Now Trending: Women’s Travel Joggers

Kara Blakeslee Avatar

Woman packing a suitcase
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Ever since I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with athleisure. Given the choice, I would wear my Lululemon joggers every day. And surprisingly, it’s not just because I think joggers are always the more comfortable choice. Although, I’ll admit, the elastic waistband is nice! As a style-obsessed person, there’s something effortlessly cool about modern sportswear. Selfishly, the “sporty casual” trend — and women’s travel joggers — is the best thing to happen to me.

When I think about my athleisure must-haves, joggers are a closet staple. Personally, the overall fit of joggers makes them my go-to travel pant. Simply put, joggers are fitted performance pants made with lightweight materials. My unofficial definition is they are the brainchild of leggings and sweatpants.

The main differences between joggers and sweatpants: fit and material.  Joggers have an elastic waistband, they’re slightly baggy at the top, and taper around the ankle. Traditionally, joggers are made with lightweight, breathable fabrics that make them ideal for movement and travel. Also, because joggers are more fitted, they naturally have a more elevated look and feel. Given their versatility, joggers have become my go-to airport travel outfit.

Lucky for you, I’ve tested and tried more joggers than I’m willing to admit. If you need convincing why joggers are the best travel pants for women, keep reading.

Best Overall Joggers

I’ve talked about the Lululemon Stretch High Rise Jogger a lot, and for good reason! Quality-wise, these bad boys have withstood two years of frequent wear. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality pair of joggers, these are a great option. Fit-wise, they are relaxed with the classic fitted ankle.

The lycra blend makes them stretchy, breathable and moisture wicking. Also, these joggers come in XXL plus sizes and trendy colorways.

Best Cotton Jogger

For colder weather or longer travel days, a cotton jogger will keep you both comfortable and warm. Some might argue that cotton joggers are essentially sweatpants, but they maintain the key features of joggers: an ankle pant that’s fitted.

My recent favorite cotton jogger is from J.Crew. The Magic Rinse Relaxed Jogger Pant is 100% cotton with a slightly more relaxed fit. Because of their laid-back fit, they run big, so I recommend sizing down.

If you want to feel like you’re wearing pajamas at the airport, then these joggers are for you.

Best Elastic Waist Jogger

Athleta understood the assignment with their Rainier Jogger. This highly reviewed jogger is ideal for medium-impact workouts and cold weather. The recycled nylon/lycra blend makes them moisture-wicking, breathable and fast drying.

Plus, they have reflective details and sleek zippered pockets, which make them great for morning/evening workouts.

From the airport, to the outdoors, these are the best jogger for active travelers.

Best Tapered Jogger

The Spanx Tapered Pant is one of the company’s bestselling items. These pants are highly reviewed with some calling them “life changing.”

So what makes them that good? This straight leg pant is made with spacer fabric that is both lightweight and ultra soft. The fine knit structure makes them soft, breathable and easy to move in.

Plus, these joggers have a flexible waistband with a drawstring for added support. The tapered leg is slightly more cropped above the ankle, which gives them a more elevated feel.

I recommend these if you’re looking for a versatile jogger that you can dress up or down.

Best Luxury Jogger

What’s not to love about a cashmere jogger?

Since 2006, the brand Anatomie has been creating luxury performance apparel that is both stylish and functional. Backed by European craftsmanship, Anatomie has a high-end look, with a modern sporty feel. The company’s lightweight, wrinkle-free fabrics make them ideal for long flights and busy travel days.

Anatomie sells several splurge-worthy joggers, but my favorite has to be the Londone Cashmere Jogger. The 95 percent cashmere, 5 percent elastane blend will keep you warm while being moisture-wickingwicking. Aside from wearing them on travel days, these make a perfect, cozy lounge pant. The fit is modern relaxed with a mid-rise waist and side pockets.

Best Amazon Jogger

For under $20, you can’t go wrong with these best-selling joggers from Amazon. Just shy of a five-star review, the Leggings Depot Women’s Active Jogger is a crowd favorite for affordable joggers.

At half the price, they are similar in style to the cult favorite Lululemon High-Waist Jogger. The polyester/spandex blend makes them both quick-drying and moisture-wicking. The synthetic blend also makes them wrinkle-resistant. If you’re looking for an affordable, comfortable jogger, these are them.

The Best Fleece Jogger

When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than a cozy fleece jogger. The Nike Phoenix Sweatpants are made with the company’s signature Dri-Fit technology. Aka, they are moisture-wicking and quick-drying.

These joggers are high-rise, with a relaxed fit, and taper off below the ankles. The waistband is thicker so it will provide more control and support than your traditional jogger. And the adjustable drawstring allows you to make them tighter or looser throughout the day.

The Best Capri Jogger

What if I told you that there’s a jogger you can customize to best fit your height? Sounds ideal, right? The CRZ Women’s Lightweight Jogger has a drawstring at the bottom that allows you to personalize the fit. This feature lets you instantly turn your joggers into capris, which is perfect for all types of travel.

The fabric is lightweight, breathable and quick-drying. These joggers are fitted without being shapeless. And they have front and back pockets, which come in handy during any travel day.

The Best Cargo Jogger

Something I didn’t foresee was the rise of the cargo pant trend. With the trend in full swing, I’ll admit, it has grown on me. When I shop trends, I like to buy items that I can wear and style forever. My current obsession is the Light Utilitech Cargo Pocket High-Rise Pant.

I love these for travel pants because the fit flows away from the body and the stretchy fabrics make them ideal for movement. For those who don’t like a fitted ankle, these cargo pants have a straighter wide leg fit. They also come with deeper front pockets, which will help keep your belongings secure.

These can also be easily dressed up with an oversized button down or kept casual with a t-shirt.


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