In the post mentioned above I discussed wind protection for the nether regions as an argument for wearing shorts over tights, and I asked for recommendations for wind-proof running tights to try as an alternative (at the time I had never tried them). Several people recommended windproof briefs, and other had recs for tights that incorporate windproof fabric. I initially purchased a few pairs of windproof boxers from my local Eastern Mountain Sports, and they were a big step up from what I had been using previously. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find them for sale anymore, but similar products are available from other brands. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, a pair of windproof briefs is a good place to start.

In addition to the boxers, I also bought a few pairs of windproof tights on clearance at the end of last winter. And this winter I have received a few review samples of windproof running pants that I’ll review here.

I’ll start by saying that windproof fabric does make a big difference. I find that my legs (particularly my thighs) still do get cold since the fabric is tight to the surface of the skin, but they do a very good job preventing wind from piercing the fabric and reaching “critical” areas. And wearing windproof briefs underneath windproof tights makes for an even better combo. With that said, let’s take a look at a couple of pairs of pants designed for winter running.

Sporthill 3SP Callaghan Skinny Pant

Let me say first that “skinny” is not generally a term associated with anything in my wardrobe. The Sporthill Callaghan pants are the closest thing to a pair of skinny jeans that you’ll ever see me wearing! The Callaghan pants feature Sporthill 3SP fabric, which is advertised as capable of blocking wind up to 35mph. The pants are designed for XC Skiing, but are also marketed to runners.

My first thought when trying on the Callaghan pants was that they fit quite differently than a traditional running tight. I generally wear a 34 inch waist in pants, and they sent me a size medium. The pants were a bit looser than a pair of tights, but not quite as baggy as a wind pant or something like that. After a washing they tightened up a bit and the fit now feels a bit more tight-like. I actually think I should have sized up to a large as I liked the looser fit prior to the first washing.

The 3SP fabric is fairly thick, and does a great job keeping me warm. In fact, these might be the warmest running pants that I have right now. On the down side, after washing the surface of the fabric got a bit roughed up and it now collects hair like crazy. In a house with two dogs and a cat this is a bit of a problem, though thankfully nobody gets a very close look at my pants when I’m out running.

The other downside of the Sporthill Callaghan pants is the price. You’ll generally have to pay a premium for windproof pants/tights, and these are not cheap at an MSRP of $119 (though Sporthill is currently selling them for $99, and LL Bean has them for $79.99).

GORE Mythos 2.0 Soft Shell Tights

I’ve always associated GORE apparel with quality – kind of like Salomon in that sense. And as with Salomon, you pay a premium for GORE apparel. As someone who buys most of his running apparel at Target, I generally would not shell out the dollars for their products unless they showed up in a flash sale on The Clymb or another site like that.

GORE sent me a pair of their Mythos 2.0 Windstopper tights to try out and to say that I’m impressed would be an understatement. From fit to fabric they are just a really well-made and extremely comfortable product. They sent me a medium, and they fit perfectly, even after several washings. The fabric has retained its softness, and they feel great on the run. They Mythos tights are a bit thinner than the Sporthill pants, so maybe not quite as warm, but fit and feel make them a superior product in my opinion.

Once again, the big con here is price – is any pair of pants worth the MSRP of $149.99? In this case, if I had to keep only one pair of winter running tights currently in my drawer, these would be the pair. However, I could spend a lot less for a couple pairs of windproof briefs and a decent pair of non-windproof tights and still save a bit of cash. If you have cash to burn, these GORE tights are worth it, but that is a decision each will have to make on their own.

The GORE Mythos Windstopper tights are available for purchase at Running Warehouse and Wiggle (UK).

How about you – do you have any recommendations for winter running pants (particularly cheaper options)?

On Tuesday I went for a run in a snowstorm. The flakes were coming down pretty steadily, the roads and sidewalks were completely snow-covered, and the temperature when I left was 13 degrees Fahrenheit (my wife had run early in the morning when it was -11F!). Aside from having an incredibly fun run, I spent some time (as I often do while running) contemplating post topics related to running in winter. This is the first post in what may or not be a series on the topic, we’ll see (and if you have any winter running topics you’d like covered, leave a comment!).

I’m a huge fan of running tights, and I’m not afraid to admit that. I’m also very picky about my tights. I find that some irritate my ankles due to the material use to prevent them from riding up, others don’t fit quite right and tend to ride down from the waist (what’s the running equivalent of a plumbers crack?). A comfortable, good fitting pair of tights is like gold. My favorite is an old pair of Nike tights I bought at Dick’s Sporting Goods a few years ago (don’t even know the model – they look kind of like the one’s in the photo above but have no zipper at the ankle) – the material is soft, they don’t ride up or down, and the fit is perfect.

One issue I have though is that when it’s cold and windy, none of the tights I own do a good job of, how do I say this, shielding the man parts. Guys, you know what I’m talking about if you live in the northern part of the world.

An ongoing debate when it comes to running tights is whether or not to wear shorts over the tights. Probably the most common reason for wanting to do this is modesty. Let’s face it, tights can be a bit revealing, and I’ll admit that there are times when I have opted for the shorts on top route for this reason (like when I used to run on the college campus in winter). But, I’m also not averse to going sans shorts in other situations.

Putting the modesty rationale aside, I will point out a situation when I feel shorts over tights is warranted, and that has to do with the problem mentioned above. Wearing only tights when it’s really cold and windy can lead to some major discomfort down there. The post-run bladder empty is much like pouring hot tea through a popsicle. Not fun.

Putting on a pair of running shorts with the liner removed over my tights usually does enough to block the wind and keep things nice and toasty. Problem solved! This is only really necessary when it’s about 20F or below, but it seems to work pretty well.

I’d love to try a pair of tights where the fabric over the peecicle is reinforced with GORE Windstopper fabric (I’d like to emphasize that this post is not sponsored by GORE or any other company). I’m wondering if this would solve the shorts or no shorts over tights dilemma in the cold. I didn’t realize such things existed until I was about to hit publish on the post and I thought it might be worth doing a quick Google search. Anybody tried something like this, are they worth the price?

Stay warm men! (and women, do you have this problem? I honestly don’t know!)