When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreOur favorite travel pants are not only stretchy and light, but also stay wrinkle-free even after hours in a suitcase.Gabrielle Chase/Business InsiderThere's a lot of downtime when traveling, and it goes by a lot slower if I'm in the wrong pants. The best travel pants for women we tested feel soft, stretchy, and flexible in the long hours between destinations. Our main takeaway: M.M. LaFleur's Colby Travel Pants are the most comfortable pair for long trips. They don't need ironing and the cleverly-tucked stretchy rear waistband makes them look more like trousers. To find lightweight styles you can wear right out of your suitcase, we assessed 22 pairs to see which resist wrinkles and work with a variety of airport outfits. These are the pairs we put on for a chic, laid back look on the road. I've styled my favorites with strappy sandals and a silk tank this summer, and other times with comfy sneakers and a protective hat. Check out our guides to the best travel jackets and travel purses to pack ahead of your trip. A quick glance at our top picksBest overall: M.M. LaFleur Colby Travel Pants - See at M.M. LaFleurMost stylish: Rag & Bone Miramar Wide-Leg - See at Rag & BoneBest for long flights: Cozy Earth Brushed Jogger - See at Cozy EarthBest cooling sweats: Vuori Halo Essential Wideleg Pant - See at VuoriBest stretch: lululemon Align Palazzo Pant - See at lululemonBest for work trips: Aritzia Effortless Pant - See at AritziaBest budget: HalaraFlex MicroWaffle Work Pants - See at HalaraBest high-waisted: Athleta Endless - See at AthletaBest for hot weather: AE Linen-Blend Pull-On Pant - See at AEBest jogger: Beyond Yoga Spacedye Commuter - See at Beyond YogaBest cropped: Cozy Earth Always Cropped - See at Cozy EarthBest leggings: Carbon38 Split Flare Bootcut - See at Carbon38 Best overall travel pants for women: M.M. LaFleur Colby Travel PantThe Colby pants come with spacious pockets that don't add bulk around the hips.Gabrielle Chase/Business InsiderWe elected the Colby Travel Pants as our best overall pick because they're low maintenance, effortlessly chic, and will work hard while you're on the road. With their stretchy waistband and deep swishy pockets, it hardly feels like I'm wearing suit pants. The lightweight fabric drapes crisply, yet remains soft and breathable on the skin after multiple washes. These will hardly wrinkle, even after being stuffed unceremoniously to the bottom of a travel tote. When you're on a trip with a packed itinerary that leaves you no time to iron, these are the pants to wear. M.M. LaFleur is one of our favorite sources for splurge-worthy office staples, and the Colby Travel Pants are precisely why. They're made with a remarkably silky and light polyester blend that holds its shape and doesn't crease while crammed in a carry-on.We know: "polyester" and "luxury workwear" may not sound like they go together. But trust me, these are worth it. After all, not all polyester is created equal — the scratchy, suffocating polyester you'll find at the mall is another thing entirely compared to M.M. LaFleur's 'Origami Tech,' which is soft, smooth, and machine washable. Nothing else I've touched — not even the crepe Aritzia Effortless Pant — can approach the Origami Tech's silk-like texture.They're so flexible I can sit in them for hours in bizarre cross-legged positions. The sleek, tapered legs allows for smooth movement while I navigated a busy train platform. On my 5-foot-9 frame they're cropped, which I like because it means they won't drag on the floor as I move through crowded public transit stations. They fit full-length on our 5-foot-2 executive editor Sally Kaplan. The secretly stretchy waistband is bloat-friendly. It's tucked in the rear while the front features a pintuck detail, making them unmistakably polished. I was especially grateful for this feature when I was seated for hours on a train and had to go straight to dinner after. — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider ReviewsA clever denim dupe: Rag & Bone Miramar Wide-Leg PantsThe viral "sweatpant jeans" are way easier to pack down and fit in your luggage than real denim.Gabrielle Chase, Sally Kaplan/Business Insider"I get compliments on my 'sweans' wherever I go," writes senior associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. They're some of the best not-so-secret style solutions we've witnessed from the past few years. Real jeans are often too bulky and stiff for travel, but these faux denim terry cotton pants are a worthy replacement. They roll up neatly and look cool with a simple tee and sneakers.The "denim" looks surprisingly real. When I wore the jogger version of these pants, I fooled my husband who believed I was wearing traditional denim — until I had him feel the soft sweatpant fabric and elastic waistband. "I too was amazed at how real they looked — righ
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