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A good pair of travel pants is a critical item to have in your wardrobe. It's probably one of the last things on your mind when you're preparing for a trip, but it's the bedrock of your long-haul flight or overnight roadtrip getup. What you wear to the airport sets the tone for how your trip is going to go, and there's nothing worse than being uncomfortable when you're stuck in a middle seat. So invest in a pair of travel pants.
Whether you're looking for a pair to designate to long-haul flights, short weekend jaunts, Amtrak endeavors, road trips, or even just for your office commute, travel pants come in all forms. Sure, there's the classic jogger from a trusty performance wear brand (cough, cough, Vuori), but we'd recommend trying something more dressed up in a wider cut and hard-wearing fabric with apair of loafers. (Maybe even a cowboy boot?) If that's not your speed, there's plenty of stretch chinos to pair with white sneakers and call it a day.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R44ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeIf you're ready to find your new travel companion, look no further. Below, find the 13 best travel pants to make life on the go just a little bit easier.
Chino Pants
Amazon's in-house label has once again produced an affordable style that's too good to pass up. With a silhouette that'll work for most body types, wrinkle-resistant fabric, and a classic roomy fit with a straight leg, they're perfect for going straight from the plane to your lunch meeting. An added bonus? They're even machine washable.

$28.20 at amazon.com
Lightweight Seersucker Romeo Pant
On this list, you're going to see a lot of tech fabrics: stretch this, sweat wicking that. All those are good, but they don't necessarily look good. If you want good looking and pretty good performance, we'd suggest seersucker. For travel pants, the Buck Mason Carry-On pants are unbeatable. The wide cut gives you plenty of space for movement, and the mid-rise is comfortable for long periods of sitting. Plus, that 100-percent cotton seersucker is both lightweight enough to catch a breeze and substantial enough for a frigid overnight flight.

$228.00 at buckmason.com
Elijah Straight Cashmere Denim
Listen we love denim. Some of Esquire's editors will rock real raw denim on the plane, but we understand that's not for everybody. If you want the look of jeans, but the comfort of a pair of sweatpants, Citizens of Humanity cuts its denim with cashmere.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4jekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeSounds lame a gimmicky, but we swear it's actually good. They look like real denim without being screen-printed for the look. There's some stretch, some softness, and the heftiness of denim. Only downside is that they're not great for summer travel.

$268.00 at citizensofhumanity.com
Radius Flex Pants
Mack Weldon hits the mark with these travel-ready Radius pants. Not only is the high-tech fabric water-resistant and quick drying (no need to worry too much about spills—don't worry, we'll blame the turbulence), but it's also extremely comfortable. So if you're not partial to wearing the brand's travel-ready Ace Sweats, these are the next-best thing.

$108.00 at mackweldon.com
ABC Trousers
Trust us when we say that Lululemon always pays careful attention to comfort, performance, and functionality. And its celebrated Commission pants—which are made of breathable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, shape-retaining fabric—are a shining example of this. Our experts especially love how this option can easily transition from the boardroom to the airport bar and that they move with you throughout the day, with no awkward adjustments needed.

$128.00 at lululemon.com
Travel Jeans
Bonobos? On a list of the best pants? Of course! The brand specializes in creating bottoms for all occasions, including travel. Case in point: these garment-dyed, five-pocket jeans with so much stretch that they almost—almost—feel like a pair of sweats. The pants are crafted with a curved waistband, and our style experts note how this type of detailing will help the pants fit better on your body by preventing the top edge from gaping.

$129.00 at bonobos.com
Sunday Performance Jogger Pants
Those joggers we mentioned? Here they are, in all their glory. The soft-to-the-touch fabric is unmatched, they are comprised of a four-way stretch fabric, and they are partially made from recycled content. Oh, and you can always check out the brand's monthly sale if you want to save some bucks.

$98.00 at vuoriclothing.com
Commuter Pants
These pants were made for travel. Literally—it's in their name. You can choose between three different fits—classic, slim, and skinny—and three different inseam lengths as well. And if that still doesn't suit you, for $10 extra, you can customize the length of your inseam. Aside from these being quite literally tailored to you, they also are stretchy, wrinkle-resistant, and have ample pockets. Need we go on?

$138.00 at rhone.com
Miramar Fit 4 Straight Pants
You probably thought that these were jeans. Well, they're not. Rag & Bone's Miramar "denim" has been going viral due to its trompe l'oeil likeness to traditional denim, yet it has a terrycloth fabrication. They're basically sweatpants masquerading as jeans, without the stretch that normally gets added to this sort of stuff.

$228.00 at rag-bone.com
Multisport Pants
When you're on the go, an elasticated drawstring waistband is the best travel companion you could ever hope for. These lightweight pants have four-way stretch (so you can sprint to your gate if the security line took longer than expected) and a straight leg that won't wrinkle. Plus, the four-way stretch allows for total freedom of motion.

$69.95 at llbean.com
Merino Travel Pants
When you're packing in a pinch and can only bring a carry-on bag, these Huckberry pants will save you much-needed space. These are ultrasoft but still breathable thanks to the merino-wool construction, and if you're someone who starts to sweat when the plane experiences turbulence, then you'll love the moisture-wicking, water-repellent fabric. Plus, no washing machine on the go is no issue—these are designed to be odor resistant for three days of wear.

$168.00 at huckberry.com
Tobermory Heavyweight Pants
Sure, these pants might be more expensive than the rest but let me tell you this: they will last. The durable cotton fleece will keep you warm amidst the airplane chill, and it's super soft for unparalleled comfort.

$325.00 at Canada Goose
Co-Op Pants
Don't worry, we didn't forget about Alo. You can wear these pants from the plane to the hotel gym without having to slow your roll and change. Plus, the water-repellent material, side-zip pockets, and the elastic waistband are the underrated heroes of the day.

$138.00 at Alo
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to fold travel pants?
Technically, you should be wearing your travel pants, so they shouldn't really need to be folded up and stuffed in a suitcase. But if you do pack 'em up for whatever reason, rolling instead of folding is a great way to ensure those wrinkle-free pants stay, well, wrinkle-free.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R6fekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHow should I style my travel pants?
This part is entirely down to preference. Well, not entirely. It's always smart to layer up when you travel, so no matter which pants you pick to wear as your bottoms, have a few options you can wear with them on top. For chicer styles, this could mean a sweater or a button-down and a blazer. If you're okay with going more casual, though, a tee and hoodie is never a bad look.
How do I care for my travel pants?
When it comes to care, look to the directions on the tag or the brand's website. Most styles are okay to be washed in cold water, but to stay on the safe side, double-check everything.
What is the best material for travel pants?
As we mentioned above, there are many different types of fabric for travel pants. While we think cotton is the safest option (you know what you're going to get with this type of material), our experts also think nylon is a great choice due to its durability, natural breathability, and quick-drying properties.
What are the best travel pants to wear on an airplane?
You want to find an option that blends comfort, functionality, and style, all of which are ideal for long flights. Many brands on this list, including Lululemon, Vuori, and Rhone, make some of our top picks for in-air travel.

Why You Can Trust Esquire
We don't write about how great things are if they aren't actually great. Every product in Esquire’s roundups is carefully chosen by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R6sekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeWhen it comes to something like travel pants, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we've personally tried, tested, and loved, along with pants that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own travels.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don't, and going from there. No two sets of legs are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you're looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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