Is Athleta A Good Brand For Travel?

TL;DR: Athleta is worth it for travel clothing, but some items are better than others. The fabrics are light, breathable, quick-drying, and they’re mostly wrinkle-resistant. I also like that they have multiple inseam lengths as someone who’s tall. 

I started buying Athleta a little over a year ago, when I was newly postpartum and needed clothes that were stretchy and comfortable but still worked for leaving the house. 

Athleta had been on my list to try for years because of how often they’re mentioned in travel forums, and needing a new wardrobe was the push to finally try them. 

They’re best known for their travel pants, so that’s most of what I’ve tested, 11 pairs so far, plus three dresses and a wrap. Some were great, some were just okay. 

In this Athleta review, I break down how the fabrics differ, how the sizing runs, and which pieces I’d buy again.

Note: I bought every piece of clothing in this review with my own money. Nothing was gifted or sponsored by Athleta.  

Short on time? Here are my favorite Athleta picks right now

These are the items I’d buy again out of everything I’ve tested.

What is Athleta?

Athleta launched in 1998 in Petaluma, California, as a catalog company selling athletic apparel designed for women rather than adapted from men’s gear. 

Founder Scott Kerslake built it around a mostly female team of runners, cyclists, and yogis who wanted clothes that fit and performed properly.

Gap Inc. bought Athleta in 2008 for about $150 million and opened their first store in Mill Valley, California, in 2011. The brand became a certified B Corp in 2018. 

Today it sells activewear, everyday clothing, swim, dresses, and a girls’ line, with a size range that runs from XXS through 3X in most styles.

Athleta Fabrics at a Glance

Athleta names its collections after the fabric, which makes the site a lot easier to shop once you catch on. Brooklyn is always Featherweight Stretch, Seasoft is always the sandwashed TENCEL blend, and so on. If you like how one style feels, look for others in the same collection.

Athleta Sizing and Length

The Brooklyn Ankle Pants in a regular length instead of tall (left) and the Pinnacle pants that are now too big on me (right). These were my first two pairs of Athleta pants that I bought right after having a baby.

I’m 5’10” and usually a size 8 or medium for bottoms, and I size down to a 6 or small in almost everything at Athleta. 

The stretchy pull-on pant styles have enough give that the smaller size hugs my body better and looks less baggy. The one exception I found was the Skyline Barrel Leg, which has a structured waistband and runs true to size, so I wear my usual 8 there.

Length is more about preference than a rule. Athleta makes most styles in petite, regular, and tall, and I prefer the tall in nearly everything, but a few were close calls. 

The Endless regular was only slightly short on me but honestly I could’ve pulled it off as a cropped pant, and the Retreat linen tall is slightly too long and will probably need to get hemmed by an inch. The regular, however, would’ve been a cropped look and I wanted a full length linen pant. 

My ideal inseam is 32 inches, and Athleta’s tall runs anywhere from 30 inches on the Skyline (meant to sit at the ankle) to 34.5 inches on the Venice wide leg. 

The inseam is listed on every product page, so it’s worth checking there rather than assuming tall means the same inseam across the line.

Athleta Review: My Overall Experience With Athleta Clothing

I wore my Brooklyn ankle pants a lot last summer, whether it was exploring on a content day in Berkeley (left) or heading to the beach with my son (right).

The first two pairs of pants I bought from Athleta were the Brooklyn Ankle Pants in navy and the Pinnacle Trousers in black. I bought them in a store before I knew Athleta made tall sizes, so both run a little short on me. 

Both pants are stretchy and comfortable enough to wear all day, and they look like actual pants rather than athleisure. I haven’t taken either on a big trip yet, but they’ve come with me on plenty of all-day content shoots and sightseeing days in California. They were also my staple pants that summer after I had a baby since they’re so stretchy. 

They worked well enough that I bought 13 more pieces this summer to test the brand more in depth. 

After trying so many items, I can say that the fabrics are the best thing about Athleta. They weigh almost nothing, breathe in heat, dry after a sink wash, and come out of a packing cube looking fine. 

A few wrinkle in a suitcase, including the lighter fabrics that the Brooklyn and Pinnacle pants are made with, but the wrinkles fall out within an hour of wearing them. All of these features are why they’re so good for travel. 

With that said, almost every light color I tested was somewhat see-through, and underwear lines showed through more styles than not. 

That comes with fabric this thin, and it’s a pattern across the brand rather than a problem with one product. It’s the first thing I’d warn a new Athleta shopper about. Go darker than you think you need to and most of it is a non-issue.

Athleta Pants Review

Pants are the bulk of what I’ve tested, and they’ve been my favorite items from Athleta. 

The fabrics are great for travel and some even pass as regular pants instead of athleisure, which is nice for versatility. Here are my thoughts on each pair I’ve tried. 

Endless Pants Review

I originally ordered the Endless Pant in a regular length to have more of a cropped look (left), but exchanged them for the tall length, which I ultimately thought looked better. And I tried the Endless cargo pant (right) in the regular length as well before realizing that I prefer all my Athleta pants in the tall length.

The Endless High Rise Pant fabric is actually my least favorite of Athleta’s fabrics. It’s the most synthetic to the touch, not as soft, and my first impression was that it’s a little drab. However, fabric aside, this is still one of my favorite travel pants to wear. 

It’s thicker than the Brooklyn pants so underwear lines don’t show as much, it’s the least wrinkly of the athletic-style pants, and it holds its shape all day without creasing. The straight ankle cut goes with pretty much everything, especially in black. 

And I love that it has zippered pockets. Those zip side pockets fit my phone and there are regular back pockets for everything else. Yay to normalizing practical pockets in women’s pants!

One thing to note is that those pockets add a little fullness through the hips, which might not work for some bodies. I like it, though, because combined with the high rise cut it makes my waist look more defined and almost gives my body more of a pear shape.

I also tried the Endless High Rise Cargo Pant in the same fabric, and it’s a slim cut rather than the baggy shape cargo pants usually have. 

The high rise form fitting waistband gives good tummy control, so in black it was the most flattering thing I tried over a postpartum stomach. There are zip pockets throughout plus two buttoned thigh pockets.

The Endless Pant is the one I’d pick if you’re only buying one pair of Athleta pants, since it dresses up and down easily and can work for a casual sightseeing day or a work trip. 

The cargo pant is more niche, but it’s the better pick for an outdoorsy trip like a national park road trip or a hiking weekend.

Skyline Pants Review

I tried three different colors in the Skyline Barrel Pants because I liked them so much. The first two are the regular length, and the far right one is the tall length. I liked the tall length, but in the slate color (far left) the most, so that’s what I ended up ordering after I returned these.

The Skyline High Rise Pants were the first barrel leg pants I’ve tried and I wasn’t sure how the shape would look on me. After wearing them for the past two weeks, I can officially say I’m a convert.

They’re the most structured pair I tested from Athleta, with a working fly and belt loops, and they’re the closest thing here to jeans without the weight. 

They’re also super soft and stretchy, which isn’t a combination I expected from something this tailored, and they’re UPF 40+. The pockets are deep enough for a phone or a passport, though they don’t zip like a lot of the other styles do.

I tried three colors in these pants. Slate is a grey blue that’s richer in person and the most versatile of the three. Solstice is a soft pale yellow rather than a bright butter, so it’s a good color pop without being too much. 

I also tried the Bright White, but was not a fan because you can see the outline of the boxy front pockets through it and it was pretty see-through. 

The Skyline pants were a quick favorite for me, and they’re the pair I’d bring instead of jeans on a trip when I want something comfy and versatile without the athletic look.

Brooklyn Pants Review

My original Brooklyn pants in navy in the regular length (left) and trying them in abalone in a tall length (right), which I thought looked better on my frame. I just didn’t love how see-through the abalone color was.

The Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pants are made with the lightest fabric I’ve tried from Athleta. 

I bought these over a year ago in the navy color and wore them most weeks last summer, including a full content day in Berkeley that involved a steep 1.5-mile hike in hot weather. They’re always super breathable and comfortable and have kept their shape well. 

They’re also UPF 40+, dry fast if you work up a sweat, and the waistband sits higher than “mid rise” suggests. 

They do wrinkle easily, which I was confused about at first since they’re marketed as wrinkle-resistant, but those wrinkles come out easily once you put them on and wear them a bit. 

I tried the Abalone color in my recent order, and the lighter color is where I had the most issues with these pants. 

The Abalone is pretty see-through in the back, the side stripe stands out more so they look sportier, and they show dirt more easily. Go for a darker color to avoid these issues. 

I wasn’t a big fan of the Brooklyn wide leg pants. The sporty stripe just looked weird on this cut, and I thought the ankle design was overall more flattering on me.

I also tried the Brooklyn Mid Rise Wide Leg Pant in Cacti green and liked the color, which is calm but fun and goes with more than I expected. 

The wide leg is a dressier cut, but the athletic side stripe looks a little odd with it, which is why I’d recommend sticking with the ankle pants. 

Both Brooklyn styles pucker a bit in the back under the waistband, and so does the Pinnacle (below). I think this is due to it being such light fabric with a stretchy waistband. It doesn’t look terrible, but just something to know before you buy.

Pinnacle Trousers Review

I love the Pinnacle pants even though my original pair is too big on me now. It’s time to get another pair in my current size!

When it’s too hot for the Endless pants but I still want to look put together, I go with the Pinnacle Trousers (I personally love these in black). 

This is another pair I’ve worn for a while and they’re just as breathable as the Brooklyn, but less athletic-looking, which is nice for versatility. The zippered fly plus a waistband that’s tailored in the front and stretchy in the back keeps them looking more like regular pants. 

They wrinkle about as much as the Brooklyn fabric does, which means they come out of a suitcase creased and then work themselves out as you wear them. 

The leg is ultra-wide the whole way down and can look billowy, so they need the right top, but when you get the right pairing, they look chic. The billowy cut works here more than it does for the Retreat Linen Pants because the fabric is so thin. 

Similar to the Brooklyn, the back bunches a little below the waistband, though it’s not very noticeable, especially in a dark color. 

The missing belt loops are a strange omission on a pair aiming this hard to pass as dressy. Otherwise, these are what I’d bring for a hot trip when I still want to look somewhat tailored.

Venice Pants Review

The Venice pants are made with one of my favorite Athleta fabrics, it’s super cozy and soft, but these two pairs didn’t quite work for various reasons.

The Venice High Rise Jogger is the one pair I keep going back and forth on. 

They’re the softest thing I’ve tried from Athleta and feel like leggings without the tightness through the crotch, which is what you want for hours in a plane seat. The three zip pockets keep things secure on travel days, and they’re UPF 40+ and quick-drying.

The Abalone color I ordered is pretty see-through with visible underwear lines, and there was no darker option in my size and length at the time, so I never traveled with these. 

They’re thin enough that I’m not sure I’d buy them again for a trip, but they’re so soft and comfortable that I might try a darker color to find out. They’re thicker than the Brooklyn or Pinnacle pants and run a little warmer, so they’re better for shoulder seasons.

I do love that the Venice pants come with a lot of zippered pockets, one small one in the front and two on the back.

I also tried the Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant in Woodland brown, and the color is beautiful. They’re flattering through the lower stomach and they don’t wrinkle much, which I noticed across the whole Venice line. 

But the thick waistband and wide leg give off a bit of a dancer look from the front, closer to wide-leg leggings than pants, so they’re harder to dress up. You can see panty lines on these too.

Between the two, the jogger is the Venice I’d buy. The Pinnacle is the better wide-leg option since it’s easier to dress up, unless you want the cozy feel of the Venice fabric.

Retreat Linen Pants Review

I really wanted to love Athleta’s popular linen pants, but I actually regret keeping them. They’re just a lot of fabric, and I don’t love how billowy they are. They also poof a lot around the waist when you sit down.

The Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant is the one pair I regret keeping, even though a lot about them works. I walked 10,000 steps in 78-degree weather and stayed comfortable in them the whole time. 

The linen is softer than the Quince linen I own and wrinkles less than any other linen in my closet, the thick waistband gives you actual tummy control standing up, and the front zip pockets are something I haven’t found on other linen pants.

The problem is how billowy they are. There’s so much extra fabric that it makes me look heavier than I am, the legs flap against each other when I walk, and the waist poofs out when I sit down. Even the tall runs an inch long on me, so I’m going to have to get these hemmed.

I still prefer my Quince linen pants for how they look, even though Quince offers fewer tall lengths, so they’re cropped on me. If you like an extra wide leg, these do it well. If you’re already unsure about that much fabric, skip them.

Seasoft Pants Review

Although the Seasoft fabric is just as soft as the name suggests, I didn’t love how synthetic it felt and how it stuck to my body. It also wasn’t the most forgiving in this lighter color.

I run cold on planes, so my usual problem is pants that aren’t warm enough rather than pants that are too hot. The Seasoft Mid Rise Straight Pant sits between the two. 

They’re much thinner than actual sweatpants, so you get medium warmth without getting too hot, and the drawstring waistband and straight leg make them look like a nicer version of sweats. These are also a true mid rise, which I don’t love as much since I’m a high-waisted girlie.

The fabric is where I differ from most people. It’s soft, smooth, almost silky, but it has a synthetic quality that wasn’t for me, the kind that sticks to your body a little. 

They also felt thin rather than cozy for the long travel days they’re made for. There are just two regular side pockets but no back ones, and the light Bone shows underwear lines. These work better as lounge pants or road trip pants than plane pants.

Trekkie North Pants Review

The Trekkie North Joggers were the biggest miss of the Athleta clothes I tried. I really don’t like these pockets.

The Trekkie North High Rise Jogger is the one pair of Athleta pants I’d steer you away from. The ripstop is very lightweight, which is the best thing about them, but they’re crinkly and technical looking. 

The pockets are stiff and poof out at your sides when you sit down, and they gap oddly at the knees because of how the fabric hugs the shins.

They’re UPF 50+, the highest rating of anything I tested, which is nice for outdoorsy trips. Athleta sells these as hiking pants, but I have much more comfortable hiking pants I’d point you toward instead, like my PrAna Stretch Zion Cargo Pants.

For a full ranking of the pairs I’d actually pack, including which trip each one suits, read my best Athleta travel pants guide.

Athleta Dresses Review

Athleta dresses are soft, stretchy, lightweight, and easy to dress up or down. They’re basics rather than statement pieces though, with no prints or that interesting of cuts. 

For a travel dress that can be a good thing since a basic goes with everything you packed, but they might come off as boring to some.

Each one has an internal shelf bra with removable pads, but the pads are super thin and my nips still showed through on all three, so I still needed to wear a bra. None of them have pockets either, which is disappointing for travel dresses.

Essential V-Neck Midi Dress

My favorite of the three is the Essential V-Neck Midi Dress. I tried this one in the navy and it was flattering the second I put it on. 

Ruching along the sides pulls it in where you want it, the deep V adds a little something, and the side slits give you airflow while keeping the shape intact. 

And even though it’s a fitted dress, the fabric felt forgiving, even over my tummy pooch. The SUPIMA cotton is the softest and most breathable of the three, so this is the one I’d wear on a hot day. 

The main downside to this one was that I had to smooth the fabric out more often since it tends to bunch while you’re moving around in it. 

Signature Rib Apron Dress

Not far behind is the Signature Rib Apron Dress, which beats the navy in a couple of specific ways. 

The ribbed fabric is thicker and heavier, so it holds its shape on its own instead of needing to be smoothed down every time you stand up, and it wrinkles less because of it.

The apron cut is my favorite part. Higher necklines front and back make it more modest than the V-neck, and the straps are thinner. 

There’s no ruching and there are no side slits, so the rib is the only thing that adds a little bit of personality, but it works. I also really liked the Woodland brown color, which was a nice pop with my skintone. 

The thicker knit and higher neckline make this the better pick for a transitional season when the Essential would be too light. 

Transcend Maxi Dress

Color is the best part of the Transcend Maxi Dress. The Coastal Teal is beautiful and much richer in person than it looks online, and that’s most of what I liked about this dress.

This is meant to be the sexiest of the three, but the fabric feels closer to a pair of leggings than a dress, and it’s the tightest and least forgiving of the bunch. 

It hugs all the way to the knees, and on a postpartum body it highlights rather than skims. It also bunches as you move, so I spent the whole time straightening it while wearing it, which is disqualifying for a dress you’d want to wear all day on a trip. 

It’s rated UPF 40+, the only one of the three that is, which counts for something if you’re in the sun all day. Although the sexier cut feels like something you’d wear more in the evening anyway. 

Athleta Layers Review

The wrap is the only layering piece I’ve tested from Athleta so far.

Pranayama Restore Wrap

A wrap with pockets! Genius! I also love how versatile it is to wear casually or with a nicer dress for outdoor dining, and that the tall is long enough to belt if I wanted.

The Pranayama Restore Wrap is soft, stretchy, and thick enough to keep you warm on a cool evening or a freezing cold plane. 

I got this one in black, and it passes as a nice wrap rather than something you’d wear to the gym, although it’s versatile enough for that too.  

You can style it belted or open, with the thumb holes in or out, and when belted, it works as a long sleeve top on its own, since the tall hits just below my butt. 

It also has pockets, which is unusual on a wrap and a big win for travel. They don’t show from the outside and they’re exactly where you want them. The sleeves run long enough to bunch a little, which looks intentional and is a nice change as someone with long arms.

The fabric is thick, which makes it heavy for what it is, and that’s a real consideration when you’re packing carry-on only. 

It’s borderline whether I’d bring it on every trip, but that thickness is also why it’s so cozy. For a shoulder season trip where you want something warm on the plane and in the evenings, it’s worth packing.

FAQs About Athleta Clothing

Wearing my Brooklyn pants while sightseeing (left). They’ve become one of my favorite travel pants, especially for hot days. And showing you how thin the fabric can be (right), which is especially noticeable with lighter colors.

Final Thoughts: Is Athleta Worth It?

After testing 15 items, I’d give Athleta an 8 out of 10. Most of what I tested is stuff I’d buy again, especially their pants.

The two pairs I started with are a year old and still in good shape. I don’t wear them much now, but only because I bought them newly postpartum and they’re a size too big, not because of any durability issues.

I’ve been wearing the pieces I bought and kept a month ago constantly, and the Pranayama Restore Wrap has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces I tested, along with the Skyline Barrel Leg Pants and the Endless Pants.

The downside to Athleta is that the fabrics are thin, so lighter colors are see-through and underwear lines show. The shelf bras in the dresses are thin and don’t have much support, so they won’t replace a bra. 

None of this makes the clothes bad or low quality, it just means you should buy darker colors or plan to wear a thong with any of their lighter pants.

Have you tried Athleta? I’d love to hear which pieces worked for you in the comments.

Mimi started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. 13 years and 45+ countries later, she accidentally became a packing expert. Now she helps women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and which gear is actually worth it. Outside of travel, you’ll find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, and winning 3-point contests against her husband.