Before a long flight, these are the best travel pants I always make sure to pack

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I work from home, so I rely on comfy pants. And by "comfy pants," I don't mean ill-fitting sweats — instead, I've found loads of polished pants that have sneaky details like stretch fabrics, wide-leg silhouettes, or elastic waistbands that make me look and feel presentable (even though I'm technically in loungewear).

I look for the same features when I'm packing for a trip, with the added stipulation that my clothes be wrinkle-proof and easily fit in my carry-on. In my quest to find the best travel pants, I tested 16 pairs of pants that strike an ideal balance between coziness and elegance. My favorites are best summed up as stretchy work pants that secretly feel like sweatpants.

The top 3 travel pants I tested:

Everlane The Dream Pant

Let me make this very clear: I. Love. These. Pants.

As a style writer, I've sampled hundreds of articles of clothing from the best retailers, and it's rare that an item truly makes my jaw drop. But boy oh boy, did these Everlane pants impress me. The tapered fit was perfection, the stretch fabric was divine, and they were so easy to style up and down. I am going to wear these again and again, and I know they're going to be my go-to travel pants from now on.

They're made from sweatpants fabric. The double-knit fabric is delightfully soft and comfortable with lots of stretch, though an elegant pintuck detail keeps them looking smart. When I first picked up the medium-weight pants, I was afraid they'd be too warm for a summer day, but I wore them in 80° weather (styled with summery espadrilles and a tank top) without issue. The fabric almost feels cool to the touch, which is a joy for someone like myself who sweats easily.

They're wrinkle-resistant. I took these pants to a hair dye appointment, which meant sitting for over five hours with few breaks. At the end of the day, they looked almost exactly the same as they did that morning. The elastic waistband and stretchy fabric proved to be highly comfortable for the long hours of sitting.

The fit is flattering. With a pear-shaped figure, I have a hard time finding pants that sit snug around my waist but don't squeeze my butt and thighs. These high-waisted tapered pants fit the bill. I'm 5-foot-7, and they hit right above my ankles, which makes them easy to pair with nearly any footwear. Maybe the only detail I wasn't crazy about was that the pocket outline was visible through the pants, but I didn't find it to be a major issue, and I was happy to have two functional pockets (the flat back pockets are just for show).

They're versatile and easy to style. Pair these with a t-shirt and sneakers, pumps and a blazer, or anything in between. I've been dreaming up so many outfits for these cozy bottoms, that I may have to purchase a second pair to be able to wear them as often as I'd like to.

Rag & Bone Miramar Wide-Leg Pant

Across the board, the Insider Reviews team members are big fans of Rag & Bone's Miramar line of faux denim terry cotton sweats. We've also sampled and loved its joggers and shorts from the same collection.

The "denim" looks surprisingly real. When I wore the jogger version of these pants, I fooled my husband who believed I was wearing traditional denim until I had him feel the soft sweatpant fabric and elastic waistband. "I too was amazed at how real they looked — right down to the faux fly and lightly distressed denim details," adds style editor Gabrielle Chase.

They flatter a variety of body shapes. "I'm 5-foot-9 and when pulled all the way up around my waist, the inseam reaches a bit past my ankles in flats, so I'd definitely recommend these jeans for tall women. Thankfully, because the waistband is so stretchy, I have the option to sling them low and let the hems puddle around my ankles," writes Gabrielle.

"I love the look of a wide-leg jean but have also sworn off hard pants, so these are my dream come true!" writes Sally Kaplan, executive editor. "I'm short and curvy, so I knew these would be a little long on me, but I don't even care. I just safety pin them at the back of the hem to keep them from catching under my heels, and no one is the wiser. Since my first pair arrived, I've already ordered a second."

The fabric is lightweight yet substantial. "The stretchy terry cloth sweatpant is perfect for springtime, as it's more breathable than fleece sweats," Gabrielle notes. I found the pants were even doable in New Jersey's July heat. They accompanied me on a six-hour road trip, keeping me snug during the long drive but looking pulled together when we stopped for a mid-way lunch.

Read more in our full Rag & Bone Sweatpant Jeans review.

Athleta Endless High Rise Pant

Athleta's Endless High Rise Pants earned high marks when I tested the most comfortable work pants, but the buttery-soft semi-fitted bottoms are also well suited for travel. For a cozy matching ensemble to wear on your journey, Athleta also make some of the best sweatsuits I've tested.

They're the most versatile pants I own. Comfortable as loungewear, elegant enough for the office, and stretchy and lightweight for workouts, these pants can truly do it all. I've worn them with sneakers and a t-shirt for a light hike but also paired them with heels and a sweater for an evening out. The comfy, wide elastic waistband is always flattering, and the faux zipper makes these pants look dressier than they feel.

They barely wrinkle in a suitcase. I've packed these bottoms for multiple trips and have appreciated not needing to whip out the hotel ironing board when I pull these from my suitcase. The recycled polyester-spandex fabric stretches and naturally releases wrinkles.

There are so many size and color options. Right now, the Endless High Rise Pants are available in seven colors, but Athleta is constantly adding new hues into the mix. There's also a cargo version, which has two functional cargo pockets along with the same zip pockets as the OG version. Both the cargo and the regular come in petite, regular, and tall lengths.

Aritzia The Effortless Pant

I've long been on the hunt for the perfect pair of loose trousers, and I've finally found them. Aritzia's wrinkle-proof Effortless Pants check all boxes: comfort, style, versatility, and sophistication.

The Japanese crepe fabric is wrinkle-proof. The Essential Pants come in a variety of fabric options, but the Japanese crepe is ideal for travel thanks to its subtle texture, breezy drape, and ability to resist wrinkles. I sat in these pants for over eight hours, and they looked just as polished at the end of the day as they did the beginning.

Despite not having a super stretchy fabric, they're unbelievably comfortable. As far as pants without elastic waistbands and super stretchy fabrics go, these are the most comfortable ones I've ever had on my body. The lightweight fabric with a wide-leg silhouette gently drapes like a luxe but not flimsy pair of pajamas. The hook-and-bar closure waistband fits snugly without digging in. I could easily wear these on a long flight without issue.

They come in various lengths and a curve fit. Initially, I sampled the non-curve silhouette and didn't find it flattering on my pear-shaped figure. I then tested the curve version, which has an additional 2 inches in the low hip and 1.5 inches in the thigh, and those fit me perfectly. The only downside to the curve version is that there are fewer colors and only one length option available (Aritzia, please make more!). The original version comes in 22 colors and has four length options, with the Regular inseam just hitting the floor on my 5-foot-7 frame.

HalaraFlex Wide Leg Micro Waffle Work Pants

These affordable wide-leg slip-ons are like pajama pants you can wear to work, thanks to their plicated tailoring. They'd be perfect for long plane rides since they're cozy enough to snooze in.

After hours of wear, they didn't wrinkle at all. Crafted from Lycra, the pants have a fine waffle knit that's designed to resist wrinkles. I wore these all day both sitting and standing and they didn't get a single wrinkle. They packed nicely, and once unfolded they were still crease-free.

The fabric is stretchy and breathable. According to the brand, the material absorbs sweat and you can even work out in it. There are functional side pockets, too. Unfortunately, there's only regular and long inseams available — I'm 5-foot-7 and the regular length grazed the floor when I go barefoot.

You can comfortably fly in these pants. Thanks to the stretchy fabric and elastic waistband, these pants are definitely comfortable enough to be worn on long plane rides. Then, you can rewear them as part of a casual or dressy outfit during your trip, saving you precious luggage space.

Read more in our full Halara review.

Carbon38 Split Bootcut Legging

Black flare leggings are some of the best pants for travel because they're comfortable and easy to match with a variety of tops and shoes. This pair by Carbon38 ups the style factor with a split flared bootcut hem.

They're compact for packing. Dressy leggings are great for packing since you can fold them down a lot and they don't take up much space in a suitcase.

They transition from day to night. I wore these during the daytime with sneakers and an oversized sweater. For dinner and drinks, I threw on a blazer, changed into pumps, and swiped on a red lip. The pants looked polished in both scenarios.

The high waist is flattering and comfortable. I love the high-waisted cut on these pants, which was tummy-smoothing and figure-flattering. It also helps elongate the look of your legs. The light support was comfortable but not compressing, which is better for travel and long hours spent sitting.

The fabric is moisture-wicking. Even though they look elegant enough to wear out, I love that these versatile leggings still have everything you'd want in workout pants. I recently wore them to a workout class and they didn't budge through squats and kicks. My one caution is for pet owners: These attracted hair from my cat. I will carry a small lint roller next time I wear these.

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Commuter Midi Jogger

Meet the perfect pants for plane travel. The best part of these ultra-comfy joggers is that they can be repurposed and dressed up during your trip.

The comfy fabric is perfectly warm, but not overly insulating. Plane cabins can get chilly, so I always travel in a pair of comfy pants that'll also keep me warm. That being said, you don't want to go overboard on the warmth in case you're stuck idling on the tarmac and the plane's AC is broken (yes, this has happened to me, and it was brutal). These buttery soft joggers with four-way stretch are the perfect mid-weight.

They're great for outdoor activities. The pants are made from a moisture-wicking fabric so feel free to work out in them. They also offer UV protection for your outdoor adventures.

They can be dressed up, too. Versatile pieces allow you to travel lighter. I paired these slim-fit joggers with a sweater and a pair of heeled boots and wore them out to dinner. They looked plenty cute, and I appreciated the elastic waistband after finishing my meal.

Lululemon Smooth Fit Pull-On High-Rise Pant

I first tested these stretchy flare pants while researching the most comfortable work pants, but was so impressed by their versatility that I had to include them here.

The fit is snug but comfortable. I do have to wiggle a bit to get these pants on, but once they're up, the fit is not constricting. The high-rise pull-on pants might not be the first pair I reach for to wear in-flight, but they're certainly comfortable enough to wear for long days spent walking and exploring thanks to the sweat-wicking fabric.

They're packable. The subtly flared pants were easy to roll and fold, and they weren't very wrinkled when I pulled them out of my weekender bag. A benefit to the tight fit and stretch is that most wrinkles get smoothed out when you put on the pants.

They come in different lengths. I always appreciate when pants are available in varied lengths. I'm 5-foot-7 and sometimes wear regular or tall lengths, depending on the brand. In these, the regular length pants fit me great (I was fine with them not hitting the floor), but tall and cropped options are also available.

Lululemon Dance Studio Relaxed-Fit Mid-Rise Cargo Pant

Cargo pants are everywhere lately, which is great news for frequent fliers. Besides their roomy silhouette, this pair's ample pockets add convenience. Lululemon ups the travel-friendliness even further with a cozy elastic waistband and a cinchable hem.

It gives you two looks in one. The 32-inch inseam bottoms transition from a straight-leg silhouette to a cropped jogger style thanks to cinchable hems. I love that this feature gives you multiple looks in a single pair of pants (meaning one less thing to pack!), but it also makes the pants more versatile for different climates.

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 flattering ruching down the back, which concealed minimal wrinkles that developed as I wore them.

How I tested to find the best travel pants

I wanted to find comfortable travel pants that are actually wrinkle-proof, because realistically I won't have a garment steamer with me everywhere I go.

I tested 16 pairs by sitting in each one for at least six hours to make sure they were comfortable enough to sustain me over long flights.

I simulated my usual packing process by compressing and stowing them in my suitcase, until a few hours later I'd pull them out and try them on to see if they'd stayed wrinkle-free. I also washed and dried each pair according to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure they maintained their original quality.