Tights Recommendations Needed

[Bad JuJu]

I'm in the market for a pair of cycling tights and I need some suggestions. Never owned any tights before because, well, I live in Florida, and in the past if it was so cold I needed to wear tights, I'd just wait another hour or two before riding, and wear my trusty cycling knickers. But this winter, I'm riding with a club on the weekends and they take off at 8:00 (winter start time), come he** or high water. Saturday, we had an unseasonably cold morning and the knickers measured up, but only just barely. I can see that the morning will come when my poor uncovered ankles will just say "No!"

So any recommendations for cozy but not-too-warm tights with a nice chamois? I'd rather not spend too much because I'll probably wear them about three times per season. On the other hand, I only need one pair.

[SadieKate]

With or without chamois? Have you looked to see if your favorite brand short comes in a tight with a chamois?

[Offthegrid]

I have Bellwethers I really like. They fit well, stay put and are just the right amount of toastyness without being too hot. My pair doesn't have a chamois, though, but that's so I can walk with them, too. I wear them over my regular shorts.

[aicabsolut]

I took my first pair of tights out yesterday. They're cannondale midweight. They were plenty warm. The only downside is that they're slippery, so I kept sliding forward on the saddle. They are too thick to layer under my shorts (I had shorts on under them) unless I go buy more shorts and get a bigger size--would be too constricting particularly around the hip flexors. I did get used to them pretty quickly, and if I spent a fair amount of time in the drops, I didn't slide too much. FYI, I got one size smaller than I wear in their shorts.

I'm looking for some with chamois but I like to try stuff on and a lot of stores around here don't sell those but cater to the people who just want to layer with what they've got.

Another note: I have a fairly long inseam (32-33) and the XS/P size hit just above my ankle bones. I'm guessing they were around 29-30. The S were a little longer and the calves looser such that the zippers bunched a little. (I have skinny calves and the XS is a snug fit).

[emily_in_nc]

I can't recommend a specific brand (I have some Cannondale tights I love, but found them on the clearance rack at Performance and have no idea of the make/model), but I do recommend going with the no-chamois tights. Reason being, if you wear them over your bike shorts, you don't have to wash them every single time you wear them, so they'll last much longer (and be available the next day if you do back-to-back chilly rides!) As offthegrid suggests, you can also use them for walking or running without bike shorts underneath (I did that tonight on a run, actually!)

Another plus: the double layer of fabric on your quads keeps your muscles warmer than tights alone.

And one more: if you get tights with ankle zippers, you can easily peel them off at a rest stop if it gets too warm for them. Try doing that with tights w/chamois!

Hope you find something nice!

Emily

[Fredwina]

I'm like everyone else, in that I prefer the chamios-less ones. More flexible, and you can peel them off in mid ride

[Veronica]

Since you figure you won't use them much, how about leg warmers?

I'm pretty happy with the Exte Onde tights I have.

V.