Is it me or the pants?

I've got a cool weather, thermal-lined pants question...

In the past I've always put the bike away once cool weather hit but this year I intend to tough it out. I get cold easily and have a hard time warming up/staying warm....likely due at least in part to my thyroid issues.

So I've purchased 2prs of thermal lined tights (no pad) and they fit fine but one their trial run they both hurt my knees while riding. I have osteo-arthritis in my knees (and also have SynVisc injections so it's not bothersome normally) so maybe it's me?? But it feels like there just isn't quite enough stretch in the knees for all the bending.

Is this normal and I just need to get used to it? Or maybe it's because they're women's pants and I'm tall (5'11")...perhaps men's pants would fit better. Like maybe since I've got them pulled up all the way my knees are hitting the part of the pants made for calves and it's too narrow?

Are lined pants supposed to feel a little too snug in the knees? Or does anyone know of a good and stretchy brand they'd recommend for a tall girl? These pants are too pricey to keep buying failures, ya know? But I really want to be able to continue riding outside as much as possible through fall, winter, and early spring.

IME windblocker type pants are notoriously un-stretchy. I typically have to go up a size with these.

thanks for the input. it does help that the non-stretchy thing isn't my imagination.

why does it have to be so hard lol? it's not like it's something I can find locally (where I can try stuff on) for a reasonable price. Heck, even the reasonably priced pants are pricey!

I'm starting to think some wool pants might be more comfortable but what I'm seeing starts at around $150 so definitely an investment.

Maybe I should try some men's and maybe go up size too. It's hard to keep gambling when I've already spent $100 on non-comfy pants (and I can't return them because I thought they'd work until I actually wore them).

Boy, do I hear ya'. I have storage tubs full of $$ things I wore a couple of times, only to find they really didn't work. :confused:

If you look at non cycling-specific tights, you may be able to find something with a more "gusseted" knee, so it is seamed to be comfortable bent but not necessarily straight? I don't have anything specific in mind but I swear I've seen them for something (cross country skiing, maybe? not sure).