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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    102

    Tights w chamois or without?

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    Hi ladies! Taking a poll of the fine gals here....for cold weather, do you wear tights with a chamois or do you layer tights without chamois over shorts? I'm planning to buy one or the other (scored a PI friends and family code - yeah!) but I can't decide which might be better. Currently, I wear knee socks under my knickers and that gets me to about 45 deg without totally freezing. My thighs and butt do get cold with just the one layer but of course, it is not a thermal layer. So, do I go with just chamois thermal tights and hope that one layer is enough or do I layer tights over shorts to have two layers at my cold parts? I rode the other day with said knicker/knee sock combo as well as some columbia pants on top in 37 deg and I was still a little chilly in the legs. Core was no issue at all. Would love to hear what works of you before I drop the cash.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Thermal tights (3 different weights) without chamois and shorts underneath. This way, the tights are also used for hiking, running, snow shoeing, and nordic skiing.
    I have a pair of knickers with chamois (which are almost tights on me) and my butt gets cold when wearing those, even when it's in the 50s.
    Last edited by Crankin; 11-30-2011 at 04:31 PM.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Marin County CA
    Posts
    5,936
    Same here. I have a number of pairs of knickers with chamois, but for long tights, I use non-chamois shorts under. My favorite for cold and rain are the PI AmFibs. Very wind blocking.
    Sarah

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
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    14,498
    Same (except no knickers). Putting tights over shorts means I can wear the same tights more than once between washings. And the one pair of tights with a chamois I had back in the day, it seems like anything that goes below the knee pulls on the chamois more during pedaling than shorts, increasing the chance of chafing.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Quote Originally Posted by maillotpois View Post
    ...for long tights, I use non-chamois shorts under. My favorite for cold and rain are the PI AmFibs. Very wind blocking.
    Same here. I've the AmFibs for cold temps and lighter weight tights for warmer temps, I really like that neither have a chamois so I can use them for multiple purposes. My Sugoi mid-zero tights fit well under my jeans - I used them that way at a mountain bike event this past weekend that I was volunteering at and the combination kept me nice and warm.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    74
    Definitely with chamois for me. Thermal tights are very warm and I can't stand layering, although when it's really cold I've worn knee warmers under my tights because the cold can be hard on knees.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    4,632
    I'm broke, so I got non-chamois tights and layer those over my shorts. I only have to buy one, and I don't have to do laundry if I want to ride multiple days in a row.
    Also handy when I wore them when I couldn't find my leg warmers. It turned out it was too warm for the tights and I ended up taking them off in a bathroom near the trail and stuffing them in a jersey pocket for the rest of the ride!

    Catrin, how are the AmFib tights in comparison to the MidZeros?
    At least I don't leave slime trails.
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    West MI
    Posts
    4,259
    Quote Originally Posted by Owlie View Post
    Catrin, how are the AmFib tights in comparison to the MidZeros?
    Not Catrin, but I have SubZeros and the Amfibs are MUCH warmer, at least on the fronts with the wind-blocker panels. I haven't yet broken out my Amfibs. I imagine the MidZeros are similar to my UA Frosty tights, which are good (for me) down to low-40s.
    Kirsten
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    4,632
    Quote Originally Posted by zoom-zoom View Post
    Not Catrin, but I have SubZeros and the Amfibs are MUCH warmer, at least on the fronts with the wind-blocker panels. I haven't yet broken out my Amfibs. I imagine the MidZeros are similar to my UA Frosty tights, which are good (for me) down to low-40s.
    I've worn my MidZeros down to upper 30s, and my legs were the warmest things on me on that ride. My legs must run warm! Where I need the wind-blocking is my chest and feet.
    At least I don't leave slime trails.
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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    West MI
    Posts
    4,259
    Yup, feet, for sure!
    Kirsten
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    507
    I have tights with chamois. If it's cold enough for tights it means they are not coming off. It also means only only elastic around the waist. I ride down to about 2 degrees C. Anything colder than that and I am on a windtrainer inside!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Little Egypt
    Posts
    1,867
    It's tights without chamois for me with bike shorts so I can wear them for running too. When it's really cold, I will wear panty hose as my first layer, then bike shorts, then wicking long underwear, then tights. If I get cold in that, I stay home and get on the the trainer.
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  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Quote Originally Posted by Bike Chick View Post
    It's tights without chamois for me with bike shorts so I can wear them for running too. When it's really cold, I will wear panty hose as my first layer, then bike shorts, then wicking long underwear, then tights. If I get cold in that, I stay home and get on the the trainer.
    That is truly the advantage of tights without chamois, being able to use them for more than one activity. I am glad this combination works for you Bike Chick, my knee complains enough with tights on, I think it would totally rebel with all of those layers

    Considering I can't really hunker down on the bike with my neck as it currently is, I have to avoid riding in stronger winds. Right before my injury I bought my Amfibs and have been thinking about using them for other activities. My Sugoi tights fit fine under jeans, but the Amfibs aren't that tight. I am thinking they might work well for hiking - and perhaps they don't need jeans

    Owlie - I am impressed - my MidZero tights start getting cool (to me) at about 42 degrees or so. I seem to get cold a bit earlier than some.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Oslo, Norway
    Posts
    4,066
    I commute daily and will only run a full washing machine, plus I need tights for running and skiing. So I have 5 pairs of shorts or so, put in the washing hamper after a day or two of use, rotated underneath tights without chamois that I very rarely wash.

    eta: yes, butt and thighs do get cold even with shorts+tights. When it starts getting cold I add a pair of wool boxers in between, and even colder a pair of wicking long underwear. When it's really windy I may add a cut-off pair of rain pants.
    Last edited by lph; 12-01-2011 at 05:00 AM.
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  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    1,632
    I have both types, with and without chamois. I use shorts with the Sugoi Firewall tights when it is colder, in the upper 30s, lower 40s. I use the tights with chamois when the temperatures are in the upper 40s to mid 50s.

    When I use shorts + tights, I prefer to use bib shorts, so I don't have two waist bands bothering me. I would say that the latter (two waist bands) is the downside of layering; on the upside, it gives you some extra warmth.

 

 

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