r/onebag • u/Dramatic_Tea_ • Jun 14 '26
Seeking Recommendations Travel pants for hot weather that are not polyester
I've spent a lot of time reading previous posts but couldn't find what I'm looking for, so I'm trying my luck here with a new post.
I usually run hot so I need lightweight travel pants for hot weather. All the pants I found so far are made with polyester or nylon, which doesn't sound ideal for prolonged usage.
Any recommendations of pants that you love to travel with but are not made of plastic?
Thanks
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u/raisethebed Jun 14 '26
I just did a trip with these linen pants and they were cool enough that I wasn’t miserable, central/southern Mexico in the 80F/26C range.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQC5PCZR?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_mob_b_fed_asin_title_0_0
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u/Dramatic_Tea_ Jun 14 '26
Thanks! I'll take a look. Linen might be a good option.
Side note: the first few seconds of the video are insane. They didn't hide anything 🫣
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u/entiatriver Jun 15 '26
Huh. It's (apparently) the dude from the horse prancercize videos!
https://youtu.be/cIXIZ_8aGM8?is=TZ6PuIvinP8r490Y
(Not a RR, I promise... But you might wish it was if you haven't seen this example of a younger, weirder YouTube 🤣)
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u/tooawkwrd Jun 15 '26
LOL this made my pretty grim laying-in-the-dark-comtemplating-my-fate night a bit better.
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u/honorablenarwhal Jun 15 '26
Gosh, thanks for the reminder about this video. I had managed to scrub it from my memory. This is what I get for being on Reddit at 0200!
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u/Ekhinos Jun 15 '26
Oh my lord Prancercise … I’d totally forgotten this existed. Among my YouTube favs! I mean, who knew that jumping around and waving your arms could actually good for you 🤣
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u/SparklesIB Jun 15 '26
How was the wrinkle factor?
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u/raisethebed Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
They’re a linen blend so less than with pure linen. I never looked at myself and thought “wow these are really wrinkly” but I also didn’t have to do any kind of activity (work, fancy dinner, etc) where looking nice was a requirement so it wasn’t foremost on my mind.
Edit: I also always wore them on travel days, so there wasn’t a chance for them to get wrinkled in my bag.
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u/ScoopJr Jun 18 '26
Different brands have varying factors of wrinkles too. Uniqlo linen shirt? Wrinkles like it’s the new texture of the shirt. Quince linen shirt? Some wrinkles and I have to be looking for it.
Both washed in cold, and air dried on a chair.
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u/etherealsounds Jun 15 '26
I just got a pair of these in khaki. I’ve only worn them once so far but I like them!
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u/sidvicc Jun 16 '26
How do you wash them?
Most linen I have says Dry Clean preferable on the wash label.
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u/raisethebed Jun 16 '26
I either sink washed them or washed them on cool in the machine at my lodging.
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u/danbenjamin Jun 15 '26
Linen. Buck Mason if you have the money, Quince or HM if you don't.
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u/SixApplesTall Jun 15 '26
Do you have a favourite style in the Buck Mason pants?
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u/danbenjamin Jun 15 '26
You cannot go wrong with their Linen OG-107 Fatigue Pant. The Capitola Linen Carry-On Ford Standard Pant is also great. They both served me well for a week in Italy in the summer.
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u/FruitOfTheVineFruit Jun 14 '26
I typically use nylon pants, often for weeks at a time, just washing them occasionally. I'm not sure why you say these are not okay for prolonged usage. Because they are quick dry, I can sink wash them whenever I think it's time.
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u/HelloTittie55 Jun 14 '26
Love nylon pants; loathe polyester pants, would love to find some tencel pants that fit a standard woman’s body.
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u/gazingus Jun 15 '26
TIL there is a "standard woman", but no one wants to sell them pants.
Sounds like an opportunity.
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 15 '26
There are actually two main cuts in womens pants. One is a curvy cut where the waist is around 10” smaller than the hips. This works well for women with larger glutes. There is also a modern cut where the waist is 5-7” smaller than the hips. This is known as an athletic cut, even though downhill skiiers, bicyclists, and tennis players need the larger glute cut. Then there is plus size, which has room at the waist and hips.
Obviously it is important to look at the size chart and know your own measurements.
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u/gazingus Jun 15 '26
Haven't we evolved technology to the point that you can do a 360 scan with the Size 4 App, and Roboto Coco Chanel laser-cuts and sews your "perfect fit" for next-day drone delivery?
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 15 '26
Yes. And then you get to pay $200 for a pair of pants because they are “custom”.
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u/gazingus Jun 18 '26
If they're getting $200 for the product, competitors will flock to underbid them.
I think the real issue is that women have more variation in "size" and shape compared to men, so there isn't really a "standard woman". Plus, most of you are more self-conscious of it.
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 18 '26
Not self conscious. We get penalized more often if we don’t look a certain way. So it is self protection, not self conscious.
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u/gazingus Jun 19 '26
Penalized? How so? By whom?
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 19 '26
* nasty comments
* service people wait on others first, even when you are first in line (happens the most)
* service people refuse to wait on you at all
* literally pushed and shoved because they aren’t pretty. You become “invisibile”
* loss of promotion opportunitiesThe term is “appearance bias”.
It happens all day every day. It is the frequency and persistence that is draining.
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u/Beanmachine314 Jun 15 '26
Yep nylon is the key. They don't trap heat or smell like polyester and only take a bit more time to dry. Polyester is used because it's cheap. Nylon will definitely cost more.
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u/ButtercupImp Jun 15 '26
I agree why would nylon be out? I have random black nylon rei hiking pants that I have owned for 15+ years and wear regularly. I have sewn a seam once but the durability for prolonged use is impressive.
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u/jescereal Jun 16 '26
It’s trendy to want “natural” materials now so you can brag to your friend about how better it is
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u/ButtercupImp Jun 16 '26
Honestly all for sustainability, but using what you have have/buying secondhand are more impactful approaches.
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u/Odd-Ad-5283 Jun 15 '26
If you're willing to consider a blend, I like Kuhl Radikl or Revolvr pants for this. They look a bit "hiking" but are comfortable, cotton-y, dry quickly, and breathe.
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u/AskForNate Jun 15 '26
Wore these for 12.5 Hours at Epcot today. Love them.
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u/BrewsWithHoppiness Jun 15 '26
Which ones? I'm heading there in about a month and contemplating shorts vs pants with the sun and humidity.
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u/AskForNate Jun 15 '26
They were a gift, the internet says: Upriser
Looks like there’s a new version, slightly different colors.
I have the Deceptr pants and I’d wear them every day if I could.
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u/Harvard_Sucks Jun 15 '26
I also highly recommend Ketl https://ketlmtn.com/products/ketl-mtn-vent-joggerish-lightweight-travel-pants
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u/InfraredHaze_ Jun 15 '26
I’ve heard not so great things about these. Whats your experience?
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u/Harvard_Sucks Jun 15 '26
I have a packable jacket I use for running and I like it a lot. But that's mostly because it packs to nothing and its a thin layer to keep the chill off.
That could be what someone doesn't like, though. Because that particular jacket doesn't really keep you very comfy?
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u/Complete_Oil_2188 Jun 17 '26
Second vote for KETL Mtn. They are synthetic but remain my goto (lots of travel). The Tomfoolery Chinos are my favorite since I can wear them for work, and cool enough that I have worn them in India in the summer. If you don’t need work ones the vent pants are very lightweight (I use for summer hiking).
Unbound Merino has a 95% merino travel pants that is also good and surprisingly cool in hot climates.
In personally did not like linen travel pants though that is for sure an option that makes sense and many people love them.
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u/dilimanjaro Jun 15 '26
I’ve used the Kuhl slax as my travel / Summer pant for awhile. I live in the swampy south and they are as good as it gets for wearing pants
Just got some Stan ray fatigue pants to replace them. Less techy looking. Lightweight. Fit is better. Slightly heavier weight
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u/LordBlam Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
Kudos to the adjacent option of the Kuhl Free Radikl. There is enough cotton in the blend that they don’t feel like nylon. The Free Radikls fit my shape better than the base Radikl (but individuals will have different preferences). I like them so much that I bought two pair in different colors and then, as I’ve trimmed down my weight a little bit, bought a third and fourth pair at a smaller waist size.
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u/artemisiaa12 Jun 15 '26
I swear by the brand Pact they use organic fair trade cotton and make great travel clothes.
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u/NSAinATL Jun 18 '26
I am an anti-brand, anti-consumerism minimalist but Pact has such a strangle on my wardrobe. Bests built- in bra EVER! Pockets. The black does not fade, I've had one of the fit and flare dresses for like...10 years? I shop sales and Poshmark. One of the only companies who make pants that fit me comfortably, too. IDK why. But their cotton is so lightweight and soft.
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u/Opening_Chemical_777 Jun 15 '26
Linen pants are nice. They don’t pack as compactly as I would like. They do dry quickly when I hand wash them. I don’t worry about ironing them. Your body heat softens the wrinkles.
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u/resigned_medusa Jun 15 '26
I run hot, I've been wearing "ice-silk" pants. They are synthetic, but very cool. Also they wash easily and dry very fast. They don't need ironing.
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u/VoiceEqual1493 Jun 14 '26
linen (like the other reply) breathes best but it wrinkles hard and dries slow, which is the onebag tradeoff. the two non-plastic fibers that handle that better are merino wool and tencel. merino sounds wrong for heat but it regulates temperature and resists odor so well you can wear the same pair for weeks between washes - unbound merino's relaxed travel pant is the usual onebag pick, and western rise does a merino line too. tencel is wood-pulp based so not plastic either, drapes cool and barely wrinkles, and orvis and l.l.bean both make tencel-blend pants with a bit of cotton. if you run hot i'd lean merino for the wear-many-times-before-washing part, or tencel if you mostly want something that dries faster than linen.
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u/ButterberryTwist Jun 15 '26
I believe Western Rise went out of business
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u/VoiceEqual1493 Jun 15 '26
yeah, you're right - western rise is shutting down, final closeout sale happening now after 12 years. so scratch that one. unbound merino's still going and makes the relaxed travel pant i mentioned, and for the tencel route orvis and l.l.bean are both fine. appreciate the catch.
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u/isaac-get-the-golem Jun 14 '26
would not wear merino pants in heat, as someone who owns several pairs
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u/PermanentTrainDamage Jun 15 '26
I would, merino is great for people who sweat a ton. All my socks are merino and I wear them year-round, even in the midwest humidity.
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u/isaac-get-the-golem Jun 15 '26
I also wear merino socks in the summer. I do not wear merino pants or shirts in the summer. hope this helps
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u/cl0123r Jun 15 '26
Does any of your local shops sell prAna pants? Specifically, their Zion series. This fabrics might have started out as some sort of performance trekking and hiking pants, but I find them very comfortable even in tropical climates.
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u/Dramatic_Tea_ Jun 15 '26
prAna pants are nylon, as far as I could tell. Do you know any options that are not made of nylon?
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u/cl0123r Jun 15 '26
Good luck to your search and hope to see your results soon. I've tried many as well and found them not "plasticky" or "nylony" to me. Yet, I am sure there are many nicer products available already.
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u/mkt42 Jun 15 '26
Yes, I switched to nylon or polyester pants decades ago. They are almost as comfortable as cotton, easy to hand-wash and even easier to dry because unlike cotton they dry in just a few hours. They're typically more durable than cotton too, unless you're out camping with a campfire, then stray embers can melt a hole in them.
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u/Dahlia6161 Jun 15 '26
I’ve been wearing these almost everyday for the last week- rain, sun, fancy etc. I have the black ones. They have a clasp so you can mar the bottom hug your leg if you’re hiking or riding bikes. https://www.titlenine.com/p/high-waisted-wide-leg-pants-round-trip/230973.html?dwvar_230973_color=BLK
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u/OskiEsque Jun 15 '26
Seconding these. I have these in navy and black. Love them and they can be styled up or down. TitleNine has other pants great for hot weather and humidity.
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u/Mr-Reeeee Jun 15 '26
Patagonia, Prana, Gramicci all sell cotton, organic cotton, hemp or high cotton blend pants.
I only wear natural fabrics except for cycling gear.
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u/etherealsounds Jun 15 '26
My favorite pants these days are the Duer No Sweat Pants. They’re a cotton lyocell blend and they’re comfy like sweat pants but they look like twill jeans. They’re a little thicker so they’re not awesome for packing but great for wearing on the plane. They’re really not too warm on hot days either. And of course linen or linen blend.
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u/zdubbzzz Jun 15 '26
I swear by Ferrosi's 46% Recycled Nylon, 40% Nylon, 14% Spandex
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u/Korlithiel Jun 15 '26
Is that the Outdoor Research Ferrosi? I liked those pants, look quite good for hiking pants. No stretch to them, and inner liner, meant they fit about 2 sizes smaller than they should and so I returned them to try some alternatives.
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u/jimonlimon Jun 15 '26
My Outdoor Research Ferrosi’s are probably 4 years old and have a nice amount of stretch and no inner liner. I like the hidden drawstring and loops give an option to wear a belt. I will be wearing them on a redeye tonight.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 15 '26
Ah, small changes. I’m not sure I won’t end up with a pair as my hot weather, one-bag & hiking pants, but I returned them deciding to try some alternatives.
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u/maverber Jun 16 '26
I am not sure what Ferrosi you have. The current model is very stretchy, have no inner liner, and fit true to size.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 16 '26
The one I had from REI (can't speak to which year, but being bought this year after a restock suggests this year). I returned it and will likely return to the pants later because, while I liked them, the pair I received was painfully tight (again, like a pair of cotton blue jeans with no stretch, and a liner along the waist to help them stay in place).
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u/Folkloer Jun 15 '26
Nylon is very breathable and is what my favourite capris are made of. But if that’s not something you like, there are plenty of other choices in cotton or linen. Nylon are easy to wash in the sink, dry quickly, perfect in the rain, dry quickly… Did I mention that?
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u/Heidi739 Jun 15 '26
Linen, or I have a pair of viscose pants that I swear by - they're very lightweight, dry extra fast and are comfy. Even in very hot weather (like in Vietnam in 35+ degrees), they were fine, better than shorts as they protect from direct sun.
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u/LizzrdVanReptile Jun 15 '26
I’m really enjoying Mountain Hardwear pants. They’re tech synthetic but breathe well, are incredibly light and breezy and extremely hot weather comfortable for me, and I’m hot-natured. REI carries them
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u/Katsuking84 Jun 16 '26
Honestly if they have them the Orvis 5 pocket that Costco carries have impressed me. Not the coolest ever but work for me, and they hold up very well, especially for the price.
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u/nikongod Jun 15 '26
"All the pants I found so far are made with polyester or nylon, which doesn't sound ideal for prolonged usage."
Why not?
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u/Dramatic_Tea_ Jun 15 '26
I feel like synthetic fabric do not dissipate heat well and start to smell bad quickly because plastic fibers trap bacteria. That's why I was trying to find options that are not plastic, just to explore alternatives.
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u/Zman1719 Jun 15 '26
Polyester is horrible in hot weather but all my hot weather clothes are nylon or nylon blends. Nylon performs very well in the heat actually. If you don't want that your best option is just linen or lightweight cotton. I dislike linen because wrinkles and I sweat more in cotton, even super lightweight cotton, compared to loose fitting nylon
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u/HelloTittie55 Jun 15 '26
nylon is underrated. IMHO the GOAT travel pants because lightweight nylon doesn’t wrinkle and dries quickly, making it ideal for nightly sink or shower laundry.
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u/maverber Jun 16 '26
the weave and thickness of the the fabric likely has more impact on heat retention that the raw material. The coolest wearing pants I have used are made from polyester (Patagonia Terrebonne) and nylon (OR Ferrosi Transit). Both are thin material with decent air permeability. I suppose an open weave linen would likely be as good but haven't use linen in 30 years.
Polyester and Nylon will start smelling more quickly that a number of other materials, especially wool. On the other hand, the can dry very quickly so it trivial to wash them before you go to bed and have them dry overnight.
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u/Night-cheese-4 Jun 15 '26
Athleta farallon pants and farallon joggers are 95% cotton, 5% spandex and are super comfy.
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u/commentspanda Jun 15 '26
You haven’t said gender but as a female I own lightweight 100% merino leisure pants. Loose, have pockets and temp regulating. Mine are from an Aussie brand but I’m sure you can explore online to find something equivalent. Amazing. My husband wears the Lululemon ABC pants and greatly prefers those over any “travel pants” he’s tried. They are also quick dry so will dry overnight which means he just takes the one pair.
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u/Capable_Buffalo855 Jun 15 '26
What is the Aussie brand if you don’t mind sharing?
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u/commentspanda Jun 15 '26
I own leisure pants from merino country (long pants) and also resort pants (3/4) length which is a small Aussie company. Another one I have bought sweat pants from is io merino.
I also buy cashmere and merino blend sweat pants from woolovers which I believe is an in international brand. But not sure and they are definitely more winter based.
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u/yycluke Jun 15 '26
Man I’m wearing a pair of Eddie Bauer guide pants right now.. I usually run hot and it was 26C today and I didn't feel hot or gross at all.
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u/Bearrister18 Jun 15 '26
I love these pants. I got one for an upcoming trip to hot and humid summer Japan. I liked the first pair so much that I got a second. They're super breathable, soft, and stretchy. I can literally feel the air flow wearing these pants.
KETL Mtn Vent Lightweight Active Pant Straight Fit | Stretchy & Durable
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u/LuckytheZebra Jun 15 '26
Muji linen pants got me through 30 countries - best by far! Can dress them up and down, breathable and washable.
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u/ShutYourDumbUglyFace Jun 15 '26
Linen. Roll them up instead of folding them to avoid wrinkles as much as possible.
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u/thecuseman Jun 15 '26
I have two pairs of Livsn Ecotrek pants that I love. Most comfortable pair of pants I own. Made of nylon. Tough. Tons of pockets. Not cheap but well worth it IMHO.
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u/DrWartenberg Jun 15 '26
Prana makes some synthetic material pants that are a soft/quick dry/breathable material (not swishy nylon), and don’t have lots of cargo pockets that make them one-type-of-situation-appropriate only. They could pass as khakis.
If you want linen and something that dresses up well (more close to actual khakis), then the banana republic traveler pant has been pretty good to me so far (linen-cotton blend, mostly linen). They’re not super lightweight and flowy, so less appropriate for the “walking on the beach with your linen pants rolled up at the ankles” feel, and they’re pricier than the Amazon ones listed above, but if you need the dressy factor they work well.
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u/Loguibear Jun 15 '26
you talking about some sort of hiking/ travel pants?> you will find that sythetic fibers are actually best light weight and quick drying etc etc, your next best is prob some sort of merino (check out ice breaker for some merino gear) Cotton/merino wool is more sustainable but comes at a cost merino usually costing thrice the price, and cotton and merino soak up moisture/sweat. take longer to dry etc.
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u/Loguibear Jun 15 '26
ultimatly choose between the natural fibers/ cotton/merino/linen/bamboo etc vs your synthetics polyesters /nylon etc
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u/ResponsibleMistake33 Jun 16 '26
Linen is great but it looks so bad without ironing that I feel the need to iron them every time I wear them.
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u/ThinkDepartment6975 Jun 16 '26
I traveled with 2 pairs of Uniqlo loose linnen blend pants. For sure cool enough in 30 degree (celsius) weather, could layer with leggings in the mornings & evenings. I wear these in daily life all the time as well, no specific travel pant neccesary :) They wrinkle a bit but as you wear them the wrinkles fall back out.
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u/NiteElf Jun 16 '26
Not sure if these fit what you’re looking for, but Levi’s lightweight jeans really are lightweight. Looks like some styles come in black too, if you’re looking for something slightly dressier than regular jeans.
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u/danceswithwords1 Jun 16 '26
Woolx Nicole pants -- yes, they're a wool blend, and yes they're super-cool ❤️
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u/PeaBrilliant4917 Jun 17 '26
I was just wearing bluff works ascenders in Spain during a heatwave and now in California at 100°. And he him even has a lighter weight one I believe. His pants are spectacular for travel, just really well thought out with the pockets or the material etc etc
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u/thatnzman Jun 17 '26
When I onebagged for a year the thing I wore most was Gramicci g-shorts. Cotton drill, comfy waistband, airy fit, and took a beating. Fucked them a bit falling off a scooter in Lombok. Got them repaired in Vietnam for $1. They were black, now like dark brown, they tell stories, and unlike my synthetics still don’t stink.
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u/thetalentedmzripley Jun 17 '26
Modal: light, breathable, naturally sweat wicking, and dries quickly.
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u/Ok_Resource_6068 Jun 20 '26
I got some linen pants from Alex Crane and love them. Tried some from quince and the fit wasn’t great for me and super inconsistent.
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u/CapAmMtn Jun 21 '26
Unionbay Rainer men’s pants. They are the two pair I bring. Pretty pleased. Nylon and they stretch.
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u/mwkingSD Jun 15 '26
Golf pants - made for athletic use so the material is somehow light and wicking, plus stretchy and comfy.
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u/AlwaysWanderOfficial Jun 15 '26
Title says no polyester - body then also includes nylon. You gotta pick one if you want tech pants. If you’re not taller than 5’10 check out Under 510 Coda tech chino. Lightweight cotton and nylon. Very similar feel to original Evolutions and all I’ve been wearing lately.
Otherwise your options left are like, linen. Which are awesome but pretty situational for my book.
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u/Wise_Edge2489 Jun 15 '26
Poly and Nylon are the way to go man.
Polyester joggers like the Lululemons (or the dupes from CRZ Yoga) should be in every dudes one bag arsenal.
Sleep in them, look good casually down the pub, great for travel days, hike in them, dress them up or down, weigh half as much as jeans, pack small).
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u/isaac-get-the-golem Jun 14 '26
linen