8 Best Travel Pants for Men (Versatile & Comfy)

This article has links to products that we may make commission from.

There are pants and then there are travel pants. You may not realize there’s a difference, but there definitely is. Travel pants offer more comfort, flexibility, breathability, and convenience (all the pockets!). They also tend to have a sturdier structure and don’t wrinkle as easily. All of these reason are why I choose to buy and wear travel pants on our trips, and even at home.

Over the dozen years that I’ve been traveling extensively, I’ve testing dozens of pairs of travel pants. Though there have been a few duds, I have found some really great pairs that I firmly believe in.

Bluffworks - comfortable and stylish travel clothing
Bluffworks – comfortable and stylish travel clothing

I want to offer up my recommendations in this guide for the best travel pants and jeans I’ve found. These are my favorites – the tried and true few that have made the cut. You can trust all of these to be high quality as well as modern and nice looking.

Rest assured that I own every single pair of the pants on this list (often multiple pairs) and I personally wear them every day.

💲Everyone loves a discount! GET 15% OFF your Bluffworks purchase, exclusive for Savored Journeys readers. Use code SAVJOUR15 at checkout. CLICK TO SHOP

MOTT & BOW: 10% Off Orders Below $150 or Free Beanie/Scarf With Orders $150+SENKTElKS09DR09MSktNQ0dIS0hGSg
The Perfect Jean: Get 15% off your order with our exclusive coupon code SJ15 at checkout.

» Check out our other travel gear reviews for things like the best wrinkle-free travel shirts, my absolute favorite travel blazer, and men’s travel shoes. If you’re looking for women’s travel pants, you’ll find them here.

Best Travel Pants Brands to Look For

The first issue you’ll run into when looking for travel pants is the range of brands available. Who can you trust and who delivers the best product? After many road tests and trials, we’ve come to trust the following travel brands, who offer a reliable product as well as something extra, like security features, extra pockets, and high-quality fabric.

Quick Pick List – Best Men’s Travel Pants

Below you’ll find a chart of the top men’s travel pants for 2021, with price and review info (Note: these are affiliate links.)

You can click on any of them to see more reviews or learn more about them. Below the chart are our personal reviews of each pair of pants. We’ve done extensive research of our own to find the best pants for frequently travelers like ourselves.

*Our Top Picks

Men's chino pants
(Image via Bluffworks)

Bluffworks Men’s Travel Pants & Jeans

  • Uncompromising comfort and style
  • Quick-drying and wrinkle-resistant
  • 100% technical, breathable polyester
  • Zippered security pocket, hidden pocket, and security loop
  • Handcrafted in the U.S. (can be shipped worldwide)
  • See above for coupon code
Mott & Bow pants
Mott & Bow Slim Mercer Jeans

Mott & Bow Men’s Jeans

  • Soft twill denim
  • Perfect amount of stretch
  • Classic slim fit – not too tight or too loose.
  • Go-to jeans for every occasion
  • Available in multiple styles and colors
The Perfect Jean
The Perfect Jean (slim fit)

The Perfect Jean

  • Really good fit, but not restrictive
  • Super stretchy, but they don’t stretch out
  • Fitted but not tight
  • Free shipping, free returns
  • Get 15% off at checkout with coupon code SJ15
aviator new vintage
Aviator Jeans

Aviator Travel Jeans

  • Super comfortable
  • Flexible, durable, breathable
  • Stylish, modern design
  • Hidden security pocket
  • Handcrafted in the U.S. (can be shipped worldwide)

How to Chose the Best Travel Pants

Comfort, obviously! It’s not quite that easy to find the right pair of travel pants, but comfort is a big part of the equation. Once I found comfort, 50% of the work was done. What are the other criteria to looked for in the perfect travel pants?

  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Water-resistant
  • Deep pockets
  • Wrinkle-resistant
  • Quick Drying
  • Cling-Free
  • Flexible Fit
  • Versatility

Yes, it’s a long list! Is it possible to find all of these attributes in a single pair of pants? Maybe not, but I got pretty darn close. For most every day travelers — I’m not talking about the high adventure types who regularly hike mountains and stuff — there are a few things you really can’t be without, which you can read below.

No matter where you’re planning to travel, you’re going to want to pack comfortable clothing that stretch and breath, but still look great. Here are our favorite travel clothes for men and women.

Travel Pants | Wrinkle-Free Blazer | Stylish Women’s Clothing

For more packing tips and resources, visit our recommended travel gear page.

Aviator jeans
Aviator Jeans

Men’s Travel Pants Reviews

You might notice that I left out all convertible pants because I just don’t like them. Most of these pairs do have convertible options available though, if you must.

★ Our Top Pick – Men’s Travel Pants

Bluffworks Ascender Pants

ascender 5-pocket pants

I have a few pairs of the Bluffworks pants that I wear while traveling. Aside from the jeans, which are reviewed below, I also wear their Chino pants and Ascender pants in a traditional five pocket pants design.

The three designs together form a pretty great combo. The jeans are very comfortable, but when you want to look a bit nicer and/or not wear denim, the 5-pocket style is perfect. Then to take it another step up, you’ve got the Chinos.

This is perfect for all types of travel, from leisure to formal, and fits an active and varied lifestyle.

All of their pants have 10 pockets, including a zippered one that’s perfect for travel, which is hidden inside the front pocket. My wallet fits in the zippered pocket, eliminating the fear of losing it to pick-pockets.

There’s also a hidden loop on the inside of the front pocket where you can clip a badge or keys. The back pocket is deep and wide enough to fit a Kindle.

Both are made with Bluffworks’ soft, stretchy Ascender fabric. It’s quick-dry polyester material that looks and feels like cotton, but has a bit of stretch and is wrinkle resistant.

They’re lightweight, comfortable, flexible and, breathable.

These pants fit true to size, so you can order your regular size with no worries about fit. There are two different styles – the Chinos and the 5-pocket style. These are just the kind of pants you want for travel.

If your go-to is jeans, check out our Bluffworks travel jeans review below.

Nick sporting Bluffworks chino pants and blazer
Nick sporting Bluffworks chino pants and blazer

Need a Blazer too?

I can’t write a Bluffworks pants review without also mentioning the mens travel blazer. It’s nicely tailored, with the look and feel of wool, but is made from the same wrinkle-resistant, quick-dry polyester material as the pants. You can actually machine wash this blazer! It looks really nice on – a great complement to the chinos.

⇒ Click to learn more about the Bluffworks Blazer

Pros: Stretchy, breathable material that doesn’t wrinkle. Design and fit that look really nice and specially tailored. Abundant pockets and security features. Do not looks like “travel pants”.

Cons: Difficult to slip things into the front pockets because there are additional pockets inside to get snagged on.

Use the coupon code SAVJOURN15 for 15% off your order (not applicable on sale items).

Bluffworks pants

Key Features

  • Uncompromising comfort and style
  • Quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant
  • 100% technical, breathable polyester
  • 10 pockets
  • Handcrafted in the U.S.

Men’s Travel Shorts

ascender shorts

Ascender Shorts

Built to go anywhere and look great. Very comfortable (yet technical) Ascender fabric, versatile design, and 9 pockets to hold the essentials.


Mott & Bow Slim Fit Jeans

Mott & Bow pants
Mott & Bow Slim Watt Jeans
Mott & Bow pants
Mott & Bow Slim Mercer Jeans

When I received these jeans and tried them on for the first time, I was pretty surprised that they all fit as expected. My order included three pairs – the slim fit Mercer, slim fit Watt, and straight fit Wooster. All three pairs fit great.

These really have become my go-to jeans or most occasions. I like that the fit falls somewhere between a straight and a “skinny” jean. They are sleek looking, lengthening, and slimming. All good things to have in jeans.

Plus, they have a bit of stretch to them. I’m not sure why all men’s jeans don’t include stretch. It’s a revelation. They are just easier to move around in, and way more comfortable for long hours of wear, like when you’re on a plane or at your desk.

There are tons of choices with these jeans – you can get slim, straight and skinny in a number of different fits, like the Wooster, Watt, Mercer, Crosby, Warren, and Stone. There are only subtle difference between these, and of course they come in all different colors, like medium blue, light grey, dark blue, light khaki, and black (to name just a few.

Mott & Bow jeans

Key Features

  • Soft twill denim
  • Perfect amount of stretch
  • Classic slim fit – not too tight or too loose.
  • Go-to jeans for every occasion
  • Available in multiple styles and colors

The Perfect Jean

The Perfect Jean
The Perfect Jean (slim fit)
the perfect jean athletic
The Perfect Jean (athletic fit)

These are probably the best pair of jeans I’ve had in years. They have a ton of stretch to them, so they fit like a glove, but in only the good ways. They aren’t too baggy or too tight, with just the right amount of stretch and flexibility to be comfortable and stylish at the same time.

This company, The Perfect Jean, is totally down to earth and unpretentious. I don’t know why, but that makes me like them even more. Online shopping isn’t all that fun, but when you can get a laugh from the website copy, it’s worth it.

Their sales campaign is “the perfect jean for the perfect and imperfect man.” I think that’s very fitting because these jeans are meant to be flexible so anyone can feel comfortable in them. I prefer the slim fit that sits low on the waist, and is slightly fitted through the hip.

Like most premium jeans, they do stretch about 1/2 a size as you wear them. I’ll admit I only wash my jeans once a week. By the end of the week, they need to be washed back into submission. Washing is easy. If you’re like me, I just throw them in the wash with everything else. No issues so far.

stretchy jeans

Key Features

  • Stretchy in all the right ways
  • Great fit that doesn’t stretch out
  • Lots of fit and color choices
  • Free shipping and returns
  • Get 15% off at checkout with coupon code SJ15

Aviator USA Jeans

aviator new vintage

(“The best travel jeans in the world” – USAToday)

I have a pair of the summer travel jeans in Cool Faded Blue Indigo. These are definitely some of the best jeans I’ve had in years.

What makes them particularly well fitted for travel are two things. First, they are made to be lightweight, breathable and fast drying. In summer weather, I rarely ever wear jeans because they are too hot and constricting, but I don’t mind wearing Aviator jeans, because of their breath-ability.

The second thing that makes them great for travel is the hidden pockets. There are three pockets that are zipper protected and hidden away inside other pockets. You can easily store your valuables in these pockets. One of them is even large enough for your passport.

The front and back pockets of the jeans both are large enough to fit a Kindle, which is important to me while we’re traveling, so I have somewhere to store my Kindle while getting on and off the plane.

One of the worries we always have about jeans with stretch in them is that they’ll stretch out of shape and start to fit awkwardly while traveling. I tends to re-wear jeans a couple of times at least between washes. I was happy to find that the material recovers well and doesn’t stretch out too much.

If they had to be washed while on a trip, it wouldn’t be too big of a deal because they dry really fast.

Aviator jeans also come in an original fit and nine colors. They are made in a family-run factory in Los Angeles. If you order the wrong size, it’s not a problem. You can return them for a new size. Worldwide shipping is available.

Pros: Lightweight, breathable and fast drying. Fit really nicely and don’t lose their shape quickly. Abundant pockets, with added security.

Cons: These jeans don’t come in differing lengths, so you’ll have to get them hemmed to fit when they arrive, or take advantage of Aviator’s free custom hemming.

⇒ Read our full review of these jeans here.

Aviator pocket

Key Features

  • Super comfortable
  • Flexible, durable, breathable
  • Stylish, modern design
  • Hidden security pockets
  • Handcrafted in the U.S. (can be shipped worldwide)
  • Free custom hemming

Aviator Travel Shorts

Aviator shorts

The Non Stop Travel Short 3.0

An updated, high design tailored short that does it all. Newly added to the design is a front right hidden zipper pocket. These are packed with features and made from an upgraded premium fabric that’s more durable, breathable and comfortable.


Elevated Everyday Jogger – SCOTTeVEST

elevated everyday jogger
Photo by SCOTTeVEST

These are my go-to fall and winter joggers. They have a nice heavy weight to them, so they offer more protection from the wind and chill. Maybe not ideal for summer because of the weight, unless you’re in a cooler environment.

One thing they do really well is pockets. These joggers have 10 perfectly placed and purposeful pockets, including hidden and zippered pockets. I really like the look of them – they are elevated after all – so they don’t look too casual.


Breeze Pants – Free Fly Apparel

Breeze pant
Photo by Free Fly Apparel

I call these my comfy pants. They are absolutely perfect for long plane rides, a day out on the boat, or long road trips. They lightweight material is very breathable and they are UPF 50+ to provide a defense against the sun, if you’re out there all day. I like the casual style and how stretchy they are.

They have two seam pockets and one secure back zippered pocket. They come in 7 neutral colors, up to a size 3XL. For the Black, Blue Fog, & Cement colors, Free Fly suggests sizing up. I have the Storm Cloud color and my usual Medium fits perfect.


Lululemon Men’s Commission Pant

lululemon pants

Lululemon Men’s Commission pants are great for all around active wear. They’re comfortable, they look great and they have additional features that travelers appreciate, like hidden zippered pockets and a 4-way stretch fabric.

One of the things I like the most about these pants is the amount of stretch and flexibility the fabric has, but they don’t get stretched out and retain their shape well. If you’ve ever worn Lululemon pants before, you migth already be aware of their ABCâ„¢ (anti-ball-crushing) fit. That’s a pro, for sure.

As for pockets, there are two front regular pockets that are not incredibly deep, two zippered rear pockets, and a zippered pocket on the thigh, which is deep enough to hold a cellphone.

Pros: Flexible, stretchy fabric that doesn’t lose its shape. Good middle of the road look – can be dressed up or down. Tons of colors available.

Cons: Available in slim fit only.

lululemon pants pocket

Key Features

  • Hidden zippered and buttoned pockets
  • Reflective strip on pant leg when rolled
  • Flexible, soft fabric and great fit
  • Wrinkle free
  • Available in a lot of colors

PrAna Brion Pants

prAna Brion Slim Pants II Black 30 32

The PrAna brand has a few different styles for men. The Brion is for every day wear and for when you want something more multi-functional. They are cut slimmer with straight legs and a fixed waistband, so they look decidedly less “adventurey” and more able to blend into any situation.

The Zion style is best for really active adventurers who will be wearing them for hiking and climbing.

The black pair can easily be dressed up and look nice enough for a classy restaurant. The slimmer fit doesn’t make them any less practical as travel pants. They are water-repellent, quick to dry and are very lightweight for packing purposes. The stretch fabric is made specifically to allow maximum comfort when moving around.

The only thing to be aware of is that the pockets in the Brion are not nearly as functional for people who like to keep multiple items in there. The front pockets are pretty deep and can hold a wallet and keys, and the back pocket can hold a wallet. There is no leg cargo pocket.

Pros: Slim fit, perfect for most every day use, can be dressed up easily

Cons: Pockets aren’t ideal

Key Features

  • Straight-leg pant featuring five-pocket styling
  • Durable water repellent technology
  • UPF 50+
  • Wrinkle resistant
  • 4-way stretch

Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Pant

Columbia Men's Silver Ridge Cargo Pant, Tusk, 36W x 30L

These pants are 100% nylon with plenty of flexibility of movement. They have an exterior waistband adjuster to easily take them in or out. Columbia is always good at including extra features to combat the elements in their clothing, so it’s no surprise that these pants have moisture wicking and SPF 50 protection built in.

Though they aren’t water-resistant, they are quick to dry due to the moisture-wicking technology. The material is soft and comfortable, and they don’t make much of a swishing sound when you walk. Although the waistband says it’s partially elastic, it’s still pretty unforgiving, so proper sizing is important.

We’ve found that the belt it comes with is pretty useless. It can easily be removed. We’ve also noticed that the inseam doesn’t seem to be correct, so it might take a few tries to find the right fit if ordering online. There are six pockets in these pants. The front two regular pockets and two rear pockets with tab closure and velcro to secure them shut.

There is also one pocket on each leg, one with velcro and one that is zippered. I don’t think anything would fall out of any of those four pockets, but it’s nice to have the zippered one for added security.

Pros: Plenty of pockets, lightweight and good for summer

Cons: Difficult to find the right fit

Key Features

  • Omni-Shade UPF 50 fabric
  • Omni-Wick technology pulls moisture away to keep you cool and dry
  • Zip-closure security pocket, side pockets with hook and loop closure, and mesh pocket bags
  • Partial elastic waist and gusset detail for added comfort
  • Classic fit for ultimate versatility

Travel Pants For Men – Must Haves

⇒ Breathable

The most important thing in men’s travel pants is breath-ability. Sweating all day in material that doesn’t breath is not a good way to go.

⇒ Deep Pockets

That time when my ID fell out of my pocket in the taxi on the way to the airport immediately comes to mind as the top reason for needing deep pockets. I keep my wallet, keys, change and phone in my pockets, so if the pockets aren’t deep enough to hold those things, the pants don’t make the cut.

⇒ Water-resistant

Materials that typical pants are made of are usually not water-resistant. A good pair of travel pants have to be water resistant, so you don’t get soaked in a sudden downpour or ruin your pants when you spill wine on them.

⇒ Quick Drying

I often take half the clothes I need on longer trips and wash them in the sink halfway through a trip. They need to dry quickly so they can be worn again the next day. A pair that takes a full day to dry is just not going to work.

Conclusion

With all of these great choices, you should be able to find the best travel pants for you. I have a pair of each of them and use them in different situations. What I love the most is that I can easily pack a few pairs in my backpack in a fraction of the space it would take to pack regular jeans, so I can have a much greater variety of things to wear, while still packing light.

If there are any pairs of travel pants for men that you love that I left off the list, let me know and I’ll review those as well.

Like this post? Why not save it to Pinterest?
FOLLOW US on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook for more great travel inspiration and tips.

8 Best Travel Pants for Men (Versatile & Comfy)

22 thoughts on “8 Best Travel Pants for Men (Versatile & Comfy)

  1. Pingback: Blazer With Yoga Pants - My Yoga Closet

  2. Pingback: Where Is The Best Place To Get Yoga Pants - My Yoga Closet

  3. Jennifer Willis says:

    Thanks so much for this round-up! As a short (5’3″), curvy-ish woman, I’ve had real difficulty finding hiking/active/travel pants that fit me properly. However, it seems that manufacturers are finally paying attention.

    Based on your advice, I headed down to REI earlier today with hopes of finding something that would actually work on my body. The trip was a success! The Columbia Saturday Trail pants are a little big in the waist but can still be worn without a belt. The prAna Halle’s have too low of a rise to fit me comfortably, but the Kuhl Spire Roll-up pants are very similar in a mid-rise and have the added drawstring (with the button and zipper closure) for a more secure fit around my waist.

    I normally wear a 6, but I came away with size 8 in both of these trousers—8 short for the Columbias and 8 regular for the Kuhls; I’ll have to hem the Kuhls by a couple of inches, as the short and long lengths won’t be available again until August 2018 (according to the Kuhl website). Also, I’ll give a plug for the REI Taereen pants which very nearly made it into my shopping bag, if not for color considerations.

    • Laura Lynch says:

      Jennifer, I’m so glad to hear that you had success with some of our recommended pants. I always had such a hard time finding good ones too. It’s good to know about the rise on the PrAna. I didn’t think they were too low, but maybe they’ve changed their design slightly. I’ll look into the Kuhl Spire as an alternative.

      • Jennifer Willis says:

        RE rise… Maybe a manufacturing change, or maybe just the way different bodies are built. I forgot to mention that each pair of pants I tried on was also subjected to the “phone test”—whether any of the pockets could easily accommodate my Nexus 5X. 🙂

  4. Pingback: The Ultimate Travel Packing List

  5. Pingback: The best hiking pants for your next adventure - Traveling Honeybird

  6. Pingback: 6 Best Travel Pants for Women (Comfort, Style, Versatility) | Savored Journeys

  7. buy jeans online says:

    Wow super collection. It’s nice blog. I like it. Thanks to sharing this blog…………
    https://www.jigno.com/men/bottom-wears/jeans.html

  8. Pingback: Wrinkle-Free Travel Clothing for Men (2019) | Savored Journeys

  9. Pingback: The Best Wrinkle-Free Mens Travel Blazer | Savored Journeys

  10. Pingback: Book cheap flights, find the cheapest airfare deals, airline discounts and last minute flights.

  11. william jackson says:

    Enjoyed reading your article, very informative. I’m looking for the attributes you mentioned in a stylish pattern (today’s men’s fashion especially in Europe).

  12. Pingback: Why You Should Pack Light and How To Do It | Savored Journeys

  13. Ken says:

    None of these are available in men’s plus sizes. Finding security pants for travel in larger sizes is almost impossible.

Leave a Reply to Radhika Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *