Running tights come in many shapes and sizes. The price range alone indicates that there is a wide array of choices for the runner. A cheap tight with little warmth or support can go for as little as $20, while a high-end compression tight with engineering behind it can go for $200. A tenfold range in price indicates that a buyer should be informed before they invest. Here is the lowdown on three main types of tights on the market for runners.
Compression Tights. Starting with the high-end of the market, compression tights are a class of athletic tights that offer multiple benefits, and that serious athletes swear by. Compression tights have been around for several years, but hit the market in a big way in the past decade, and for good reason. Compression tights basically are tights that (as the name would imply) provide pressure to an athlete’s legs, creating stability as well as encouraging blood flow. The increased stability allows runners to use their muscle motion for running instead of balance or joint alignment, making for a better workout. The best way to describe how it feels when running with a compression tight is as if it was “spring loaded”, pushing your legs back in to proper alignment with each stride. The increased blood flow assists in recovery between workouts, as muscle soreness really is due to many tiny bleeds or tears, and a compression tight basically acts as a turnicate to encourage tissue repair. A good compression tight also has its place as a cold-weather garment, as many makers such as Skins and CW-X provide materials that is sensitive to colder temps and provides warmth to relatively cold conditions.
Many people buy compression tights for their activities – running, cycling, skiing – but also for recovery. Some athletes use the tights for several hours after a hard run or while they sleep to encourage muscle recovery. In fact, some brands produce specialized “recovery tights” that are a type of compression tight and useful for hardcore athletes who need to make the most of their recovery time.
The technology of a compression tight doesn’t come cheaply – they often cost $150 or more – but considering that it is in investment in your skeleton, muscles, and recovery, we think it can be money well spent. Especially for athletes focused on frequent training or longer endurance races, the tights can essentially be a running tight, knee brace, and post-workout massage all-in-one.
Examples: Skins A400 Compression Tight for $145 or the Opedix R1 Compression Tight at $190.
Thermal Tights. A thermal tight is built for one purpose – to keep you warm. While a compression tight can keep you warm in some temps, perhaps down to about 30 degrees, a thermal tight is built for warmth and doesn’t offer the benefits of compression. For someone who will routinely be working out in temperatures below about 40 degrees, however, having a good thermal tight in the closet is an important garment that will extend your running season.
A good thermal tight will fit somewhat snugly but with not nearly as much pressure as a compression tight. Some thermal tights can feel a bit bulky (but not even close to how a pair of sweats feels), while others are relatively thin and sleek. Our favorite models combine insulating materials on the inside, with a slight coating or “sheen” on the outside to keep wind and moisture out. Many thermal tights are made for cycling by cycling gear manufacturers, but crossover very well as running tights.
Examples: Louis Garneau Oslo Tight for $70 or the Pearl Izumi Select Thermal Tights for $70.
Spandex / Lycra Tights. The old-school spandex or lycra tights are reminiscent of what many runners used to wear in the 80’s and 90’s. Technology has come a long way, however, and today these thin tights are comparable in your gear drawer to what a plain white t-shirt is in your dresser. They certainly have their place, for example as a base layer under something else on very cold days, or as a thin outer layer on a breezy 55 degree day when you want just a bit more warmth than shorts.
The plain spandex or lycra tights offer limited warmth on cold days, and offer none of the muscular or structural benefits that you would get in a compression tight. The upside is that they cost a fraction of other tights, but for someone who needs to invest in cold weather gear or muscle stability or recovery tights, you’ll want more than basic spandex.
Example: Asics Myles Running Tight ($30)
