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When I get ready to head out on a trip, I need to be prepared to sit on a long plane ride, explore the city, meet new people, have a nice dinner, enjoy a river cruise, and maybe even go on a hike…and look good doing it 🙂 Up until recently, that required packing several pairs of pants that didn’t really fit in my luggage. Thankfully, I found out about travel pants and they are the perfect solution. They’re super comfy, versatile, lightweight, and look great!
No matter where you’re traveling, I think everyone should have a good pair of travel pants. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to distinguish between quality travel pants and cheap imitation ones, and I would hate for you to get a bad pair. This comprehensive guide will tell you exactly what to look for in a pair of quality travel pants, and you’ll get our recommendations for the best travel pants for women and men.
Contents
Best Travel Pants for Women
Below is a list of the best women’s travel pants. Click on the pants name to read reviews and check prices.
Best Travel Pants for Men
Below is a list of the best men’s travel pants. Click on the pants name to read reviews and check prices.
How to Find the Best Pants to Travel In?
Because everyone is different and has unique travel preferences, there’s no “one type fits all” pair of pants on the market. These are some of the most important things to look for. Figure out what’s most important to you, then choose the pants that are best for you.
1. Comfort
This almost goes without saying, but if you pay a pretty penny for a pair of pants, but they’re not comfortable, you’re not going to have a very good time on your trip. The best pants for travel are designed to be comfortable whether you’re sitting on a plane or off exploring gorgeous villages. A good pair of travel pants will stretch and move with you, but they won’t stretch out and get worn after only a few uses.
2. Versatility
Gone are the days of needing to pack five pair of pants for a weekend trip because we don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing yet. The high quality travel pants will be appropriate for almost anything you have on your agenda. Whether you’re hiking, cycling, checking out some museums, flying first-class, sitting on a breezy tour bus, or eating at a fancy restaurant, your travel pants should make you feel like you fit right in.
3. Lightweight Material
This is essential so you don’t add too much weight to your bag. Also, the lighter the pants, the easier they’ll be to pack. Especially if you’re only traveling with a backpack, packability is super important for all of your travel gear, from your pants to your favorite travel jacket.
4. Quick-Drying
Let’s say you’re embarking on a 10-day road trip through Croatia and you only brought one pair of pants because you know they’re the best travel pants ever. When you make a stop to do laundry (or if the rain got them wet), it’s important that they’re dry and ready to go when you are.
5. Durability
There are few things worse than buying something only to have it fall apart after one or two uses. The best pants for traveling should follow you for many years to come, and they shouldn’t tear, show wear, or stain easily.
6. Breathability
Can you imagine exploring Thailand in the summer wearing pants that aren’t breathable? Thankfully you can ignore that sweaty and miserable picture, because good travel pants are not only breathable, but they also wick away sweat.
7. Pockets
If you absolutely love having a lot of pockets, be sure to check out the best cargo pants for travel. Pockets are great because they add convenience and make sure you keep your important stuff with you. Not only should you pay attention to the number of pockets, but make sure you know the depth of the pockets and see whether or not they have zippers. Pocket depth is important so things don’t fall out when you sit down or when you take a step up on a rock, and zippers add an extra layer of security.
8. Water-Resistant
Not only are water-resistant travel pants convenient for when it rains, but if you happen to be a clumsy eater and tend to spill food or drinks on yourself, water-resistant materials are known to prevent things from soaking into your clothes and staining them.
9. Wrinkle-Resistant
At one time or another, we’ve all left clothes packed too long in our bag and eventually they just came out as a big ball of wrinkles. Whether you’re exploring a new city, having a fancy dinner, or you just always want to be Instagram-ready, having a pair of wrinkle-resistant travel pants can ensure you look professional no matter where you are in the world.
While there’s not one perfect pair of travel pants that will work for everyone, the good news is that the best travel pants in Europe will also be the best in South America, Africa, Australia, and wherever else your travels take you. Now that you know what to look for, here are the best pants for travel on the market…
Ok let’s start with the ladies first (if you are looking for men’s pants keep scrolling or click here).
Women’s Travel Pants Reviews
We tested many different travel pants over the past months and here are our favorite ones. They all have a different styles but you can’t go wrong with either one of them.
prAna Women’s Regular Inseam Halle Pants
After they found no good travel pants on the market, prAna created their own; and they quickly rose to become the best travel pants for women. These stylish pants are designed to go with you through even the roughest adventures as they’re moisture managing, reinforced at the knees, and water resistant. For convenience, there is a hidden zip stash pocket to keep your valuables safe and the legs roll up so they can easily be transformed into shorts, making them perfect for trips to Iceland for example where you might experience all four seasons in one afternoon 🙂 The quick-drying and four-way stretch material guarantee that whether you’re taking planes, trains, or automobiles, you’ll be comfy throughout your journey.
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Columbia Sportswear Women’s Saturday Trail Pants
When looking for the best lightweight pants for travel, don’t miss Columbia Sportswear Women’s Saturday Trail Pants. Along with being lightweight, the material is soft and the pants take up a fraction of the space as normal blue jeans when packed. Although they are active wear, you can easily dress them up and head out for a nice dinner. When it’s time to get active, these pants will support you whether you’re hiking a volcano in Indonesia or exploring the ancient ruins of Mexico; but the best part is that they convert to capris, so they’re simultaneously the best travel pants for hot weather and cooler temperatures. For quality travel pants that feel more like yoga pants, check out the Saturday Trail Pants.
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Columbia Women’s Anytime Outdoor Boot Cut Pants
If you are traveling around the world, add the Columbia Women’s Anytime Outdoor Boot Cut Pants to your packing list because they’re the best pants for air travel. While most pants close with a button that’s almost guaranteed to irritate us on a long-haul flight, these pants have a drawstring closure so you can adjust the tightness. Another plus to these amazing pants is that they’re wrinkle-free. Even if you have them stashed in your carry-on luggage for a while, the wrinkles will fall almost immediately when you unpack them. Designed to protect you from stains, rain, and harmful UV rays, these are some of the best travel pants ever.
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Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi Pants
Not only are the Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi Pants some of the best pants for traveling, they’re also ideal for hiking. The soft shell design was created to make sure you’re protected from the elements during long days on the trail or out in the wilderness. These pants are more wind and water-resistant than most other good travel pants while still being comfy and breathable. If you’re not convinced yet, the five pockets usually seal the deal. With three of the pockets having zippers for security, it’s hard to argue against Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi Pants being some of the best hiking pants on the market.
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Nonwe Women’s Outdoor Cargo Pants
Nonwe has done an excellent job ensuring they have the best cargo pants for travel available. Everything you could want in the best travel pants, they’ve thought of. Whether you’re sightseeing in Miami, backpacking Jamaica, or tackling one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, these pants will have you covered. The fit is super comfortable and the waist is partially adjustable, catering to whatever activity is on your agenda. Even with several multi-functional pockets, these cargo pants are lightweight and compact so they won’t take up too much room in your travel backpack. When you add the fact that they’re water-resistant and quick-drying, buying Nonwe Women’s Outdoor Water-resistant Quick Drying Lightweight Cargo Pants is kind of a no-brainer.
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Men’s Travel Pants Reviews
After months of research and testing, we narrowed it down to the pants below. They all have different styles and fit different personalities but you can’t go wrong with either one of them.
Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pant
When talking about the best travel pants for men, there’s no way to leave Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants out of the conversation. You can attack the world with no fear in these pants. Given the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, these pants block UVA and UVB rays and also wick away moisture when you sweat. The pants are 100% nylon and come with several practical pockets and a belted waist. When temperatures start to rise, simply zip off the legs and almost instantly you’re wearing good-looking shorts with a 10” inseam. If you consider yourself an outdoorsmen or a nature-lover, these are the best travel pants (or as the would say in the UK: the best travel trousers) for you.
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UNIONBAY Men’s Rainier Lightweight Chino Pants
A perfect fit for any occasion, these pants should be your go-to choice regardless of what adventure you find yourself on. As the best black pants for travel, they’re stylish enough for everyday use (you can even wear them to work), durable enough for outdoor activities, and they don’t easily show wear. The pockets are mesh-lined, the back pockets zip closed for security, and there’s even a side leg pocket. The material is made to move when you move and be flexible enough for any activity. No matter if your next trip takes you to the city, the mountains, or into the wilderness, UNIONBAY Men’s Rainier Lightweight Comfort Travel Tech Chino Pants are the best pants to travel in.
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Outdoor Research Men’s Ferrosi Pants
If you always seem to find yourself on some type of outdoor excursion, then these are the best pants to travel in. The soft shell pants are designed to keep you protected from the elements while still letting you move freely. Outdoor Research Men’s Ferrosi Pants are wind-resistant, water-resistant, and quick-drying, ideal for tackling everything from the best national parks in the USA to the Great Ocean Walk in Australia. They were also created with practicality in mind – the low-profile waist means they fit well under a harness and the drawcord ankle adjustments ensure your safety and comfort so they don’t ride up or get caught in your bike spokes. When browsing for the best pants for travel, don’t pass up the Outdoor Research Men’s Ferrosi Pants.
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prAna Men’s Brion Pants
If versatility is what you need, then here’s your answer. prAna Men’s Brion Pants have a slim fit and slightly tapered legs, so they’re great for everyday wear, but they also are durable, water-resistant, and abrasion-resistant, so they’re ready for action-packed environments as well. The fact that these pants have five pockets and are wrinkle-resistant makes them convenient for any and every activity. prAna Men’s Brion Pants are exactly what the best pants for traveling are supposed to be.
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White Sierra Trail Inseam Convertible Pant
This family-owned company is committed to providing high-quality gear so you can experience the best of the outdoors. Durable enough to follow you through the mountains to the desert and along the river banks, these pants convert to shorts in a matter of seconds and have adjustment tabs so you can keep your pant legs out of the mud. While they have the typical qualities of protecting you from UVA and UVB rays and being made with water-repellent material, they also feature a comfortable elastic waistband and (removable) webbing belt. Built with travel and convenience in mind, it’s hard to beat White Sierra Trail Inseam Convertible Pants.
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Thanks for reading our guide of the best travel pants for men and women. Now that you have the knowledge you need, it’s just a matter of picking the ones you like best. Traveling more comfy, easier, and lighter starts with great travel pants 🙂