The Best Running Tights Will Keep Your Winter Fitness Goals Alive

Best Looking Running Tights: Nike AeroSwift Tights

Nike

AeroSwift Dri-FIT ADV Running Tights

The Swoosh’s AeroSwift running tights prioritize a stripped-down, yet functional approach, while still looking cool as hell. The textured, ribbed lines throughout the tight are part of a stretch-woven fabric that moves with the runner, providing a glove-like feel that prioritizes speed above all else. Additionally, the waistband features a bit of ventilation to keep you cool, stash pockets for minor essentials like a card or a gel for race day, and a zippered phone back pocket.

Best Splurge: District Vision Full-Length Recycled Tights

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District Vision

Full-Length Recycled Tights

District Vision’s tight just feels great to wear. The form-fitting, full-length tight is one of the few I’ve worn on a run and then lounged in for hours afterward without thinking twice. It’s an elegant exercise in minimalism, featuring only a few critical pockets, including a rear zip for valuables and a side cargo pocket for a phone or even a set of shades. Above all else, however, is that quarter-pound weight made from Italian fabric that makes these feel like slipping into a Ferrari for your legs.

Best Upgrade: Patagonia Endless Run Tights

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Patagonia

Endless Run Tights

Patagonia’s Endless Run tights are a great option for those looking to jump into a nice pair of tights. The brand included all kinds of specialized technical fabrics that make them not only feel great on, but also help you stay warm and fresh thanks to an odor control treatment. Two side pockets hold essentials, but we appreciate the snug taper at the bottom of the tight, which helps trap heat more effectively.

Best for Training: Wolaco Distance Full Tight

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Wolaco

Distance Full Tight

Wolaco’s become a bit of a splashy name among run clubs for a good reason. The brand’s Distance full tight is constructed with a lot of features that are particularly helpful for half and marathon training runs. Two mesh drop pockets at the back can store sunglasses and gels, while two sweat-proof side pockets can hold higher-priority items. The other thing that’s great about Wolaco is the interior fabric layer that ensures some modesty if you don’t want to rock an interior layer, and they’re durable enough to handle weightlifting sessions, too.

More Running Tights We Love

Ciele

FRDWintertight

Montreal’s Ciele has never let cold weather get the best of them, which is really the only option for a brand based in the Great White North. Their team and community are no strangers to running in the snow all winter, so they made the FRDWintertight for those days when the ground is blanketed. They’re wind-, snow-, and sleet-resistant; have multiple pockets; and might even become your go-to for wearing under your ski kit.

Path Projects

Benham Hybrid Tight

Not every person is ready to bare it all to the community when they step out on a winter day. For those folks (or ones who just prefer sweats), the Benham Hybrid Tight from Path Projects is the move. They’re made with warm, lightweight Karuishi Active Fleece that kept us warm on a devastatingly cold Wisconsin evening and come with a handful of pockets to keep your necessities nearby. They’re tight from the knee down, but have some extra room in the hip and thigh that lets you wear these even when you’re not on the run.

Janji

Trail Tights

Part of running in the winter is deciding whether to stay on the tarmac or to hit the trails. If you’re someone who wants to have it both ways, the Janji Trail Tights are the answer. They’re incredibly warm for tights that aren’t fleece-lined and boast a bunch of handy pockets for keeping valuables and granola bars close at hand. They’re also super durable, according to our testing, and keep wind and precipitation at bay without any excess materials or paneling so you don’t overheat.

Hoka

Novafly Run Tight

Hoka’s running gear is just as great as its beloved running shoes. The Novafly Blend tights are made with the hardest trail races in the world in mind, namely the ultra-competitive UTMB Mont-Blanc. Even if you’re not running 100-mile races, they’re still great for everyday winter training. These are lightweight and feel great on—a feeling that’s even better when you realize how many pockets they have.

What to Look for in Running Tights

Running tights don’t look all that different on paper, but a couple details might move the needle for you if you’re on the fence about a certain type. Here’s what we’d suggest looking into before you pull the trigger on a pair of tights you’ve never tried.

Materials: Some running tights are silky soft like your favorite sweats. Others are blessed with tight-knit compression fabrics that keep your hammies and thighs in play when workouts get tough. This writer is a sweaty mess most of the time, even in winter, so ventilated tights are a godsend. If you tend to have the opposite problem, you may want to opt for tights made with thick and interwoven nylon or some other heat-retaining fabric to block out the cold. Or, if you know you’ll be running come rain or come shine, some weatherproofing by way of Gore-Tex materials can also help you keep moving without getting soaked.

Construction: For even more weather-resistance, some tights have wind and rain blocking materials sewn onto the front panels, reverse fabrics on the back of the knees for breathability, or some other combination of techy materials that promising a more comfortable experience.

Storage: More than ever, brands are stuffing their gear with discreet pockets that let you keep your credit cards, energy gels, your phone, or keys on your person before you step out the door. Additional pockets on your workout gear are never a buzzkill, but you may not even need them if you’re layering your tights under shorts or just hopping out with your keys for a couple laps around the local track.

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