As I work from home, I love to wear comfortable clothes. However, it doesn’t mean I live in baggy sweatpants all day. Instead, I’ve discovered a tonne of stylish pants with subtle accents like elastic waistbands, wide-leg styles, and stretch fabrics that give the impression that I’m wearing loungewear.
When I’m assembling my travel wardrobe, I search for similar qualities, but I also make sure they must be easy to pack in my carry-on and wrinkle-free. I put 16 pairs of pants to the test in my search for the greatest travel pants because they are the perfect mix of stylish and comfortable. Our list of the top stretchy work pants that feel like sweatpants in secret includes a lot of my favourite.
Everlane The Dream Pant
I want to be really clear about this: I adore these trousers.
I’ve tried on hundreds of outfits from the top stores as a style writer, and very seldom does something really blow me away. But wow, these Everlane trousers really impressed me. The stretch fabric was divine, the tapered fit was ideal, and they were quite versatile. These are going to be my go-to pair of travel trousers going forward, and I plan to wear them again and again.
The material they’re made of is sweatpants. Although the double-knit fabric has plenty of elasticity and is pleasantly soft and comfy, they nonetheless look classy thanks to the sophisticated pintuck accent. I was concerned the medium-weight pants would be too warm for a summer day when I originally picked them up, but I had no trouble wearing them in 80° heat when I paired them with summery espadrilles and a tank top. To the touch, the cloth nearly seems chilly, which is delightful for someone who perspires readily like me.
They resist wrinkling. I wore these pants to a hair colour appointment, which required prolonged sitting with little to no breaks. They appeared nearly identical at the end of the day as they had that morning. For the extended periods of sitting, the elastic waistband and flexible fabric proved to be really comfortable.
It fits beautifully. I find it difficult to locate trousers that fit my pear-shaped body well around the waist without being too tight around the butt and thighs. These tapered, high-waisted trousers were just right. Since they fall just over my ankles—I’m five feet seven—they go well with almost any type of shoe. The fact that the pocket outline could be seen through the pants was perhaps the only element I didn’t love, but it wasn’t a deal breaker, and I was glad to have two useful pockets (the flat rear pockets are just decorative).
They are simple to style and very adaptable. Wear these with anything from pumps and a jacket to a t-shirt and trainers, or anything in between. I might need to get a second pair of these comfortable bottoms so I can wear them as much as I’d like to because I’ve been thinking of so many different looks for them.
Rag & Bone Miramar Wide-Leg Pant
The entire Insider Reviews staff is a huge fan of Rag & Bone’s Miramar collection of faux denim terry cotton sweatshirts. From the same collection, we’ve also tried and enjoyed its joggers and shorts.
The “denim” appears remarkably real. Associate style & beauty editor Gabrielle Chase says, “I was amazed at how real they looked— right down to the faux fly and lightly distressed denim details.” I tricked my husband into thinking I was wearing regular denim when I was wearing the jogger version of these trousers until I felt the smooth sweat pant material and elastic waistline.
They fit a range of body types well. “I would absolutely recommend these jeans for tall women because, at five feet nine inches, the inseam extends slightly below my ankles when worn in flats. Fortunately, I can sling them low and let the hems puddle about my ankles because the waistband is so flexible,” comments Chase.
Executive editor Sally Kaplan comments, “These are my fantasy come true because I love the way wide-leg jeans look but have also vowed to stop wearing hard pants! Knowing that these would be a little long on me—I’m short and curvaceous—I don’t even mind. To prevent them from getting caught under my heels, I simply safety pin them at the rear of the hem, and nobody can tell. I’ve already purchased a second pair since my first came.”
The fabric is robust but light. “The stretchy terry cloth sweatpant is perfect for springtime, as it’s more breathable than fleece sweats,” Chase says. Even in the July heat of New Jersey, I found the trousers to be manageable. They drove with me for six hours, keeping me warm but yet managing to appear put together when we stopped for a midway lunch.
Aritzia The Effortless Pant
I’ve been looking for the ideal loose trousers for a while, and I’ve finally found them. The wrinkle-resistant Effortless Pants by Aritzia are sophisticated, comfortable and versatile.
The Japanese pancake material resists wrinkles. There are several fabric alternatives available for the Essential Pants, but the Japanese crepe is the best choice for travel because of its airy drape, delicate texture, and resistance to creases. After more than eight hours of sitting in these trousers, they still looked impeccable at the end of the day.
They’re really comfortable even if the cloth isn’t particularly stretchy. In terms of extremely stretchy materials and trousers without an elastic waist, these are the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. The airy, wide-leg silhouette of the lightweight fabric drapes softly like an elegant, yet sturdy, pair of pyjamas. The waistline with the hook-and-bar fastening is snug without being too tight. These would not cause any problems for me to wear on a lengthy travel.
They suit curves and are available in different lengths. I tried the non-curve silhouette at first, but I didn’t think it looked good on my pear-shaped body. I then tried the curve version, which fits me well with an extra 2 inches in the low hip and 1.5 inches in the thigh. The curve version’s lone drawback is that it comes in only one length choice and fewer colours (please, Aritzia, produce more!). With four length variations and 22 colour options, the original version’s Regular inseam falls just below the floor on my 5-foot-7 frame.
Carbon38 Split Bootcut Legging
Some of the greatest trousers for travelling are black flare leggings because they’re versatile and easy to pair with a range of outfits and shoes. The split flared bootcut hem of these Carbon38 trousers ups the style ante.
They pack up compactly. Elegant leggings are ideal for travelling because they fold up easily and don’t take up much room in a luggage.
They change from daylight to nighttime. During the day, I wore these with trainers and a big jumper. I put on a blazer, changed into pumps, and applied a red lip for dinner and drinks. In both cases, the trousers had a polished appearance.
The high waist is cosy and attractive. These trousers’ high-waisted design, which was figure-flattering and tummy-smoothing, is my favourite feature. It also makes your legs appear longer. For extended periods of time spent sitting, as well as during travel, the lightweight support proved cosy without being constricting.
The material wicks away moisture. I adore that these adaptable leggings still offer all the features you’d want in exercise attire, yet their stylish appearance that makes them suitable for going out. They held up well to kicks and squats when I recently wore shoes to a fitness session. One word of caution to pet owners: my cat’s hair was drawn to these. The next time I wear these, I’ll have a tiny lint roller with me.
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Commuter Midi Jogger
Introducing the ideal trousers for flying. These incredibly cosy joggers may be dressed up or down depending on the occasion, which is their best feature.
The cosy material is just warm enough without being unduly insulating. I always wear cosy, toasty trousers when I travel because airline cabins might get chilly. Having said that, you don’t want to overheat in case your plane breaks down and you are forced to wait it out on the tarmac (yes, this has happened to me, and it was awful). These joggers are the ideal mid-weight—they’re buttery soft and have four-way stretch.
They work well for outdoor pursuits. You may work out in the trousers because they are composed of a moisture-wicking fabric. Additionally, they provide UV protection for your outdoor activities.
They too can wear fancy clothes. You can travel lighter with pieces that are versatile. I wore these form-fitting joggers to dinner by teaming them with a sweater and some heeled boots. After I finished my lunch, I was grateful for the elastic waistline, and they looked adorable.
Lululemon Smooth Fit Pull-On High-Rise Pant
When I tested these elastic flare trousers for the first time, I was looking for the most comfortable work trousers, but I was so delighted with how versatile they were, I had to include them here.
Although it fits snugly, it is cosy. These trousers might require some wriggling to get on, but once on, the fit is comfortable. The high-rise pull-on trousers aren’t the first ones I grab to wear on an aeroplane, but their sweat-wicking material makes them comfortable enough to wear for extended walks and exploration days.
You can pack them. I took the slightly voluminous trousers out of my weekender bag and found that they were easy to roll, fold and keep wrinkle-free. Most wrinkles are ironed out when you put on the trousers, which is an advantage of their snug fit and stretch.
There are variations in their lengths. When trousers come in different lengths, I always like that. At five feet seven, I occasionally wear ordinary or tall lengths, depending on the brand. Although there are also tall and cropped options, I found that the regular length trousers fit me perfectly (I didn’t mind that they didn’t reach the floor).
HalaraFlex Wide Leg Micro Waffle Work Pants
The plicated tailoring on these reasonably priced wide-leg slip-ons makes them akin to workwear pyjamas. They’re comfortable enough to fall asleep in, so they’d be ideal for lengthy flights.
They stayed perfectly wrinkle-free even after hours of use. The trousers are made of Lycra and feature a delicate waffle pattern that is meant to keep creases at bay. They didn’t wrinkle at all when I wore them the entire day, sitting and standing. They were well wrapped, and when they were unrolled, they had no creases.
The fabric breathes well and is stretchy. The material is sweat-absorbing and even suitable for working out, according to the brand. Side pockets are also practical. I’m 5-foot-7, and the normal length barely touched the floor when I went barefoot, so I’m disappointed that there are just regular and long inseams available.
These trousers fit you perfectly for flying. These trousers provide considerable comfort for extended flights, owing to their elastic waistline and stretchy fabric. Afterwards, you can reuse them to save on valuable luggage room when wearing them with either a sophisticated or casual ensemble on your trip.
Lululemon Dance Studio Relaxed-Fit Mid-Rise Cargo Pant
Cargo pants are ubiquitous recently, which is wonderful news for frequent fliers. Besides their wide silhouette, this pair’s big pockets add convenience. Lululemon ups the travel-friendliness even further with a comfortable elastic waistband and a cinchable hem.
It provides you two looks in one. The 32-inch inseam bottoms transform from a straight-leg silhouette to a cropped jogging shape thanks to cinchable hems. I love that this feature provides you numerous styles in a single pair of trousers (meaning one less thing to bring!), but it also makes the pants more versatile for different conditions.
The fabric is lightweight and breezy. These are the perfect long pants for summer since the recycled polyester-elastane fabric is lightweight and stretchy. The mid-rise relaxed-fit pants have appealing ruching down the back, which covered tiny wrinkles that emerged while I wore them.
How I tested to find the best travel pants
I wanted to discover comfy travel pants that are genuinely wrinkle-proof, because realistically I won’t have a garment steamer with me everywhere I go.
I examined 16 pairs by sitting in each one for at least six hours to make sure they were comfortable enough to support me during long journeys.
I replicated my typical packing routine by stowing them in my luggage, till I’d pull them out and try them on to test if they’d kept wrinkle-free. I also washed and dried each pair according to the manufacturer’s directions to ensure they kept their original quality.
