ISO : somewhat stylish travel/hiking pants ETA Finally have a pair - YouLookFab Forum

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ISO : somewhat stylish travel/hiking pants ETA Finally have a pair

Astrid

Veteran

I want to get another pair of pants for the trip to NZ/Australia next year. They should work well outside in bad weather (no jeans or other cotton fabric), dry quickly and look at least a bit stylish, less like outdoor gear. I'm alright with looking sporty though, I guess something working the "dressy" jogging pants angle could work?

If you have any recommendations I'd love to hear them! Thanks.

P.S. Sorry for being so absent lately...

Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

LaPed

Veteran

Prana has some nice options. I really like the Halle Pant for trail-to-town: http://www.prana.com/halle-pant.html
It's a pretty streamlined classic trouser fit, and no bulky cargo pockets. I think they also do a more skinny/tapered version but I can't recall the name of that one.

You could also check out Ex Officio. I have the Nomad pants, which also come as shorts, crops, etc: https://www.exofficio.com/prod.....p-pant-s15
Ex Officio has tons of different silhouettes and they're all designed to be lightweight, packable, trailworthy. Some look pretty frump-tastic, but they offer enough variety that they might be worth a look.

I'm still sticking to straight legs for the most part, mainly due to fit issues with trendier cuts, but also fabrication. I have yet to find a jogger-style pant in a synthetic fabric that meets my standards for outdoor/travel use. The lightweight, quick-dry ones just remind me too much of old-school "wind pants" and the ones that don't look silly are generally too heavy and warm, not quick-drying, even when they're synthetic. Besides, I personally keep questioning the longevity of the jogger trend. I feel like by next year they might look dated? Others will disagree, I'm sure. Athleta has a lot of options that might fit the bill for you, for current silhouettes in technical fabrics.

Last thought: Is tunic-over-tights an option? A good pair of solid black running/yoga tights is a travel staple for me, usually paired with a merino dress or a puffy skirt, depending on the season. http://www.prana.com/ashley-legging-pant.html

K2

I have the Lululemon &ego trek pant, which is light, comfy, can look dressy, but also can roll hems and put out pockets for reflection and work well for casual/light athletics. It's a great travel pant. I see on the Canadian website that the &go jogger is on sale, but it looks like they have replaced the trek pant with a new one that doesn't get great reviews. You may want to check eBay to see if there are any available to take a look and see if you like them and see if they are affordable from Europe.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look those up and see if they are available anywhere without international shipping. I know that a few German online shops carry the brands, at least. I've come across Athleta in several travel blogs, but they don't seem to be available in Europe so I would need to order from the US.
I guess you're right and the jogger trend might not last that long, who knows. It's not something I'd wear in everyday life, that's for sure. Although here you see it a lot with teenagers. Maybe I should stick with things that are more along my usual looks. I definitely love to wear skirts and dresses in general, so why not for travel, you're right. I think it would definitely be a good way to wear the stuff I would pack for Australia in NZ in cooler weather.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks K2, I'll have a look. Checking Ebay is a good idea!

catgirl

Veteran

Athleta has some great ones and they come in several lengths. I just wore a pair of their technical joggers on a walk yesterday and was called a hipster by my friend.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Una. Maybe I should have a look how much shipping would be for Athleta. It is great that they have short inseams available, all the usual outdoor pants are too long for me. I had a look and found the Prana Halle pants online, but only in a regular length. Ex Officio doesn't seem to be available.

Sal

Veteran

Other option would be buying some when you are here - Kathmandu, MacPac and Icebreaker are all readily available, there are lots of outdoor shops. I am not sure of the exchange rate difference - and whether it is worth while or not financially right now - the NZD is pretty high at the moment.

I think a pair of long pants will be needed, down south in particular. You could either go the way of travel pants or a pair of jeans plus a pair of leggings that you could wear under dresses or shorts. Last summer I wore my lightweight harem pants a lot.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Sally - not sure I want to wait until NZ to shop for pants. It's something so important and if I don't find a pair that fits... I think I'd prefer to spend my time with other things. I'm not sure about jeans for outdoor purpose. I took jeans to Scotland but I ended up in my trekking pants all the time because the jeans where rather uncomfortable when wet and took ages to dry. I mostly wore them at home/hostels or for short walks or in the city. When I knew we would be outside in nature for longer than an hour I wore the trekking pants. I still have those btw, they're just a bit tight right now and slightly worse for wear after my sister took them to Canada. I think leggings are definitely a good idea, but I want some travel/trekking pants too.

Sal

Veteran

Yes that makes sense - jeans are horrible to hike in! And there will be more fun things to do here than go shopping

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, definitely!

I've read some reviews on the Prana Halle pants and they do sound great, but I'm not sure they would fit me. From the pictures it looks like they're cut for a straighter figure, I'm not sure there would be room for my behind... I think I need an outdoor brand that offers cuts for a curvier figure and pants with a higher rise (especially in the back).

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, Lole is a great company and available in EU. I have their travel pant and love them. Comfy, presentable and resilient! http://www.lolewomen.com/de/en.....l0038.html

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the tip! Seems like the travel pants aren't available right now, but I saw some other nice things. Definitely something to keep in mind.

crazyone

Veteran

I bought these Chinese brand pants for my recent hiking trip and they worked out pretty well. I hesitated to recommend them because they're not super stylish, but they are cheap and I can attest to their being functional:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C.....B01FDB9CCW

Just watch out for their sizing--I had to buy a Large, which corresponds to a US Small. It was actually a bit too big in the waist, but quite comfortable in the butt/thighs.

ma342

I am curvy (30" waist, 42" hips) and wear the Prana Halle as my traveling/hiking pants. They have a hidden drawstring in the waist, so I bought the size that fit my hips and just cinch the waist a little tighter. I like them so much that I have two pairs.

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Astrid, I am pretty sure that Amazon Germany carries both Prana and Ex Officio. I love them both.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

You are coming to Australia Astrid? Where & when - I'd love to catch up if possible

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestion, Crazyone!

Ma342, that's good to know, thanks! I'm probably not going to try them though as long as they aren't available in a short inseam anywhere where I can order them easily.

Thanks Isabel! That's where I looked first, actually. They have Ex Officio hiking pants on Amazon, but only for crazy prices (over 200 or even 300€). Seems like those are by other sellers and not Amazon. They have the Halle pants for a normal price, but only in a regular inseam which would be way too long on me. Normally I just shorten pants, but with these kind of hiking pants that doesn't work so well because the knees are then much to low on me.

Caro, that would be great! I wrote about it in Off Topic.

karen13

Veteran

I have the Lole travel pants and love them so much I bought a smaller pair when I lost weight. Very comfy, versatile and flattering. If you don't like the back flaps, they tuck in the pockets smoothly for a clean look.

I also own and love the Athleta bettona Classic pants in multiple colors, and highly recommend them. I slimmed them to a straight leg, from the boot cut.

Sara L.

Veteran

I have a pair of Columbia hiking pants that I bought from Amazon that are lightweight and look nice enough to wear off the trail. I'm not sure what's available in Germany but that brand is fairly inexpensive in the States.

LaPed

Veteran

I'm pretty curvy, too -- 25/35 waist/hip. The Halle's fit really nicely because of the hidden drawstring. Most of the Ex Officio pants are just cut loose enough to accommodate curvy hips.

Brands I've found problematic for fit: Athleta (I may just be trying the wrong styles, because everyone seems to love them), North Face, Columbia.

Hit-or-miss for fit: Mountain Hardwear, Lole, Patagonia -- I try to read reviews, try on in person, or ask for garment measurements, because I find the sizing in these to be very unpredictable.

I'd definitely buy something before the trip, rather than holding off 'til you arrive. My husband likes to buy his clothes while he's travelling, as needed, and he always ends up with stuff that's a little bit odd and not-quite-right.

I'm very jealous of your trip plans -- I hope to make it to NZ for hiking one of these days!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the recommendations, Karen!

Thanks Sara. I've seen lots of inexpensive Columbia on Amazon, I'll keep it in mind!

La Pedestrienne, thanks for coming back and sharing your know-how. I agree about The North Face, that brand is big here and it doesn't work for me at all. I don't think I have tried any of the others. After I read that the Halle pants work for you even though you're curvy I had another look and found them in the Coal color on sale in a German online store. They're the regular length and I would probably do better with the short inseam, but maybe it works. And I have no idea if I ordered the right size, they didn't give the US numbered sizes... Anyway, I'm looking forward to see how these look IRL.
ETA Just wanted to add that I will definitely do the shopping for the important things beforehand. I'm much too picky to shop on the road.

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Lynn

Veteran

Another vote for Columbia pants. One I particularly like is the "Black Beauty" skinny pant. It is not as tight as a legging - more like a skinny ponte pant. I actually wear them rolled to capri length at times. I wore them all over Australia and NZ this spring. Easy to wash and dried overnight.
If you want a slightly wider leg the "Just Right" straight leg is also nice.
Because they are both slimmer than a lot of gear type pants I think they look for stylish for non-hiking wear.

http://www.columbia.com/womens.....#038;dwvar
http://www.columbia.com/womens.....olor=010#s

Lynn

Veteran

Forgot to say the sizing for Columbia is a bit generous compared to Patagonia, Lole etc. I am pear shaped with a fairly defined waist and they fit well. The "Black Beauty" is a pull-on style with a yoga waistband. At least I think this is the pair I have. I bought them several years ago.
The only downside to them is no pockets, otherwise they wear perfect.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Lynn! Those look promising, especially the slim version. Too bad they don't seem to be available anywhere in Germany. Even the official Columbia online store doesn't list them. And Amazon.com doesn't ship them to Germany.

Astrid

Veteran

The Prana Halle pants arrived and I can definitely see why they get so many good reviews! Fabric is nice, not too thin and not too thick and with some give. They also drape well and there's no VPL. But they don't fit me. The hips are fine in this size, but the waist is definitely too big. And they are too long! To get the ones with the short inseam I would have to order in the US and I don't think I want to do that. I'm not quite sure yet what to try next...

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Astrid

Veteran

An update on my endless pants search - I have the Royal Robbins Discovery Pencil Pant on order, it's the longer version of those great capri pants I already bought. But there was quite a bit of size confusion with Amazon calling the US sizes UK sizes and then also sending me the wrong size, so this is my third try of getting these pants in the right size. If these won't work I will look elsewhere and stop ordering. But I really hope they do because the cut is great: slim, ankle length (full length on me), small waist and roomy hips. And no cargo pockets or anything so they would look great with sneakers and a button down shirt too. I'll let you know how the saga ends...

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Anonymous

Those look good.
I like your approach of buying street-looking pants in a gear material.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Lululemon comes to find. I've tried exOfficio, and Lole in the past, but find Lulus to be the most versatile, and have the best fit for pearish bottoms.

Have you looked at Icebreaker? They're NZ-based, and most of their clothing is travel friendly and made from merino wool, which is water repellent.

Astrid

Veteran

The Royal Robbin pants didn't work out and I was tired of returning to Amazon UK, so I went looking for something else. And I have finally found a pair! I bought the Columbia Saturday Trail pants in a grey blue kind of color from Amazon. The material looks great for summer activities and I will be able to layer my Icebreaker leggings under them if it's colder. And they are lightweight and will pack down small. I took a chance on them because I thought they would probably be too long, but Amazon sent me a size 8 short even though it didn't say short in the description! And all for just under 30€, so I'm happy.

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