Why you need tights and how to choose the right ones for your workouts

Comfortable clothes are very important for sports, and when they are also functional, they become indispensable. One of the indispensable elements of sportswear are tights. What they are and what they are for, we will understand in this article.

What are tights and what they are

Tights are a type of sports pants, which are made of fabric with compression inserts. Tights tighten the legs, thus providing flexibility and freedom of movement to the athlete. There are different types of tights. They vary in length, density and degree of insulation. On the market you can easily find models that allow you to exercise outdoors at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.

The reasons why you should wear tights for training are very different. They:

• protect the body from hypothermia, since sports can be both outdoors and in the hall;
• protect against mechanical damage;
• ventilate the skin surface;
• support muscles through compression;
• keep the temperature balance, the body under them almost does not sweat;
• tighten and fit the body, which allows you to train in comfort;
• speed up the recovery process due to lymphatic drainage functions.

It’s very simple – tights are a type of leggings, which are used exclusively for sports. Tights have distinctive features – compression function and a special cut: they are made of elastic materials, which allows the product to almost completely repeat the contours of the human body.

Many manufacturers make tights from breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that have compression properties. Compression supports the athlete’s muscular system, does not restrain movement and reduces injury. In addition, acting as a “second skin”, Tights provide high aerodynamics.

Initially, Tights were invented only for running, but then they began to be used in fitness, especially by fans of Crossfit and martial arts.

Tights are a piece of equipment that doesn’t need any add-ons. They were created so that the athlete was as comfortable as possible to exercise, there was an effect of “without clothes”. Some people are embarrassed by too tight things, so they put on shorts. Both are acceptable.

We asked several athletes – both pro and amateur – how do they wear tights and why?

Trailrunner

If we consider tights as a type of equipment, they are no different than regular shorts in terms of usefulness for flatland running. So choosing shorts or tights is simply a matter of design. If we’re talking about the mountains, some athletes use tights for less muscle jolt, which makes running down the mountain a bit more ergonomic. I prefer loose shorts at competitions, in training I sometimes run in tights.

is running

I wear tights because they are more comfortable than bologna pants. When there is a possibility of temperature changes, I put on shorts, because most of the time during a run, the tights get wet from sweat and chilled from the wind. When the weather is more stable, shorts are no longer necessary. Experienced runners are most often found wearing only tights.

People react differently, but after a while I stopped paying attention because personal comfort came first.

I’m also a runner

Tights keep me warmer in the winter, protect me from tall grass in the spring and summer, and allow me to hide my hairy legs a bit. As for wearing options – I make sure to wear shorts on top, I think it’s the only acceptable option. Equally on the part of girls who wear shorts on top.

How to choose tights

Today, the range of tights with different properties for all kinds of purposes is very wide. You should choose your tights according to your individual characteristics and goals:

• Choose the material depending on the weather conditions in which you will use them. There are many models on the market for both warm and cold seasons. Most often, manufacturers inform about the desired conditions of use on the label;
• pay attention to the top – this is the most important part of the product. They can be held with a sewn-in wide elastic band, laces or a silicone insert. There are models without elastic band – they are designed for athletically built athletes with correct proportions and fit tightly due to the elasticity of the material;
• Decide on the presence of pockets. Only the one on the back of the waistband is mandatory. Competition models most often do not have pockets;
• note that compression in such products can be general, zonal or none at all. Choose a pair of tights depending on your goal;
• Pay attention to seams and ventilation: the former should be predominantly flat, the latter should be present for thermoregulation.