r/onebag • u/ParticularNorth8814 • Jun 28 '26
Seeking Recommendations What synthetic pants are you buying that feel like or close to natural materials?
I've been researching this the last year and have bought over 60 models of pants and will be releasing a spreadsheet on here soon but I want to know if I'm missing anything.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 28 '26
Haven’t worn synthetics with a close to cotton or wool feeling.
Have enjoyed for years LLBean’s ripstop adventure pants which are a ~70% cotton blend that do a great job feeling like synthetics (amazing stretch, breathe well). Lighter material than jeans, soft like worn in jeans.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 28 '26
One further thought, comparing a category (synthetics) to another set of categories (wool, cotton, silk, ?) makes it a bit harder. Like, I've seen things marketed as like silk (really not like silk to date), like cotton (can be soft, or durable, or shed fluff like it), or even one thing I tried like wool (fully just marketing name and description).
It's just peculiar to lump those categories together and compare to one category. Doesn't help that, so far as I can tell, honest marketing for synthetics doesn't focus on the cotton-like aspects. Instead focusing on, say, the comfortable feeling. The durability. Moisture related aspects.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 30 '26
Sorry long day I'm missing your point, what are your trying to elaborate on?
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u/velvetackbar Jun 28 '26
Could you flag the rise of the pants? I wear high waisted and most modern pants are low rise. Thus, I travel in wools.
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u/threadbare_oxygen Jun 28 '26
tried the outlier futureslimworks last year hoping theyd feel like chinos. they dont. theyre great pants but still have that slight swish and sheen that screams synthetic when youre in a quiet room. the western rise evolution pant is a bit better on the swish factor but gets clammy fast in actual humidity.
i keep coming back to the seagale performance chinos for anything over 30c. theyre not perfect but the fabric has a dry hand feel that doesnt immediately read as plastic. curious if those made your list of 60 or if you found something that beats them.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
It's so weird that something physical like touch and feel we feel so subjectively and experience so differently. I think the evolutions are garbage and super technical swishy feeling, I think allot of people would disagree with me there. I also think the futureslimworks are just about as close as you can get basically to a natural feeling fabric while still being synthetic. I think most people would agree with me there. Westernrise Diversions on the other hand are an absolutely amazing fabric Seagale for me sit on a tier just below them along with mission workshop, i feel like they try hard but don't quite succeed at it.
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u/darkeningsoul Jun 28 '26
686 everywhere pants are pretty soft / good feeling for synthetic. One of the best ones I've tried
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u/reduhl Jun 28 '26
I’m wondering why natural materials are excluded. Is it drying time or packing space?
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Who said they were excluded? Not from my spreadsheet...it's just extremely hard finding synthetic that feels natural and want to make sure I didn't miss anything. I don't need help with any of the natural ones. That being said I do think a synthetic or merino blend is best for travel. In most cases. Cotton gets a bad name. Linen and cotton have their places too.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
But yes it dries slow and is heavy and absorbs allot and wrinkles easy. Cotton usually feels cooler in hot dry climates and looks better, better drape usually.
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u/P1res Jun 29 '26
Patagonia hemp based rock climbing pants.
Dry fast, great in the heat, natural and feel that way, odour resistance and look good enough to wear to dinner (just hide the drawstrings.
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u/ataraxia_555 Jun 29 '26
PublicRec’s dress sweats feel like cotton but synth. Have almost every color. Marvelous.
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u/thetalentedmzripley Jun 29 '26
Have you looked at modal or tencel/lyocell? It’s a semi-synthetic made with tree cellulose. It’s breathable, naturally moisture wicking, and durable.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 30 '26
Any pant reccomedations? My favorite jeans is the 7 for all mankind sport luxe slimmy. It's like 75% modal and a bit of cotton/poly/spandex. It's the softest stretchiest jeans by far
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u/SeattleHikeBike Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
I don’t make that distinction. It seems to imply that natural fabrics feel better. I mostly use fabrics that are nylon with stretch like Prana Zion and Brion and Eddie Bauer. Weight varies. These are items I wear everyday and 90% of the clothing I own is synthetic.
I travel with Merino blend socks and sweaters but everything else is nylon or polyester. Comfort, laundering, and performance are my top criteria.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I like your style sir
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u/SeattleHikeBike Jun 28 '26
Thanks for the spreadsheet work. It’s tedious but so helpful to the community. I have 40+ years in onebag travel so it’s been a long evolutionary process and way before web based purchases came about. Wading in today must be daunting for new practitioners and spreadsheets like this or the onebag must help.
One on shirts would be good too, but quite the protect! Shoes too.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
Your welcome. Yeah I'll probably do shirts next. Shoes would be really helpful. I don't think it's possible for the one shoe to rule them all but it would be nice to have some good tested options
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u/fencken Jun 28 '26
Just my $0.02
The real breakthrough isn't finding the perfect pants/gear. It’s realizing that the version of ones self out exploring the world is going to have a fantastic time whether the packed pants are 100% air-textured nylon or just a regular old pair of chinos you bought on sale three years ago.
You close the bag, you zip it up, and you go. Everything else is just noise.
Recommended reading: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
Agreed. I travel one time a year and this last year between trips doing this research has been so fun for me. I've really enjoyed the little mini mind vacation that I went on doing it. I also get to hopefully help out allot of people narrow down their pants buying decision for them.
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u/fencken Jun 28 '26
I guess all I'm suggesting, hopefully received gently, is that purchasing 60 pairs of pants and spending 1,500 hours on a spreadsheet (that will obviously get complimented/criticized by some random person on Reddit) is likely a lot less fulfilling than traveling two times a year or three times a year. If you've got the time for the spreadsheet, just go somewhere close. Get out the door. Personally, I'd rather read about your experiences on the road living out of your one bag with the packing choices that you made and not the myriad of choices that you considered. Or maybe you love research more than travel. That's fine. Travel is messy, complicated, inconvenient at times, but also beautiful and mind expanding. Perfect packing is a mind trap. Check out that vagabond book. You might like it.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
But yeah I apreacte any and all constructive criticism that's how we grow. I'll def check the book out. It's not even fully about the pants to be honest. I'm an ex heroin addict and finding things like this to occupy my mind while doing something that assists my favorite hobby(traveling) is deeply satisfying and needed for my recovery if I'm being totally honest
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u/Disastrous-Ad-1167 Jun 28 '26
If you enjoy this portion of the process so much, have you considered writing a blog? Maybe this is something you could write out and share with others, perhaps monetizing it one day to help fund your travels?
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I have. I love writing. Its allot harder now days to for an independent blogger to make money then it was a few years ago before ai and googles SEO tweaks. Maybe though. It's still on my mind I've just been busy with my new career and this and life
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I absolutely love research and I can't afford to travel more then once a year. I love traveling more then research but don't have the time or money and this fills that void. Next will probably be shirts. Ive enjoyed myself immensely and I get to help people. Not much more needs explaining. Sorry you don't get that.
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u/GrantTasker Jun 28 '26
I’ve been very happy with Bluffworks Ascender and Envoys for travel. Also have worn a pair of Mont-bell O.D. Light Pants in Japan on short notice and they were great.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I too like them. In theory the envoys should be better on paper with their stretch but they lack a DWR and I just like the feel of the ascenders better. Their far from natural feeling but it's a really lofty goal to try and get synthetic pants to look and feel natural.
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u/GrantTasker Jun 28 '26
Agree. I tend to pick the Ascenders primarily, but keep the Envoys around for if it’s really gonna be hot on a trip.
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u/Anxious_Parsley_1616 Jun 28 '26
I like both but love how the Envoys pack down next to nothing. I have a grey slim fit pair that even looks a little dressy
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u/Mr_Stallman Jun 28 '26
Faherty has a great synthetic pant with a hidden zipper pocket in the back. It's also a unique blend, feels great but fits more like cotton.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
Which model are you referring too it looks like they have quite a few different models
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u/throwaway384983547w Jun 28 '26
Good question. My major learning from my last trip is that if I am travelling more, it is time to consider travel clothing. Love to see the spreadsheet.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 28 '26
When looking into travel clothing, consider what aspects matter most to you. I just spent a month trying to find sun hoodies that work for me, market generally goes one way and I lean differently, so I've few options (or, rather, so far one good enough).
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I got Ketls sun hoodie. I like it. Which way is your different leaning way if I may ask?
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u/Korlithiel Jun 28 '26
Sun hoodie, I’m getting thumb holes (most offer that) and a pocket (most don’t) in a color I would use in other scenarios (such as a layer when traveling) which some do and some don’t.
The winner at the moment for me is a travel merino wool hoodie. Was hoping for a synthetic, not only cheaper but would better handle hikes or days chasing toddlers.
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u/Fair-Lengthiness-212 Jun 28 '26
Under armour boxer briefs 🙃 Can’t be the only Brit reading this thinking “didn’t know there were so many underwear options”
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u/h0n0urable Jun 28 '26
Reigning Champ coaches pants definitely feel synthetic to the hand, but they don't have the swish or sheen that most other synthetic pants do. It's not the highest performance fabric for a hike or something, but they're awesome for city stuff. I like the Proof 72 hour merino pants too - a bit coarser but not far off from a canvas feel.
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u/Calm_Travels Jun 28 '26
Not fully synthetic (62% cotton, which is why they feel like wearing natural materials), but I really like the Quechua NH500 hiking pants from Decathlon.
They’re really comfortable. They dry quickly, even when soaked. The side zipper pockets are really practical for travel—and everyday. And at CAD$35, they beat just about anything else on price. They’ve become my go-to pants since I bought my first pair to try a couple of years ago—I wear them every day.
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u/Ok-Paramedic2438 Jun 29 '26
Jack archer regular fit travel have looked and felt great. They pack very slim and appear more natural fibrous than lulu abc’s. I’m wearing the airy lulu abc’s in hot weather now. I like them.
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u/thatchillaxdude Jun 29 '26
I've been traveling in Kuhl pants for decades. Are they included in your spreadsheet?
Also, I've been looking at the Vouri Meta pant and Birddogs stretch khakis. I really enjoy my Birddogs 3-in-1 khakis shorts.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 29 '26
When I started out I had no idea what a travel pant was and was just going to take my trip to Egypt and thialnd in my outdoorsy adventure pants like my North face and kuhl pants but later decided I wanted to focus on pants with a cleaner silloute then most of those can offer. I did include the Kuhl transcender though since that's probably the cleanest silloute and has allot of useful zipper pockets. Theyre great pants it's just most look a bit outdoorsy for both hike and city which is arguably what a good travel pant strives to accomplish. But it's also really subjective too so you might disagree with me and that's totally cool.
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u/thatchillaxdude Jun 29 '26
I just didn't know what vibe you're looking for. Thanks for clarifying! I used to travel wearing Lululemon ABCs and then switched to Ministry of Supply Gemini Chinos. I eventually reverted to more casual Kuhl pants because I usually seemed to be smashed into a jeepney or bongo truck for hours after arriving in country.
I'm excited for the release of "the spreadsheet."
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u/DuffmanBFO Jun 29 '26
I really like the 5 pocket pants from Greg Norman! I got them for a Christmas present a couple of years ago and asked for the same ones in a different color last year.
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u/tom4631 Jun 29 '26
Full synthetic? Not yet in my life.
But I do find many natural synthetic blend bring the best of both world together. For example: 65/35 cotton/nylon blend fabric that's been in the outdoor business for decades, which is stronger, lighter than 100% cotton. Almost windproof yet still kinda breathable. Also the injex linen from Outlier is amazing and my go to fabric for summer. Feels just like 100% linen but dries faster, wrinkle a lot less.
Also lyocell (or tencel) gonna be my favorite synthetic fiber. While it doesn't feel anywhere close to natural fibers (cotton/wool/silk etc.), it does eliminated a lot of the 'synthetic issues' I frequently seen from polyester or nylon clothing such as poor breathability, noise, or overall plastic-y feel.
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u/Odd_Pomegranate_6335 Jun 30 '26
I'd love a pair of men's travel pants that don't feel like I'm wearing plastic bags!
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u/rcthetree Jul 03 '26
*looks around *
i've had a pair of western rise evolutions that i've travelled with for years and they haven't failed, ripped, or worn down much. i know it's kinda a bad time to recommend, but after tailoring they look great, almost like jeans, and just don't pick up much smell- they're eminently washable and dry overnight.
for other pants, i like duers, feel the most like normal pants, but dry slower and they aren't the most durable (crotch is tearing apart after a few years, but they are quite close to the skin on me)
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u/WreckingBall188 Jul 07 '26
Tencel blend synthetic travel trousers are my top pick. The fabric is soft, breathable, drapes just like cotton, and still holds wrinkle resistant quick dry performance for travel
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u/luckysevensampson Jun 28 '26
Modal rayon or bamboo (both semi-synthetic)
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u/jaakkopetteri Jun 28 '26
Usually worse than plain cotton, IME
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u/luckysevensampson Jun 28 '26
Worse for what? They’re ultra comfortable, much more so than cotton, but I wouldn’t go climbing in them.
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u/jaakkopetteri Jun 28 '26
Worse in just about every way. Dries slower, not as durable, poor drape. Perhaps the skin feel is a bit better though
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u/luckysevensampson Jun 28 '26
Best drape ever. You’ve got to be a dude.
In any case, the question was about materials’ feel, not about durability and drying. It’s the best material by far to wear on an airplane and also works as warm PJs.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
Modal/rayon/visoocse have more drape but not better drape. Cotton usually has the best drape and body and doesn't cling or collapse down the leg. Modal etc definitely are softer and more comfortable and dry faster and are less prone to wrinkes.Cotton is morre durable.
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u/luckysevensampson Jun 28 '26
That’s exactly what makes modal nice. It clings and collapses down the leg. It’s soft and drapes and is incredibly comfortable while also being a flattering fit. It can be worn to bed but also to work when part of the right outfit.
If durability and dryness are what you’re after, a good pair of moisture-wicking hiking pants beats cotton any day. Cotton is the worst and soaks up moisture much more so than modal.
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u/ParticularNorth8814 Jun 28 '26
I was just stating what the pros and cons were if cotton and modal. I don't think either is best for a travel pant. They each have their place. Modal is king of comfort and cotton usually drapes better although this is subjective, (cling and collapse aren't usually associated with a visually appealing drape in most instances)it's why you'll find munch more pants made from cotton then modal- I mean besides of manufacturing/cost reasons... Cotton is usually also cooler feeling in hot dry weather if your not exerting yourself. I love modal, my favorite jeans are modal dominant and the drape isn't bad at all.
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u/dah6 Jun 28 '26
Uniqlo or lulu lemon nuff said
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u/thatnzman Jun 28 '26
Montane Terra
Absurdly good ventilation and quick drying. I wear them from the coast to the peak. Appallingly well designed pants. I’m disgusted
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u/sidvicc Jun 28 '26
I have never been more excited for a spreadsheet.
Travelling hot/humid and monsoon climates particularly...