Karina and I are working on an article about winter mountain biking and we’ve had an opportunity to test out several winter tights over the past few weeks. Tights are one of those items that are hard to buy online – you can’t be sure how thick and airtight they are just looking at a photo of a solid black shape. They come in a wild variety of weights, some perfect for that early spring day when you’re going to build up heat fast, some made to withstand serious winter winds.
Terry tights
I’m lifting the lid on our test results early for the Terry Coldweather tights we tried because they are so perfect for lots of different winter activities. They come in padded (chamois for cycling) and unpadded versions and I got to try out the unpadded pair. These tights are heavyweight fleece-backed soft-shell type fabric (officially called “Polartec Windpro Hardface”), perfect for warmth with breathability.
The entire tight is made of the same weight fabric, not just the front panels like some tights. Finally, someone figured out that our backsides get cold, too! They aren’t like the neoprene style tights that keep absolutely everything out but they’re perfect for that zone just above and below the freezing mark. I can see running, x-skiing, cycling, building snowmen, taking dog walks, watching winter cardinals, or practically anything else with a pair of these either under a wind/waterproof shell or just by themselves. I cycled in them with a pair of thermal padded shorts underneath on a very chilly day and stayed really comfy. Most of you will find these tights long enough (mediums measured 29″ in the inseam for us).
We’ve still got weeks of cold before the ice starts to melt around here and I’m mighty glad to have one pair of serious tights for my early training rides instead of the usual five layers of regular tights I’ve got on! Heck, I usually can’t even bend my knees! So, I’ve got no excuses for not getting out there and building up some base miles for spring.
Terry Coldweather Tight: padded or unpadded, msrp $90-95, available through the Terry website or at our favorite girly cyclewear spot, Team Estrogen.
