[ThomGault]

This has been asked/answered before, but not within the past few years. I'd like to find a decent pair of trousers for travel. Based on wearing wool trousers during normal life, it seems like a good choice for travel...however, literally every single pair of 'travel pants' are nylon or polyester. Well, actually, i found one pair that was 46% wool, but still...can someone explain why wool wouldn't be a proper fabric for travel fabric? It resists smells/odors, its wrinkle-resistant, its breathable, its light-weight and quick-drying...so why don't wool travel trousers exist? Is polyester/nylon simply superior in every characteristic that I've mentioned?

And if anyone has recommendations for trousers (of any fabric), I'd appreciate it. I've read literally every thread on AAAC that I can find, but I'm always open for new input.
Thanks!

 

[Charles Dana]

What specifically are you looking for in "travel trousers"? And when will you travel, where will you travel to, how will you get there, and what will you do when you get there?

Check out Filson's wool whipcord trousers; perhaps they'll do the trick. Or wool cavalry twills from Peter Christian.

 

[ThomGault]

I have no specific usage....I'm just preparing for generic travel, ranging from probably fall to summer, mostly vacation trekking in cities in europe or the u.s., perhaps asia. Yes, I know that runs the gamut, but for cold weather, I'd plan on layering, so most likely a medium to lightweight option would be best; cavalry twill (while I love the durability) would be too heavy. Honestly, I love my O'Connell's worsted wool trousers, but I'm not sure if they are sufficiently durable, or more generally how the wool fabric would compare to a synthetic fabric.

 

[SG_67]

Just wear wool if that’s your preference. Proper packing and a quick pressing at your hotel, if even required, should do the trick.

 

[Charles Dana]

When all else fails, keep it simple.

The only time I wear--or care about--synthetic fabrics is when I engage in serious, sustained exercise: for me, that would be working out at the gym or hiking in rugged terrain.

For ordinary travel and even for multi-hour walks in urban or suburban locales, I wear 100% cotton khakis. Poplin in very warm weather, twill the rest of the time. (One exception: I have a pair of poplin khakis from O'Connell's made of a cotton/polyester blend.)

The brands I wear most often are Bills, O'Connell's, and some old ones from Polo that I bought before they messed with the fit. Also a few old khakis from Brooks Brothers. All of the khakis that I use for travel will be tan and stone for ease of color coordination.

Yesterday I took a four-hour walk. I wore old chinos from Polo--stone-colored. Cotton twill. I didn't die. I felt pretty dang comfortable the whole time. (Caveat: I'm also insane.)

Depending on the trip, I may pack one--and only one--pair of mid-gray wool gabardine trousers.

Don't forget a navy blazer. Wool, probably, but a blend will do. And take a black silk knit necktie because it goes with everything.

You might be overthinking this. Cotton khakis: They were invented to take a beating. Pack them, wear them, don't worry about them. They can take whatever you dish out. If and when a pair wears out, buy another pair. While traveling, just enjoy the sights and experiences.

P.S. If you really would prefer wool trousers--and I wouldn't blame you because wool truly is a miracle fabric--then wear wool trousers. Ordinary wool trousers. They probably could withstand the rigors of travel. Just take along some cotton chinos so that you can alternate the trousers.

 

[smmrfld]

Tommy Bahama St. Thomas...almost all silk and tough as iron...available flat front or pleated in a bunch of colors. Lightweight and extremely wrinkle-resistant. Have used these extensively for travel for many years.

 

[ThomGault]

Just wear wool if that's your preference. Proper packing and a quick pressing at your hotel, if even required, should do the trick.

Thank you for your comment. However, the purpose of trousers designed for travel is that they require less maintenance than normal, not more. It is likely that some housing will not have an available iron; carrying an iron is not an option, and the extra stress of dealing with ironing is suboptimal during travel.

When all else fails, keep it simple.

The only time I wear--or care about--synthetic fabrics is when I engage in serious, sustained exercise: for me, that would be working out at the gym or hiking in rugged terrain.

For ordinary travel and even for multi-hour walks in urban or suburban locales, I wear 100% cotton khakis. Poplin in very warm weather, twill the rest of the time. (One exception: I have a pair of poplin khakis from O'Connell's made of a cotton/polyester blend.)

Don't forget a navy blazer. Wool, probably, but a blend will do. And take a black silk knit necktie because it goes with everything.

You might be overthinking this. Cotton khakis: They were invented to take a beating. Pack them, wear them, don't worry about them. They can take whatever you dish out. If and when a pair wears out, buy another pair. While traveling, just enjoy the sights and experiences.

P.S. If you really would prefer wool trousers--and I wouldn't blame you because wool truly is a miracle fabric--then wear wool trousers. Ordinary wool trousers. They probably could withstand the rigors of travel. Just take along some cotton chinos so that you can alternate the trousers.

I considered cotton, but decided against it because its typically heavier, wrinklier (its a word, look it up!), slow to dry, and simply doesnt feel as good as wool.

So, I could just simply wear normal wool trousers, as Charles and SG suggest, but I'm still concerned about how they would endure in practice (wrinkles from travel and durability) as well as trying to discern why all travel trousers seem to be made from synthetics instead of wool.

 

[SG_67]

There are multiple ways you can pack wool slacks so as to avoid or minimize wrinkles. A garment bag is one option.

I’ve never had an issue with so much wrinkling as to make the garment unwearable.

 

[Charles Dana]

Then don't worry about the category of clothing called "travel trousers."

What are "travel trousers," anyway? Ask 10 different people and you'll get 10 different answers. Why? Because "travel trousers" are whatever trousers people wear while traveling.

So make up your own category of clothing: "Trousers that Thom Gault likes to wear when traveling."

If you want to wear wool trousers on your journeys, wear wool trousers. (Wool is a smart choice.) If they wear out, they wear out. Buy some more.

 

[3piece]

When all I do is urban hiking, I pack my wool trousers. Why do you need an iron? You just hang them then they'll look proper. I have no problem packing wool. And wool trousers definitely wrinkle less, and stay odor free compared to chinos.

For real hiking, I pack real hiking pants.

I pack chinos/jeans when it's wise to dress down and not to look like a rich person. It's usually when I visit a third world country. Laundry is really cheap there.

I don't really own "travel pants" because I don't travel often enough, and I just want to re-use what I wear everyday.

 

[Charles Dana]

Lands' End has inexpensive "Year 'Rounder" wool trousers on sale right now.

Speaking of wool trousers in general: They tend not to hold wrinkles, if wrinkles are a concern.

 

[Charles Dana]

I like 1950s and 1960s rock and roll.
I like Ozzie and Harriet.
I like Ricky Nelson.
I like this thread.
Put them all together and:


TRAVELIN' PANTS
(Sung to the tune of Ricky Nelson's 1961 hit "Travelin' Man")

I want travelin' pants.
Gotta pack a few bags, get ready to go.
I'm in a little bind 'cause I cannot find
The trousers I should have in tow.

Polyester trousers are real easy to find.
They're all over the place.
Yet classic woolen trousers I have in mind.
They belong in my suitcase.

Except for whipcord trousers--don't mention those.
And no cavalry twills.
I sweat a lot when I wear real warm clothes.
But please, no cotton Bills'.

Wrinkles really bug me so I want easy-care
Polyester or wool--
I'd like ideas about just what I should wear.
Gents, please make my in-box full.

Oh, I want travelin' pants.
Yeah, I need travelin' pants.
Ohh, I want travelin' pants....

 

[fishertw]

Lands' End has inexpensive "Year 'Rounder" wool trousers on sale right now.

Speaking of wool trousers in general: They tend not to hold wrinkles, if wrinkles are a concern.

I was just thinking of this as well. I also looked at LL Bean. They seem to have dropped the line of similarly priced washable wool trousers that kept their shape pretty well. I'd definitely try the Lands End.