Aventura Clothing fall leggings and jeggings for travel days

I’m back with this travel season’s Aventura Clothing picks! Listen, I continue to promote this brand as an ambassador because when I travel, I’m wearing Aventura about 80% of the time. Why? Most pieces are organic cotton, which are comfortable and dont’ wrinkle, plus so many of their items are versatile. I can travel carry-on only without a hitch when I pack a lot of Aventura leggings and jeggings, pair them with tunics and cardigans, and wear my favorite boots onto the plane. Here are my favorite fall leggings and jeggings for travel:

Fall leggings and Jeggings:

Liz Jegging: Fits and looks like a pant, but comfier, which makes it the perfect pant for when you want to achieve a tailored look, but not suffer while sitting for a long time, like in a plane or car. Comes in three jewel-tone colors for $77, and it’s organic cotton.

Kody Legging: Aventura has a bunch of different patterned and styled leggings this fall, and as a reminder from past seasons, Aventura’s leggings are like legging/tight hybrids, in my opinion, in all the best ways. They fit snugly and do not sag, but are thicker than traditional tights. This season, I tried the Kody, and love their subtle horizontal stripes, but the Bienne is a solid classic, and the Nordic-looking Sasha is always good in winter. And I love that almost all Aventura’s leggings are around $35.

Karma Jegging: These jeggings fit loosely and have a really comfy waist, plus pockets! The fabric is thin, which is generally a good thing, but they tend to reveal every curve, bump, and bulge. If that’s not a problem for you, go for it! They’re a poly-spandex blend with a 28-inch inseam, which is a little long for me, but worked fine scrunched up with a boot or rolled. $85

Shatki Legging: My favorite of the season! The Shantki is thicker than most of Aventura’s leggings, ready-made for chilly evenings and winter days. It looks more classic than sporty, and has both hip pockets (perfect for your phone) and a zippered security pocket that would fit a car fob or key or a credit card or room key. It’s poly-spandex with a brushed interior, selling for $89 (and worth every penny).

Favorite tunics to pair with them:

Quinlan Tunic: This poly-wool blend is super soft, and the tunic is breathable even though it’s pretty thick. The cowl-neck gives it some elegance, while still feeling like you’re wearing your coziest sweatshirt. Great with any of the leggings above. Comes in four jewel-tone colors. $105

Cheyenne shirt-jac: Everyone needs a shirt-jac in their life, and this one is cozy enough to feel like a blanket. The plush fleece is heavenly, and while substantial, since this shirt-jac lives up to its name, fitting like a shirt while warming you like a jacket, it’s not too bulky. It has a curved hemline for a more tailored look. I wear mine with just a tee or cami under it. Comes in three colors for $115.

Don’t forget! Pit Stops for Kids readers get 20% off Aventura orders! Use coupon code Whitley20 at checkout! 

Travel Gear We Use: Travel-friendly Rags to Raches children’s clothing review

Rags to Raches are all about easy on, easy off children’s wear. Started by a mom out of necessity, this brand is now known for comfortable, functional and cute clothes for toddlers. Since Rags are one piece, we thought they’d be good for travel days, so we had our littlest gear tester put them through the test.

Rags to Raches children’s clothing review:

I had heard about Rags clothing from a couple of friends but had never tried any Rags until the opportunity to review.The shipping was quick and when I opened the package I was impressed with the quality of the fabric. The colors were bright; the Rag we tested was tye-dyed with a truck logo. 

When I went to put it on my three-year-old, I realized there are no snaps, buttons, or zippers and was a little perplexed on how to get the neck to stretch over his entire body. He cried out, “Ow this hurts,” then “But these are pajamas.” Once on, however, the neck didn’t appear stretched out because it’s elastic and he said that they were really comfortable. 

He wore his Rag outfit all day and I was really impressed with how active he could be in it.  (My son is slender his pants usually fall down unless they have an adjustable waistband.) During bathroom time, he needs help pulling the neck over his shoulders. (I think this is a learning process.) He did get better at pulling his arms out after wearing it another day and no longer complains about getting it on or off. 

Washing the Rag was easy: it’s just cold water and dry low or hang to dry. I decided to hang dry. There were no wrinkles and it didn’t shrink or lose shape. It folds down really compact and is super convenient for traveling since it’s only one thing to pack instead of two. 

I actually liked it so much I went online and bought another Rag! Shop the Rag collection here.

Review by Karyssa Booth, mom of our toddler gear tester.

Fall travel wear: guide to Aventura leggings, tights, and tunics

You all know how deeply my love of Aventura Clothing runs. I love it so much, I am an Aventura and Ecōths ambassasdor, partnering with them for three years now to bring their travel-friendly styles to Pit Stops for Kids.

Every year, they just get better and better, bringing us better styles, more comfort, and more practicality (pockets in pajama bottoms, hello!). This fall, I’m most excited about Aventura leggings, tights, and tunics. Why? Instant capsule wardrobe for travel days! Packing leggings and tights take up so much less room than jeans and pants, they look great with tunics and sweaters, and they’re so comfortable for travel. Here’s what to wear:

aventura clothing

Start with leggings and tights:

Sasha legging: 

My newest find at Aventura is this fun, patterned legging that’s actually a poly-spandex blend. It has an almost structured waist, and is thicker than most of Aventura’s leggings, which means it feels less like a tight. Absolutely best of all: this legging doesn’t sag. I repeat…I never have to tug the Sasha legging up when I’m wearing it. Thank goodness! The Paisley legging is super similar, just with a more earthy pattern. 

Bienne legging:

A longtime favorite of mine, the Bienne isn’t new, but it’s become a mainstay. Get a few pairs and enjoy the fact that they last for years. Unlike the Sasha and Paisley, I think the Bienne feels more like a tight: they’re thinner and tighter-fitting, and pair great with wintery dresses and skirts. The Gilda legging is similar, if you want a pattern.

Add your favorite tunics and sweaters:

Becca tunic:

I love simplicity and a streamlined look, and the Becca is versatile because it goes with both patterned leggings and solid leggings. It’s an organic cotton tunic with just a dash of spandex to give it some stretch, and has a casual, almost sporty look. My only complaint: c’mon Aventura, give me some hidden zip pockets in my tunics!

Zayda Tunic:

Again…goes with everything! The Zayda actually only comes in gray, and if you bought the Jaylee sweater dress I recommended last time, I promise that dress goes well with all tights and leggings, too. The Zayda is a bit thicker and warmer; this fall, I haven’t needed any additional layer when I wear it.

Corinne sweater:

Best light sweater wrap ever for the plane! I just got the Corinne in August, and it’s already been put through its paces on multiple flights. It’s thin, soft, and doesn’t wrinkle, and goes with everything. I have paired it with slacks and jeans, too, but it goes best with leggings for a really comfy combo on the airplane. And it looks sophisticated, too, which is more than I can say for my favorite fleece or sweatshirt.

Scarlett dress:

A thinner, softer tunic dress than any I’ve tried, the Scarlett is a yarn-dye jersey dress that comes in three fall-forward colors. It features a pretty shawl collar, and is 37 inches long, so it can easily be worn with tights or just knee-high boots if the weather is warm enough.

Layer with a light jacket:

Barton jacket:

I admit I have a zillion winter coats, so my family rolled their eyes when I collected yet another. But while the Barton looks heavy, it’s actually thinner than you’d think, making it the perfect fall and spring coat to slip on over tunics and tees. The asymmetrical woven design is so cute, and it’s 100% organic cotton.

Simone vest:

Every woman needs a good vest. The Simone is 100% polyester fill, and has a soft knit collar as a nice touch. It comes in multiple colors, but I recommend the soft white or black so you can pair it with all your leggings and tunics.

Want to try Aventura Clothing? Email us  for a coupon code for 60% off any order up to $250! 

Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with Aventura, as an ambassador for the brand. All opinions are my own.

Summer travel wear for men who don’t care about travel wear

I have three men in my house…at least, I have three people who wear men’s size clothing. Two of them are teens. Since I review and write about travel wear all the time, you’d think they’d understand the benefits of quality travel pants and shirts and appreciate the importance of performance fabrics. But to be honest, they simply can’t be bothered. They want to wear what is comfortable, and in some cases, what they deem coolest.

summer travel wear for men

Luckily, I’ve beat them at their own game, because the following summer travel wear for men are ideal for adventure, yet too stylish and comfortable for them to notice. If you have men like mine who just can’t be bothered, here’s what to get:

Ecoths:

Mathis SS: The Mathis is 100% organic cotton herringbone, which means it looks ‘fancy’ (my son’s word) but doesn’t wrinkle at all. It is his go-to collared short-sleeved shirt for travel days when he needs to step his wardrobe up from his usual tee. Two chest pockets and contrast stitching give the Mathis a stylish finish.

Black Rock 3/4 zip: This pull-over is my guys’ absolute favorite thing from Ecoths so far. In fact, my teen son and my husband have matching ones (by accident) but they wouldn’t let me take a matching photo of them. Men. The Black Rock is so great because it’s very thin and soft, making it the perfect layering piece. It rolls up small in a carry-on or backpack, but is just the right coverage for cooler summer evenings or spring mornings. My son especially wears it everywhere, from local hikes to Italy. It comes in three rich jewel-tone colors. (Pictured in the photo above.)

Baxter Polo: It’s simple. It’s organic cotton. It comes in three heathered-style colors, and it wears just as well out to dinner as on the golf course. Pick it up in M-XXL.

Remember: Ecoths is a division of Aventura Clothing, which means that ANY Pit Stops for Kids reader is eligible to try the brand for 60% off! Simply email us for a coupon code at amy(at)pitstopsforkids(dot)com.

Mountain Khakis:

Equatorial Convertible pant: If your travels involve hiking or are to a tropical climate, every guy in your group needs a pair of these convertible pants/shorts. They’re thin, lightweight, quick-dry, and have wicking properties, and can be made into shorts as well. They’re also UPF 50+.

Camber 104 Hybrid pant: Maybe it’s just that MK pants seem to fit our guys well, but for casual travel days, the Camber 104 is their go-to. This pant is made of a performance stretch blend, so they’re comfortable both on the plane and on the trail. I like the reinforced areas, including the ‘mudflap’ on the hem at the heel.

ExOfficio:

We’re going to get a tad personal here, but our guys wear ExOfficio underwear all the time when they travel. Pick the style preferred, but get these…they dry fast so you can rinse them out on the go, they’re insanely comfortable, and they breathe well. Worth the investment!

Central America packing list and gear picks

Heading to Central America? You’re going to need to pack smart, for both sun protection and insect protection. And of course, you’ll want to be comfortable in humid and tropical weather. We just returned from Panama and Costa Rica, where we stayed relatively cool and safe from the elements by following this Central America packing list.

central america packing list

Central America packing list:

  • 2-3 lightweight, long-sleeved travel shirts
  • 2-3 lightweight t-shirts or tank tops
  • 2 pairs quick-dry, wicking travel pants (convertible a plus)
  • 2 pairs of shorts, skirts, or dresses
  • 4-5 pair quick-dry travel underwear/bras (trust us)
  • 1 swim suit (preferably a ‘sporty’ type for activities)
  • 1 light pullover, sweater, or cardigan
  • 1 breathable rain jacket
  • 1 pair walking or hiking shoes
  • 1 pair water-ready sandals
  • 3-5 pair hiking socks (preferably lightweight wool)
  • 1 wide-brimmed, lightweight hat (think safari style)

Gear picks: the brands and products we recommend:

Look for clothing that’s specifically designed for hot, humid environments with lots of bright sunshine and more than its share of insects. Your clothing needs to be breathable, loose enough to be comfortable while you’re active, and quick-drying for water sports (and humidity and sweat). Here’s what we took to Panama and Costa Rica and loved:

Toad & Co Debug line: Toad & Co’s ‘Debug’ line comes treated with insect shield technology that lasts through years of washes. It’s much safer to wear bug-treated clothing than to spray insect repellent directly onto your skin, and because Toad & Co’s Debug line is designed for tropical environments, most items are also very breathable and lightweight. I wore the Debug Hike Thru shirt both onboard our UnCruise on travel days and in the jungle. Their bandana scarf is also a great item to accessorize with, giving your debug benefits without buying a whole outfit.

Craghoppers Insect shield line: Craghoppers’ Insect Shield line is made for men and women, and offers both long and short-sleeved ‘Panama’ shirts, lightweight jackets with multiple pockets, and hiking pants. Our Pit Stops Dad loved the NatGeo Insect Shield cargo shorts and I liked the NatGeo adventure shirt. Best of all, there’s a nice line of kids’ insect shield clothing, which can be hard to find elsewhere! Our son wore the Insect Shield half-zip.

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ExOfficio BugsAway line: I’ve always loved ExOfficio for travel wear, and their BugsAway line is fashionable and comfortable. I’ve worn their Damselfly pant in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Costa Rica. And ExOfficio is absolutely where to go for quick dry underwear for your trip!

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Columbia Sportswear: Columbia doesn’t make insect-treated clothing (that we are aware of), but they do make some of our favorite hiking/travel shirts and pants, and are less expensive than most. They come in kid sizes too, and our son’s favorite is the Bahama long-sleeve. Definitely shop Columbia for zip-off convertible hiking pants, too.

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Mountain Khakis’ Equatorial shirt and pants: This line isn’t insect-repellant, but it IS SPF-blocking and when we wore Equatorial shirts in the jungles of Panama and Costa Rica, these were the ONLY shirts that stood up to more than one wear. Somehow, the sweat wicked off; we called them our ‘magic’ shirts. MK also makes an Equatorial pant that zips off. Both are recommended.

Aventura Clothing: Again, no bug-proaction line (but maybe if I keep hinting?), but Aventura Clothing makes THE best after-adventure clothing out there. When you get back from your paddle boarding session or jungle trek, put on soft, organic cotton for your evening indoors. This spring, I am loving Aventura’s Hannah cardigan and Pearson tank for layering. The men’s line, Ecoths, makes really stylish and comfortable short-sleeved, button-down shirts perfect for cocktail hour and dinner. Pit Stop Dad’s favorite: Garrick Polo.

See also: our most comfortable travel pants for moms!

Sun hats: The most important thing about sun hats in Central America is…wear one. So pick a wide-brimmed style you like, and bring it along! It helps to pick a style that flattens easily for travel, and has a strap to secure it both when wore and when you want to strap it to your bag or backpack. We love the sun hats for kids at Sunday Afternoons and Columbia, and the adult offerings at Tilley.

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Travel style for men: Best travel wear brands

We have three men in our house…at least when it comes to clothing size. Our Pit Stops Dad and our two teenage sons all have a no-frills travel wear style, and they’re never interested in a lot of shopping. But I know how important it is to buy quality travel clothing that can last a long time, stand up to wear-and-tear, and perform in a variety of weather conditions. If the men in your life don’t want to do a lot of travel wear research, point them in this direction: we have the best travel wear brands for men, all in one place!

Best travel wear for men

Ecōths:

Pronounced ecos, Ecōths has been a favorite of ours for awhile. You can read some recent reviews here. Why do we like it? This brand gives back, and since it’s the men’s line of the Aventura Clothing company, you can save money with your #AventuraLife membership (free to join). But none of that matters if the clothes come up lacking, right? Ecōths shirts and tees are primarily organic cotton, which means they don’t wrinkle in your luggage, they’re incredibly soft to wear, and the colors stay vibrant. Our guys love that the same brushed cotton polo worn all day city touring can continue on to dinner that same night. We’re all about packing less.

A few Ecōths favorites:

Noah Zip-Neck Sweater: My husband’s go-to pullover from fall through spring, the Noah is excellent for chilly planes and road trips alike. There are many fun colors to choose from, too.

ecoths

Asher shirt: Another very simple design that comes in rich jewel tones (but nothing too flashy), the Asher is perfect for layering. Pit Stops Dad wears his over a tee for morning outings, since it can be easily stashed into a backpack.

Hendrix shirt: For warm-weather trips, my sons love the trendy-looking Hendrix (maybe they have a bit more style than their dad?) With a collar and breast pockets, it looks dressy when it needs to, but is also casual enough for a cruise, a bike ride, or a dude ranch.

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Columbia:

The favorite outdoor wear brand of my eldest son, Columbia is where to shop when you need rugged, trail-and-travel ready clothing. No nonsense, no-frills, and usually easy on the wallet, Columbia has proved its value to us time and again. We love their ski wear as well, but for this post, we’ll talk travel shirts and pants.

A few Columbia favorites:

Silver Ridge shirt: If your man in your life needs an all-purpose travel shirt that can go from trail to tour, the Silver Ridge delivers. It’s extremely lightweight, so it works well in tropical climates where you need to protect your skin from sun and mosquitos, and is breathable and loose for those days you’ll be hiking.

Featherweight hike shirt: This shirt is dubbed as ‘titanium’, and my son can attest to this rating…this shirt traveled with him for 26 days on the Pacific Crest Trail, and is STILL in his closest, worn regularly at home. It’s expensive, but worth the investment.

Men’s Cascades Explorer pant: These pants can go anywhere, and look good even when you pull them out of your suitcase on the last day of a trip. Plus, they can be washed pretty well in hotel room sinks.

Additional ideas:

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ExOfficio:

No way around it, ExOfficio clothing can get expensive. But it’s also extremely well-made, will last a long time, and a few core pieces can perform multiple functions on an outdoorsy or adventure travel trip. Their BugsAway line is especially high in value.

A few ExOfficio favorites:

BugsAway Talisman: This shirt was worn by my husband multiple times during our cruise through Panama and Costa Rica. It serves several purposes: the insect repellent ‘baked’ into it keeps him safe from mosquito-borne illness, and the sun protection keeps sunburn at bay. Plus, it rinses out nicely between uses.

Ziwa convertible pant: These zip-away convertible pants are excellent for hiking and more rugged travel days, especially since they can be made into shorts at any time. I have the women’s version of this pant, by the way, and love it.

GeoTrek’r shirt: If you need a short-sleeved shirt, this is your no-frills, simple option. The GeoTrek’r has a security zip pocket, but is otherwise exactly what it looks like: a basic button-down short-sleeve that will last through many adventures.

 

Aventura capri breakdown: Which Aventura capri pant to buy

For today’s Travel Gear We Use, I want to take a moment to compare various style of my favorite travel pants and capris. If you’ve checked out Aventura Clothing, you can probably see why this brand is my favorite for traveling in. Aventura clothes are almost all organic cotton, which don’t wrinkle, they’re designed for an active lifestyle, and they’re comfortable and practical.

aventura-capris

Me, wearing the Galina capri while bird watching in Louisiana.

Aventura capri breakdown:

I get it: when you’re ordering online, you can’t try things on, and even when a company makes it easy to return and exchange things, it’s a pain in the rear. Hopefully, this guide on which Aventura pant to buy will help you make the right selection on the first try.

I have a true size 8 waist, but larger thighs (I’d like to think it’s all muscle, but…). I find that the following capris and pants fit me well. If you tend to be ‘pear shaped’, try these styles:

aventura-capri

  • Harlow capri: I love this new capri style! The Harlow is thin and lightweight, has a narrower waist and more generous thigh, and falls to mid-calf for me. (It will fall to just below knee-length for tall women.) The white color especially is very summery. It also comes in a short.
  • Arden pant and capri: The Arden capri is a classic of Aventura’s, and also comes in a pant and short. Like the Harlow, it has a true-to-size waist and shorter leg length, and it’s organic cotton. The legs can roll up or down to change the length, too. It comes in a wide variety of colors now.

If you have thinner legs but maybe a larger middle, I’ve found the following styles to be roomier than most in the waist, but straighter in the leg:

which-capris-to-buy

  • Mackenzie capri: The Mackenzie is a dressier capri that has cute button accents on the bottom and a 17″ length. Plus, it’s not new this season, so it’s on sale.
  • Galina capri: I’ve fallen in love with the new Galina capri, because it wears almost like a skinny pant on shorter people like myself. The length goes almost to my ankle (26″ inseam), but will fall at about mid-calf for tall women. The Galina has a wider waist and narrower leg, so I needed to order up a size. They do stretch out during the day, however.

General Aventura capri and pant tips:

  • Aventura clothes usually run slightly big. If you’re a true size 8, for instance (just using myself as an example here), you may be a size 6-8 in Aventura clothes.
  • Organic cotton pants will have quite a bit of give and stretch, whereas linen (per usual) will not.
  • Aventura leggings and tights are true to size, and never sag, making them a great choice if you can’t find a pant you love. I recommend the Bienne capri legging, which goes great under dresses and skirts.

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What’s your favorite Aventura capri?

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