Athleta makes some of the best travel pants out there. They’re lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, some have a UPF rating, and they’re comfortable enough to sit in for a ten-hour flight.
But they also make a lot of them, in styles that look similar online and perform completely differently in real life. Some are secretly athleisure. Some are see-through in the wrong colors. They all have different inseams to navigate.
So, I bought and tested eleven pairs to sort out which ones are actually good for travel. Below are the best Athleta travel pants for women, four pairs I’d pack for four different kinds of trips, plus two I almost loved that didn’t quite work out for me but might work for you.
I’ve noted what each pair is good for as well as its weaknesses, and which colors and lengths I like most, so you can pick the right pair for your upcoming trip.
–> Looking for more pants that are good for travel? Read my guide to the best travel pants for women
Short On Time? Here’s a look at my top picks for Athleta travel pants
- Endless High Rise Pant – Most Versatile Travel Pants
- Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant– Most Lightweight and Breathable
- Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant – Best Denim Alternative For Travel
- Pinnacle Trouser – Best Lightweight Wide-Leg That Doesn’t Look Like Athleisure
–> For a detailed look at all 15 items I tried from Athleta, read my Athleta review
#1 Endless High Rise Pant
Most Versatile Travel Pants
If you only buy one pair from this list, the Endless High Rise Pant is a good one to start with. It’s the pair I can wear on a red-eye, through a day of museums, and out to a nice dinner without changing or looking like I slept in it.
That’s rare, and it comes down to the fabric, which is a textured recycled polyester that’s a touch thicker than the Brooklyn but still lightweight and breathable. The slightly thicker material means it also hides underwear lines better and is the least wrinkly of any Athleta stretch pants I’ve tried.
It holds its shape from morning to night, and in black it honestly passes for real trousers, so one pair covers both casual days and nicer evenings out.
One thing to note is that there’s some fullness through the hips for these pants due to the pockets. I have an athletic build and noticed it, but still thought they looked good on me. They also seem to work well for pear-shaped bodies.
However, if you’re on the narrower side, that extra volume might look a little overwhelming, so just make sure to try them on properly to see if the style fits your body type.
#2 Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant
Most Lightweight and Breathable
On a hot, sticky day when most pants would have you sweating through them, the Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant is the pair you want on. They’re the lightest, most breathable pair on this list, made from a soft, airy recycled polyester that Athleta calls Featherweight Stretch.
They dry fast enough that a hotel-sink rinse is no problem, the waistband sits higher than “mid rise” suggests, and there are zip pockets on the back. They’re also rated UPF 40+, which is a nice bonus on a sunny sightseeing day when your legs are exposed for hours.
Two things to know. The fabric is thin enough to be a little see-through in lighter colors (like Abalone), so plan your underwear and lean toward a darker color if you can for travel. The darker color also plays down the side stripe, making it more versatile, and doesn’t pick up stains as easily.
And for all their comfort, these are still athleisure, meaning nice but sporty enough that they won’t pass in a work trip setting the way the Endless or Pinnacle pants will. They’re good for sightseeing and travel days, but don’t work as easily for nicer dinners.
I also tried the wide-leg version of these pants, and while it’s just as comfy and breathable, the athletic side stripe suits the tapered ankle design better.
#3 Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant
Best Denim Alternative For Travel
The Skyline Barrel Pants are the most structured pants on this list, and they’re what I pack when I’d otherwise want jeans but want something lighter and more breathable.
They have a proper trouser waistband, belt loops, and a zippered fly, and Athleta gives them a denim-like structure with some stretch, so you get a put-together look for dinners and city days with none of the weight or stiffness denim adds.
The barrel-leg shape is soft and easy to move in all day, with deep pockets that swallow a phone and passport even though they don’t zip. They’re rated UPF 40+ too, so they protect your legs.
In terms of color, I tried on three colors before deciding to keep the Slate, which is a rich grey blue.
The other colors I tried were Solstice and Bright White. Solstice is a pastel yellow and a fun summer option that’s great if you’re looking for a color pop for your closet. I was tempted to keep it, but I ultimately thought the Slate would be the more versatile color.
The Bright White was slightly too sheer for me, and I didn’t like how much my underwear showed. I also didn’t love being able to see the outline of the pockets and structure of the pants. The darker colors are more subtle in that regard.
#4 Pinnacle Trouser
Best Lightweight Wide-Leg That Doesn’t Look Like Athleisure
Most of Athleta’s pants look workout-adjacent up close. The Pinnacle Trouser doesn’t, even though it’s just as comfortable as other Athleta pants, and that’s why I love it for travel.
They’re the pair I pack for a hot trip when I want to look somewhat put together, but the Endless would be too warm.
The Pinnacle is made in a smooth Italian fabric Athleta calls Euroluxe that feels a lot like the Brooklyn fabric. In other words, it’s light, soft, quick-drying, and about as wrinkle-resistant.
What sets them apart is that they close with a zippered fly and hook-and-eye clasps like real trousers, which is the main reason they don’t look like leggings.
The waistband is tailored in the front but stretchy in the back, so it’s comfortable through a long travel day and hours of sitting.
The only downside to these pants is that there are no belt loops, which would be nice to have on a pair that’s meant to pass as dressy. And the ultra-wide leg can be a lot for some. You really have to like that extra-wide leg look.
Athleta Pants I almost Loved
These two didn’t quite work out for me, but the reasons were specific enough that they might work better for you. Both also cover a kind of trip the four pairs above don’t, so they’re worth knowing about.
Venice High Rise Jogger
The Venice High Rise Jogger is the softest pair I tested from Athleta. It stretches like a legging but isn’t as tight around the crotch, so it’s comfortable through a long flight. It breathes, too, which is better than most leggings.
Then there are the pockets, which are the reason I wanted these to work. There’s a small zip pocket in front, and both back pockets zip closed, which is nice for keeping things secure on travel days. On top of that, they’re UPF 40+ and quick-drying.
The color is what ruined them for me. I went with Abalone, and the thin fabric in such a light color meant it was pretty see-through, to the point where you could clearly see underwear lines and the shape of my phone in a pocket. Nothing darker was available in my size and length when I ordered, so I returned these before I got to travel with them.
The fabric is a bit thicker than the Brooklyn or Pinnacle and runs warmer, which makes these more of a spring and fall pant than a hot weather one. Order black or another dark color, and these have the potential to be a great travel day pant.
Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant
I ended up keeping the Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pants, but the more I’ve worn them, the more I feel like I actually should’ve returned them.
The problem is how billowy they are. There’s so much extra fabric that it makes me look heavier than I am, the legs flap against each other when I walk, and the waist poofs out when I sit down. Even the tall runs an inch long on me, so I’ll need to get them hemmed eventually.
Almost everything else about them works. They’re 100% European Flax linen, midweight, only slightly scratchy, and noticeably softer than the Quince linen in my closet. They also wrinkle less than any other linen I own, probably because they’re a little thicker.
I walked 10,000 steps in 78-degree weather in them and stayed comfortable the whole time. The thick drawstring waistband gives you actual tummy control standing up, and the front zip pockets are something I haven’t come across on other linen pants.
So this one really comes down to whether you like an extra-wide leg for linen pants. If you do, these do it well, and they’re still what I’d point you toward for a beach week, a cruise, or a resort trip, since nothing else I tested covers that from Athleta. If you’re already unsure about that much fabric, skip them.
A Note About Athleta Sizing & Length Options
Wearing the Skyline Barrel Pants in a regular length (left) vs the tall length (right).
For reference, I’m 5’10” and usually a size 8 or a medium in most brands. However, I almost always size down in Athleta pants to a size 6 or small. The fabric for the stretchy pull-on styles has enough give that the smaller size fits better and looks less baggy.
The one exception is any that have a structured fit and a non-stretchy waistband, like the Skyline Barrel Pants, I wear my usual size 8.
Another thing to think about is length. Athleta makes most pants in petite, regular, and tall, but the inseams can be different depending on the pants, so it’s worth looking at the sizing section on the product page before you buy.
My ideal inseam is 32 inches, and Athleta’s tall runs anywhere from 30 inches on the Skyline, which is meant to sit at the ankle, up to 34.5 inches on the Venice wide leg. That’s a big spread, so don’t assume tall means the same thing across the line.
This just means that Athleta pants can run a little long if you’re between 5’8”-5’10”, depending on how long your legs are, but I still think the tall length looks better on all the pants I tried than the regular. I tried both lengths in most of these pants to see the difference. If you’re under 5’8”, the regular or petite length is the best choice.
Final Thoughts On The Best Athleta Pants For Travel
I’ve worn the Brooklyn Ankle Pants a lot since I bought them over a year ago because they’re so dang lightweight and comfy on hot days, whether it’s the beach (left) or a sightseeing day in Northern California (right).
The thing I want you to take away from this article is that there’s no single best Athleta travel pant; there’s a best one for the kind of trip you’re taking.
A city trip with nice dinners, a hot sightseeing week, and a long day of travel all call for something different, and the four pairs above cover most travel scenarios between them. The trick is matching the pants to the trip instead of buying the one with the prettiest product photo.
The two things that trip people up are sizing/length and color, so those are worth thinking about and looking at closely before you order. Get the length and size that’s right for your body, lean toward darker colors if you don’t want to think about what’s underneath, and you’ll skip the returns.
Any of the pants above will serve you well once you’ve matched them to where you’re going.
Mimi McFadden
Mimi started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. 13 years and 45+ countries later, she accidentally became a packing expert. Now she helps women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and which gear is actually worth it. Outside of travel, you’ll find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, and winning 3-point contests against her husband.
Pin one of these images for future reference
