These Comfy Sweatpants Are the Only Pants I'll Ever Wear on a Plane

While I love the high of exploring new places, I dread the butt-numbing hours spent trapped in a plane seat. I can never seem to get comfortable on a plane, whether it’s a 12-hour red-eye to Honolulu or a two-hour flight to Chicago from New York City.

Part of my discomfort stems from the streamlined economy airline seat, the rest comes from my inability to find a comfortable plane outfit. Personally, I love to feel super pulled together on the plane and like to wear items I’ll actually reuse once I arrive at my destination. This typically translates to a loose sundress in the summer or my stretchiest pair of jeans in the winter.

Then I discovered my very first pair of Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants. A go-to athleisure pick for Katy Perry, the chic sweatpants are made with a lightweight fabric that’s unbelievably soft. Seriously, there’s a reason they named it “cloud knit.”

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From the moment I pulled on the high-waisted joggers, I knew I had found the perfect travel companion. For the first time, a pair of sweatpants were both functional and stylish. Plus, it felt like I had literal baby blankets wrapped around my legs.

Determined to test my theory, I packed the sweats for my weekend trip to Palm Springs for a wedding. I knew they could double as my pajamas for the first two nights and my cozy plane pants for the late-night return flight.

Already in my rotation as a pajama or post-yoga option, these sweats didn’t disappoint in the desert. I could sit outside on the patio for a quick cup of morning coffee without the sun destroying my pale legs or making me feel overheated. Plus, the chic jogger fit was stylish enough to stop by the hotel breakfast where I was bound to run into other wedding guests.

To buy: outdoorvoices.com, from $85

The ultimate test came on my return flight home, where my basic economy ticket was fated for a middle seat. To my surprise, my ticket updated to a window seat, and the two seats next to me were empty — for the first time in years.

I quickly staked my claim and cozied up in my private row to watch one too many Netflix episodes and snuggle into my sweats. For the plane ride, I opted to wear the matching CloudKnit Hoodie, too, which had the same ultra-soft, breathable feel. Let’s just say, it was the best plane ride I’ve had in years.

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While the extra leg room and a glass of red wine definitely didn’t hurt, I attribute my phenomenal plane ride to my cozy sweatsuit. Between boarding the plane in 80-degree LA weather and landing in NYC to a brisk 45 degrees, my body was always at the perfect temperature. Plus, I never dealt with uncomfortable digging or restriction.

Available in sizes XS to XL, the sweatsuit comes in five different colorways including a dark charcoal and wintery hunter green. The muted color options also make them versatile enough to rotate into your wardrobe and pair with your closet staples, like a long coat or leather jacket.

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Of course, I’m not the only person obsessed with these sweats. They have a near-perfect rating on Outdoor Voices, with reviewers raving “the fit is so flattering” and declaring “they are worth every penny and then some.”

Without hesitation, I can easily call these sweats the ultimate travel companion. Now I just need to decide which color to add to my lineup next.

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