Best Travel Pants for Long Flights
Publushed by:
LauraLast updated:
October 5, 2021
prAna Halle Pant
- Elegant design in neutral colors
- Quick-dry woven fabric
- Durable water repellent finish
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Dickie’s Flex Cargo Pants
- Wrinkle resistant and comfort fabric
- Stain-release finish
- Front, back and cell phone pocket
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Joob Joob Boho Pants
- For many shapes, sizes and body types
- Ultra-light 100% rayon
- Versatile and functional
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The one thing we crave when traveling on long flights with multiple stopovers and minimal space to move is comfort, and a good pair of travel-ready pants is the way to ensure it.
When all else fails, at least you have the right attire to keep you comfortable and happy along the journey.
What are the best features of travel pants?
The key criteria for the best pants for travel and long flights is comfort, so choosing a soft material, nothing too restrictive, and quality construction is key.
There are men’s and women’s styles available with a range of features to choose from, so they need to be suited to their wearer and their taste.
If you’re planning a long journey or you’re a regular traveler, having a comfortable pair of pants at the ready can be a godsend.
To help you find the perfect fit and ensure you’re getting quality and luxury, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best travel pants for long haul flights and trips.
Our Picks for the Best Travel Pants for Long Flights
Choosing a pair of travel-ready pants is easy when you know what the best of the best looks like.
We’ve hand selected some of the best men’s and women’s pants for long flights, road trips, and everything in between so you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort.
Best Women’s Pants: prAna Halle Pant
Short summary
These pants are made with a stretch Zion fabric, nylon, and spandex, and have a durable water repellent finish, abrasion resistance, and UPF 50+ protection, giving you everything you need to travel anywhere.
The prAna Halle Pant is a versatile travel pant that comes in three inseam sizes of short 30”, regular 32”, and tall 36”.
Review
Our pick for the best women’s travel pants for long flights and anything else you plan on doing comes from prAna with their Halle boot cut pants.
What made these our favorite was their comfort and versatility, whether it’s the fact you can change their length or wear them relaxing or hiking.
The Halle also features roll-up leg snaps that allow you to change their length as needed.
prAna has created 15 different neutral colors to suit any style or look, and they have a slight bootleg cut that goes with anything.
There are loads of colors to choose from and the fit is flattering and comfortable, no matter your body shape.
If you’re after loose relaxed travel pants for long flights but don’t want them to feel too baggy, prAna has managed to get the shape of these perfect.
prAna has a long standing reputation for making quality clothes and it’s apparent as soon as you put these on.
Although there were some issues with a lack of pockets, they’re perfect for relaxing on a plane for 24+ hours or taking on a multi day hiking trip, so you’ll get your money’s worth.
Quick Specs
- Type: Boot leg
- Material: Stretch Zion, Spandex, Nylon
- Closure: Snap
Pros
- You can easily roll the pants up to something cooler and roll them back down when you want coverage on your legs.
- The use of materials including nylon and spandex means these pants have a bit of comfortable stretch without being too loose.
- If you’re after a versatile pair of pants that you can use for flights, hiking, and camping, the prAna Halle can suit all of it.
- These pants are incredibly well made and stand up to the reputation that prAna has for making quality garments.
- The pants fit well on the hips and buttocks, with many women agreeing they were flattering and stylish, as well as comfortable.
Cons
- The pockets of these pants are too small and the hip pocket was lower than others, and many travelers found them completely useless. If you’re hoping for a pair of pants with lots of compartments and storage, these won’t suffice.
- As these are bootcut pants, the bottom of the leg is a little wider than the top. Some customers found this didn’t suit their style and found that even when rolled up, there seemed to be excess material.
Runner Up: Joob Joob Boho Pants
Short summary
If your goal is to find loose relaxed travel pants for long flights, the Joob Joob Boho Pants are the way to go.
These pants are advertised as boho, harem, flowy, casual, and they tick all of those boxes, made of 100% rayon and comes in sizes small to medium or medium to large.
Review
The Joob Joob Boho Pants has an elasticated waist and elasticated ankle cuffs with the rest of the pants being loose and flowing.
It comes in 15 different styles, with block colors and elaborate patterns available to choose from, and they’re a full-leg pant that can be used for travel, yoga, relaxing, and sleeping in.
The Joob Joob Harem pants are a wonderful choice for women who favor comfort over all else, and even if you’re traveling more than 24 hours you’ll never feel an ounce of discomfort with them on.
The soft, silky rayon and the loose fit around your legs and thighs work together to make these some of the most comfortable we’ve reviewed, with a stretchy waist that keeps them on.
There were some downsides to the pants though, mainly that they had to be hand washed and there were only two sizes to choose from, but having so many cool designs to choose from did help relieve these.
The Joob Joob pants are affordable, lightweight, and stylish, so if you want an easy traveling companion they’re one of the best on the market.
Quick Facts
- Type: Relaxed
- Material: Rayon
- Closure: Elastic waistband
Pros
- The comfort factor of these pants can’t be beaten. They’re loose for a relaxed fit but with a good elastic waistband to keep them in place without being restrictive.
- A harem style pant like this is flattering for people of all body shapes and sizes, and they go with almost any other style garment including tank tops and sweatshirts.
- The rayon material is soft and silky but with good breathability which keeps you comfortable in the heat and warm when it’s cold.
- Many customers have remarked at how comfortable these were for pregnant women also so they double as maternity wear. The stretchy waist means they have more give than other pants.
• They’re one of the more affordable pairs of travel pants that we’ve reviewed and you could easily get a backup pair without breaking the bank.
Cons
- As there are only two sizes, you might not find the perfect fit in the Joob Joob pant, but the elasticated waist does help make them more accommodating.
- These pants need to be hand washed otherwise you’ll damage them and cause the pant to wear down, which makes them more see-through, so it’s a bit of extra work to keep them clean.
Alternative: SCOTTeVEST Margaux Cargaux Pants
Short summary
These pants range in sizes from extra small to extra-extra-large so there’s something for every woman, and are loaded up with 11 utility pockets to carry whatever you need on the plane.
SCOTTeVEST has created the Margaux Cargaux pants as their solution to long journeys, with a 62% Cotton, 36% Polyester, 2% Spandex construction, flexible waistband, and drawstring closure.
Review
When you want to tow the line between functionality, style, and comfort, the SCOTTeVEST Margaux Cargaux Pants are it.
These pants are designed like cargos with a heap of pockets, but they have a slimline look and quick cinch ankle ties, so you can even wear them as capris.
They’re soft but structured and there’s an elastic waistband up top for added support and a more flattering fit.
The Margaux Cargaux Pants are a little exy though, but it’s evident in the quality. The two year warranty for your peace of mind.
These convertible travel pants have been designed with a chiropractor-tested weight management system to reduce strain on your back, so no matter what you’ve got in your pockets you’ll be balanced and comfortable.
They have a drawstring closure to keep them up, but a few women noted that you had to be careful with this after a few months of regular use.
SCOTTeVEST has also included ankle ties that let you easily turn them into capri pants when you get hot or need to walk through puddles, so you have total control over how you wear them.
You can choose from three neutral colors of black, gray, and olive, which means you can mix and match them with other clothing for a stylish and comfortable journey.
Quick Facts
- Type: Utility pants
- Material: Cotton, Spandex, Polyester
- Closure: Drawstring
Pros
- SCOTTeVEST covers these pants with a two year warranty which speaks volumes for their quality.
- Women loved the high-waisted, flexible waistband that helps to keep their tummy flat without feeling uncomfortable.
- There are loads of pockets on these pants so you have plenty of room for extra storage. SCOTTeVEST has included 11 utility pockets with zipper protection all over the pants.
- The Margaux Cargaux Pants offer a good in-between of regular cargo pants but with the slimline look of a pair of jeans.
- These pants have been designed with a weight management system in place to keep you comfortable no matter what you’re carrying in them and there are no bulging pockets to make you unbalanced.
Cons
- These are expensive pants for traveling and might not be in the budget of some women, especially if you’re only using them for flying with.
- Some women found that after regular use, the drawstring became weak on the pants which made it more work to get them to tighten.
Best Men’s Pants: Dickie’s Flex Cargo Pants
Short summary
Dickie’s Flex Cargo Pants are some of the best men’s travel pants for long flights, made with 7.25oz of mechanical stretch twill, 65% polyester, and 35% cotton.
The Flex Cargo Pants use a zipper closure, come with a number of pockets, and in different lengths and widths from 30W x 30L through to 46W x 34L, ensuring the perfect fit for every man.
Review
The Flex Cargo Pant from Dickie’s is our pick for the best travel pants for long flights for men because of their versatility and comfort.
These pants would not just be ideal for traveling, but working, relaxing, hiking, and spending the weekend in, and they’re made with the perfect combination of polyester and combination for the wearer’s benefit.
These trousers from Dickie’s feature moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant qualities, both of which come in handy when you’re traveling long distances.
They’re easy to care for, are machine washable, and because of the wrinkle resistance, you don’t even have to iron them to keep them looking good.
The fit of the pants sits just below the waist and the flexible fabric means you can stretch out into any position and still be comfortable.
As far as practicality goes, you’ll find a number of deep pockets, including a pencil pocket on the right and large cargo pocket for bulkier items, however, the shorter zipper is a little confusing.
The Flex Cargo Pants also features tunnel belt loops and a cell phone pocket, which is ideal for men who want to travel light on the plane.
Quick Facts
- Type: Cargo
- Material: Polyester, Cotton
- Closure: Zipper
Pros
- The material is lightweight enough for comfort but thick enough to be durable, and Dickie’s has managed to find the perfect balance between the two.
- Even after months of regular use, there’s no shrinking or fading of the pant which highlights their quality.
- Dickie’s is known as an affordable brand that still manages to create quality garments, and those same qualities are found in these travel pants.
- The pants feature moisture-wicking materials so even if you’re hot and sweaty, you won’t feel any of it against your skin for absolute comfort.
- As a wrinkle-resistant pant, you’ll arrive at your destination looking just as good as you did when you sat down and there’ll be no need for ironing.
Cons
- The Velcro on the pants felt a little flimsy and you couldn’t trust it to secure anything in the pocket after a few washes, so stick to the other deeper pockets if you can.
- The zipper on the Flex Cargo Pant is around five inches which makes it smaller than most, and some users found it took some getting used to.
Runner Up: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants
Short summary
These convertible pants have zip-off legs, a number of pockets and pocket bags, and a partial elastic waist, giving you everything you need to travel freely.
Columbia’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are great traveling pants thanks to their 100% nylon construction and wide range of sizes available, ranging from the smaller 28W x 32L through to Big Tall sizes of 54W x 43L.
Review
The Silver Ridge Convertible Pants from Columbia are another of our favorite finds and have loads of travel-specific features that make them practical and comfortable.
The pants come in a wide variety of sizes, but all come with a 100% nylon material that also features UPF 50 protection and moisture-wicking properties, so no matter where or how you’re traveling, you’re protected.
As convertible pants, you can choose how you wear them, and with these, it’s as simple as zipping off the legs when you want to wear shorts and zipping them back on if something longer is needed.
You’ll also find a partial elastic waist for comfort, button closure, and gusset detail, all of which add to their comfort and practicality during long journeys.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants do have pockets, even if some are a little small, including a zippered security pocket and mesh pocket bags.
There are 33 colors and designs to choose from, and each of them is just as breathable as the last.
To keep things simple while you travel, they’re machine washable, and the nylon will keep its color even with regular wear, so these pants are a trusted companion that will last for years to come.
Quick Facts
- Type: Convertible
- Material: Nylon
- Closure: Button
Pros
- Columbia has created these pant in 33 different colors and designs, including standard block colors and more vibrant patterns.
- There’s a huge selection of sizes to suit shorter men and big and tall physiques making them some of the most versatile pants we’ve seen on the market.
- The material is soft and lightweight which means warmer climates won’t be as noticeable, and they actively wick away moisture from sweat.
- There are a few options for adjusting these pants to your liking, including the gusset detail and zip off legs, so you can use them in more ways than one and in a number of settings.
- You can easily spend hours sitting on a plane or bus in these pants and not have any discomfort. They’re flexible and move with your body, and there are no restrictive parts to cause any irritation.
Cons
- Some men commented on the sizing being hit and miss so you have to be careful to do your measurements and match them up to the pants before you commit to a size.
- The front pockets are smaller than most pants and it loses them a few points as far as practicality goes. You won’t be able to fit anything of use in them so make sure you have storage options elsewhere.
Travel Pants For Long Flights FAQs
To make any journey easier on your body, wearing a pair of comfortable, relaxing, and stylish travel pants is the way to go.
Before you can jump into your perfect pair, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions about this attire so you know exactly what to look for.
What Is The Best Clothes To Wear On A Long Flight?
To dress for a long trip on a plane, you should opt for comfortable layers that you can take on and off as the temperature changes.
Start with a base layer consisting of a tank top, long pair of pants, and closed-in shoes, and then add to that as you need, including scarves, socks, cardigans and more.
What Should You Not Wear When Flying?
It’s best to avoid anything tight or restrictive on a plane as your body may swell due to being in a higher altitude and make for an uncomfortable flight.
Loose and layered clothing that you can adjust according to your body temperature is ideal, especially when traveling on long flights.
Is It OK To Wear Shorts On A Plane?
Most would recommend against wearing shorts on a plane because it can expose your legs to the bacteria on the seat, and you may get cold during the flight.
Long pants are the best approach, regardless of the weather in your destination, so you can stay comfortable and protected.
To get the best of both worlds, a pair of convertible pants that features a drawstring or zippered bottom means you can wear longer pants or shorts depending on your needs.
How Do You Look Good On A Plane?
Looking good on a plane trip is less about wearing stylish clothes and makeup, and more about staying comfortable and hydrated.
Keep a moisturizing lip balm, hair brush, and use a hydrating facial spray for the entirety of the flight, along with a stylish but comfortable plane outfit.
Pants That Are Up For Anything
There’s nothing better than having a pair of comfortable, stylish, and practical pants for traveling in, and when you’re on a long journey you’ll be grateful that you spend the time and effort finding the perfect pair.
With our top picks and a better understanding of this must-have piece of travel attire, you’ll be well on your way to the best and most relaxed trip of your life.
prAna Halle Pant
- Elegant design in neutral colors
- Quick-dry woven fabric
- Durable water repellent finish
