TL;DR: My overall pick for the best travel pants for women is the Athleta Endless High Rise Pant. It’s the most versatile do-everything trouser that works for a long flight or nicer evenings out, plus it’s comfortable and wrinkle-resistant. If you want something cozier for the actual travel day, the Vuori Performance Jogger is the most comfortable pair of pants that I travel with regularly.
As someone who has been traveling for over 15 years, the pants I pack have changed a lot, but what I’m looking for hasn’t. I want pants that don’t wrinkle easily when they’ve been rolled in a packing cube for two weeks, that hold up to being washed on the road in whatever machine I find, and that look put together enough for dinner in a European city but feel soft enough to sleep in on an overnight flight.
That combination of comfort, style, and easy care is a lot to ask from one pair, which is why I’ve tested so many over the years for my carry-on-only lifestyle. Inseam options matter too. Since I’m 5’10”, I know how hard it can be to find full-length pants, so I’ve noted inseam lengths for each pick as well.
Without further ado, these are my favorite pairs that have held up the best on my travels, sorted by the kind of trip you’re packing for.
Disclosure: A few of these pants were gifted to me to test, specifically the Quince ponte pants, jeans, and leggings, and the Woolx leggings. I bought everything else on this list myself, and gifted or not, a pair of pants only makes the cut if I actually pack it for my own trips. As always, all opinions are my own.
Short on time? Here’s a quick look at our recommendations
- Best Everyday Travel Pants – Athleta Endless High Rise Pant
- Best Chic Travel Pants – Aritzia Effortless Pant (Crepette)
- Best Travel Pants for Long Flights – Vuori Performance Jogger
- Best Travel Jeans – Abercrombie High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean
- Best Black Travel Pants – Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg 4-Pocket Pant
- Best Linen Travel Pants – J.Crew Soleil Pant in Linen
- Best Quick-Dry Travel Pants – Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant
- Best Wide Leg Travel Pants – Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant
- Best Rugged Travel Pants For Outdoorsy Trips – PrAna Stretch Zion Cargo Pant
- Best Travel Pants for Cold Weather – Woolx Emerson Straight Leg Merino Pant
- Best Budget Travel Pants – Halara Flex DayStretch Straight Leg Pant
- Best Travel Leggings – Quince Ultra-Soft High-Rise Legging
#1 Athleta Endless High Rise Pant
Best Everyday Travel Pants
Material: 86% Recycled Polyester, 14% Spandex
Rise: High | Inseams: 25.5″, 27.5″, 30.5″ (meant to be a slightly cropped ankle pant look)
Features: Wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, breathable, zip pockets, 4-way stretch, made from recycled material
If I could bring only one pair of pants on a trip, it’d be the Athleta Endless Pants because of how dang versatile they are.
These look like a nice pair of tailored trousers, so they work from a plane to a work lunch to an evening out, but the PrimaStretch fabric feels like loungewear and moves with you through a full day of walking. The straight leg is an easy-to-style shape too. It works across body types and dresses up or down more easily than a wide leg, skinny, or bootcut.
Besides how versatile these are for different scenarios, it’s the travel-practical details that make the Endless pant such a winner. The fabric wicks moisture and stays mostly wrinkle-free, even after a day folded in a bag.
The high soft waistband holds things together without digging in on a ten-hour flight. And finally, I really love the zipper side pockets that easily secure a phone so it doesn’t fall out accidentally (this has happened to my husband at an airport, as well as with my wallet in an Uber before, so it’s a very nice feature).
These pants are also durable in the wash, although Athleta does recommend line drying as opposed to putting them in the dryer, which is a slight knock.
#2 Aritzia Effortless Pant (Crepette)
Best Chic Travel Pants
Material: 100% polyester (aka Crepette™, their Japanese crepe fabric)
Rise: High, pleated front | Inseams: 28.5″, 30″, 31.5″ (Inseams change by size, so double-check the exact length on Aritzia’s size chart)
Features: Wrinkle-resistant, drapey, stretchy, lightweight, nice tailored pleated look
When I want to look the most put-together for travel, usually for Europe trips, the Effortless Pant from Aritzia is what I bring. It has a tailored, pleated front and a wide-leg style that’s easy to dress up or down.
The reason it works so well for travel is that it uses Aritzia’s Crepette fabric, a Japanese crepe that’s nearly wrinkle-proof, so it comes out of a bag looking smooth. It’s also high-rise, comes in multiple lengths, and has good depth pockets.
With that said, the pleated tailored look is more formal than the rest of the pants on this list, so it’s the pick for nice trips rather than casual destinations (I probably wouldn’t wear these in Hawaii or Southeast Asia, for example). Also, since Crepette fabric is 100% polyester, it runs a touch warm on a hot afternoon, although these are still somewhat breezy. For city trips or work trips, these are great to pack.
If you want the same stylish look in a stretchier, more active fabric, the Lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Trouser is a good alternative. It uses Lululemon’s Luxtreme fabric, which is sweat-wicking with four-way stretch, so it looks like a sleek, tailored pant but feels like activewear and is more breathable for hot weather.
#3 Vuori Performance Jogger
Best Travel Pants for Long Flights
Material: 89% Recycled Polyester, 11% Elastane
Rise: Mid | Inseams: 25″, 27.5″ (jogger style, so slightly cropped; these still look good on my 5’10 frame)
Features: Ultra-soft, lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, 4-way stretch, made with recycled material
The Vuori Performance Jogger is the coziest pair of pants I own and the perfect all-day travel pants to wear on a long flight. I used to only fly in leggings, but I’ve found that I like slightly looser pants these days for all-day travel. Tight synthetic fabric tends to trap heat and just isn’t as comfortable or as breathable for hours on end, and leggings can sometimes run too thin for a cold cabin. This jogger solves all that.
Besides being soft and cozy, the thing I love about these is that they’re still super lightweight, so I don’t overheat the way I do in heavier sweats. They also double as loungewear and pajamas during your trip, but still look stylish while going to and from the airport.
These joggers are basically what I’ve lived in for the past year postpartum, so they’ve probably gotten the most daily mileage from me out of everything on this list.
Plus, travel sets are having a moment right now and a soft matching jogger set is an easy way to still look put together even when you’re going on little to no sleep. Vuori’s mini zip hoodie goes well with these if you want that set look.
#4 Abercrombie High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean
Best Travel Jeans
Material: 99% Cotton, 1% Elastane
Rise: High | Inseams: 27.50″, 29.50″, 31.50″, 33.50″
Features: Slight stretch, easy to wash and fade-resistant, mid-weight, plenty of inseams and different washes
Although not the best for hot weather, jeans are great travel pants because they don’t wrinkle and they’re very versatile for dressing up and down. My only recommendation is to go with a relaxed option that’s properly broken in so they’re comfortable as well.
The 90s relaxed cut from Abercrombie is a great option for a pair of travel jeans. They’re not too heavy, they’re comfortable once broken in, and the 90s style looks trendy without trying too hard. These are high-rise and have a relaxed leg for more ease of movement. And I find they flatter most frames (they have a Curve Love option as well). I also love how many inseams these come in so you can find the perfect fit.
These also come in a bunch of different washes so you can pick based on where you’re going. I’d choose ecru for warmer weather and summer looks, a dark wash as the do-everything that dresses up easily, and black as the sleekest for evenings and city trips.
Otherwise, if you want more give without going full jegging, the Quince Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jean is a comfy alternative that I also wear regularly. It’s a similar high-rise 90s relaxed cut, but the cotton-and-Tencel blend with a touch of spandex makes it noticeably softer and stretchier, so it’s the more forgiving option for a long day of sitting and walking while still looking like real denim.
One note that’s true of all denim is that this is the heaviest and slowest-drying pant option on this list, so it’s a city-and-cooler-climate pick rather than a humid-beach one. For city trips where I want to look a little more polished with a classic denim look, these are the jeans I pack.
#5 Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg 4-Pocket Pant
Best Black Travel Pants (That Go With Everything)
Material: 67% rayon, 28% nylon, 5% spandex
Rise: Mid | Inseams: 26″, 28″, 30″, 32″
Features: Wrinkle-resistant, 4-way stretch, cozy, four functional pockets, elastic waist with belt loops
Every trip needs one black pair of pants that goes with everything, and this is the one I’d recommend. The Quince Ponte Pants are so cozy that they almost feel like loungewear but look like real trousers, so a single pair is versatile enough for various travel settings.
And these are a big upgrade from the other ponte pairs I’ve worn from Quince because they actually have pockets!! Quince’s regular ponte pants don’t have any pockets, and it was always my biggest gripe with them. I still brought them on a 3-week trip to Europe because I love how comfortable and versatile they are, but it’s annoying not having pockets in a pair of travel pants.
Other features of these pants include 4-way stretch fabric that’s wrinkle-resistant, and I also like that the elastic waistband has belt loops in case you want to dress them up a bit with a more tailored look.
The one thing to keep in mind is that these are a mid-weight fabric, so the material takes longer to dry than a thinner knit, so it’s not what I’d pack for a hot summer trip. However, these work great as a shoulder season pant. Just whatever you do, do not put these in the dryer! My wide-leg ones shrunk by about two inches when I did, so make sure to only air dry these.
#6 J.Crew Soleil Pant in Linen
Best Linen Travel Pants
Material: 100% linen
Rise: High (although you can wear them at any rise with the adjustable drawstring) | Inseams: 26″, 28″, 31″ (designed to hit the ankle)
Features: Breathable, temperature-regulating, pockets, good-quality linen, minimalist adjustable drawstring
When I picture a warm-weather trip, I picture linen. Real linen breathes in a way no synthetic matches and regulates temperature so you’re not sweating the second you leave the air conditioning. Yes, it wrinkles, a lot sometimes. But that’s part of the look, so it looks intentional rather than sloppy (although I still bring a travel steamer with me if I’m packing linen to keep the wrinkles manageable).
What makes the J.Crew Soleil my top linen pick is a few things. It has a few different inseam options (harder to find for linen than for other pants for some reason), it actually has pockets (also not always a given with linen), it’s affordable and comfortable, and the quality of the linen is top-notch.
I also love the style of the cut. The wide leg looks put-together enough for a city dinner and breezy enough for a day near the beach, so they’re super versatile to travel with. Another great thing about these is that if you go with the white color, it’s actually lined, so not quite as see-through as pretty much every other white linen pant I’ve tried.
For more of a relaxed and beachy vibe, the Athleta Linen Pant is another good linen option that’s more of an easy, throw-on-over-a-swimsuit feel and also has plenty of inseam options.
#7 Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant
Best Lightweight Quick-Dry Travel Pants
Material: 86% Recycled Polyester/14% Elastane
Rise: Mid | Inseams: 25.5″, 27.5″, 30.5″ (meant to fall at the ankle)
Features: Quick-dry, moisture-wicking, breathable, wrinkle-resistant, all-around stretch, very lightweight, UPF 40+, made from recycled material
The Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant is the lightest and most breathable pair of travel pants I own. These are for the warm and humid destinations, and the sweaty and active travel days.
The stretchy fabric on these is silky and so light that it almost feels weightless when you’re wearing them. They barely take up any room in your suitcase and are wrinkle-resistant (although they still wrinkle if you don’t fold them well). On top of that, they’re sweat-wicking, fast-drying, and they have a UPF 40+ rating (again, great for hot weather trips).
One thing to know is that they’re pretty thin. Not see-through thin, but thin enough that I only really wear these in warm weather. And I don’t wear them on the plane since I know I’d be too cold.
The style of these is also slightly sportier than I like for a versatile travel pant, with the stripe down the side of the leg, but it still works great for an active sightseeing day, and some of the more neutral colors still look good for nights out. I have this one in navy and the lighter abalone color, and both are summer travel staples for me.
#8 Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant
Most Comfortable Wide Leg Travel Pants
Material: 47% Lenzing™ Modal, 46% Polyester, 7% Elastane.
Rise: Mid | Inseams: 30″, 32″, 35″
Features: Ultra-soft, lightweight, breathable, drapey, 4-way stretch, adjustable drawstring
I love a good wide-leg travel pant that feels as cozy as pajamas but still looks stylish and put together, and that’s exactly what the Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant does.
The AirEssentials pant features the cloud-soft knit Spanx is known for. It’s light, drapey, and comfortable enough to wear on a long flight, but the wide leg and the matching tops you can get to go with it make it look stylish for a travel day. As much as I love the Vuori Performance Jogger for travel days as well, these ones are a touch dressier.
The biggest downside to these is the lack of pockets. Ugh, why can’t all pants just have pockets?! But for me, the comfort still wins out, especially for travel days.
If you want a more versatile wide-leg option for sightseeing that’s still cozy, the Aritzia Lodge Pant is worth a look. It’s a high-rise pull-on that barely wrinkles and dresses up or down easily.
#9 prAna Stretch Zion Cargo Pant
Best Rugged Travel Pants For Outdoorsy Trips
Material: 95% Recycled Nylon, 5% Elastane
Rise: High (although you can wear them at any rise with the adjustable drawstring) | Inseams: 29″, 31″, 33″
Features: UPF 50+, water-repellent, abrasion-resistant, reinforced knees, adjustable waistband, 2-way stretch, lots of pockets, made with recycled material
Some trips call for a pair of pants that can actually take a beating, and this is the one I pack for those. When I’m headed somewhere outdoorsy, such as a national park or an Alaska cruise, the Stretch Zion Cargo is what I pack. I recently took mine to Guatemala and hiked a volcano in them, and they were perfect for that.
The fabric is rugged and abrasion-resistant with reinforced knees, so it holds up to rocks, trails, and more rugged landscapes, and the built-in UPF 50 and water-repellent finish mean it handles sun and a passing shower without needing a second layer.
It’s high-rise with an adjustable waistband and has multiple inseam options, plus it has plenty of pockets to hold everything you need. With all that said, this is the most outdoorsy-looking pair of pants on this list, so it’s the pick for adventure trips rather than city breaks.
#10 Woolx Emerson Straight Leg Merino Pant
Best Travel Pants for Cold Weather
Material: 85% Australian Merino Wool (330 g/m²), 12% Nylon, 3% Spandex
Rise: High | Inseams: 28.5″, 30″, 32″ (Inseams change slightly by size, so double-check the exact length on Woolx’s size chart)
Features: Warm enough to not need many bulky layers, temperature-regulating, odor-resistant, deep pockets, no-dig waistband, sustainably sourced merino wool
If you’re looking for a solid pair of winter travel pants, not just a base layer, you can’t go wrong with the Woolx Emerson Pants. The Emerson is a heavyweight merino trouser, which means it holds a good amount of warmth without the bulkiness of a fully lined pant. You get to stay cozy on a cold day without looking like you’re dressed for a hike.
The straight leg looks tailored enough for nicer outings, the no-dig high waistband is the same one Woolx uses on the Stella leggings (another favorite of mine), and it comes in multiple inseams.
Merino also regulates temperature and resists odor, so it wears well over several days between washes, which is exactly what you want when packing a pair of warm pants for a lengthy trip.
The only thing to note is that the heavyweight wool is warm enough that I only take these on true cold-weather trips; they aren’t as versatile for other seasons. The good news is that they’re warm enough that you usually don’t need to pack thermals to wear underneath as well unless you’re going somewhere especially cold.
For those trips with freezing weather, I like to wear the Baleaf Fleece-Lined Leggings underneath or the Woolx Stella Merino Leggings for an even warmer choice.
#11 Halara Flex DayStretch High Waisted Straight Leg Pant
Best Budget Travel Pants
Material: 79% polyester, 21% elastane
Rise: High | Inseams: 27″, 29″, 31″, 33″
Features: Stretchy waistband, belt loops, budget-friendly, sweat-wicking, 4-way stretch, drapey, wrinkle-resistant
Not every good travel pant costs a hundred dollars, and the Halara Flex DayStretch Straight Pant is the pair I’d recommend if you’re on a tighter budget. It’s high-waisted with pockets, has a flattering fit and drape, and is very affordable.
It also comes in multiple lengths, like every pair of pants on this list, and lots of fun colors. Like, if you ever wanted bright pink or lavender pants, these are for you (they come in regular neutral colors too, though, don’t worry).
The stretchy waistband is comfortable for long travel days, and the straight leg looks tidy enough to wear out, not just on a plane. These also have belt loops, so it’s easy to add a belt to dress them up. These have that work pant look, like the Aritzia Effortless Pants above, so they’re a bit dressier than your average travel pant.
Just keep in mind that these aren’t made with the highest quality fabric, so they’re not as breathable on hot days. On the plus side, I’ve yet to see them wrinkle with that magical synthetic material they use.
#12 Quince Ultra-Soft High-Rise Legging
Best Travel Leggings
Material: 86% polyester, 14% spandex
Rise: High | Inseams: 25″, 28″
Features: Ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, anti-microbial, 4-way stretch, medium thickness
I’ll be honest, I don’t usually wear leggings while I’m sightseeing anymore, but for long transit days, leggings can still be a great cozy option for flights or bus rides. The Quince Ultra-Soft High Rise Leggings are the pair I’ve packed the most in recent years.
I’ve worn them on many flights at this point, including for a three-week trip through the UK and my honeymoon in South Africa, and they hit the sweet spot I look for in a travel legging. They’re not too thin and not too thick. This means they’re warm enough for a cold cabin without making me overheat, they’re not see-through, and they’re soft and comfortable enough to sleep in.
I run cold on planes, and I’ve found that a lot of the most popular leggings, like the Lululemon Align leggings everyone loves, are far too thin on flights for me and don’t hold everything in place the way I want on a long travel day. These Quince leggings, on the other hand, are the perfect thickness.
The moisture-wicking, anti-microbial fabric also means they wear well over multiple days between washes, which is nice when you’re packing light.
What to Look For in Travel Pants
When I’m deciding whether a pair of pants ends up in my suitcase, here’s what I look for:
- Wrinkle resistance – Nothing kills a put-together look faster than wrinkles. Performance knits and synthetic blends resist wrinkles far better than cotton. Linen is the exception since it’s still such a great natural travel fabric even if it wrinkles easily; you just have to embrace it (and maybe bring a travel steamer if it bothers you a lot).
- Breathable, all-day comfort – Travel means sitting for hours in a warm cabin, then walking for miles, so you want a fabric that’s soft and breathes well and a waistband that doesn’t dig in over a long day. I usually look for stretchy fabrics for this reason.
- Easy to wash and dry – On a longer trip, you wash things in whatever machine you can find, and dryers vary from place to place, so look for pants that machine wash and dry without shrinking or losing their shape.
- Durability and stain resistance – A travel pant takes more abuse than an everyday one, so you want fabric that holds its shape and color over many trips rather than pilling or fading after a few washes.
- Lightweight fabric – Travel pants should pack down small and not weigh your bag down, especially with carry-on limits. The lightest pairs barely take up room and let you fit more, which is why I lean toward thin performance knits for warm trips.
- Versatility in color and cut – The most useful travel pants work in more than one setting, so I look for neutral colors that mix and match with everything I pack and a style that easily works from day to night.
- Finding a good inseam for your length – Comfort matters, but you want to feel pulled together too, so check the inseam and whether a brand offers more than one length, since the right length changes how a pant looks more than almost anything else. I might be more sensitive to this since I’m tall, but it’s still good to find pants that fit your frame.
A quick word on fabric, since it drives most of the above. Performance knits (like the ones Vuori, Athleta, and Lululemon use) are the most versatile, soft, stretchy, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant.
Ponte is a heavier knit that looks more like real trousers while still feeling like loungewear. Linen is unmatched for hot weather because it breathes like nothing else, as long as you accept that it wrinkles.
Merino wool is the cold-weather pick, since it holds heat without looking bulky and resists odor over multiple wears. And denim is the most durable and dressed-up option, though it’s the heaviest and slowest to dry. Matching the fabric to your trip matters a lot when choosing a versatile pair of travel pants.
FAQs About Travel Pants
They can be fine for a travel day, especially a short flight or a layering piece in cool weather, but I don’t wear them sightseeing anymore and rarely wear them for flights. I prefer looser pants for that these days.
Tight synthetic fabric over a long, warm flight traps heat and moisture and just isn’t the most comfortable or breathable choice for hours on end. I’d rather be in a cozy jogger or a soft ankle pant.
Look for brands that offer a dedicated tall inseam rather than a single length. Athleta, Lululemon, Vuori, and Aritzia are all great at offering tall lengths in most of their pants.
For a carry-on-only trip, I usually bring three to four pairs that each do different jobs. I bring something cozy for the flight and sleeping, something nicer for dinners and evenings out, and one or two casual pants for daytime sightseeing. Choosing versatile pants means you can pack fewer of them.
A high-quality pair usually runs somewhere from $100 to $150, though there are solid budget options closer to $40 to $50. I’d rather spend a bit more on a pair that lasts for years of travel than keep replacing cheap pants that fall apart.
I lean loose for long flights. On a long-haul, your legs and feet can swell from sitting and the cabin pressure, so a relaxed cut is more comfortable than something that’s tight on your body for hours. Loose also breathes better in a warm cabin and layers more easily when it gets cold. A soft jogger or a relaxed cozy pant is my go-to over anything compressive, though for a short hop it matters less.
Start with the fabric, since performance knits and wrinkle-resistant blends do most of the work for you. Beyond that, rolling your pants instead of folding them cuts down on creases and saves space, and packing cubes help keep everything compressed and smooth. If something does come out creased, hang it in the bathroom while you run a hot shower to help steam out wrinkles without an iron.
Yes, and that’s part of what makes a good travel pant worth it. Performance knits and merino wool resist odor and shrug off a day of wear, so you can get several wears between washes, which is exactly what you want when you’re living out of a carry-on. Merino in particular is naturally odor-resistant, so a pair like the Woolx Emerson can go several wears before it needs a wash.
Conclusion: My Pick for the Best Travel Pants for Women
The best travel pants really come down to matching the type of pant to your trip. Go for a breezy linen pair for a hot week by the water, a rugged cargo for a national park, or a cozy jogger for a long-haul flight. The right one depends on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing there.
Any of the pants in this article will serve you well, so think about your next trip, pick the one that fits it, and you’ll be set. And if you want a place to start, the Athleta Endless High Rise Pant is the one I’d grab if I could only pack a single pair.
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.
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