I spend a lot of time in airports. Like, a lot of time. Last year alone, I took more than 100 flights and logged over 200,000 miles in the air, which means I've seen just about every airport mistake imaginable-usually unfolding in real time at security, the boarding gate, or mid-aisle as someone realizes their phone is at 3 percent.
For the majority of travelers, though, flying is a scrunched (and increasingly shrinking) torment that makes it impossible to fall asleep, exacerbates persistent back pain, or generally leaves them feeling sore and sour. That's too bad - especially if you're en route to a vacation with lots of walking. Or, god forbid, if you're an amateur athlete headed for a big event like a marathon or triathlon.
Some people are firmly in the "comfort at all costs" camp, swearing by sweats, joggers or anything with an elastic waistband. Others insist that showing up to the airport in anything less than jeans (or what we like to call "hard pants") is completely unacceptable. The truth? It truly comes down to preference. Personally, I've never subscribed to the idea of "travel pants" or any other garment designed specifically for globetrotting. (All pants are travel pants if you wear them on a trip, amirite?)
