We Found the Best Men's Travel Pants for All of Your 2023 Travels

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You may be tempted to toss your everyday go-to pair of pants into your carry-on bag, but if you're packing for a European adventure, a summer trek to Australia or a long cross-country flight, it's a smart idea to buy a pair of true travel pants.

This type of clothing is lightweight and easy to pack, plus offers a breathable, relaxed fit for all-day wear. Many even have added benefits essential to travel, like wrinkle-resistant finishes, quick-dry properties and plenty of hidden zippered pockets to keep your stuff safe.

To help you find the best men's travel pants, we scoured top retailers for the best-selling products, reading hundreds of reviews and specifications to ensure our recommendations will be comfortable, stylish and practical. Based on our research, these are our top recommendations.

After reading through our recommendations, find more expert tips on what to look for when shopping for men's travel pants at the end of this guide. Looking for more of the best travel gear to bring on your next trip? Check out our favorite packing cubes and travel backpacks.

ABC Classic-Fit Pant

Lululemon's ABC Classic-Fit Pant is tailored for style, but constructed with its patented "Warpstreme" fabric that's designed to stretch and move with you, whether you're adjusting your position on a long flight or sightseeing your way through Europe.

Reviewers rave about how comfortable these pants are, plus they also have helpful features like back security pockets and a reflective strip to help cars spot you if you're walking around after dark. And we'd venture to guess you will be, since they look great during the day paired with a simple T-shirt and sneakers, but can easily be elevated with a dressier shirt for the evening.

They come in an impressive 13 shades, so you can pack the pair that best matches the majority of your clothing — or, more likely, stock up on a few colors.

Men's Lightweight Jogger Pants

You don't have to spend a ton of money to find a comfy pair of travel pants with plenty of function. These joggers are made of a lightweight polyester and spandex blend that wearers say allows air to flow right through the fabric, helping to keep them cool no matter where their travels take them.

Reviewers say they have plenty of flex for added comfort, too, with an elastic waist that is easily adjustable with a drawstring. Meanwhile, the tapered ankle cuff shouldn't be at all restrictive and the stretch of the fabric means they're not prone to wrinkling.

To help keep your valuables safe en route, the joggers also have a hidden zippered pocket on the right-hand side that's perfectly-sized for a phone or passport.

Men's Travel Pants

These pants from Target's All in Motion line are constructed with a comfortable and breathable polyester, but also have a touch of spandex to offer the stretch you want to stay comfortable while you're, well, in motion. Plus, the fabric claims to be fully water-repellent, so a little rain won't put a halt to your travel plans either.

Wearers love all of the conveniences this pair offers, too — particularly the secure zippered side pockets that offer storage for essentials like your wallet, phone, passport or car keys. They even have built-in reflective detailing for improved visibility after the sun sets.

Ripstop Traveler Jogger

With the right pair of joggers, you can strike the perfect balance between style and comfort. These relaxed, wider-fit joggers have the same tapered style you know and love, but offer a little more room to move around.

The cotton and elastane fabric is lightweight and breathable, and will help you remain comfortable even during hot weather. Still, the pair has a special Teflon coating designed to improve the strength and stain-resistance of the pants.

Reviewers say they're great for activity like biking, hiking and more — but plenty also praise their comfort. One wearer says they were the perfect pair of pants for a long travel day that included multiple flights and layovers.

Men's Silver Ridge Utility Pant

It's no surprise sportswear brand Columbia makes some of the most popular pants for active men. This style has a relaxed fit that wearers say is nice and comfortable, whether you're sitting on the airplane or trekking through bucket-list destinations. You'll appreciate that the elastic waist pulls on easily and a belt keeps everything nice and secure.

Designed to be lightweight and moisture-wicking, we're impressed by the overall functionality of these pants, made with a quick-dry finish and offering UPF 50+ protection against the sun's rays. They also have a variety of pockets, including hand pockets on the front, cargo pockets on the back and zippered pockets above the knees.

Ace Modern Fit French Terry Sweatpants

If you're comfiest in sweatpants but don't want to look like a schlub, opt for a more tailored style that tapers at the legs, like this pair from Mack Weldon. The brand is known for manufacturing great basics, and these cozy pants are no exception. They're made with soft terry cotton, so you should have no trouble getting comfy for a snooze on an overnight airplane ride.

Still, the sweatpants are functional enough for everyday wear and feature an elastic drawstring waist to help you get the right fit. Plus, in addition to the two hip pockets, these pants also have two back pockets and a discreet zip pocket for valuables on the right leg.

Men's Outdoor Hiking Pants

For a more utilitarian style that lends itself to long days sightseeing or adventures like hiking, try these relaxed fit pants. They're made from nylon and spandex so they're designed to be wrinkle-resistant and breathable. Plus, with a water-repellant and quick-drying finish, they should keep you comfortable in all kinds of weather conditions.

Adding to your all-day comfort, the pair has adjustable stretchy waist complete with a belt to help you find the perfect fit. And no matter how active your day is, you can be confident your essentials will stay put, thanks to zippered pockets at the sides and the back to keep everything safe and secure — no matter how much you're moving around or how crowded the city streets are.

Men's RecTrek Zip-Off Pants

Zip-off pants are one of the most versatile styles of men's travel pants — especially for those heading to destinations where it's cool in the mornings and evenings, but blazing hot during the day. (Think: an African safari or an adventure in Australia's bush.)

This lightweight pair of cargo pants zips right off at the knee to instantly transform from pants to shorts. They also have zippered panels mid-way up the calf, so you can turn the pants into a pair of floods rather than full-blown shorts.

No matter how you wear them, they're made to pull on easily and come with a belt to help keep them firmly in place through rigorous activity. They're designed to be durable, too — the four-way stretch fabric is touted as being both wind- and water-resistant.

The Switch Jogger Pants

When multiple reviewers tout them as their "favorite pants of all time," you know you've stumbled upon something good.

Eddie Bauer's Switch joggers are made from ultra-lightweight polyester so they're designed to be breathable and wear well — even in hot weather. And, like all great men's travel pants, wearers say they have no trouble packing them. They also feature an elastic waistband complete with a drawstring to help you nail the fit.

For warmer destinations like Australia or the tropics, the pants have the added benefit of sun protection, since the fabric is rated UPF 50+. They also claim to be moisture-wicking and quick-drying in case you find yourself working up a sweat.

484 Slim-Fit Tech Pant

When you want to look sharp on a long flight, but don't want to sacrifice your own comfort to do so, try these J.Crew pants. Though they look just like any other pair of dress pants, they're made from a fabric blend that includes 10% elastane for plenty of stretch. There's also an interior elastic panel at the waist for added give.

The slant pockets are ripe for traveling, too. With a breathable mesh construction, there's also a hidden zip pocket to keep your most precious valuables safe on the go.

It's no surprise reviewers love this pair so much that many say they've stocked multiple pairs in a range of colors. (Choose from seven shades!)

Which pants are best for travel?

When shopping for men's travel pants, it's wise to prioritize the following features:

✔️Material: Whether you have a long flight ahead of you or days of scheduled sightseeing in Europe, comfort is key. Look for pants constructed with lightweight, breathable fabric and some stretch. Materials like nylon, polyester and spandex are good bets — they're generally soft and form-fitting yet stretchy enough to move with you. Plus, even when these fabrics wrinkle, the creases will fall out when you hang them up (woven fabrics like linen or cotton twill are more prone to wrinkling). If you're headed on outdoor adventures or will be traveling in exceptionally hot weather, you may also want to look for moisture-wicking and quick-dry styles.

✔️Style: For maximum versatility, look for pants — like tailored chinos — that are casual enough for daytime wear, but can be elevated with a collared shirt or button-down.

✔️Convenience: Look for pants that have convenience features, like easily accessible pockets to keep your essentials — phone, wallet, passport and more — close at hand. For added security, you may also want to prioritize pants with zippered or hidden pockets.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about clothing and travel products. She thoroughly researched the market and interviewed our travel and textiles experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute about what to look for when shopping for men's travel pants to help guide the recommendations in this story.

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