The Best Men’s Running Tights in 2023

1. New Balance Impact Tights

Run free and smooth in these near-perfect running tights. Made by New Balance – one of the leading running companies – the Impact tights are the best overall running tights on our list.

These tights move well and feel great. They are a great value compared to other tights. They also have flat seams to prevent chafing. The flat waistband and drawstring allow you to fine-tune to the perfect fit.

A pocket has enough storage for money, keys, or ID. New Balance technical fabric efficiently wicks sweat away from your skin. Reflective detailing helps keep you safe in low light conditions.

Overall, these tights work in a variety of temperatures and conditions. They are priced well and will hold up over repeated runs.

2. Brooks Carbonite Tight

Cooler temperatures coincide with shorter days – if you run outside in the early morning or the evening, you want to make sure you can be easily seen.

Brooks’ Carbonite tights are the best on the market to be seen in the dark. Reflective markings cover these tights in the front and around the calf. Bright yellow coloring and reflective 3M Stretchlite on the lower part of the tight ensures you’ll be seen.

There will be plenty of reflective movement that passing cars can pick up. 360-degree reflective details on the front and back ensure you’ll be seen in all directions.

Compression fabric stays close to your skin, to quickly remove moisture while providing muscle support and a comfortable fit. The crotch has seamless stitching and soft fabric for a smooth, chafe-free ride.

A zippered back pocket provides enough room to carry a small phone.

3. ASICS Lite-Show Winter Tights

ASICS Lite-Show winter tights perform double-duty. Yes, they are thick, warm tights guaranteed to keep you toasty warm on the coldest days. But they also have lots of reflective detail if you are running in low-light conditions.

These tights are thick without feeling heavy. They feature a water-resistant shell fabric to keep you comfortable in the rain and snow. A fleece-lining on the inside of the tights helps you stay warm. At the same time, they are made of sweat-wicking material to keep you dry.

They also have a zippered rear pocket. For added safety, reflective detail is on the parts of your legs that move: the ankle, knee, and thigh. This means when headlights hit the tights, cars will see moving reflective parts – letting them know it’s an actual person out there running.

4. Rockay Performance Run Tights

These unusual Rockay tights take plastic waste from the ocean and repurposes it as high-quality yarn to make their clothing.

The tights are made from 58% recyclable material, so when you buy them you’re promoting sustainability. The other 42% is elastane, to give the tights that necessary stretch and comfort.

There’s a handy slide-in side pocket that fits most smartphones or can be used to carry keys, cards, or edibles. Flat seams reduce chafing and provide comfort.

Rockay’s Polygiene technology reduces odor, and it’s designed to only be washed every few wears. You can simply air-dry the tights and wear them again tomorrow.

Some runners may feel like these tights could do with more storage.

5. Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Tight

One of the many benefits of merino wool clothing is its ability to resist nasty smells. If you’ve ever taken a whiff of an old polyester running shirt, you know that it can take on an odor that won’t come out no matter how many times you wash it.

Merino wool, on the other hand, stays odor-free.

The Smartwool Sport Fleece tights not only resist odor but keep you warm even when they are wet. Merino wool also remains breathable. And unlike regular wool, it’s soft and doesn’t scratch or cause itching.

These Smartwool tights have a zippered pocket in the back to store keys, gels, or a small phone plus another pocket on the side. Reflective details up both legs add an extra layer of visibility to your winter running outfit.

While they are pricier than standard tights (due to merino wool’s higher cost), we feel they are worth paying a little extra.

6. GORE R3 Partial Windstopper Tights

Featuring protective panels along the front and back of these tights, GORE’s R3 Windstopper Tights are a nice option for cool, windy days. 

GORE developed protective fabric that keeps out wind while remaining breathable. Warm air that builds up under the tights is allowed to vent and escape to keep you cool. While at the same time, outside wind is blocked preventing your legs from becoming too cold.

In the R3 Windstopper Tights, GORE has put this unique membrane along the front and back of the tights down to the lower thigh level. Below that is a more traditional fabric that breaths but doesn’t block the wind. This makes the R3 tight more of a hybrid cold-to-cool tight rather than all-out cold weather tight. It’s perfect for chilly fall and spring days when it’s too cold for shorts but too warm for heavy tights.

These tights also feature a reflective band along the back of the legs. Nice for low light runs. There is also a small zippered pocket in the back. It’s great for stashing keys, gels, or a small phone. But it’s not big enough for a larger phone. 

We also liked that the elastic drawcord is one connected piece, rather than two ends you find on most tights. It makes it a little harder to cinch and tie. But not having to worry that one end slips inside the waist liner when it’s being washing is a nice plus.

Sizing runs small. This is according to GORE’s website and we found it true when testing. The waist seam is also thin, which made these tights a little more comfortable around the waist than other tights.

Overall we felt the R3 Windstopper  Tights are a great option for shoulder season, windy runs. They were nicely balanced in keeping out the wind while remaining breathable.

7. ASICS Essentials Tights

These are just some good, basic tights. They don’t have the bells and whistles of some of the other running tights. But the price is right.

And being made by ASICS, they are solid tights that look as good running as they do for casual wear. Even better, if you are tall, these tights come in tall lengths for runners with long legs.

8. CW-X Stabilyx Joint Support Compression Tight

These tights perform double-duty. They are great for running and have powerful compression. But they also have targeted compression to provide relief to injured knees, quads, and hips.

Meant to replace buying and using endless amounts of Kinesio tape, CW-X tights have additional compression snaking down the tights to provide the same level of relief as tape. They function just as well as recovery as they do for running.

The CW-X Performx tights also wick moisture away from the skin and stretch so you can run freely.

9. Nike Pro Dri-FIT

Similar to the full-length Nike Pro Dri-FIT tights, 3/4 tights are designed to provide a second-skin feel while wicking moisture to keep you dry.

These tights look sharp and are made of super-stretchy fabric to keep you moving freely. Despite being a great value, these tights are durable and should last a long time.

10. New Balance Impact Run Heat Tight

These tights are similar to our top pick but made with NB HEAT fabric for extra warmth. They have two open side pockets down the legs. For more storage, they also have a zippered back pocket for keys and other little things.

Even better they are made with soft fabric resulting in a smooth ride that feels great. Like other pairs of tights, they do a great job wicking moisture from the skin and have an elastic waistband for a custom and snug fit.

The Impact tights are warm and great for wearing on cold, winter days. They have a bit of reflective details for running in the evening or early morning.

11. Under Armour ColdGear Compression Leggings

These tights are budget-friendly and come in tall and XL sizes. A common problem with running tights is that sizing is often dependent on waist length, but not inseam. If you are tall or have long legs, regular tights ride above the ankles.

But the Under Armour Cold tights come in tall sizes with longer inseams. They also do a great job wicking moisture and are thick enough to keep out the cold weather.