A friend of mine once said that you experience higher highs and lower lows while traveling.
And I have to agree with him.
While you’ll likely get to have amazing, life-giving adventures during your travels, you can also get stranded, miss your flight, lose your passport, or, if you’re me, get into a fake taxi and pay $250 for a ride that should have cost $20. Those are some low lows.
Apart from emotional stress and discomfort, travel also presents many opportunities for physical discomfort. You get shoved into a tiny seat in a giant metal tube that flies across the ocean, jammed into an underground metro with someone’s armpit in your face, and you might have to walk until it feels like your feet will fall off.
If you’re interested in having more highs and less lows during your hard-earned trip, it’s high time to consider getting a pair of travel pants. No more tight, dense jeans for your 10-hour plane ride, and you don’t have to wear sweats either.
Travel pants are often made from a blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, so they feel like joggers or workout pants, but look like a pair of chinos.
Even better, lots of travel pants come with zippered and concealed pockets so that you won’t have your passport stolen out of your back pocket, like another friend of mine.
Interested?
I’ve unpacked 6 different travel pants below that are great in a variety of situations, and will keep you comfortable and secure during your next trip.
My Recommendations
Best Overall: Quince Ultra Stretch 24/7 Smart Chino
I like to put together a nice casual outfit when I travel rather than just going the sweatsuit route, since I can go grab coffee or a meal at my destination without looking disheveled.
My ideal pants for this kind of outfit would have clean lines, a smooth drape, and be flexible enough to stretch easily with the many ups and downs of traveling by plane, car, or train.
Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Smart Chinos fit this bill in all respects.
Made with a combination of polyester and rayon fabric, this blend gives these pants a 4-way stretch while still looking like regular cotton chinos. The first time I put these on I tested the fabric with some air squats, and was pleasantly surprised to find them as flexible and stretchy as workout pants.
Chinos normally have a flat front with no crease, but these pants have a slight crease in the front and back that I’m a huge fan of. It brings an effortless, neat look to these pants that can elevate them above a normal, casual outfit.
The fabric is also moisture-wicking and spill-proof, which is ideal for travel. I’ve noticed that I have a strange tendency to sweat a lot in airports (just me? Probably just me) so having a pair of pants that wicks away unwanted moisture rather than making me stew in it is great.
I’ve also been in situations where a spilled beer unfortunately makes it look like you didn’t get to the bathroom on time, but that’s not something you have to worry about with Quince’s Smart Chinos, due to them being spill-proof.
It’s also worth noting that these pants are cheap. Many competing travel pants sit at around the $100 mark, but Quince offers these for just $49.90, which is a testament to the reduced costs of their manufacturer-to-consumer model.
What I Like
- The slight crease in the front and back makes these pants look more stylish and neat than your average travel pants.
- A hidden zip phone pocket in the front and two zippered pockets in the back offer ample security for my valuables.
- The fabric’s moisture-wicking and spill-proof properties go a long way in ensuring my comfort through the entire course of travel.
What I Don’t Like
- They have a medium fabric weight, which may be slightly heavier than you want if you’re looking for breezy travel pants.
What Other Reviewers Say
Guys love these travel pants. I found lots of reviews from comfortable dudes saying that they wear like athleisure but are smart enough to wear to work, and that the cut isn’t too tight or too loose.
Of the negative reviews I could find, several people said the pants run a bit small, but those all seemed to be for the larger pants sizes. Just keep that in mind if you’re ordering a larger inseam or waist size, and consider sizing up.
The Verdict
At the end of the day, Quince has made a formidable pair of travel pants that will keep you looking slick, secure your valuables, protect you from spills, and keep you dry and cool all day.
If you need an excellent pair of travel pants at an affordable price point, I recommend Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Smart Chino.
With their Smart Chinos, Quince has served up a formidable pair of travel pants that will keep you looking slick, secure your valuables, protect you from spills, and keep you dry and cool all day. If you need an excellent pair of travel pants at an affordable price point, give these a look.
Best Lightweight: Western Rise Evolution Pant 2.0
Western Rise has made a name for itself in the men’s performance wear industry by making versatile, lightweight clothing for many scenarios.
Their Evolution Pant 2.0 is no exception to this, which they neatly sum up with the phrase, “One pair of pants, any situation.”
These travel pants are intended to be the next step in the evolution beyond jeans. You can wear them for travel, on hikes, running errands, in the office, and even to casual dates, allowing for a seamless transition between each activity you take on.
Western Rise’s ace in the hole is their proprietary Evolution fabric, a lightweight, woven blend of nylon and elastane that has been air-texturized to feel like cotton, but has the durability of nylon and the four-way stretch of spandex.
The Evolution Pants feature secure media and wallet pockets (a particular highlight from our tests), and are also made with a durable water repellent that effectively makes them spill-proof. They also have an extendable 32”-34” inseam, which gives you more control over your temperature in hot and cold scenarios.
What I Like
- Their proprietary Evolution fabric has a weight of 107 gsm, which puts it firmly in the lightweight category.
- The lightweight, durable fabric can be packed up small, which means you can bring more pairs of these when you travel without sacrificing much space or weight.
- These pants are perfect for a wide array of scenarios, are highly breathable, and are spill-proof.
What I Don’t Like
- This level of lightweight fabric and durability comes at a steep cost, which might put them out of reach if you’re on a budget.
What Other Reviewers Say
These pants have a massive number of positive reviews. Happy customers love how versatile they are, how they fit, and the effortless style they give to an outfit. Lots of reviews also mentioned that they pack away easily and come out of the bag wrinkle-free, due to the Evolution fabric.
The only negative reviews I could find had to do with the slim cut of these pants, which will probably be too skinny for heavier guys or athletic guys with Dornic columns for legs.
The Verdict
Western Rise packs an impressive amount of versatility into a single pair of lightweight pants with the Evolution Pant 2.0. The nylon and elastane fabric brings loads of durability and stretch while keeping the pants lightweight, breathable, and spill-proof.
If you’re in the market for a pair of travel pants that are light enough to take on a hike but also slick enough to wear to dinner, look no further than Western Rise’s Evolution Pant 2.0.
The Western Rise Evolution Pant is an excellent travel pant because of the secure media pocket and secret zipper back pocket. It’s also supremely comfortable, doesn’t wrinkle, and doesn’t stain. As a technical fabric pant, it can get snagged more easily, which can create loose threads, but otherwise, these are quite durable.
Best Travel Jogger: Public Rec ADED Jogger
Let’s face it, there are few things more comfortable than joggers, which makes them hard to get away from when facing a long flight.
These days, joggers aren’t just the slim, cuffed, cotton sweats that we all know and love. They now come in technical performance fabrics with moisture-wicking properties and zipper pockets, and sometimes they even look like a normal pair of pants.
My favorite travel joggers are Public Rec’s All Day Every Day (ADED) Jogger. Made with 88% nylon and 12% spandex, these bad boys have durability and stretch to spare, but aren’t tight like you might expect from a pair of pants with spandex.
Public Rec made these with an athletic cut, which gives more room if you’ve got legs and glutes like a Greek god. The pants taper down to a slim cuff at the ankle, which gives them a smooth, sleek finish.
To give these joggers a more polished look, Public Rec included a fake fly at the front, which goes a long way in making them look like regular pants.
In terms of security, there are zippered front and back pockets that are great for locking valuables in place, whether you’re going to the gym or checking out a foreign market.
What I Like
- The ADED Joggers look as close to normal pants as you can get, thanks to the fake fly.
- The athletic cut in the seat and thighs gives extra room where you need it most, especially while sitting down.
- Unlike most joggers, you can select your inseam size with the ADED Joggers, all the way up to 36”.
What I Don’t Like
- The fabric doesn’t have moisture-wicking or quick-dry properties, but they’re still lightweight enough to not get swampy.
What Other Reviewers Say
These iconic joggers are well loved by a horde of reviewers. Almost every review I came across had guys saying that they own multiple pairs of these joggers, and that they love how comfortable and light they are.
Several reviews I found said that the material around the zippered front pocket peeled away and came apart after a few washes, but these reviews were few and far between.
The Verdict
Public Rec is blurring the line between traditional pants and joggers with the ADED Joggers, but not sacrificing any of the comfort and feel.
If you’re looking for a slick, neat pair of joggers that you can travel securely with, I recommend Public Rec’s All Day Every Day Joggers.
If you’re going to get joggers, choose quality. The minimalist slim fit design on these joggers hits an excellent balance between comfort and performance.
Most Durable: Vuori Ripstop Pant
If you’re the type of guy whose typical trip looks like taking a puddle jumper to Madagascar and riding a dirt bike through the desert wilderness, you’re going to need some tough travel pants.
My top pick for durable travel pants is Vuori’s Ripstop Pant, which is aptly named for the ripstop fabric used in its construction. Ripstop, as the name suggests, is a way of reinforcing woven fabric so that it’s tear and rip-resistant.
Vuori increases the durability of these pants by building them with gussets in the inner thigh and groin area, which allows for more movement and flexibility where pants are most prone to rip.
Unlike most other travel pants, the Ripstop Pants are made with 98% organic cotton and 2% elastane. Cotton is heavier than nylon or polyester, but strong when it comes to creating durable, ripstop fabric.
These pants have a modern, slim cut which makes them stylish in a wide variety of outfits while still maintaining a slightly rugged vibe.
What I Like
- The cotton ripstop fabric is durable, fairly thick, and tear-resistant.
- Gussets on the inner thigh and groin area allow for easier movement and reinforce areas that are prone to holes and rips.
- They have a long 33” inseam, which allows them to be cuffed or worn to cover bootlaces.
What I Don’t Like
- There’s only one zippered pocket on these pants, but it’s on the front thigh which would be very hard to steal from.
What Other Reviewers Say
The Ripstop Pants have great reviews overall. Satisfied customers said they like the fit and feel so much that they own several pairs, and many others appreciated how quickly they dried while traveling.
Of the few negative reviews I could find, a few guys had issues with the slim cut of the pants and said they were too small, which is to be expected.
The Verdict
While nylon-based travel pants are usually durable enough, sometimes you need some extra durable fabric to keep up with your high-adventure life.
If you’re in need of durable, tear-resistant pants that will keep up with the rugged adventures you have planned, you can’t go wrong with Vuori’s Ripstop Pants.
Vuori Ripstop pants are excellent for outdoors adventures. With a gusseted crotch and nearly indestructible fabric, these pants both look great and will last for years.
Best for Business Trips: Rhone Commuter Pant
Traveling isn’t always for hiking, exploring, and adventuring through foreign cities, which I’ve referenced throughout this article. Many of us also travel for business, and travel pants can make your life easier here as well.
Rather than looking like joggers, jeans, or chinos, there are travel pants that look like a quality pair of slacks and are constructed with a fabric blend that breathes and stretches considerably more.
Rhone’s Commuter Pant is the perfect example.
These straight-leg pants are made with Rhone’s proprietary Flex-Knit fabric, which brings four-way stretch, a smooth drape, and slightly polished look to the table. This fabric is wrinkle-resistant, which makes them ideal for being wedged in a plane or metro and still making it to your meeting without looking disheveled.
We’re really yet to try a more comfortable ‘chino looking’ pant that’s not really a chino.
The Commuters also feature a gusset in the inner thigh for additional mobility and comfort, and have a secured zipper pocket and designated media pocket.
The straight-leg cut gives them a more formal profile than many slim cut pants, which means they can easily be paired with dress shoes and a button-down shirt for a business-appropriate outfit.
What I Like
- The wrinkle-resistant fabric allows you to wear them in cramped seats or pack them away without having to iron them afterwards.
- Rhone’s Flex-Knit fabric brings four-way stretch mobility to situations that would usually call for stiff, restrictive pairs of business pants.
- The straight fit gives them a more formal look that’s great for business meetings and more formal settings.
What I Don’t Like
- They don’t offer inseams longer than 33”, which might not work for super tall guys.
What Other Reviewers Say
Rhone’s Commuter Pants are a hit. A surprising number of guys said that they switched from lululemon’s pants to these after trying them out, and even more said that they own multiple pairs and won’t be using any other pants for work if they don’t have to.
There are very few negative reviews, but a few guys said the pants didn’t hold up well in the long run, and ripped around the back pockets after a few washes.
The Verdict
The days of traveling for business in stiff, heavy slacks are behind us, and Rhone’s Commuter Pants are bringing the comfort. These pants have ample stretch, are lightweight, and feature zipper pockets to keep your valuables secure.
If you travel for business and are in the market for good travel pants, look no further than Rhone’s Commuter Pants.
The Commuter Pants take chinos to a new level. We haven't found another pair of technical fabric chinos that does so well looking like standard cotton slacks but still retaining the extra comfort and mobility of other tech-forward pants.
Most Features: Bluffworks Ascender Chinos
One of the reasons I like wearing jackets and blazers is the extra pockets that let you put all your everyday carry items in a specific spot. If you’re the same, and have wished for a pair of pants with enough pockets to organize a small backpack, Bluffworks’ Ascender Chinos are for you.
These pants have a whopping 10 pockets, 5 of which are secured or hidden. Besides your regular slash side pockets and back pockets, there are two phone pockets, a small multi-tool utility pocket, and a money pouch secured with velcro.
This may sound like too many pockets to keep track of, but Bluffworks’ design makes it surprisingly approachable.
Apart from all the pockets, the Ascender Chinos are also made with wrinkle-resistant, quick-dry material that has anti-odor properties. Talk about features.
These pants are made from 100% polyester fabric, which I thought initially would be heavy, but they use a lightweight blend that keeps these pants especially light and stretchy.
What I Like
- There are enough pockets to easily organize a complicated EDC kit, along with two spots for your phone and a velcro-secured money pouch.
- The polyester fabric is wrinkle-resistant, and has anti-odor properties.
- Bluffworks gives you the choice between a regular and tailored fit.
What I Don’t Like
- Several reviews mention that these chinos stain easily, which isn’t great for traveling.
What Other Reviewers Say
Guys love to travel in the Ascender Chinos. Common, positive sentiments I found had to do with the number of pockets and how easy it was to stay organized, and the fit and feel of the chinos.
A few reviewers said these pants ran surprisingly long, but they were few and far between. That said, Bluffworks has inseam choices from 28”-34”, so you can always size down.
The Verdict
It’s hard to imagine fitting any more pockets onto a pair of pants without them being cargo pants. With 10 pockets, a host of hidden, secured pockets, and wrinkle-resistant, anti-odor fabric, the Ascender Chinos were made to travel securely.
If you’re looking for a pair of travel pants that would make James Bond jealous, I recommend giving these bad boys a look.
With their secure, hard-to-access pockets, hidden money pouch, and lightweight 5.31 oz per yard fabric, the Ascender Chino is one of our go-to travel pants.
3 Key Things to Look for in a Travel Pant
Security
First and foremost, you want to make sure your stuff doesn’t get stolen by would-be pickpockets, or accidentally fall out of your pocket through the many ups and downs of travel.
Thus, it’s important to find a pair of travel pants that have at least one secured pocket, whether that be a zipper, button, or hidden pocket. In my opinion, the more pockets the better, but some of these pants have so many pockets that I can’t imagine ever using them all at once, which could make some of them redundant.
Your back pockets are a major area of concern when it comes to items falling out or being stolen, so I recommend a pair of travel pants with at least one zippered back pocket.
Lucky for you, every one of the pants I recommended above has at least one zippered back pocket.
I’m not a fan of keeping my phone in my back pocket, so I also like to have a zippered phone pocket in front or a hidden phone pocket of some sort. Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Chinos and Bluffworks’ Ascender Chinos both have zippered, hidden front pockets which are ideal.
Apart from zippered back and front pockets, anything extra is welcome but not necessary. Bluffworks’ Ascender Chinos have a small multi-tool utility pocket, as well as a hidden money pouch pocket with a velcro closure, which is nice to have.
Fabric Type
Just as important as security, the fabric type of your pants will largely determine whether or not you’re comfortable throughout your travels.
I went to Iceland for a quick trip after college and somehow wore jeans the whole time. It rains a lot in Iceland, and I would have fared considerably better in pants with properties like water-resistance and quick-drying.
Most travel pants are made with some blend of polyester, nylon, or spandex. In many cases, the higher the polyester content, the thicker and heavier the fabric, which might not be what you’re after if you want a lightweight pair of travel pants.
With their Smart Chinos, Quince has served up a formidable pair of travel pants that will keep you looking slick, secure your valuables, protect you from spills, and keep you dry and cool all day. If you need an excellent pair of travel pants at an affordable price point, give these a look.
However, travel pants like Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Chinos and Bluffworks’ Ascender Chinos are made with lightweight polyester that keeps a perfect balance of enough weight to feel covered and warm, but not too heavy where the pants become hot and unbreathable.
Public Rec’s All Day Every Day joggers are made with 88% nylon and 12% spandex, which makes them lightweight and stretchy, and the high spandex content gives them a polished, almost shiny look.
Depending on what you’re looking to do, you might not want the shine that comes with high-spandex-content travel pants. A day of touring museums and fine dining would be better suited by pants with clean lines, a matte finish, and dark colors, like Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Chinos or Rhone’s Commuter Pants.
A small subset of travel pants are made primarily with cotton, like Vuori’s Ripstop Pants. Specifically, these are 98% organic cotton and 2% elastane, which brings some stretch and flexibility.
You might think that cotton is generally too hot and heavy to make good travel pants, but the elastane goes a long way in keeping these breathable. Also, Vuori’s angle here is to make durable, sturdy pants and the cotton ripstop fabric accomplishes that goal well by being tear-resistant.
Fit
Another big reason to wear travel pants is for the tailored, often slim fit. Wearing skinny jeans on a plane is something I’d prefer to never try, and baggy sweatpants aren’t usually conducive to hopping off the plane and getting right into your adventure.
Also, it’s generally a good idea to wear dark clothes that don’t stick out while traveling, if for no other reason than to avoid drawing attention from pickpockets.
Slim, dark-colored travel pants are perfect for this, and every pair of pants discussed in this article fits the bill.
That said, not all travel pants are slim cut, and you might be a guy with tree trunks for legs who really appreciates straight or athletic cut pants. In that case, Public Rec’s ADED Jogger and Rhone’s Commuter Pant are great choices here.
How your travel pants fit inherently dictates some of the style of your overall outfit. If you have straight cut, loose travel pants or baggy sweatpants you probably won’t be dressed appropriately to go and hit up the fine dining scene wherever you’re going.
On the other hand, if you’re wearing more business-forward travel pants, like Rhone’s Commuter Pant, you probably won’t want to jump off the plane and go for a hike.
When it comes to buying travel pants, think ahead to what use cases you might have for them or the activities you might be doing while traveling, and make a purchase with those factors in mind.
Which Is Best for You?
Across these six pairs of travel pants, you shouldn’t have any issues finding the right pair of pants to make your intended type of traveling more comfortable.
If you’re not looking to spend much but want travel pants that look tidy, stretch well, and have secured pockets, I recommend Quince’s Ultra Stretch 24/7 Smart Chinos.
With their Smart Chinos, Quince has served up a formidable pair of travel pants that will keep you looking slick, secure your valuables, protect you from spills, and keep you dry and cool all day. If you need an excellent pair of travel pants at an affordable price point, give these a look.
If you want lightweight travel pants that are versatile for a host of situations, check out Western Rise’s Evolution Pant 2.0.
It’s hard to beat the comfort of a good pair of joggers while traveling, and if you’re for a pair I recommend Public Rec’s All Day Every Day Joggers.
Some travel destinations and activities require an extra dose of durability when it comes to your pants. If that sounds like something you’ll need, you won’t go wrong with Vuori’s Ripstop Pants.
If you plan to travel for business but are tired of wearing stiff old slacks and suit pants, Rhone’s Commuter Pants will be significantly more comfortable.
Lastly, if you’re in the market for wrinkle-resistant travel pants with enough pockets to make your head spin, you won’t be disappointed by Bluffworks’ Ascender Chinos.
If you know a guy who could do with a good pair of comfortable, secure travel pants, share this article with him. He’ll thank you when he no longer has to worry about his wallet or passport being stolen.
