The 15 Best Men’s Travel Pants of 2023, Tested by Style Editors

Not only is this one of the best summer pants we’ve ever tested, but it’s also one of the most versatile and rugged travel pants we’ve tried. Our gear editor , John Thompson, even sported these as hiking pants to the great outdoors to test them and came back singing more than a few praises. Firstly, they’re made of nylon, and one thing about nylon is that it’s going to perform: really, the lightweight activewear fabric is breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and has a light natural stretch that is now enhanced with 6% of spandex in these pants. Basically, these pants have ventilation and quick-drying in spades.

Let’s talk more about that stretch: our testers found that the fabric thoroughly and easily moved with our legs in our hiking and commuting tests. It’s safe to say we love them both on and off the trail, as everyday pants or tough outdoor pants.

Also, a note on how they wear as summer pants: even when the sun is blazing, our legs never felt searing or humid in these slacks. And since the fabric is also treated with UPF 50 protection against sunlight, we wear them outdoors to travel in by default.

Pros

• Anti-ball-crushing tech relieves tension from the crotch
• Smooth, light fabric with amplified stretch and quick-drying
• Your everyday chino style but upgraded with performance

SHOP SLIM FIT

Having thoroughly tested Lululemon’s ABC pants, we found them to be the comfiest pants to stay classy in our everyday life. Really, its comfort is second to none: with sweat-wicking, quick-drying fabric, amplified four-way stretch, wrinkle resistance, and a comfortable ABC (Anti-Ball Crushing) design, the athleisure brand has managed to infuse its activewear innovation into a classic pant style geared toward everyday life.

Even though they’re partially made with polyester (which isn’t a breathable or stretchy fabric), the main material, called Elastomultiester, comes to save the day. In my experience wearing these, the fabric breathes and wicks away sweat like a beast, and the four-way stretch has made them my go-to pants for commuting to work in the summer. My favorite part is also how light and soft the fabric feels, which is why I always make sure to pack a pair of ABCs for when I’m flying away for a few days.

Read More: Lululemon ABC Pants Review

In fact, I was able to wear these pants multiple days in a row after owning them since 2020, and their stretchy performance has never let me down once. My favorite part about these pants is the anti-ball-crushing tech which I tested out to be a gusset at the crotch and thigh areas that helps relieve tension while walking. Style-wise, while the ABC looks more casual than regular chinos since it’s made without cotton, meaning no-brainer versatility as summer pants, spring pants, khaki pants, travel pants, office pants, casual pants… You get the gist.

All in all, Lululemon’s ABC pants are what guys have always hoped to find in their everyday slacks, giving you unrestrictive movement and all-day comfort without compromising on an elevated style.

Read More: Best Lululemon Men’s Pants

This slim-fit travel trouser has all the hallmarks of your go-to office chinos but with twice the functionality and comfiness factors. Really, a chino that moves like a jogger but looks like a pair of grown-up pants is no wonder Everlane’s hero item. And this was in fact handpicked to be tested by our Fashion Director Ted Stafford and then fitted on Bullet Train action star Andrew Koji. Why? Because it will move you from the tarmac to the resort without losing a second of relaxation, courtesy of the spandex four-way stretch that we found was so movement-friendly that we were able to squat and even jog a bit in them with ease. Coupled with a business-casual veneer, these chinos won us over with a versatility that’s perfect for traveling, working in the office, or going about your everyday life in a chino style.

After testing it out by wearing these chinos to the office and to travel by flight, our favorite part of Everlane’s performance chinos is its sweat-wicking and quick-drying capabilities. I even wore them on hot summer days to stroll under the sun, and the fabric was able to keep my legs feeling cool and dry. Lastly, although the fit leans slim, it hasn’t stifled or smothered the beefy thighs of our testers.

What Do Experts Say? “Everlane’s chino is comfortable to wear for all-day work, parties, or formal events. Plus, it is made from four-way stretchable fabric that prevents it from wear and tear. It is also considered to be a technical pant option because of its sweat-wicking and quick-drying features,” says Susan Gagnon, designer at Costumes Heaven.

Since launching in 2013, Vuori has been producing versatile pants that you can wear practically anywhere. Case in point: their elastic waist Ripstop pant, which features a modern slim cut and super soft fabric that’s perfect for working from home, or trekking to the airport.

Created using Vuori’s Dura Terra ripstop fabric that features a two-way stretch, we found in our testing that these lightweight travel pants with a 33-inch inseam are issued with a gusset for extra roominess too. Their modern and straight-fit cut has let me dress them up or down as I pleased. We also found it to be quite breathable and work well as summer pants.

These pants also have the same tapered style that our testers love, but offer more room to move around despite being a slim fit. The cotton and elastane fabric is lightweight and breathable, and has helped our testers remain comfortable even while being in hot weather for hours. However, the real star is the brand’s DuraTerra™ tech in the fabric: a material for active guys that can be sported all day long, for all sorts of activities, thanks to its two-way stretch flexibility, durability, strength, and stain resistance. Hence, our testers have even worn these Vuori pants to hike and bike besides just commuting and running errands.

Pros

• Very lightweight and breathable
• Moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and stretchy
• Wrinkle Resistant

Old-school chinos were reliable business casual staples but didn’t provide much comfort. A suite of forward-thinking labels—Ben Sherman among them—have updated the chino with athleisure-friendly features: stretchy waistbands and water- and wrinkle-resistant fabrics that hold up in all types of conditions without sacrificing style.

Having worn Ben Sherman’s chinos to travel in April and May 2023, I was impressed by how lightweight and smooth the fabric is. While it’s not traditional chino material, I like its nylon blend that is stretchy enough for a squat and sweat-wicking. I also found that while the fit is slim, it is not restricting, and all in all looks great enough for everyday wear as well as the office. At this price, it’s a bang for your buck.

Ben Sherman’s chinos are a favorite among stylists, and it’s easy to see why: they’re made with the ideal bit of stretch, tapered to look sharp, and enhanced with a cotton-nylon blend that provides all-day-long softness. “What I love about Ben Sherman’s Chino are their fit, cut, stretch, and a wide variety of colors,” says celebrity stylist Lisa Marie Cameron who recommends going for the brand’s unique colors to give you an elevated flare, or opting for classics that are easy to pair with your daily wear. “You can’t go wrong choosing Ben Sherman’s chinos because they are suitable for any occasion. From work to meetings, to date night, to weddings, and everything in between,” she highlights. “All it takes is your favorite color, adding your own touch of style and you’re ready to tackle the day with whatever you have planned.”

Sure, cargo pants fell out of fashion in the last couple of years, but with the emergence of the gorpcore trend embracing all things utilitarian, it’s safe to say they’re back—and looking better than ever.

These cargo pants combine style and functionality seamlessly, courtesy of their performance build. Crafted in a unique knit material, they offer unmatched stretch and mobility for any occasion, making them as comfortable as sports pants but as stylish as casual wear. We also love how they are able to retain their shape wear after wear, wash after wash. The neat built-in UV protection also has let our testers enjoy activities out in the sun worry-free all day long. One tester says he loves how these have stretch and flexibility for hours to keep up with the movement, and how the elastic waistband has always let him ensure a perfect, comfortable fit.

Lastly, with these pants, you can say goodbye to damp discomfort thanks to their quick-drying capabilities that keep moisture at bay, allowing you to stay dry and fresh throughout your pursuits. The fit is roomy above the knees and tailored below, which is versatile for working out and going out.

Pros

• Comfy, stretchy, and soft like sweatpants
• Great for lounging, working out, everyday wear, and flights
• Can be dressed up or down

These sweatpants-like travel pants are one of our testers’ perennial favorites: according to him, not only do they boast the comfort and softness of sweatpants, but they also are and look versatile for just about everything from flights to working out.

With an elastic drawstring waistband to snug them up just right, and a trouser-like silhouette, we felt that Public Rec’s travel pant is as comfortable as your favorite collegiate sweats, yet look like dress pants or office pants for work, thanks to a slim silhouette. You won’t be embarrassed to sport these in public. This stylish alternative to the normal sweatpant blows the most comfortable jeans out of the water, and sports tapered legs to help show off your sneakers too.

Our testing also shows that they’re truly the all-powerful trousers since they’re made with a unique blend of nylon and spandex that feels like a second skin but also offer a natural combo of four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and breathability. Our testers found that these pants feel like your favorite pair of soft, cozy sweatpants but look like your Monday office bottoms and work like your go-to workout pants. Using a drawstring instead of a button, you can wear this from your office to the gym to the bar—no changing needed.

Personally, I’ve worn these Public Rec pants for a long travel day that included multiple flights and layovers, from NYC to Denver. Needlessly to say, that was the most comfortable travel day I have ever had, thanks to these pants.

The brand that specializes in creating functional basics made good with these pants crafted from a high-tech fabric that’s built to brave the elements. The blend of tough polyester and spandex renders the fabric extra rugged and even weather-resistant, to the extent that in our testing, one wearer found it to be water-repellent on rainy days and stain-resistant during accidental coffee spills.

However, according to him, the best part about these travel pants by Mack Weldon isn’t just how resilient it is, but also how convenient and comfortable it is too. The back-ribbed ankle cuffs, welt zip pockets, and belt loops in front of and behind the elastic waistband are neat additions, allowing him to get a personalized fit. The spandex stretch in the fabric also optimizes flexibility and mobility, allowing us to move freely and comfortably in any situation; the natural quick-drying property has also kept our wearer fresh and dry even during intense activities in our testing.

While as joggers, these aren’t as soft or lounging-friendly as your usual go-tos, we do love Mack Weldon’s intelligent design like the stealth zip pockets that offer secure storage while maintaining a streamlined look.

Pros

• Look dressy and elevated for the office
• Stretch for maximum mobility
• Gusset for even more comfort on the go

You can tell just by the look of Rhone’s commuter pants that they’re comfortable, but let us confirm that for you. Rhone hits the nail on the head with these wrinkle-resistant commuter bottoms that are made from the brand’s premium Flex-Knit fabric. While the fabric is polyester, the material here is reworked to be stretchy and breathable.

The Flex-Knit fabric has the 4-way stretch and recovery of a Stretch Armstrong action figure, and there’s a gusset inserted into the seam to keep your below-the-belt boys breathing easy, all delivered in a timeless silhouette that you’ll keep in your outfit rotation for years to come. Best of all, the brand offers these pants in a ton of color options, both staples you can get year-round and limited-time seasonal colorways.

Designed for today’s ever-connected professional, the pants also boast a media pouch for your phone and a security zipper pocket for your cardholder. In our testers, one wearer also can’t get enough of how sleek it looks with a polo shirt or how comfortable it fits even on the go. However, the only qualm is that the waistband isn’t as stretchy and flexible as we’d like it to be.

Pros

• Classic jeans look with the comfort of joggers
• Available in so many different fits
• Can be dressed up or down

Just as you’d expect from Bonobos, the brand offers one of the most comfortable jeans on the market, available in every wash you could imagine, with fits that range from tailored to straight. These Extra Stretch Travel Jeans often happen to be a favorite by athletes and active guys who refuse to be tamed by heavy denim fabric.

According to our tester, these jeans in ultra-stretchy cotton merge the performance capabilities of the Bonobos name while maintaining the classic look of a staple pair of denim, making them a superb choice for stylish guys on the move. For instance, ever thought of going for a light jog in jeans? That seems implausible, but not impossible with these extra stretchy jeans that almost feel like sweatpants according to our tester.

Tyler Sellers, a fitness coach and professional athlete, is stoked by Bonobos’ versatile offerings. “They produce high-quality clothing in more sizes than most other manufacturers… Bonobos offers all cuts, sizes, and materials on a single product page so you can quickly choose whatever you believe will work best for you,” he says. That is also to say you’ll love the fit, four-way stretch, and classic look of these travel jeans, so make room in your closet to stock up on a few pairs.

What Do Experts Say? “What I love about Bonobos is how they cater to any body shape. Their original stretch chino is not only a well-constructed item, but is at a budget price point as well. When shopping this piece keep in mind what fit will work best for your body shape. Larger thighs? Athletic fit is the option for you. Carry a little more weight around your midsection? Stick with the straight fit,” says personal wardrobe stylist Grace Thomas.

Columbia’s Flex ROC Pants in a regular fit look just as relaxed in town as they do on a hiking trail. Add to the mix the brand’s Omni-Shade sun protection and multi-purpose pockets and you’re good to go pretty much anywhere.

One tester took these hiking pants to test them in the backcountry and mountains and came back singing more than a few praises: according to him, these are made of naturally breathable, soft, and moisture-wicking cotton. Then, there’s the stretch plus a comfy regular fit that gave him enough room and mobility.

Off-the-trail-wise, we’ve worn them as everyday pants before even in the office, and no one has batted an eye. We also love their utility features like the multi-functional pockets and a zip-up security pocket that keep our essentials and valuables safe and readily accessible.

Pros

• Athletic fit for buff dudes and big quads
• Cooling and breathable
• Stretchy and soft

After you’ve nailed your comfort on the fit, the next step is to go after other kinds of comfort—softness, stretch, and coolness—in spades. These Madewell athletic fit jeans are our editor’s tried-and-true favorite: they feel incredibly soft, have more room in the seat and thigh areas for beefy quads but look tapered from the knees down, and move like joggers when worn on the go but still look tailored and elevated; they’re also built with moisture-wicking temperature-regulating tech to keep your legs dry.

Overall, Madewell developed their COOLMAX denim blend to be far more breathable, flexible, and comfortable than regular 100% cotton denim. All three of these properties make them ideal travel pants. You get the look and function of a good pair of jeans that feel as comfortable as track pants.

Pros

• Four-way stretch
• Looks sharp and dressy
• Wrinkle-resistant

Despite being one of the oldest menswear brands, Brooks Brothers’ Advantage Chino® pants have the most modern design we’ve ever tested, from spandex stretch to cotton twill softness to a wrinkle-resistant fabric to five different fits that cater to just about every guy. Marcos Martinez, a lifestyle influencer, verifies how these pants meet all the demands in chinos. “The chinos should have a flexible waistband to give comfort and breathing room around the waist. The material should be mostly cotton twill and part spandex for flexibility,” says Martinez.

If you’re concerned that a legacy menswear label like Brooks Brothers decided to go for a more modern, performance-minded fabric with stretch for its chinos, we found that not only did they give us a perfect fit right off the shelf, but they also felt incredibly comfortable and have managed to stay crisp for almost a year—far better than chinos made with full. The touch of stretch and flexibility especially helped our tester wear them to travel or commute throughout the day, and the overall elegant look kept us looking sharp. Plus, with enough fits and sizes for anything from extra slim to extra large, whatever your body type is, rest assured that Brooks Brothers’ chinos have you covered.

Comfort, mobility, and a nice fit are key elements to be on the lookout for when finding the best men’s travel pants.

Fabric: The whole point of travel pants is that they should look like regular chinos or slacks while feeling like athletic pants when you’re wearing them. They should be lightweight, flexible, and breathable. That means you want to look for a fabric blend that has some stretch in it and at least half polyester or Tencel fiber in the mix. Some brands will put cotton or wool in the mix to keep the business look and shape. The one thing to avoid is when brands go overboard with the stretch. If there is more than 10% elastin or spandex in the mix, your pants are going to look too casual and won’t hold a proper shape.

Performance: Features like quick-drying and moisture-wicking are essential for comfort, keeping your legs cool and dry throughout your traveling. Wrinkle resistance in travel pants also helps you maintain a neat appearance without ironing. If you’re traveling to a sunny destination, consider travel pants with built-in UV protection to shield your skin from harmful rays. And if you’re packing travel pants, make sure the ones you get are lightweight.

Stretch: Travel pants are known for their ability to move with our legs and cater to our movement, so stretch is essential—whether it’s a natural stretch or courtesy of a few percentages of elastane, spandex, or lycra.

Fit: Good travel pants should have a business-casual look. You want them to fit like a pair of cotton chinos or wool slacks. This means whatever style of fit you wear in those pants, you want the same fit in your travel pants. There may be a compulsion to go slimmer since it’s a stretch pant. If you wear a straight-leg chino, do get slim-fit travel pants. If you wear slim-fit jeans, don’t get skinny-fit travel jeans. Stick to your go-to fit.

Look: A lot of brands have gotten into the travel pants game in the past few years which means there is a lot of variety in looks out there. It’s important to remember that your travel pants are a replacement for regular pants and should look the part. Stick to traditional colors like Navy, Black, Gray, Olive, and Khaki. You want them to be versatile and understated. Avoid the aqua blues and dusty oranges.

Pockets: While travel pants should look like normal pants, their functionality for ease on the go is key. Since you’ll likely carry your travel and everyday essentials with you while you wear travel pants, you want to make sure you have enough deep pockets because you need to carry stuff on the go and don’t want to worry about anything falling out when you sit down. Travel pants with hidden or zippered pockets for added security are also worth the buy.

What are the best overall travel pants?

For catching flights, commuting, running everyday errands, or going to the office—all while looking good—the best men’s travel pants overall are Lululemen’s ABC Pant. It has a four-way stretch, feels soft, is made with breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying fabric, comes with a gusset that relieves tension from your crutch while walking, and dons the classic chino style. You can probably squeeze in a few workouts or hikes in them too.

What Types of Pants Make the Best Travel Pants?

Jeans designed with stretch and moisture-wicking properties provide comfort without sacrificing the classic style and are perfect for urban exploration and casual outings. Classic chinos updated with stretch and quick-drying features are ideal for a polished look while on the move or for formal occasions. Joggers and sweatpants made with soft and breathable materials are suitable for long flights or casual activities. Cargo pants that are lightweight give you easy access to essentials while you’re traveling. Hiking pants also make great travel pants since they’re bound for outdoor adventures.

What are the best travel pants for men to wear on an airplane?

The best men’s travel pants for men to wear on an airplane combine comfort, style, and functionality. Joggers and sweatpants, for instance, offer stretch and lounging-like comfort to provide ease of movement during long flights. Jeans made from stretch denim and moisture-wicking properties provide a sharp look while ensuring comfort during your flights. Chinos made with stretch and breathable materials are also good for long flights and staying polished. Lounge pants are soft, breathable, and often come in a relaxed fit that’ll provide extended comfort.

What is the best material for travel pants?

While cotton is a solid choice since it’s naturally breathable and stretchy and even moisture-wicking, the best men’s travel pants will incorporate activewear materials. Nylon is a popular choice for travel pants due to its durability, natural breathability, and quick-drying properties. Similar to nylon, polyester is moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and lightweight, but needs to be made with stretch. Denim designed with moisture-wicking and stretch is also foolproof if you’re looking for jeans as travel pants. Ideally, the best men’s travel pants will come in blended fabrics that combine the best qualities of different materials.

To find the best travel pants for men, our editors and writers have personally tried on 50 options since 2021, and tested each of them for at least two weeks and at least fix hours per day, such as attending casual weekend hang-outs in Lululemon’s ABC pants, attending a formal event or an office work day in Rhone’s Commuter pants, vacationing and traveling in Ben Sherman’s chino pants, flying in Public Rec’s All Day Every Day pants, or running daily errands in L.L.Bean.

Read more: Learn How Men’s Health Tests Products

To get a feel for how these travel pants for men really felt and how they held up, we vetted our options by taking notes of their style, fit, comfort, price point, versatility, and performance such as stretch, moisture-wicking, and breathability. We examined whether they fitted well and true to size, whether their fabric could withstand hours of movement in different temperatures, and whether they could be worn for more than one occasion. Our testers also include a diverse range of body types to help us ensure an unbiased result for selecting the best travel pants for men.

In addition, our tested selection focuses not on trendy or trend-chasing travel pants; instead, our picks of the best travel pants for men all fit great athletic guys with big quads, provide great value and performance at reasonable price points, and come in styles that will look great years from now. This article was updated in August 2023.