My new favorite pants ("jeans") for travel

I have been NYDJ on all flights for years, even those long hauls to Asia. So comfortable and you have them along if it gets cool.

I wear a pair of jeans when traveling and have another pair in my suitcase. I also have a pair of khaki's in my suitcase.
The trick to getting long travel life out of pants is having the laundry treat them with heavy starch. If I don't get the pants dirty or muddy, I can wear them for 10 days at a time.
As I tell my wife, they'll never see us again.

Agree! Now I just need to find where I stashed mine -- figure a March trip to Germany deserves warmer pants.

Black levis and black running shoes get us into the opera in Florence, high end restaurants in various European cities, and a tie and sweater usually suffices in the stuffy places. Wear one pair, pack one pair, travel light. Worked for us for 15 years.

I only wear jeans, year round and every place I go. Can't imagine wearing anything else. They are comfortable and you can wear them for days without washing. Have no idea why people say not to take them. My jeans are light, have some stretch to them and I fit in no matter where I go in Europe cause that is what everyone else is wearing.

on jeans: i've tried the nydj and they are not flattering on me...but! my frame jeans don't lose their shape even after a week of wear and are 12 oz. they are spendy but can be had on ebay for 25% of retail.

i also love uniqlo's legging pants which are usually in the $10-$30 range. i think they are also around 12 oz, though they do stretch out a bit more than the frames.

my last few cool-weather trips (2-3 weeks), for pants, i just brought jeans and black uniqlos, along with a pair of anatomie pants for the couple fancier evenings.

I only wear jeans, year round and every place I go. Can't imagine
wearing anything else. They are comfortable and you can wear them for
days without washing.

Same here, Ms. Jo! Mine are lightweight with a little spandex for stretch, and I wear them everywhere; dressed up a bit with jackets and boots, or down with t-shirt and sneakers. My husband travels only with jeans as well (unless we're on hiking trips requiring shorts) but we don't go to upscale restaurants and whatnot where they might not be appropriate.

Thanks for the review, Lola. I'll be checking these out and see if there are local stores where I can try some on

I've had good luck with Paris Blues jeans. Inexpensive lightweight/spandex mix that dries fairly quickly. Hard to find though. I bought my last pair at Beall's outlet for about $15.00. I easily wore them for a week without washing during our winter trip and only threw them in the laundry because there was room in the load. They were so comfortable that I wore them on the plane both ways. What I liked best about them was they didn't stretch out and look sloppy.

I'm also in the camp of wearing exactly what I wear at home, and that means jeans. 2 pair is enough for me, wash every 3-4 days. I like the brands Hudson (boot cut) and Kut From the Kloth (skinny) as they are a light to mid-weight denim blended with a bit of spandex so they wash and dry easily overnight and keep their shape.

Nice to see so many jeans-wearers!

I used to be a big fan of these Eddie Bauer slim side-zip twill slim pants--no pockets or waistband, enough spandex to keep their shape and dry quickly:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/women-39-s-bremerton-stayshape-reg-stretch-twill-pants/21107581/_/A-ebSku_0113983632001002__21107581_catalog10002_en__US?showProducts=111

They are neat and professional-looking, and I often wore them to work. But I lost so much weight after retiring (moving around instead of sitting at a desk all day) that the smallest size they make is still too big for me. So I am happy I found a substitute that fits well.

I still recommend the EB twill pants to others---it is a great style that holds up well to travel demands, and comes in more colors than the NYDJ ankle pants.

I will have to check those out! I always travel with a pair of jeans and have never once regretted it. I have also heard good things about the Wit & Wisdom brand at Nordstrom, but will need to order them since mine didn't have them in store. I also plan to check out H&M, as they have petite sizes and lots of skinny/slim cut options.

Yes. Me, too. Two pairs of black NYDJs, one on and one in suitcase. That's it. I wear bootcut because I wear a leg wallet instead of a waist money belt. They are so comfortable and dry overnight...although I tend to let the hotel laundry service wash them if I can.

Thanks Lola! Good thread! Another jeans fan here. I never travel without them. Wore a pair for many days in England last spring. Took 2 pair of knit pants also. Traveled with only a carry on.

Best travel pants I've come across are from ExOfficio. They're really stepping up their styles recently and they're more than just underwear and insect repellant clothing.

For jeans, my favorite have been the brand new Dylan jeans. Dark dyed so they're modern, using high quality Cone denim, enough stretch to be comfortable on long flight and best of all, two zippered hidden pockets. One inside of the backpockets and another inside the waistband, both large enough to stash a passport and extra cash. Really well thought out, a true travel jean.

The other pant I really like is their Cano Pant. Same hidden zippered pockets but, they look like dress pants but cotton instead. They have a tweed-like appearance but, they're cotton based so comfortable in the heat of the day but, dressy enough for a nice dinner. I got the Black ones as the other colors were hideous.

My girlfriend really likes their Minka pant, which is really a legging. She says it's the best made travel tights ever, no pilling, warm enough for those chilly plane rides, but, doesn't pill or stretch-out.

I agree with the NYDJ suggestion! They have petites and plus, too, which is great. These are my go-to trousers in general, not just for jeans or travel. I am taking them with me to Ireland in a couple of weeks.

If you like Nordstrom Rack, you should also sign up for HauteLook, which is their "flash sale" site (think Zulily). They frequently have NYDJ and lots of other travel friendly brands on there. I also stalk Amazon b/c they will DEEPLY discount NYDJ.

I always take jeans to Europe. One pair dark blue and one pair black. My preference is Levis. They have some stretch and don't loss their shape after repeated wearing. Jeans are worn everywhere in Europe, and not just by the tourists.

Reporting back: I did purchase the Wit & Wisdom jeans from Nordstrom and I think they will be great for travel. They have some stretch but hold their shape and are very comfortable. They come in regular and petite sizes in different cuts (skinny, bootcut, etc).