Welcome to AFAR Approved: a deep dive into the travel items that we’re totally obsessed with, never leave behind, and can’t stop telling our friends about.
The pursuit of the perfect pair of travel pants is an ongoing conversation at AFAR. We all have our preferences, but we agree on a few essentials: They have to work for almost any occasion, be comfortable (naturally), not wrinkle in an embarrassing way, and have pockets—like legit, can-fit-a-phone-in-them-and-not-pull-your-pants-down pockets. I thought it was an impossible challenge to find such a pair—until fall 2019, when clothing brand Bluffworks (the masterminds behind men’s favorites like the Ascender Chino and the Gramercy Blazer) launched its new women’s line.
Since founder Stefan Loble launched the technical clothing brand, Bluffworks, in 2012, he and his team have dedicated themselves to creating clothes that merge the best of function and style. After launching a line of men’s pants, blazers, and shirts that are wrinkle resistant, moisture wicking, machine washable, and actually fashionable, they gained a cult following of gear heads and frequent travelers who fell in love with their clothes.
Even without a women’s line, I joined the following in hopes that they’d extend their knowledge to clothes I could wear and was thrilled when they finally did. As soon as they did, I gave their capsule wardrobe line a spin: their Trevi Pants, Trevi Dress, Azores Blouse, and Threshold T-Shirt. The Trevi Pants were by far my favorite piece from the set and quickly became my go-to travel pants for every adventure.
As people continue to WFH a year into the pandemic, the Trevi Pants are unfortunately being discontinued along with several other Bluffworks items that were initially designed with business travel in mind. On the bright side, they are seriously discounted so now is your chance to get your hands on some high-quality travel clothes at a great price.
- Buy now: Women’s Trevi Pants, $60 (was $150), bluffworks.com
- Buy now: Women’s Trevi Blazer, $79 (was $198), bluffworks.com
- Buy now: Women’s Trevi Dress, $58 (was $145), bluffworks.com
- Buy now: Men’s Ascender Chinos, $50 in some colors (was $125), bluffworks.com
Bluffworks Trevi Pants Review
Want to learn more about the Bluffworks’ Trevi Pants and why I think they’re one of the best women’s travel pants out there? Here’s my review of them before they go away forever.
Style and fit
Available in either solid blue or black, the Trevi Pants aren’t a statement piece. Rather, they’re a versatile staple that I can dress up with a pair of flats and a sweater for a business event, or down with a pair of sneakers and a fitted T-shirt for casual days exploring a new city. They also have an adjustable hem that gives me even more flexibility while styling outfits and just enough stretch in the fabric to make them almost as comfortable as my favorite yoga pants.
Of course, they don’t look like yoga pants. As someone who otherwise lives in leggings and skinny jeans, the semi-fitted but modern trouser design was a bit of a change but it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the flattering, slim leg cut.
Shorter ladies, there’s one extra perk: a petite option. I’m 5’3” and can confidently say the petite ankle pants really are ankle pants that hit my leg at just the right spot.
Features and travel friendliness
Before I went full-on gear nerd with my travel wardrobe, hyper-analyzing the fabrics (merino wool all the way!) and features (pill resistant? odor-control? I’m there), I didn’t think much about anything other than style and how it’d hold up against the weather. Especially after a trip in which I waited a full week for a pair of soggy jeans to dry during Costa Rica’s rainy season, investing in a travel wardrobe that could stand up to the rigors of the road became a priority for me. Once you’ve experienced travel clothing loaded with technical features, it’s hard to go back.
The Trevi Pants, as well as everything in the Bluffworks line, are designed with active people in mind—whether that means biking to work or sightseeing for a full day. As such, they’ve used a lightweight, technical fabric that’s moisture wicking, wrinkle and pill resistant, and with odor control. I’ve biked miles in them and never got gross, rumpled, or sweaty, even after climbing the hills of San Francisco on my road bike.
Additionally, the all-weather twill weave makes them a versatile pair of pants to pack for pretty much any climate. I brought them along on a winter trip throughout Japan early last year, where they kept me warm in the snows of Sapporo and cool on the beaches of Okinawa.
Lastly, I have to mention the pockets—a rare but always appreciated feature in women’s clothing. The Trevi Pants have eight pockets, all of which are incredibly functional. Both front and back pockets are spacious and blend in seamlessly. They also have an inner mesh pocket designed to hold a phone in place (even my large iPhone 11) plus a hidden, zippered pocket for any valuables you don’t want to lose, like your passport.
Cost and value
In more than a year of owning these pants, I’ve definitely put them through the test, wearing them almost nonstop throughout weeks of travel and everyday life at home during lockdown in San Francisco. Yet, they still look as good as the day I got them. Even though they’re normally $150, these are clearly pants that will last and in my opinion worth it—especially while they’re on sale for just $60.
Not only do these modern, minimalist pants look good, but they’re also comfortable, full of travel-friendly features, and have eight—yes, eight—pockets for stashing small essentials.
Buy now: Women’s Trevi Pants, $60 (was $150), bluffworks.com
Other items to shop at Bluffworks
I first learned about Bluffworks from a few (male) travelers I worked with at Tortuga Backpacks. They raved about the quality and travel friendliness of both the Chinos and the Gramercy Blazer. “The Bluffworks Ascender Chinos take the prize for the best all-around pair of travel pants,” says gear writer Shawn Forno. “They’re comfy, durable, stylish, and wearable in all climates.” The Gramercy Blazer also sits on Shawn’s list of favorite travel clothes since it’s wrinkle resistant, machine washable, and “dapper as hell.”
Thankfully, Bluffworks isn’t doing away with all of its workwear and womenswear lines. Whether you need a blazer for Zoom calls or a pant that feels like leggings but looks pulled together, we also love the Men’s Gramercy Blazer by Bluffworks and the Bluffworks Petaluma Ponte Pants for women:
- Men’s Gramercy Blazer: $295, bluffworks.com
- Women’s Petaluma Ponte Pants: $88, bluffworks.com
This article originally appeared online in July 2020; it was updated on January 29, 2020, to include new details about Bluffworks’ sale prices.
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