Favorite tights for NW winter riding?

[salsabike]

For the last two years, I've ridden through the winters here in Seattle by wearing waterproof rain pants over knickers. I would like to switch to tights over those knickers. I usually ride anywhere from 30-55 miles so really want some tights that are as warm and water resistant as possible. Since I have knickers with a chamois I really like, I'm looking at tights without chamois to put over the knickers. Do any of you guys who ride for several hours in rain at 30-50 degrees have any favorites? I am about to try the Sugoi Firewall tights but want to hear about any others you really like. Thanks!

[Susan Otcenas]

Salsabike - I think Veronica has a pair of the Firewalls and if I recall correctly, is pretty happy with them. They really are a very nice tight and perfect for our NW weather. One of the gals here in the office has a pair as well (though offhand I can't remember if it's Molly or Renata) and says they are quite warm.

I ride in these alot: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=11618 (these are an '05 item and we only have limited sizing left.) Not waterproof, but very resistant, so toasty and completely windproof. They're a great commuter tight. The '06 version is this one: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=22275 They've added splash panels on the butt and the back of the legs.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=16644 These are awesome too (I think Abra, one of our customer service gals, rides in a pair of these in winter). A second front panel is windproof and amazingly weather resistant. Nicely articulated knees. We've just received another batch in inventory today, but it'll be a day or so until they're all online.

Generally tights will never be as waterproof as a pair of true rain pants, but by buying a tight you can still get great weather resistance and warmth without the fullness of a pant. I find I don't really need fully waterproof, as long as I'm warm and not out for hours on end. So for commuting and sub-2-hour winter rides, any one of these tights works for me. For really long rides, or bike touring, though, I'll go for fully waterproof pants.

Hope this helps.

Susan

[SadieKate]

I adore my Shebeest Wind Pro tights.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=2499

They aren't super form fitting but aren't tight either. The fronts are windproof. I've never tested them in the rain. They seem to do well with our heavy fogs. I wear then over shorts down to about 35-40 degrees for night time rides of up to 2 hours. I think they'd pull over knickers very easily for even extra warmth.

My original review:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...hebeest+tights

Maybe Susan can tell us whether these are as warm as the ones she posted. They're pretty heavy.

[Trekhawk]

I have the Sugoi Firewall tights and used them to ride through winter here in Grass Valley. Not sure how my winter compares to yours but they kept me pretty comfy in the rain and cold.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I adore my Shebeest Wind Pro tights.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=2499

They aren't super form fitting but aren't tight either. The fronts are windproof. I've never tested them in the rain. They seem to do well with our heavy fogs. I wear then over shorts down to about 35-40 degrees for night time rides of up to 2 hours. I think they'd pull over knickers very easily for even extra warmth.

My original review:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...hebeest+tights

Maybe Susan can tell us whether these are as warm as the ones she posted. They're pretty heavy.

I have both the SportHill Pursuit and the Shebeest Windpro- (both are non-chamois, with ankle zippers). I can do a comparison for you:

The Windpro front thigh panels are semi-waterproof. Rain beads up on them for a long time and the beads tend to blow off without absorbing. But eventually they DO get wet if you're out in the rain long enough, at least in drizzle they did. They are warm, with a fuzzy llining. They fit more like thick tights than pants. They are sleek and form fitting.
The SH Pursuits are being made in a new style now, but I have the old ones that still are available in some sizes on TE. They are warm too, and heavier fabric than the Windpros, but not in a fuzzy way. They are a nice dense stretchy fabric, very well made. They fit beautifully, like a hyrid between form-fitting pants and tights. I haven't tried them in the rain yet, but they sure keep the cold out. Their *slightly*more pantlike fit allows you to more easily put other stretch tights under them such as Underarmour or a chamois short or capri. Of the two, I like the Sporthill Pursuit better. I wouldn't hesistate to try their new style. I think they will last a long time. I am pearshaped, 5'5" 140 lbs, and both tights fit me nicely in size Medium.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I tend not to ride in the rain, but maybe this option will help...

My winter tights of choice are REI's Power Stretch Tights (http://www.rei.com/product/48032737.htm). I wear them over a pair of bike shorts. The outside of the fabric is smooth, the inside is fuzzy. While they are not waterproof, light rain/snow tends to run off, and my legs have stayed pretty dry.

If I'm caught in the rain (or decide to break my own rules about starting out in the rain), I picked up an as yet to be tested layer that looks very interesting: http://www.rainlegs.co.uk/. At the time I bought mine, they were not yet available in the US (and I think that's still the case), but shipping from the UK was fast (I had them in 3 days) and surprised me by ending up in my mailbox without any customs due.

--- Denise

[Dianyla]

I really like my PI AmFib tights. In addition to the wind/water resistant front, it also has a nice booty panel in the back for the "honestly, I swear I didn't just crap my pants" mud stripe.

More importantly for me and my shortwaisted torso - the AmFib tights are nicely scooped down in the front. Similar to the way the Sugar shorts/knickers are dipped down. The back is nice and high. When you're in position on the bike it's perfect. (I usually end up having to roll the waistband down a few turns on other tights because the waistband cuts into my digestion.)

I mainly like these tights for cold and dry weather, or for light precipitation shorter rides. For real rain, just get waterproof rainpants to put over shorts/tights.