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Why is it that the most functional pants for travel also happen to be the least attractive? Travel Fashion Girl takes Trekking Pants to trial to determine whether or not we should pack them or forget them, read on to find out!
Trekking Pants Go to Trial – Pack them or Forget Them?
Table Of Contents
Sad but true, convertible trekking pants (or trousers) used to be an essential part of traditional backpacking clothes. However, as the packing rules change, many travelers including flashpackers are opting against this clothing item all together.
Why do we need a pair of convertible trek pants when we travel? Why can’t we just wear regular trousers, jeans, leggings, anything but these dreaded travel pants?
Those in Favor of Practical vs. Fashionable, Say Aye!
White Sierra Inseam Convertible Pant
Multi-purpose
You can wear them as pants or shorts and with one quick zip, relieve heat mid-trek. Getting multi-use from your travel clothing items is a travel must!
Multi-use clothing can help you minimize your travel wardrobe. Read more tips about how to create a functional but minimalist capsule wardrobe with Pack Light Stylishly!
prAna Monarch Convertible Pant
Practical
Specialty trekking pants tend to be produced with quick dry fabric which is a travel clothing bonus. Not only will they dry quickly when you wash them but also if you get caught in the rain or mud on a trek.
Use packing cubes to help you organize and even compress your belongings to maximize your space.
Columbia Sportswear Trail Pant
Durability
The high price tag for these babies usually ensures a certain level of quality. They’re made to last and withstand even the most torturous backpacker treatment.
Those against these Alleged Style Offenders, say No!
Style: They’re just downright fugly and visually unappealing. You would hardly choose to wear them out in at home so why would you want to do it anywhere else?
Design: Generally available in unflattering cuts, even a supermodel can’t make these travel pants look good. Boxy cuts, high waists, and formless seams, these pants look like they were made for a man in women’s sizes.
Cost: They’re expensive! Why should you pay a high cost for something you don’t even like or want to wear? You can spend your hard earned dollars on so many other things…
Jury Adjourned! And the Verdict?
In the Travel Fashion Girl legal system, justice is based on individual rights. The golden rule of packing is to be happy with your travel clothing. If convertible pants work for you, great! If they don’t, how about an alternative?
Start by reading these tips on what’s the best travel pants for travel:
- These are the Best Travel Pants for Women: Fashion Meets Function
- Best Leggings for Women: Top 10 Choices for Travel
- Style Guide for the Ultimate Women’s Travel Pants
- Best Pants for Travel: What to Wear Everywhere
Alternatives to Convertible Travel Pants
A great alternative to convertible pants are cargo pants for women. They have a utility feel, convenient pockets, and can easily be found in durable fabrics.
In fact, for the first two years of my travels, I used a very comfortable pair of cargo pants I bought at Forever 21 for $19.99.
They hung dry super quickly and I liked wearing them at home, too. If you just can’t find a set of trekking travel pants that work for you, get a pair of cargo pants for women instead.
Take a look at the best pants for travel to various destinations!
Shop Sizes 2-16: Amazon | REI | Columbia | Zappos
An even better option than both convertibles and cargos are travel pants by Columbia. They are the best travel pants for women because not only are the functional but they’re fashionable too.
They have all the ingredients for a top outdoor pant, at a great price, and in a range of sizes (2-16). They’re water-resistant, stretchy, and have UPF 50 sun protection. Plus, the fit is flattering too.
TFG is sharing the top hiking pants women love that are sturdy yet nice enough to wear off-trail too!
Also, with so many fashionable fitness and yoga brands, why not pack a pair of leggings. They’ve become a fashion staple that’s still going strong.
They can be worn as pajama bottoms, while exercising, for retreats, to hike, and to layer under jeans/shorts/dresses/skirts in the cold or when traveling in conservative destinations.
Take a look at these top 10 travel leggings chosen by TFG readers!
What are your favorite travel pants? Share them in the comments!
For more tips on travel pants, please read:
- 9 Alternatives to Traditional Travel Pants for Women
- Athleta Pants: Why They’re Seriously Awesome
- Style Guide for the Ultimate Women’s Travel Pants
- Best Leggings for Women that Travel
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I think some of the newer pants are nicer than they used to be. I bought two pair of convertible (zip) pants, and 1 pair of roll up pants, made by Columbia.
They are lightweight so pack small. The material have spandex so they stretch (are really very comfortable) and resist wrinkling. They also resist water AND dirt so need fewer washings between wearings. They have front and back pockets, and one leg pocket so they look slim when wearing. I found them to have a nice fit, and my husband actually loves the way they look (he’s not kidding). https://www.rei.com/product/827264/columbia-saturday-trail-stretch-convertible-pants-womens
I like the Eddie Bauer Horizon line/ they don’t have zip-offs any more but pants that roll up to capris, also Capri and shorts styles. The material is great for travel-light, dries quickly. Can be pricy but EB always has sales.
Great tip Maria, thanks!
Why not try a Macabi Skirt! It can quickly and easily be turned into shorts (for wading across streams), pants (Via nifty snaps), as well as a skirt. They come in a wonderful fabric that repels water, but drys very quickly if it does get wet, and is in a light, tough, and versatile fabric. Depending on your build they are more, or less, flattering but the convenience out-weighs the negative in my opinion. They also come in many wonderful colours. (I have no connection to the company that sells these, but do own 3 of these in different colours.)
Great recommendation Janet, I’ll have to check it out! Thansk for sharing!
I love Macabi skirts for travel. I got my first one about 20 years ago and now have a collection of different colors. Their new “slim” style is now my favorite.
They’re popular!
I’m a big fan of zip-off pants, for the convenience of being comfortable in cool mornings and warm afternoons. I bought a pair at REI years ago, but they’re getting a bit worn. So I went looking for a new pair. After searching for suitable size and fit in retail and on the Internet, I didn’t find anything appropriate. So I made my own! It’s really hard to find suitable fabric either in stores or online, but I found some batik rayon and made a really cute Caribbean-looking top and zip-off pants. (I found color-coordinated zippers online.) Not for trekking, but for travel. I wore this outfit a lot on a cruise and then on other trips to tropical places. I’ve received the most amazing positive comments.
Wow! That is amazing 🙂 DIY travel pants! If you have a picture please share it on the TFG Facebook Group!
Would LOVE to see a picture!
Usually women’s cargo pants are my go-to when I travel, but I’ve recently discovered that scrub pants work fabulously as another option. They’re lightweight, they don’t wrinkle, they dry quickly, they have convenient pockets, and they are made of fairly durable material! Plus most of them have elastic band waists, which makes them really comfortable. The best part is that they come in tons of colour options (I prefer neutrals), and are generally a lot cheaper than most travel pants. They’re my new favourites!
Thanks for the tip Alyssa 🙂
I don’t really care what people say, I still really like the style of cargo pants and i find them practical, and they make my butt look nice. Those ones you’ve posted the photo of here are really awesome, do you know the brand of them?
i’ve just spent a while trying to find them
As a seasoned hiker, I’d never travel without convertible pants. I’ve had two identical pairs (purchased from REI) for over nine years, and they have yet to fail or look worn. Mine are a dark grey, so they serve as a neutral, and the fit very nicely. They roll up into a very small amount of space and don’t weigh as much as other pants. I don’t see them as looking like masculine pants at all. If I’m headed out for a day of sightseeing I’ll wear these with a sturdy pair of hiking shoes, while carrying rain pants, a poncho, and a spare t-shirt and blouse in my backpack. I may also carry a pair of lightweight Airwalks or sneakers if the weather is very hot. I’ve zipped off the legs and worn them as shorts for unexpected swimming opportunities because they dry out in minutes. You could wear just shorts, but then you’d need to carry pants and find a place to change into them, or vice versa. I can’t count the number of times I’ve zipped off and zipped on while on the Appalachian Trail or on a trek in New Zealand on vacation. Again, regarding the look, they are stylishly sporty looking and certainly more streamlined than cargo pants.
For hiking they’re definitely essential. For regular city and town travel, however, maybe not the most necessary 😉
Hey buddy! Im in need of some convertible pants for an upcoming trip the ones pictured above in the middle, the light taupe ones with short shorts, do you who makes those? Thanks!! We still need to have lunch one day =)
Hi Sonia, good to hear from you! You can find lots of convertible options here: http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&keywords=convertible%20pants&linkCode=ur2&qid=1412495960&rh=n%3A2419358011%2Ck%3Aconvertible%20pants&rnid=2941120011&tag=travelfcom0a-20&linkId=ZFXVL5HXATYL66HL
Also, here is a cuter option: https://travelfashiongirl.com/convertible-travel-pants-women-might-actually-like-i-do/
I was agains convertible pants for so long. BUT…. now that i’m planning for travel to Africa, where you can bring only 30 lbs in a duffle bag… Convertible pants seem the best option. Early morning game drives are cool and into the afternoon, get very, very warm. I think if these pants, although ugly are practical for this. I think, in 2014, design has come along way. Manufacturers are making pants with a more slim and modern fit and the material is very lightweight.
Hi Cathy, check out my packing post for safari in Africa:
https://travelfashiongirl.com/safari-clothing-packing-list/
Since you spend most of your safari time sitting inside a vehicle, convertible pants may not be the only option.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for lightweight pants that are functional and also flattering, check out my favorite travel pants: https://travelfashiongirl.com/best-travel-pants-for-women-function-and-fashion/
Thanks!
I don’t think I’d wear them either but the middle pair look good. I buy them for my kids but they always lose the bottom half of the legs!
oh no! the funny thing is that if you wear the shorts more than the legs the top half looses it color quicker and looks more worn!
Not a fan of the complete convertible travel pants – they just never seem to look right on me. When I was overlanding and then volunteering at a lion conservation project in Africa this past May and June I did pack a few pairs of women’s cargo pants that had the ability to roll up and button the hem into 3/4 length pants. I also swear by my Lululemon Dance Studio Pants while traveling (http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-pants/Studio-Pant-II-No-Liner-31069?cc=0001&skuId=3320117&catId=women-pants). BEST PANTS EVER!
Agree, I don’t know why they can’t be a half decent fit. Did you like using cargo pants?
Thanks for the Lululemon link – Look super comfy, cute, and practical! Good tip 🙂
I wasn’t a HUGE fan of the cargo pants but they did the trick and for the most part were comfy. As I said, I was overlanding and volunteering at a lion conservation project in Africa – they kinda served their necessary purpose. I believe they were Denver Hayes womens cargo pants from Mark’s Work Warehouse in Canada. That being said, they were left behind at the lion park in Zimbabwe for the local women who worked there to have.
There are certain areas that you just need laid back, comfy pants and cargos do the trick for Africa for sure, especially working in a project like yours.
Well done with donating your gear! 🙂
I just knew I wasn’t ever going to wear them again – especially not after sloshing around in dead cow juices and such (to feed the lions) 😛
And the bonus for me was that my bag lost a few kilos on the way home from my trip to Africa 🙂 SCORE!
I am SO anti this zippy travel pants. They’re not flattering, too bulky and never look right zipped on or off. A crime against fashion, I say! Much better to just take a pair of shorts and a pair of pants – you can wear one while the other is in the wash too. Can’t do that with zippy pants!
SO true! It really isn’t that much of a difference to have two different items and at least you know you’ll wear them.
Thanks for reading and thank you for your feedback 🙂