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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

JuJu- since you say you already have chamois knickers you like....
If you want to save money and your knickers end below your knees, perhaps you could just get some wool knee socks that overlap where your knickers end?
I sometimes use heavy wool ski socks that come up to right below my knees. The suggestion of leg warmers is also good- you could put warm socks that don't leave your ankles bare where the leg warmers end.

[SouthernBelle]

I was thinking the same thing as Lisa. I have 2 pair of wool socks made for hunting and hiking that I wear when I ride in the cold. MMM, snuggly feet.

[indysteel]

I'd second the suggestion for leg warmers if you'd like some flexibiity. I have a pair of Sugoi Subzero tights that are really warm (I wear them with PI Sugar Knickers so my knees are well covered). I love 'em. The other day, I wore a pair of Shebeest Wind Pros that were twice the price and much bulkier, but I don't think they were noticeably warmer. Sugoi makes several other tights, including the Midzero, that might be a good weight for you.

I would mention too that neither the Sugoi nor Shebeest tights that I have have a chamois. I'd just as soon have another layer on underneath so I wear either my shorts or knickers with them. Presumably I could peel them off if I ever got to warm mid-ride.

[Pedal Wench]

Adding to the suggestion for tights without chamois.

I have a pair of shorts from a cycling club that I don't belong to anymore. They had my favorite chamois (Hincapie) but I couldn't really wear them. But, under tights? I wear them as often as I can! So, get tights and your old or ugly shorts get a second lease on life!

However, I really think that legwarmers are your best option, especially since it tends to warm up nicely where you ride.

[SadieKate]

I'm a chamois in tights advocate. I can't handle the double waist band and, even worse, the double seams and layers of fabric in my crotch. The layers move around uncomfortably and I slide around on the saddle inside the tights. I also find tights with chamois are just a bit more gravity resistant than those without.

Of course, I could just make multiple people happy and get the Assos splitter . . .

[Velobambina]

Agree with the folks who recommended leg warmers, which you can put on right under your knickers.

If you really want tights, the Louis Garneau Finland tights are very nice. Expensive but they give excellent muscle support. I wouldn't wear them without another layer in temps below 35 degrees because they seem more suitable for cool--not cold--weather. The chamois is similar to that LG uses in the "wicked expensive" shorts that both Veronica and I love.