Versatile, stylish, and durable, denim jeans are an essential on any jetsetter’s packing list. Originally designed as working pants, jeans have evolved to become a staple fashion item, and with innovative blends of stretchy spandex, pure cotton, and polyester, they've reached a new level of comfort. Whether you sport a trendy cut for happy hour or take advantage of a pair with travel-friendly features (like hidden zippered pockets) you'll want to pack at least one pair for your next trip. Here are a couple of our favorite brands that make jeans particularly well-suited for travel.
Athleta Sculptek Skinny Jean
Athleta is known for its stylish athleisure, so when they started offering jeans, travelers knew they would check all the boxes. With innovative, four-way stretch technology, Sculptek jeans move with your body in all directions without losing shape, even after consecutive days of wear. For the eco savvy traveler, these jeans are produced using a new wash technique, which minimizes the design's impact on the environment by using at least 20% less water in the production process. Designed with five pockets, including two front Powermesh pockets, this pair of pants is convenient for exploring and storing everything from gum to museum tickets. Plus, as you've come to expect from Athleta, these pants are equally comfortable for both on and off-trail exploring.
Roark HWY 133 Slim Fit
Men looking for a sleek cut should check out Roark's HWY 133 Jeans. This slim-fit cut comes in a variety of shades and offers a surprising amount of stretch without losing shape. With five pockets and a stylish tapered leg, these jeans are versatile and wearable for an entire trip. Throw them on with sneakers and hit the streets for a day of exploring, or pair them with nice boots for dinner and drinks.
prAna Kayla Jean
Crafted from organic, cotton blend material, the soft, stretchy, mid-rise Kayla Jean pants embody a classic style with narrow, fitted legs to create a clean silhouette. Composed of 2% spandex, the fabric is pliable and comfortable — making the Kayla Jean great for everyday wear. Whether you pair it with a comfortable set of sneakers or cute ankle boots, prAna is a proud advocate of environmental sustainability and demonstrates its commitment to sustainable practices by partnering with organizations like Textile Exchange and Responsible Down Standard to inspire its wearers to reduce their footprint.
Aviator Comfort Skinny
Founded by former Macy’s art director, Colby Kane, Aviator is a favorite denim brand among the travel community thanks to its buttery soft and breathable jeans. Crafted using a blend of tencel, easterell, and spandex, the lightweight Comfort Skinny jeans feel just like yoga pants with their fitted silhouette. The jeans sport seven pockets — two of which are concealed and zippered to secure your passport and phone while you travel. The deep pockets means you won’t have to worry about bringing a purse to carry your lip gloss and credit card on a night out. The Comfort Skinny’s easy-to-clean and fast-drying material guarantees you won’t have to go a day on the road without them.
Levi’s 559 Relaxed Straight Jeans
As an iconic name and global leader in the denim industry, Levi’s has been crafting classic blue jeans since 1853. The Relaxed Straight Mens Jeans are manufactured with a straightforward blend of cotton and elastane, which keeps these pants soft and comfortable. If you're looking for a no-nonsense pair of jeans, these are perfect. They fit comfortably without being too tight, and come in four shades so you can dress to your style. Since they're machine washable, you can easily toss them in the laundry bag for your hotel concierge, while knowing they won’t lose their shape even after consecutive washes.
DL1961 Instasculpt Series
The trendy and sustainable New York-based brand, DL1961, has been reinventing denim jeans since 2008. Crafted using a blend of ethically-sourced cotton and botanic fibers, the brand’s Instasculpt series features 360-degree movement and strong shape retention for maximum comfort and quality. The company's dedication to protecting the environment means their jeans are dyed with clean indigo and the production process only requires eight gallons of water compared to the traditional manufacturing method, which utilizes roughly 1,500 gallons.
