
Photo by Joanna Ben Souissi (Model: Kenza Chiha)
The Striped Sarouel pant comes in sizes XS-L in navy blue.
By AFAR Editors
Oct 1, 2020
Courtesy of Amour Vert; design by Emily Blevins
Travel pants come in all styles and fabrics. Find what works best for you.
Save the yoga leggings for your next wellness retreat and strut the (airport) runway in these travel pants instead—they’re snuggly enough for long days on the road, but stylish enough for the world’s fashion capitals.
For many, dreaming of an hours-long plane ride or road trip conjures images of comfortable stretchy leggings, and the idea of touring a new destination without a casual pair of joggers is often unimaginable. Even reliable everyday denim can feel heavy and restrictive when you’re on the go. There are, however, fashion-forward alternatives that can take you from the “tourist” look to the “slick local around town” side of style.
Before you invest in a new pair of pants for your upcoming adventures, consider what kind of travel you do most often (business trips to big cities or weekend getaways to the beach?) and the climate you’re heading to (cold and rainy or hot and dry?). While you’re shopping, you’ll also want to keep the following features in mind:
Without further ado, here are the best pairs of travel pants for women that are both stylish, and yes, comfortable:
There’s no arguing the versatile appeal of black clothing when it comes to vacation packing. Sticking to the classic color, Amour Vert, a San Francisco–based environmentally friendly brand, has created the Eldora wide leg pant—and it’s anything but basic. Made out of soft and pampering Tencel and featuring a flattering pleated front, the cool, airy pants are particularly suitable for all-day exploring in warmer climates. Lounge comfortably in them on the plane then team with a cropped top and sneakers upon landing, and get ready to collect compliments in foreign languages. —Flora Tsapovsky
ADVERTISEMENT
When you need elevated yet comfortable clothing, it doesn’t get better than Ace&Jig, a Brooklyn-based, women-owned mini sartorial empire. The brand makes its own woven textiles, collaborating with Indian artisans to create the softest, most luxurious textures imaginable. Its Balloon pants are no exception: Cozy enough to sleep in, but striking enough to be worn in the world’s fashion capitals, the straight-leg, elastic-waisted pants (with pockets!) are a travel must. —F.T.
What’s a sarouel, you may ask? Only the most comfortable drop-crotch pant, and one that is traditionally worn in North Africa and the Saharan regions. Anissa Aida… designer Anissa Meddeb, who grew up between Tunis and France and is now based in New York, gives the garment a tailored twist by making it out of high-quality Tencel and adding pleats and pockets for a sophisticated fusion feel. The result: the sharp-looking Striped Sarouel. The roomy and flowing pants look equally good with heels or high-tops and will feel right at home whether you’re at a resort or on a mountain top. —F.T.
If you need to head to a business meeting straight from a long plane, train, or car ride, the Jet Set Trouser from women-owned clothing brand Epoque Evolution will do the trick. Made with a machine washable material that won’t wrinkle and is quick to dry, these pants will leave you looking polished no matter how long you’ve been sitting in the same position (or biking around the city).
ADVERTISEMENT
If front pockets tend to bulge around your hips, these pants are pocketless in the front and feature pull-on styling making them feel like a fitted pair of high-waisted leggings (there are two pockets in the back that are large enough to hold an iPhone Plus or your passport). Designed for travelers of all heights, you’ll find a bartack at the hem so you can customize the fit. —Lyndsey Matthews
If you’ve ever wished you owned a pair of pants that combined the technical features of your best performing yoga leggings with the style of your cutest culottes, then meet the Easy Day Pants by Aday. Like all of the pants by this sustainable, technical clothing brand for women, the Easy Day Pants are made for active, jet-setting women who don’t want to sacrifice performance or style.
Modern and versatile in design, these pants are also incredibly comfortable, breathable, pill-resistant, and virtually impossible to wrinkle. Aday’s clothes are also durable. These pants can last years of frequent use without looking rough or faded. —Jessie Beck
The Petaluma Ponte Pants, as well as everything in the Bluffworks line, are designed with active people in mind—whether that means biking to work or sightseeing for a full day. You can bike miles in these pants and they’d never become rumpled or sweaty thanks to a lightweight, full coverage fabric that’s wrinkle resistant; it also has built-in odor control. There’s also enough stretch in the fabric to make them as comfortable as your favorite leggings while still looking like a pair of sleek dress pants.
ADVERTISEMENT
Available in solid black and either a standard 27.5-inch or petite 25.5-inch inseam, they are a versatile staple that can be dressed up for business events, or down for casual days exploring a new city. Most importantly, the Petaluma Ponte Pants have five pockets, including four front and back pockets that are zippered to blend in seamlessly. They also have a hidden waistband pocket for stashing cards and cash. —J.B.
Following a trip to her native Ethiopia, model Liya Kebede launched Lemlem, an artisan-driven clothing line made entirely in Africa. The striped Eshe Classic Pant is an airy option ideal for casual days exploring the shores of the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. Made in Ethiopia with a lightweight blend of cotton and acrylic, these pants come with a tie belt at the waist and two pockets at the side; they are available in a saturated blue and deep olive green. Five percent of the sales of these pants are donated to the Lemlem Foundation, which supports women artisans in Africa by connecting them to healthcare, education, and pathways to jobs. —L.M.
This article was originally published in November 2018; it was updated in October 2020, and again on June 1, 2022, to include current information.
>>Next: 11 Comfy Pants That Are Perfect for Both WFH and Long Flights
Sign up for the Daily Wander newsletter for expert travel inspiration and tips
Please enter a valid email address.
Read our privacy policy
more from afar