I wore one pair of jeans for three months, with winter tights underneath and found them great – they keep out winds and are warm with thermals or tights underneath. That trip I washed everything by hand – even jumpers – but eventually got the jeans dry cleaned, which was a cheap and efficient solution. These days stretch jeans and a wide range of denims are also good to wear on planes which avoids the possible issue of bulk. As long as you choose jeans that suit you, they can go anywhere.
Yes completely agree with you. You can almost get away with never washing them especially in the cold. They are very convenient especially for modern travelers – not like when jeans were a travel faux pas!
Yes, no jeans required in South East Asia! I went to Thailand in 2011 and I made a mistake of packing jeans. It should be more shorts and capris!
I read this post as I am packing for a 2 week trip to Norway. I have been reading many of your packing lists for over 6 months and had resigned myself to not taking jeans. (Most of my travel clothing is Eddie Bauer Travex – excellent lightweight fashionable clothing line). But jeans are so great. I wear them with everything. They are so versatile; they can be casual or dressed up. So I decided, on my own, that I am going to take 1 pair of skinny jeans. Then came across this post – which just solidified my decision! Thank you Alex! And to Jo, yes perfect pants are whatever works best for each person. (By the way, I am over 50, not a size 4 and I find all of your Packing Lists are fantastic guidelines to adapt to my style and likes.)
Thanks Wendy! I’m happy you find my packing lists useful – sounds like you’re using them correctly – as guidelines for anyone to adapt to their own style 🙂 Don’t forget to check the weather before your trip. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment!
Check out JAG pull on jeans. I like the bootcut Paley style. Mid-weight stretch denim with a super comfortable stretch waistband. Pockets BUT NO ZIPPER FLY. Amazing. And they retain their shape for 6-8 wears.
Thanks for the tip!
I LOVE Jag Jeans! I find them so comfy.
When I travel, I don’t personally bring jeans. I find they take up too much room in my carry on, I hate having to use checked bags and try to only have my carry on now. But what I have found as a great alternative to jeans is Eddie Bauer Travex Collection. Those pants and skorts are awesome. Light weight, and moisture wicking technology. So for me they have worked out the best of everything that I have tried for travel.
Great tips – will check them out!
I am looking for a travel list for 2 weeks in Germany/Poland/Amsterdam, taking only a carry on. Thank you! I am a boomer, over 50, so no skinny jeans and things that are too young. I don’t dress like an old woman, but not in my 20’s, or a size 4, either. Thank you!
Hi Cassie, I’ll see what I can do 🙂
I always travel with jeans, but this season the brightly colored jeans are in fashion. I’d like to have a fun pair to travel to Europe with, and was wondering what bright color could substitute for “neutral” (I know this is an oxymoron).
I suppose your color neutral would be whichever color best matches with the majority of your clothing and style. I personally would go with a lighter hues like salmon and light pink 🙂
I am such a jeans freak, it’s not even funny. My quest for the perfect pair is never ending! I’m a fan of skinny jeans with a bit of stretch for travelling – great for tucking into boots or turning up on the inside for a cropped look. The only time I don’t pack a pair is in the summer – I usually head to Greece and I just don’t need them in the heat.
Love this post!
Those sound like my kind of travel jeans! Thanks for reading 🙂
Did you post to this request? Curious on the feedback to the writer.
I meant to the over 50 traveler…
Sorry Donna not sure what you mean, can you please clarify your question?
In my own packing posts I always tell people not to pack jeans – and indeed I never pack them because they take up too much room when you only take a carry on bag. But because rules are made to be broken, I am taking a pair this time round. Mainly because I’ve found the perfect pair that will work better for my trip this time round. They are black stretch denim what are incredibly light and beautifully comfortable.
Rather than obsess about the question of whether to take jeans or not, find the perfect pants for your trip, whether they happen to be jeans or not!
Hi Jo! That’s a great piece of advice!
“Rather than obsess about the question of whether to take jeans or not, find the perfect pants for your trip, whether they happen to be jeans or not!”
Well said 🙂