The 5 Best Travel Pants for Women in 2021: Cute, Functional & Field-Tested (2024)

Finding the perfect pair of women’s travel pants is no easy feat. But finding a pair of travel pants that are both technical AND cute? How about technical, cute, AND sized to fit on my tall, curvy Amazonian body? HA! Forget about it. How dare I have such unreasonable expectations?!

But guess what? After trying on, returning, trying on again, and field-testing like crazy, I’ve found 6 absolutely amazing pairs of travel pants for women. They’ve changed my packing game, and I’m about to change yours!

Psst: Looking for more tips on what to pack for your next trip?I’ve got some other posts that might help!Take a look below or browse all of our packing guides.

• The Best Women’s Travel Shoes
• What to Pack for a Beach Vacation
• The 6 Best Swimsuits for Curves

Oh, andif you have a dude to dress, Jeremy wrote up a guide to the best travel pants for men.

Is it me, or do women’s travel pants generally suck?

Browse the womens’ travel pants section in your local outdoor outfitter and you’ll find roughly 4 main categories of terrible travel trousers (TTT for short, trademark pending):

✔ There are the quick dry pants that convert to the most hideous shorts you’ve ever seen.

✔ There are the hiking pants that look like they’re still storing the 90’s in their massive cargo pockets.

✔ There are the ladies’ travel pants that are actually just mens’ pants but with the word “ladies’” in the title, as if that’s supposed to fool me enough to overlook my cameltoe and that uncomfortable pull across my hips.

✔ And then there are the women’s’ travel jeans, which are exactly like regular womens’ jeans: thin and stretchy, with teeny tiny pockets that hold roughly ½ of a chapstick and 3 dimes, and end up shredded to pieces after a good 5 minutes of inner thigh rub/walking.

Needless to say, shopping for travel pants is right down on the bottom on my list of favorite things to do alongside root canal and being rescued off of waterfalls while having a panic attack (I speak from experience, unfortunately).

In the past, my solution has been DIY: I sewed in pockets (even hidden pockets!), I added chub-rub patch protection, I hemmed, I repaired. It’s a great way to actually use that fashion design degree I paid a zillion dollars for, but it’s frustrating. I don’t want to have to sew my own pairs of pants just to have good pants.

But! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. After literally years of searching, trying on, She-Hulking my way out of inaccurately labeled jeans, and field-testing, I’ve found 5 pairs of the best travel pants for women, which serve 5 completely distinct purposes.

With these 5 travel pants, you can actually have your pant situation covered. Like, you’re good. This is it. Packing is done. Like maybe throw in a dress or whatever, but pants? Check.

I know, I know: it’s too good to be true, right? But y’all, I’m on my soapbox and I am speaking from EXPERIENCE.

As a full time travel blogger, I’ve logged a LOT of hours in these miracle pants, including a year-long honeymoon, city breaks, jungle treks, mountain hikes, and even the aforementioned waterfall repelling disaster (I was wearing pant #2).

These 5 ladies’ travel pants have proved themselves. They fit on my 5’10″, size 12-14ish size body, they function as promised, and they feel amazing. With these 5 pants in my pack, I can go anywhere (cue Reading Rainbow soundtrack).

With these 5 pairs of pants, I don’t even have that oh-god-get-me-out-of-these-leg-prisons feeling you get when you arrive home from work and disrobe .5 steps into your door.

I even wore JEANS ON A PLANE once. You guys. Jeans on a plane. Not yoga pants. Not leggings. JEANS. It was a lot like snakes on a plane, except with less Samuel L. Jackson and more me drooling onto my husband’s shoulder in a comfy jean-induced nap.

So, are you ready to have your world turned upside down and your legs encased in travel-ready, pocketed fabric heaven? Without further rambling, here are the 5 best travel pants for women.

The Best Women’s Travel Jeans

I recently discovered these travel jeans from Aviator USA, and my one great regret in life is that it took 28 years for us to become acquainted. Because I am full-on OBSESSED with them.

Love can come in the form of a good pair of jeans, and for me, these are The Ones.

What makes these travel jeans so incredibly wonderful? Let me count the ways…

✔ They’re incredibly stretchy and soft.

The fabric of my black Aviator USA jeans is buttery soft and super stretchy, in a way that makes them insanely comfy and perfectly fitted, but not in the kind of way that makes my cheap stretchy jeans fall down when I walk too fast or do something athletic, like crossing my legs.

The fabric is so stretchy and comfortable that I’ve actually started wearing my Aviator jeans on travel days.

Yes, y’all: these are jeans you can actually wear on a plane. I literally never thought I would utter those words, but here we are.

✔ Lightweight jean fabric, the better for stuffing in your suitcase.

My normal jeans are heavy and thick, and roll up into massive jean balls that are impossible to stuff in my suitcase.

But my Aviators? They’re wonderfully lightweight and pack down into a nice, neat, travel-friendly roll. Which means I can fit more clothing in my suitcase because I am a serial overpacker!

Plus, the lightweight fabric makes these the perfect jeans for warm weather days.

As a huge bonus, the Boyfriend Fit jeans are also made with Tencel, one of my favorite sustainable travel-friendly textiles!

✔ Surprisingly quick-drying.

The first week I owned my black Aviator USA jeans, I wore them 5 days in a row on a weekend trip. I wore them on a plane, and I wore them all day as we explored freezing cold, rainy Seattle.

And to my delight, not only did they keep my legs cozy and warm, but they dried quickly after getting wet, too!

I’ve since taken to wearing my Aviator jeans on rainy days and even in the snow. I took a pair of Comfort Slim Straight Aviator jeans with me on a trip to the Arctic Tundra in Norway. The Slim Straights are a little roomier than a regular skinny jean, and with the extra space, I was able to fit a pair of wool leggings underneath, making these the perfect cold-weather jeans. And when they did get wet from the snow, they dried off quickly!

✔ Front pockets that are actual human-sized.

None of that BS “this pocket will fit 1 key and 4 tic-tacs” crap. I have a LOT of angry feelings about the lack of pockets in women’s clothing and how it’s a sexist, patriarchal conspiracy designed to sell more purses, but I won’t get into that here.

What I will say is this: I can fit my giant phone in the front (FRONT) pocket of my Aviator USA jeans. I can fit my whole hand, up to my cute travel watch-covered wrist.

I can sit down with my phone in my pocket, and it doesn’t pop out and fall on the floor like I’ve just given birth to a phone from my hip. My giant Samsung phone even fits fully in the “coin pocket,” which is the size of most jean pockets on inferior jeans.

My Aviator USA travel jean pockets are as big as the pockets on all of my husband’s jeans, and I’m angry that I even HAVE to celebrate that, but I’m celebrating it anyway.

✔ Roomy AF back pockets, and a hidden zippered back pocket!

As a result of living my life deprived of functional front pockets, I’ve developed a back pocket habit. And the back pockets on my Aviator USA jeans are fantastically large.

Plus, one of them has a cool hidden zippered pocket that is ALSO fantastically large. That’s 2 pockets in 1 pocket. Pocket-ception!

• Pocket Note: The Boyfriend Fit actually has TWO hidden back zippered pockets!

Also, the hidden pocket is actually hidden: the zipper is tucked underneath the back pocket flap, so you can’t see it even when I sit down, bend over, or twerk.

Meaning pick-pockets can eff off forever, and also that I can twerk/use the bathroom without worrying that my credit card, license, or transit card is going to fall out of my back pocket, never to be seen again.

✔6 (or 7) pockets that are all actually useful.

I know, I know, I’m obsessed with pockets. But can you blame me?! There are 6 of them in these jeans, and they’re all big enough to actually hold stuff!!!!!!!! (Ahem: the Boyfriend Fit, which is an overachiever, has 7.)

This is life-changing. Screw you, Patriarchy!

✔ They come long, but are easily tailored.

The 2 colors of Aviator USA jeans only come in 1 length (because it’s a small company making each pair of. jeansto order from a factory in Los Angeles) and I’m happy to report that it’s long enough for my 5’10″ height.

For shorter ladies, the jeans are hemmed in a way that makes them easily tailored. Aviator offers FREE custom hemming for all their jeans. You’ll just need to check the box below the “Add to Cart” button on this page, then select your desired inseam from the dropdown.The only downside is that you won’t be able to return your jeans once they’ve been hemmed.

If the commission makes you nervous, you can order them full-length and get them tailored when you’ve decided to keep your jeans. Tailoring costs about $10, which Aviator Jeans is happen to refund (just email them a copy of your receipt. They’re super nice!)

And you don’t even need to find a ~tailor: you can literally just walk into a Men’s Wearhouse and use their in-house tailor, which is super fast. Yes, ladies, The Men’s Wearhouse tailors women’s jeans too. Full disclosure: I am a former employee. RIP, my sweet employee tailoring discount!

At this point, I’ve tried just about every pair of Aviator jeans, each color, and every fit. I’ve found that Black is typically stretchier than Indigo, so you might want to size up if you’re buying a pair of Indigo pants. White is pretty see-through and does not pass the squat test, so you’ll want to wear a thong. And the Boyfriend fit is my current favorite!

In terms of sizing, 32 is about a 14, 24 is about a 16, and 36 is about an 18. (And I’ve got a few pairs in all 3 of those sizes from the past few years…) When I hit size 20 after giving birth, Aviators sadly stopped comfortably fitting on me, but I’m looking forward to fitting into them again one day!

And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Aviator directly with questions. They are a small company and will respond to you directly, and their customer service is fantastic!

You can browse all available colors and styles on the Aviator USA website.

The Best Hiking Pants for Women

I’m not strictly a city traveler. I’m also an outdoorsy traveler, who loves nature and the occasional adrenaline rush (in moderation).

For all of my adventure/hiking/outdoorsy travel needs, I wear my prAna Halle Pants.

They’re designed for hiking, climbing, exploring, running, jumping, butt-scooting, knee-hitting, and white-water rafting. I know this because I’ve done all of the above in my Halle pants, and other than a popped button that I quickly sewed back on with my trusty travel sewing kit, they’ve survived completely intact.

Let me gush about these pants a lil’ bit and tell you why I love them so much.

✔ They’re highly technical: super stretchy, quick-dry, moisture-wicking, breathable, reinforced, and water repellent.

Hiking & trekking pants are about function first and foremost, and the prAna Halle pant nails function.

When we were hiking the Quilotoa Loop in the Andes in Ecuador, we got lost a zillion times and I ended up crawling up a mountain on my hands and knees. I’d made the mistake of wearing leggings, which ended up full of tiny holes and tiny itchy things stuck in the fabric for the rest of my 10-hour long hike.

But the next day, I wore my Halle pants: no holes, no irritating stickers, no problems.

In addition to a reinforced knee and technically designed fabric that lets your skin breathe even when you’re sweating, the pants are water-repellent. Now, they aren’t water proof – then they wouldn’t be very breathable, so that’s a good thing – but I’ve worn these in the rain, under a waterfall, and during a white-water rafting trip and even after getting soaking wet, they dry within an hour.

Quick dry pants? Check!

Oh, and they’re also super stretchy and incredibly comfortable.

✔ They are actually cute. Like, for real.

Most women’s hiking pants are hideous and make me want to hide in the wilderness while I’m wearing them.

But my Halle pants are legit cute. Like, I’ve actually worn them to work in a corporate office setting, as business-casual pants. I was so comfortable all day!

The legs are fully flared at the bottom, not that weird sort-of-skinny-but-kinda-straight mom jeans look that I absolutely cannot pull off. prAna does have a slim fit hiking pant, but the flare on the Halle pant is actually functional, becauusseeee….

✔ They can be converted from long pants to short pants.

NO, they’re not zip-offs. And NO, they don’t look hideous after you convert them.

The flared bottom rolls up easily into a cuff that ends above or below your knee, for a cute cuffed capri length pant.

Personally, I have massive calves, as do most hikers and bikers and athletic folks, and I cannot imagine rolling a skinny pant all the way up to my knee. But the flare makes it so that these roll up perfectly.

And the cuff doesn’t fall down, either: there are 2 little tabbed snaps to hold it in place all day long.

✔ There’s a hidden zip pocket.

The front pockets on these pants aren’t huge, but the back pockets are fine – and snap closed – and there’s a conveniently placed hidden zip pocket… It’s a few inches above the knee, sewn into the side seam.

It’s just big enough for an ID or some emergency cash – put anything too bulky in there and it stops being hidden. But I like that it’s in an unusual spot, because most pick-pockets would never think to look around my knees.

✔ They come in 3 inseams and 18 waist sizes, with a waist tie.

I love that these pants come in short, regular, and tall, as well as sizes 0-18 for all heights and sizes of badass female travelers!

I also love there is a waist tie, because some days I’m a 12 and some days I’m a 16, depending on the amount of water I’ve drank and my cycle and a whole bunch of other random things.

Plus, having a waist tie helps keep my pants up even on days where my weight is fluctuating.

The prAna Halle pant comes in several colors, which is news to me because I got mine several years ago. I really, REALLY want a pair in black and grey now. Anyway, you can pick a pair up here.

The Best Winter Pants for Women

I spent years looking for a pair of snow pants that fits my wide hips and doesn’t make me feel like I’m wearing two giant, heavy trashbags duct-taped to my thighs. Eventually, I gave up.

So, while these are not technically snow pants, what I have found instead is a workaround.

Who SAYS you need a big, chunky snowsuit to play in the snow? Nobody, that’s who.

Well, OK, actually a lot of people said that I needed to wear a snowsuit while riding snowmobiles in the Arctic Tundra and they were absolutely right.

But if you’re not going to literally the Arctic, though, you don’t need snow pants. You just need water-resistant pants that can be layered over something warm and insulating, like a warm wool baselayer (I wear these wool leggings under mine).

And these quick-drying winter pants are the best solution I’ve found for skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, and other winter adventure!

Enter the prAna Briann pant. Much like the Halle, my beloved hiking pants, the Briann pants are made from stretchy, water-repellent, rugged technical fabric. Let me tell you why these are my favorite winter pants.

✔ They’re super stretchy.

Every time I try on a pair of uncomfortable, bulky snow pants or snow overalls or whatever else, I can never get the freakin’ things to fit over my damn hips. They’re never stretchy and they’re either not wide enough, or way too wide to actually walk in without tripping.

Not these pants, though! They’re stretchy enough to run, jump, leap, hike, stretch, do yoga, or whatever else you feel like- with room to spare.

✔ They’re super lightweight.

You wouldn’t normally think of “snow” and “lightweight clothing” in the same sentence, right?

But these pants change the game! Instead of packing my suitcase or backpack with a bunch of bulky snow gear, these pants take up almost no room at all and don’t weigh very much. That’s just the magic of technical fabric, y’all.

Take note, though: for very cold destinations when the weather hovers around zero, you’ll need to layer up! While they’re great for protecting your legs against chilly winds and snow, they don’t provide much actual warmth.

So, I always layer the Briann pants over top of a merino base layer or pair of fleece-lined leggings – I actually wear both of them when the temperature is hovering around 0.

The Briann pants are stretchy enough to accommodate the extra layer, and the combination is perfectly warm and dry.

✔ They’re designed with a tapered leg.

Although they’re made with the same high-tech material as my hiking pants, instead of a convertible flared leg, they’re designed with a skinny taper that’s perfect for tucking into snow boots or snowshoes.

I layer a pair of wool socks over the legs, stick ’em into some boots, and my feet stay toasty dry even when I’m walking through deep snow!

✔ They dry incredibly quickly.

I’ve personally tested these pants on everything from rainy day hikes to sledding in thigh-deep snowdrifts, and I can report that they will be totally dry by the time you get back to your cabin from the slopes.

✔ They’re cute outside of the snow, too.

Even though I typically wear them as winter pants, they’re also incredibly cute as just like, regular pants. These are one of the most multifunctional pair of travel pants I’ve EVER owned.

If I had to pick something to complain about, my ONE irritation with these pants is that the pockets are teeny tiny. Like, there are 5 functional pockets, but they’re irritatingly small. I’d also like a zippered pocket somewhere, please?

Still – compared to heavy, bulky snow pants, I’ll take these every time!

The Briann pants come up in short, regular and tall inseams and are available up to size 18, and I’m wearing size 16 in Coal in my pics.

Psst: do a lot of winter travel? Us too! You can check out more of my favorite outdoor apparel and gear for cold destinations in this winter packing list post!

The Best Travel Leggings for Women

Raise your hand if you wish it was socially acceptable to LIVE in leggings. Anyone else?

I freakin’ love leggings, but I usually can’t justify wearing them every day on a trip. For starters, I don’t want to look like I’m going to work out – the overly athletic look isn’t what I want out of a legging. I don’t want to look like I’m going to the gym, but I do want to feel like my legs are firmly wrapped in stretchy goodness.

Secondly, most leggings have no pockets, which is an automatic disqualifier for travel-friendly pants in my book. (I used to recommend these leggings, which actually have two ZIPPERED pockets PLUS two regular pockets, but they’re not always in stock.)

So, does a magical pair of leggings actually exist that will make me feel like I’m lounging at home all day, but not make it look like I’m on my way to the gym while out exploring? Y’all, YES.

Here’s why I’m a big fan of these budget-friendly, $25 leggings from Amazon:

✔ There are TWO roomy pockets.

These aren’t your BS teeny-tiny women’s pants pockets, and they’re also not your athletic mesh pockets, either.

They’re legit pockets – big enough to fit my gigantic Samsung Galaxy phone, with room to spare.

✔ They’re insanely stretchy and super cozy.

I mean, hello, they’re leggings. But let’s be real, not all leggings are comfortable.

These are very much NOT your typical highly athletic compression leggings – you know, the ones that are difficult to put you on, suck everything so you kind of get a weird muffin-top effect, and make a swishing noise when you walk.

But they’re also not just soft cotton, either (which is good, because I love cotton blend leggings but they tend to sag and rip easily, especially between the legs when I walk too much in them #chubrublife)

The fabric perfectly toes the line between buttery-soft and cozy, and high-tech athletic wear. It’s the perfect leggings fabric!

✔ There’s a nice, thick waistband.

You know that feeling when you’re running your a** off through the airport trying to make your flight before they close the doors and they’re like, PAGING you (AHH!) and then you realize with growing horror that your leggings have slipped down past your tummy and are rapidly making a beeline for the floor?

Cue that awkward “I’m running as fast as I can but also I have to hold my pants up” move. I know that move so, so well.

Good news: these leggings won’t betray you when you most need them to stay the f**k up on your hips. There’s a hefty waistband that both sucks you in a lil’ bit and keeps everything where it belongs… even while you’re booking it through 3 terminals.

Also, yes, I’ve tested, and they’re fantastic for hiking!

✔ They’re an Athleta dupe!

Ok, so this is a 100% true story, and I promise I’m not bullsh*tting you. I was in Athleta shopping for travel pants (as I do, because this is my job and I am in a constant state of trying to find good travel pants.)

I happen to be wearing my cheap Amazon leggings. And a store associate looks at my legs, looks at the stack of leggings in my arms, and says, “oh, those are a pair of ours, right?” Y’all. I’m not kidding.

It was actually really awkward because then I had to be like “no these are actually $25 knock-offs I got from Amazon” but whatever, the point is that she was right: they’re a perfect dupe for Athleta’s Salutation Stash Pocket leggings in both look and fabric feel (the fabric feels just like Athleta’s soft, brushed Powervita).

Except those are $89, and these are about $25.

Although, I have to say: ethically speaking, I much prefer to support Athleta rather than Amazon. Athleta’s clothing is ethically and sustainably made and incredibly high quality. So if you’re able to swing a pricier pair of leggings, definitely pick up a pair of Salutation leggings instead.

✔ They pass the squat test.

I’m happy to report that these leggings fully pass the squat test, as well as the “bend over and look at yourself between your legs in the mirror” test and the twerk test (is anyone else incapable of doing the squat test without also incorporating these 2 highly scientific bonus moves?).

✔ Sizing goes up to 3XL.

We love inclusive sizing! These days I am about 18/20 and wear 2XL.

✔ There’s a fleece-lined version for winter!

I LIVE in these cozy fleece-lined leggings all winter long. They’re basically the exact same legging, but ya know, lined with soft, cozy fleece. The fleece doesn’t make them bulkier, but it does make my legs feel like they’re being hugged by a sheep!

And bonus, they’re water-resistant too, in case you happen to find yourself with the sudden urge to throw yourself on a pile of snow and make a snow angel or something (which, honestly, I find myself doing frequently now that I have a toddler).

You can pick up a pair of these budget-friendly leggings on Amazon.

The Best Women’s Travel Lounge Pants

So, I wasn’t even looking for these pants when I walked into the Outdoor Voices store in San Francisco earlier this year.

I was actually looking for ethically made athletic wear. But to my surprise, I walked out of the store with a new pair of travel pants that I am totally OBSESSED with: the Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants.

These have quickly become my favorite pants to travel in, especially on long haul flights. Here’s the rundown:

✔ They’re like if a pair of sweatpants had a baby with a pair of leggings.

Y’all, these are not your mama’s sweatpants. They are CUTE!

From the knee down, these pants fit like a pair of leggings. But from the thigh up, they fit like sweatpants: comfy, slouchy, and with a thick tie waistband (bless you, tie waistbands, for protecting my muffin top’s modesty).

What that means is that you never have to worry about them falling down while you’re running across the airport to catch a flight, and you can push the legs up if you want to do, like, a cool athleisure look or whatever (I assume if you can pull that off you’re already more trendy than I am).

And like, I’ve never felt cute in a pair of sweatpants before, but in these I totally do.

✔ They’re super lightweight and insanely soft.

Don’t let the word “sweatpants” fool you – these aren’t your typical bulky lounge pants.

They’re super soft and incredibly lightweight, perfect for stuffing in your suitcase or wearing in warm weather destinations. But they’re also insulating enough to keep your leg hairs from freezing on a flight with the A/C cranked up to a zillion for no reason (why do airplanes do that?! Why??).

✔ They have THREE pockets!

There are two deep, roomy, giant-cell-phone friendly pockets in the front and one deep, roomy hidden pocket tucked inside one of the front pockets.

They’re not zippered – that would be my one wish for an upgrade on these – but thanks to the super stretchy fabric, I’ve yet to have anything fall out of my pocket while wearing these.

✔ They’re ethically made.

Outdoor Voices is an eco-conscious company that uses recycled polyester in many of its products and thoroughly vets its factories to ensure that workers are paid a fair living wage and receive ethical treatment. Heck yea!

✔ They actually make decent hiking pants, in a pinch.

I actually didn’t mean to test these pants as hiking pants, but sometimes you gotta roll with the punches.

What had happened was, I didn’t realize that you have to wear long, dark pants in the jungle, because of animals and insects – my usual green hiking pants would attract flies like, well, flies.

So I found myself in Chitwan National Park in Nepal with nothing but linen pants, swooshy skirts, useless green hiking pants, and shorts. …and these. I figured “what the heck” and put them on.

And y’all: that was such a comfortable hike. Like, I thought I was going to be so overheated wearing sweats covered with socks tramping through a hot, humid jungle (and also sweating with fear because the jungle is full of tigers and rhinoceroses) but they were fantastic!

I credit their surprising resilience to the fact that Outdoor Voices is an athletic company at heart – they make a mean pair of leggings, so no surprise that their “sweatpants” are actually low-key athletic pants in disguise!

Jeremy and I both have a pair of these (in the exact same color, so yes, we constantly wear each other’s on accident) and we’re totally obsessed. I’ll never wear anything else on long plane rides again!

I’m wearing size XL in Navy. XL is the largest size available, but I’m a size 18/20, and there’s still plenty of room in these stretchy pants to accommodate extra curves!

The Best Women’s Travel Pants for Hot Weather

Does it feel to any other millennials like wide-leg pants were an overnight phenomenon? Like we all went to sleep one night cozy in our skinny jeans and the next day we woke up and the entire world (or at least, everyone younger than us) had decided to embrace wide-legged pants?

Well, I’ve jumped on board and I’m never going back – my legs feel so FREE! And these cute, incredibly stretchy, high-quality cropped wide-leg pants from Anthropologie have made it all the way to the top of my hot-weather list, both at home and on trips – it’s a “wear everyday, goes with everything” kinda pant.

And despite their price point, I’ve bought multiple pairs. Here’s why!

✔ The most comfortable, stretchy fabric ever.

These pants are all-over stretchy from every angle – waistband, legs, and all. That means I can wear them when sitting for long periods of time, do yoga in them, sit and bend and stretch and whatever else I want to do in complete comfort. They’re gloriously lightweight and stretchy!

✔ Work-wear appropriate – the most comfortable business casual pants you’ll ever wear.

Despite being comfortable enough to make awesome plane pants/yoga pants, these pants actually look tailored AF. The fabric holds its shape wonderfully despite its stretch. There’s a nice thick waistband, a gorgeous button, and 4 pockets. These pants look as good with a blazer as they do on the beach!

And yes, I’ve tested – I wore these pants to both a multi-day conference in humid Orlando, Florida AND a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico just to confirm. Flying colors on both counts!

✔ 4 roomy pockets that things don’t fall out of.

While there are no hidden or zippered pockets on these pants like some of my other favorites made specifically for traveling, there are 4 nicely sized pockets.

The front pockets are an upward-facing cup design, which is both super cute and also practical – it means nothing falls out when I sit down (my biggest gripe with standard pants pockets, other than always being too small).

The front pockets are wide enough to fit my phone in sideways (I have a big, chunky Samsung Galaxy) but only as deep as about 3/4 the depth of my hand, and the back pockets can fit it my phone from any angle.

✔ Breezy wide leg and breathable fabric for hot days.

These pants are perfect for hot weather, with a wide leg that lets in a lil air and fabric that help your legs stay cool.

For really hot temps, you can even buy a version in linen – my favorite breathable hot-weather textile!

✔ Comes in extended sizes, including tall, petite, and plus.

We love a pant that fits (almost) everyone! Plus sizes go up to 26W. Kinda bummed I had to pick between tall or plus (I’m about a size 20 and 5’10”) but since these are cropped, it works out fine. The world can just enjoy an extra inch of my ankle. You’re welcome, everyone.

✔ Available in a bunch of fun colors!

The first pair of these I bought in black, which goes with everything but isn’t the best option for super sunny 90+ degree days. (Totally fine on a cloudy 85-degree day, though!) So for the next pair I went with a fun, bright color instead!

✔ Also comes in prints, with an embroidered hem, full-length, and more…

I suspect I’m not. the only rabid fan of these pants, because Anthropologie has a BUNCH of different options in the same style. It looks like they release a new version seasonally, and even sometimes limited editions. RIP my wallet.

I know, I know, these aren’t a budget-friendly pant. Sometimes it’s just worth it, though, y’all. Give it a try and let me know if you like them as much as I do!

The Best Athletic Women’s Travel Pants

So, listen. I’m not sure how long the Streth Tech Jogger pants are going to be in stock at Old Navy, but if they are, YOU NEED TO GET A PAIR. (If they’re not in stock, try any of the pants and joggers made with the “Stretch Tech” fabric – it’s the same blend and there are a few similiar styles.)

Here’s why these budget-friendly pants, which I now own in several colors and styles, are at the top of my hot weather travel list:

✔ Stretchy waistband with a tie.

At this point in my life, I love a stretchy waistband + tie combination. Nothing is more comfortable or soothing than pulling on a pair of stretchy pants and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be comfortable all day long, no matter what I eat (lookin’ at you, cheese bloat).

That also means that you can adjust the pants to fit you perfectly. For reference, I’m wearing a size XL in these photos, and I’m currently a size 16/18 in Old Navy’s sizing (sometimes an 18/20 elsewhere, but as we all know, sizes are irrelevant and entirely made up).

✔ Technically, they’re activewear!

These are actually part of Old Navy’s activewear line, which means they’re fantastic for travel activities!

They’re so stretchy you could do yoga in them and durable enough to wear hiking without worrying about rips and tears.

But … they don’t LOOK like activewear. (When I wore mine hiking, Jeremy was like, “… you sure?”) They literally just look like really cute casual pants.

And friends, that kind of adaptability is EXACTLY what I look for in a good pair of travel pants!

✔ Lightweight and super quick drying.

These are my FAVORITE quick-dry pants in hot weather! They dry in no time, and don’t feel sticky or gross while they’re damp, either.

They’re the perfect pair of pants to wear on a jungle hike to a nice cool spring, dive in for a swim, and then put them on to hike back out again. Which I did in Costa Rica, so I speak from experience. (I also wore the cropped version of these pants horseback riding, which I do NOT recommend because they are cropped. My ankles were very upset with me. Full-length pants on horses only, y’all.)

✔ Ridiculously comfortable.

Oh my god, you can literally sleep in these pants they’re so comfortrable. They’re so lightweight and breezy and feel like nothing. I love them so much!

✔ Cute colors and prints!

For some reason, pants in this style are always some variation of khaki green and black. Which is great if that’s your style (and, tbh, better for jungle hiking anyway), but I tend to lean towards bright, colorful pants!

Luckily, these pants come in a range of cute prints and fun seasonal colors, so you can mix and match them with the one plain t-shirt you packed for vacation and feel like you’re still expressing your style.

Also, if you’re anything like me, you can stock up on the same pants in several colors and nobody will be able to tell, probably.

✔ There are a few different styles in the same fabric blend.

These pants tend to rotate styles seasonally, so just look for anything in Old Navy’s “Stretch Tech” line. It’s the same stretchy, poly/spandex fabric blend that’s super stretchy, comfortable, and quick-drying.

This year they came out with a range of similar pants in the StretchTech fabric, including a plus-sized version, a crop version (which is the one shown in these photos), a version with zippered pockets, and a full-length cargo jogger version.

I’ve created a custom link below that will take you to browse all of the current StretchTech styles. I recommend buying a few pairs of these pants in a variety of styles and colors! They’ve quickly become my favorite lightweight, warm-weather travel pants, and I bet they’ll be yours too.

Sizes are available up to 4X. I’m wearing an XL (I’m usually a size 16 in Old Navy), and they fit me comfortably with some extra room.

Hopefully, I haven’t scared you off by now with my rabid pocket obsession. But like, it’s not just me, right?! Is anyone else BEYOND fed up with the lack of pockets in women’s clothing?

If you’ve struggled finding travel pants, vent to me in the comments! What are your frustrations? What are your concerns? What questions can I answer for you about the best travel pants for women?

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Disclosure: The Aviator jeans and prAna Brianne pants were gifted, but I’m genuinely obsessed. All comments, raves, pocket obsessions, and decades-out-of-date pop culture references are completely my own. I legit love and wear every single one of these pants.