Tights are worn by both men and women since several centuries now. They were primarily meant to protect the legs during winter.
The athletic tights that are available today are used as unisex clothing. It is a leg garment which is used for sheathing the legs and lower part of the body. Typically, tights were available in the form of two-piece footed winter clothing but today, they are available in one single piece as well.
They are not the same as pantyhose. This difference is mainly determined on the basis of weight and the type of yarn which is used for making them. Tights are mainly made of nylon, lycra, and cotton and they are stretchable.
You can wear these tights in all seasons for various casual occasions. However, when it comes to winter, you need to be a bit careful towards your health. Choosing the best one becomes necessary, considering the dropped temperature and its effect on your legs.
What are Tights
Tights were commonly worn by dancers (especially ballerinas), horseback riders, athletes like cyclists, wrestlers, basketball players, runners, etc.
Basketball players generally choose ankle length tights under their uniform shorts. However, they can wear tights when they are practicing, but they are prohibited from wearing them on the court. Athletic tights that we wear today are made of thick blend of spandex and similar other stretchable and durable fabrics.
Apart from athletes, tights are also popular in the health and beauty care industry, where they are worn for healing and fashion purposes. You can use the best leggings for women and men during the process of microencapsulation, which is a skin care technique.
There are other types of tights, that are also known as leggings, which are available in numerous materials and styles.
How to Choose the Best Tights for Winter
Choosing a pair of tights gets even more essential if you reside in a cold region. Such people cannot perform their day-to-day activities and especially exercise due to the dropped temperature levels.
When it comes to choosing best ones, you need to opt for the thicker material that can protect your legs from the winter breeze and the cold. This again, depends upon the purpose you wear the tights for.
If you wear it for running and jogging, then you need to buy the ones that are made of thick yet moisture absorbing fabrics, hence, always refrain from cotton. You need to look for tights that are made of wind resistant fabric.
If you live in a region where the temperature drops really down (below freezing level), then you need to choose the ones that come with lining. The best tights for women during winter are generally made of a fleece or thermal lining. Along with lining, choose the ones with flatlock seams.
Flatlock seams are really useful to avoid chafing. You also need to consider length of the tights that you want to buy. This especially gets essential if you are really tall.
Lastly, the ankle zippers. Though most of the types of tights are not available with ankle zippers, you can always choose these as they can avoid ankle injuries like Achilles tendon during winter.
Tights look good throughout the season and can be worn for almost all occasions. The average cost of tights ranges from USD 20 to USD 150, which is quite affordable, considering their importance.