Quality travel pants have a long list of boxes they need to check to gain a loyal fan base. In my precious carry-on luggage space, warmth is always a priority, but what truly wins me over is when pants combine warmth and comfort with a look that’s fashionable enough to go from the plane or the trail, to a dinner on the town. Athleta’s Rainier Jogger are my current go-to for pants that do it all.
Testing the Rainer Jogger as I gathering gear for a cruise to Antarctica aboard Viking Polaris, I liked the pants so much, I bought a second pair before departing for my adventure to the snow-covered continent.
Semi-fitted, the pants have a sleek, but not too tight fit. The result is the comfort of a jogger without the often messy look of a jogger. Made with recycled nylon, the Rainier Jogger feels polished; the soft interior feels good and provides warmth, but still breathes well. The two zip pockets are large enough to securely hold items like keys and most cell phones.
The Rainier Jogger runs true to size when compared to other Athleta pants in my closet. Care instructions state the pants are machine washable using the gentle cycle, and can be thrown in the dryer on low heat. I tend to air dry pants like this. That said, these have found their way into a dryer more than once, and so far, I haven’t noticed any shrinkage.
Athleta’s Rainer Jogger pants are currently available in just three colors including black, granite blue, and spiced cabernet. Cost for the black pair is $119 on Athleta’s website. At review time, the other colors were on sale for $49.97, making me hopeful new colors might soon be on the way.