Tights for Short Women help needed!

[Bklynmom]

Anyone on the 5" range found a short pair of tights? Preferably with Chamois?

I have a 28" inseam, but today I tried on Gioradna and Pearl Izumi size Medium and there was a ton of extra fabric at the ankle - I can tell the fabric will have to bunch somewhere.

I really want one pair of fleece lined Chamois tights for fall and winter.

I bet someone out there has already solved this dilemma.

L

[withm]

I have one pr tights that are long - I just let them bunch up at the ankle but try to pull a little into knees. Cover up the ankle bunching with socks over the tights. Works for me.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Again, there is a TE "shop" that carries petite stuff....and some of the tights there are for "petite LENGTH"- meaning S, M, or L tights but with short length:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/categories.asp?catID=109

Check out our own TE "click to shop" link at the top of every page here!

[Kano]

Hi! I'm not quite that short, but I do have problems with the legs on my tights being a bit on the long side. It's uncomfortable when they bunch up behind my knees, but I can avoid that if I "cuff" the ankles. So, I fold them up a couple of inches, just enough so that I can have the elastic thing at the bottom still at my ankle.

It would be nice to have a pair that's short enough, but petite sizes of anything don't work for my body, even if they work on my legs, so that's not my solution. I'm not sure how to happily re-hem my tights -- I'd have to cut off that nice hem that's already there!

Karen in Boise

[VeloVT]

Hello,
I'm 5'6" with about a 31.5" inseam, so I don't know exactly how helpful this will be, but I have a pair of Shebeest Stripe Cycle Tights (TE carries them, in fact that's where I got mine) that are quite short on me and I imagine would be a good length for someone considerably shorter than me. I don't know if they would be too long for some one around 5' or not -- it might be worth calling up TE for sizing advice. These tights do not have ankle grippers, so I would imagine it would be less irritating if they were too long. The Shelastic chamois is really comfortable, for me at least.

The Shebeest Tech Tights (not sure if this style was discontinued this year?) are nicer, but they are also longer (just about the right length for me, in size small). They're cut better than the Stripe Tight and have ankle grippers (which I actually prefer if the tights fit well).

[VeloVT]

Another option, if you continue to have difficulty finding cycling tights that fit well, is to just find a good pair of running tights and wear them over your bike shorts. It seems like there's a much bigger selection of running tights out there than cycling tights...

[koala]

Louis Garneau runs shorter in the leg -- TE posts the inseam lengths in the product description, very helpful information.

[Surlygirl]

I'm 5 feet and I like the Sporthill tights worn over bike shorts. I have had good luck with these tights and they are not skin tight which I like. And they sell them right here.

[Bklynmom]

Louis Garneau runs shorter in the leg --

I have been eyeing those LGs - that's my favorite chamois too - they are pretty expensive ($170 ), but may really be my best choice. Any idea about how warm they are?

I really want just one pair of tights I can pull on, with a chamois instead of layering every single day. The less complicated my setup, the more likely I am to get on the bike every day.

Lisa

[OakLeaf]

you could always get a pair of wool tights and shrink them accidentally on purpose, like I did

[koala]

Those LG's are a straight lycra - no fleecing! It is a power lycra, so it is warmer than the thin lycras. But it depends on you how cold you can go in them. I have the power short (same material), with the matching leg warmer & am ok into the mid 40's with wind. But I prefer to wear just one article of clothing, so I tend to reach for fleeced knickers with chamois for that same temperature range. For 42 & below, I want full-length tights with chamois.

LG has less pricey tights with chamois. I find that with the thicker, fleeced materials, I can go with a thinner chamois for winter. And I'm not out there as long in the winter either. So I can make some compromises in chamois that in the summer I would find unbearable.

I am 5'2", & I look at the inseam length on TE's product description for any tight. My limit is 27", anything longer bunches.

[Bklynmom]

Thanks!

What kind of tights did you end up with Koala? - - that's just what I want, fleeced, pad and short. My hips measure for the large, but Mediums usually fit better - depends on the shorts.

L

[Crankin]

I use regular fleece tights for running with my bike shorts underneath. That way, I can use them for walking or snowshoeing. I am 5'1" and one pair fits almost perfectly in a small, although I usually wear an ex small. I have another pair of tights that I think are Pearl Izumi that definitely have too much fabric. I try to bunch it around the bottom of the legs. It's too bad, because these are a bit warmer. I also have a pair of Ibex tights I use for x country skiing, snow shoeing and winter hiking. They are more waterproof and made of wool. They fit perfectly in a small. I have worn them with bike shorts underneath for mountain biking in the fall and winter and on the few times I ride on the road int he dead of winter.
Athleta carries many types of tights (no chamois) in petite sizes. I would look there.

[alimey]

Hiya

Am also about 5' & have just found a great pair of fleeced longs w/ a nice pad that fit well. Sugoi Ricaro 2 are just about a perfect length - I am a size 4 & the small fits really well. I too found the Pearl Izumi ones a bit long.

Good luck!

[koala]

Descente Coldout & Etxe Ondo Marra, though later I was not able to deal with the Descente chamois & ended up ripping it out. I still use the tight over shorts for layering, but my only tight with chamois at this point is the EO.

I do have bib tights from Assos that were a Xmas gift, but they will not be for everyone even if they do have a great chamois. The fit is odd, the legs are cut narrow, and the windstopper material make them quite stiff. But when it's cold & windy, they really work.