I Tested the New Roark Layover Pant and Short, and Found Them Perfect for Long Travel Days

Adventure travel clothing outfitter Roark drops the new Layover Traveler and Layover Utility pant and short on August 15, and the pants are updated to be more comfortable and functional for active travel days, and to address a few underlying issues from prior releases. I tested the pants on multiple travel days both flying and driving, on hikes, and during some hotel lounge time to get a feel for how the Layover series has evolved – and at the price point of $99, whether these pants and shorts are worth adding to your travel clothing repertoire.

Photo courtesy Roark

Where we tested the Roark Layover Pant and Short

The pants and shorts were tested on multi-stop flights from Grand Junction, Colorado, to Providence, Rhode Island, and from Charleston, West Virginia, back to Colorado, as well as on a bus trip from Grand Junction to Vail. In addition, the pants and shorts were worn for lounging at hotels and restaurants, and during a hike in New River Gorge National Park.

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Who do Roark’s clothes appeal to?

Photo courtesy Roark

Roark is a Laguna Beach, California, clothing and gear outfitter that targets surfers, adventure travelers, and the expansive cohort of Millennials and younger generations that never had a clean transition from the styles of their youth into a look that’s more mature yet still representative of their style and values. The company launched in 2010 as a men’s brand and in 2022 launched its first women’s line.

The brand hooked me a decade ago with its aspirational marketing – a flashy but faceless protagonist going by just one name like some sort of beach-bro Madonna, who’d fantastically figured out how to dress like an adult without sacrificing the laid-back vibes of global surf culture. “Roark” catalogued his travels and dispatched them to my mailbox every few months. I was hooked immediately. Where is this “Roark” character, and how can I be just like him?

I came of age in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s on Billabong, Blink-182, and lip piercings. I knew I needed to step it up a notch when, in 2010, I landed my first writing gig and suddenly had to have this “headshot” thing appear next to my name. Thing is, I had absolutely no clue where (or how) to begin. The surf and skate brands that had lined my closet for years hadn’t evolved to meet the moment. My fragile counter-culture ego would never let me succumb to the preppy brands I swore off in high school. I tried the mall, the polo shirts, the Kohl’s knockoffs – all of it left me feeling out of my element.

But then, around 2016, something magical happened. I was at a boutique clothing store in Denver with my wife, and I came across a button-down collared shirt with a floral-inspired surf design. The brand was Roark, and it struck me as Volcom-cum-Marine Layer. I was captivated. She approved. Within six months, nearly all of my go-to clothing was from Roark.

The brand fills the gap left by the retro (but increasingly defunct) “surf style” powerhouses because its clothing looks nice and is incredibly versatile – it’s ideal for work, travel, happy hour, and casual dinners – but isn’t overly formal. I’ve come to call it “coastal crossover” clothing, meaning that it fits just about any needed purpose.

Photo courtesy Roark

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Summary of our Roark Layover Pant and Short test

Pros:

No belt, no problem — easy through TSA checkpointsPassport protection at hand — zipped pockets for passport, phone, and moreThird time’s the charm — our editor has owned three pairs of Layover pants, each one better than the lastAll-weather versatility — the Layover pant can be insulated for cold travel days, while the shorts work for warmer onesMulti-day functionality — easy to wipe clean, the pants can handle multiple wears between washes

Cons:

Elastic waist — it’s tough to feel professional in an elastic-waist pantBaggier fit — The “straight fit” Layover pant is super comfortable, but my grandpa butt doesn’t quite fill it out.

The evolution of the Roark Layover Travel Pants

Photo courtesy Roark

Layover 1.0

My first pieces of Roark clothing were button-down shirts, but I also bought the first edition of Layover pants in the late 2010s. The pitch was that these pants were ideal for travel because they’re flexible, can secure valuable assets like a passport and wallet in zippered pockets, and are easy to clean (and therefore, can be worn for multiple days between washes). Additionally, the drawstring eliminates the need for a belt, making these pants ideal for airport security and long flights (tighten for the walk through the airport, loosen for the extended sitting session). Beyond these metrics, what classifies a pair of pants as “travel” pants seems to come down to whether or not the wearer is traveling.

I promptly wore them on a few flights and found them to be awkward. It was as though the brand had simply wrapped a pair of sweatpants in some Durastretch and sent them out the door. Passing through the airport felt weird because they didn’t have a back pocket, which meant I had to load my wallet, passport, keys, phone, and anything else into the front zippered pockets. When I walked, I had stuff constantly bumping or rubbing against my leg. They generally reminded me of something I would sleep in on a cold-weather camping trip – I actually began using them as such because I couldn’t find another productive use case for the pants.

Layover 2.0

A few years later, I acquired a new pair following an update. This second pair, the Layover Pant 2.0, was a vast improvement. They looked like normal pants, but retained the stretchy flexibility that was the saving grace of the older pair. But, this version had an insulation layer on the inside that, while soft and pleasing to the skin, made the pants incredibly warm. They were fantastic on a long-haul flight from San Francisco to Istanbul and were also great for snowboard trips in winter. I’d wear them on the drive as well as while lounging in a hotel room or Airbnb.

Roark Layover Pant and Short SpecsEmbarq stretch twill fabricCertified Organic CottonNo-Show elastic waist, internal/external drawstring beltBelt loops for added adjustabilityZip front and back pockets, cell stash back pocketBack Ventilation Panel, including a laser-perforated back panel15″ leg opening on the pants — straight fit, 8″ inseam,18″ outseam, customizable fittingAvailable colors: Black (BLK), Military (MIL), Dark Khaki (DK)Layover 3.0

Arriving at the hotel after a 14-hour travel day, the Roark Layover Pant 3.0 looked crisper than the rest of my outfit. Photo: Lynn Wenger

With the new release of the Layover 3.0, the brand has addressed every issue with its previous versions. The pants have sealable front and back pockets. The 15-inch leg openings fall over the top of the shoes easily, while the fit is comfortable but not overly tight. I’m a thin-build guy who’s 5’7″ — if you’re curvier or taller than me, the pants will fit you quite well. Belt loops are included if you want to wear a belt, but wearing one is not necessary as the drawstring remains intact. They look cool, too – after a recent travel day, I kept them on for dinner out. I ordered the pants in the tan DKH coloring. I paired them with a navy blue button-down while on the move and a white button-down for dinner. I’ve also worn them with a grey sweater and felt comfortable and presentable.

I appreciate that the Layover pants are built with certified organic cotton. The stretch twill and elastic waist are exceptionally functional and not visible on the outside – over a long day, I never had to tighten the waist, even after multiple bathroom stops.

The Roark Layover Short was perfect for a happy hour sail after a day on the move. Photo courtesy Tim Wenger

The shorts are equally durable and utilitarian. I like that they hang above the knees and pair well with t-shirts or button-downs. The same grey sweater looks good, though I’ve been hesitant to do anything beyond these casual options with a pair of shorts. As with the pants, I wore the shorts for multiple days on the road and was able to wipe off light dirt as well as food and drink spills with ease.

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