Running fashion for men Running Shorts Over Tights?

uvox

Perennial debate on whether running shorts should be worn over running tights (Men in this case, but the laydeez, decline to staters, and gfluids might have similar fashion dilemmas).

http://www.runnersworld.com/running-debates/should-guys-wear-shorts-over-their-tights?cid=SOC_sp_RW

It's a bit like the "Should scotsmen wear jocks (see what I did there?) under their kilts?" argument in reverse.

For me: Never. It's tights all the time. But then I have the legs for it.

Shorts + tights is just plain NAFF.

Any thoughts from Irish runners of any gender or identification?

robinph

Acceptable running attire for lower half of blokes consists of shorts, shoes and socks. Anything else is not needed or looks weird.

If you are running through proper extreme weather conditions, and for a long duration, then tights or tights over the top of shorts so you can remove the top layer is just about acceptable.

knucklehead6

So when we're out running we have to worry about fashion now?? Fook that!

I don't care how I look when I'm running, once I'm working myself. And if someone wants to judge me on my appearance while I'm running then that says a lot more about them than me

Coffee Fulled Runner

What ever about the fashion I'd say I'd find tights too restrictive. I even find wearing long sleeve tops and jackets too much even on the wet and coldest nights of the year.

average_runner

knucklehead6 wrote: »

So when we're out running we have to worry about fashion now?? Fook that!

I don't care how I look when I'm running, once I'm working myself. And if someone wants to judge me on my appearance while I'm running then that says a lot more about them than me

Real runners don't care how they look when out running, they are working too hard to care.

pconn062

Running shorts over tights is the worst thing in the world, worse than Hitler. Just don't do it. Either running tights on their own, or shorts on their own. I'm sure the "real men don't wear tights brigade" will be along soon, there must be some rather big (or maybe little ) insecurities there. :pac:

Between November and February I wear running tights on practically every easy and long run. Call me a sissy but I don't care, cold legs suck.

Grueller

I spend a lot of time out in the weather on my farm. I have invested in excellent rain proof breathable gear for this purpose. I also have really good wind proof gear. They keep me warm and comfortable.
Leggings do the same while running during the winter so I wear them. I don't see the difference between the two concepts. That is aimed at the real men don't wear tights brigade. The only thing is my wife will not let me leave the house without shorts over the leggings as she says I look like a budgie smuggler. It doesn't bother me one way or the other.

ThisRegard

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

What ever about the fashion I'd say I'd find tights too restrictive.

Get outta here with your humble brag.


It's either one or the other, never both. Tights are comfy if you have the right ones, and it you're going to be up in the hills in the depths of winter for a while they're great.

Chivito550

I wear tights for every single session from October until around late April, even if the weather is warm. For something as explosive as sprinting, you need to keep the legs as warm as possible, particularly given you're standing around during recoveries sometimes.

Since when did running become a fashion contest by the way? There's been a few threads on this now. Winners are decided based on the clock. They don't give out points for style. Imagine losing a 800m race by 1 second, but the judges reckon your skin tight sexy tights are worth 1.5 seconds and you get declared the winner. All nonsense. Wear whatever helps your running.

PaulieC

average_runner wrote: »

Real runners don't care how they look when out running, they are working too hard to care.

even on the easy runs ?

tang1

pconn062 wrote: »

Running shorts over tights is the worst thing in the world, worse than Hitler. Just don't do it. Either running tights on their own, or shorts on their own. I'm sure the "real men don't wear tights brigade" will be along soon, there must be some rather big (or maybe little ) insecurities there. :pac:

Between November and February I wear running tights on practically every easy and long run. Call me a sissy but I don't care, cold legs suck.

Not sissy, more track fairy!!

UM1

If u literally havent got the balls to wear dem with no shorts ..dont wear them..

Dodge

Admittedly I'm a newbie but I'm a shorts over tights man. Modesty and somewhere to put my phone (can't run without something playing in my ears) being the main reasons.

Coffee Fulled Runner

Dodge wrote: »

Admittedly I'm a newbie but I'm a shorts over tights man. Modesty and somewhere to put my phone (can't run without something playing in my ears) being the main reasons.

Buy a arm strap for your phone.

dna_leri

Shorts over leggings is only acceptable when the shorts are made by O'Neills.

Djoucer

Fashion trends are increasing the cost of running:

Is it just me or has the cost of running gear gone completely crazy last couple of years along with the running boom?

Went to look for the 2016 edition of my favourite shoe and they are currently on sale for €140.

I picked up the 2015 edition for €76 last year.

So buy the 2015 edition I hear you say? Well they’re on sale for €90.

I went into another fitness store to see if they had them. Sales assistant asks me what mileage I do and immediately recommends the Kayano, the most expensive shoe in the place.

All the gear now seems to be aimed at fashion conscience market along with the prices to match.

Chivito550

OP, just curious, why do you believe it is important to look good while running?The best runners in the world don't even look good when running (excluding Allyson Felix and thsys because of her flawless running technique, not her apparel.)

ThisRegard

Price of gear, particularly runners, has certainly shot up. When I used to wear Kayanos years ago they were always the most expensive by quite a bit.

Now that I've moved on, the pairs I wear now are at the price of what the Kayanos used to be, and just for a laugh I checked out the price of Kayanos recently, €180 in 2 different places! That's a ridiculous price. That's about €50 more than the price I last paid for them.

Enduro

I've won (very very very long) races wearing a pair of shoes that cost 20 Euros. I do about 30% of my training wearing a pair of shoes that cost 15 Euros (reduced from 20). Can't remember the last time I bought any running clothes made by one of the big running apparel brands.

As for leggings/ shorts etc. Chivito nailed it. Whatever works!

Dodge

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

Buy a arm strap for your phone.

Never. Happy to look stupid in shorts instead of stupid with an arm strap

Murtinho

Ill go with tights/leggings only when its dark, but in daylight i try to keep it decent and put shorts on top, there's women and children to think about! Also in the very cold weather, like when it was near zero a few nights back, it keeps the extreme chill off certain areas.

liamog

Currently doing most of my runs in tights, never feel the need to wear shorts over the top.

Chivito550

Murtinho wrote: »

Ill go with tights/leggings only when its dark, but in daylight i try to keep it decent and put shorts on top, there's women and children to think about! Also in the very cold weather, like when it was near zero a few nights back, it keeps the extreme chill off certain areas.

Ridiculous.

tang1

Chivito550 wrote: »

Ridiculous.

I'd say the man was being smart hence the exclamation mark after. Jeez talk about Mr Buzzkill!!

Chivito550

tang1 wrote: »

I'd say the man was being smart hence the exclamation mark after. Jeez talk about Mr Buzzkill!!

In that case, you must be acting extra smart given your 2 exclamation marks.

Sono

Wore the tights out with no shorts running recently and the missus politely asked for me to wear shorts over them, she said no one needs to see my big bulge in public.

tang1

Chivito550 wrote: »

In that case, you must be acting extra smart given your 2 exclamation marks.

Of course sure what else would I be implying.

Coffee Fulled Runner

This thread reminds me of that Simpson's episode with Flanders skiing "Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all"

Chivito550

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

This thread reminds me of that Simpson's episode with Flanders skiing "Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwRJ5IoKTmg

Cabaal

I've tried running tights a few times, always find they chaff the hell out of me so I've stayed with shorts all year round now, its just easier,

frostyjacks

Shorts and t-shirt all year round, no matter what the weather.

Tights on men is just plain wrong. I've only seen it around Dublin; wouldn't get away with it up the country.

ThisRegard

Any socks and shorts other than GAA ones are frowned upon outside of Dublin for jaysus sake.

Cabaal

ThisRegard wrote: »

Any socks and shorts other than GAA ones are frowned upon outside of Dublin for jaysus sake.

I'm certainly not in Dublin and I've only seen runners out in GAA socks/shorts maybe a hand full of times in the last 6 years

ThisRegard

But you agree you wouldn't get away with tights outside of Dublin?!?

I didn't think anything posted past page 1 was actually serious in this thread.

sconhome

frostyjacks wrote: »

Tights on men is just plain wrong. I've only seen it around Dublin; wouldn't get away with it up the country.

ThisRegard wrote: »

I didn't think anything posted past page 1 was actually serious in this thread.

Deadly serious, I've been getting away with this for years ^

Though all depends on where 'up the country' is, relative to Dublin we're 'across'

DubOnHoliday

I wonder how some of you get out the door at all with all the fashion decisions to be made

Chivito550

Guys, long distance running is not sexy no matter what way you try to spin it.

ThisRegard

sconhome wrote: »

Though all depends on where 'up the country' is, relative to Dublin we're 'across'

Up the country must mean those across the border so, as I've been know to wear leggings across the pale walls and was never chased back by the angry hordes.

Chivito550 wrote: »

Guys, long distance running is not sexy no matter what way you try to spin it.

Well that's certainly the wrong attitude to have, and is the type of thing that gives runners a bad name, I like to look fabulous at all times.

sconhome

Chivito550 wrote: »

Guys, long distance running is not sexy no matter what way you try to spin it.

Long and slow versus hard and fast like track running?

It's all about the stamina

Chivito550

sconhome wrote: »

Long and slow versus hard and fast like track running?

It's all about the stamina

This whole thread has reminded me of the first part of this classic post from the A/R archives.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68720770&postcount=194

ronn

Lads what do you put in your hair before long runs, gel or wax. My ghd is broke at the moment,
He he

Ted_YNWA

ronn wrote:

Lads what do you put in your hair before long runs, gel or wax. My ghd is broke at the moment, He he

Just shave it all off, more lightweight & aerodynamic that way.

Why the need for tights at all - it doesn't get that cold in Ireland...?

Maybe in places with harsh winters they are required.

even at a moderate pace you'll be warmed up pretty rapidly in the legs so no need.
running gloves are certainly needed at times, maybe a running hat.
one poster was on about the need for tights for sprinting but that would be a very very small percentage of runners.

tights with or without shorts over just do look a bit unnatural on men - fact.

Chivito550

glasso wrote: »

Why the need for tights at all - it doesn't get that cold in Ireland...?

Maybe in places with harsh winters they are required.

even at a moderate pace you'll be warmed up pretty rapidly in the legs so no need.
running gloves are certainly needed at times, maybe a running hat.
one poster was on about the need for tights for sprinting but that would be a very very small percentage of runners.

tights with or without shorts over just do look a bit unnatural on men - fact.

If somebody is just going jogging then it wouldn’t matter much. But for anybody who does sessions during winter, whether on hills, on the track, or somewhere else, then I believe tights are a smart move. If you are working on speed then it is important to keep the muscles warm, to lower the risk of muscle pulls. It’s not a fashion thing, it’s an injury prevention thing.

I used to never wear tights during winter when I lived in Melbourne. I found 10 to 12 degrees to be easy to run in with just shorts (though all the locals wore tights as they’ve been acclimatized to the local conditions their entire life), but since moving home, I’ve realized I needed to keep the legs warm. Running fast reps on a track in 3 degrees is tough on the body.

I don’t believe tights are only needed by sprinters. Middle distance runners and long distance runners who do sessions (any runner worth their salt does sessions) would need them too.

Chivito550

Chivito550 wrote: »

If somebody is just going jogging then it wouldn’t matter much. But for anybody who does sessions during winter, whether on hills, on the track, or somewhere else, then I believe tights are a smart move. If you are working on speed then it is important to keep the muscles warm, to lower the risk of muscle pulls. It’s not a fashion thing, it’s an injury prevention thing.

I used to never wear tights during winter when I lived in Melbourne. I found 10 to 12 degrees to be easy to run in with just shorts (though all the locals wore tights as they’ve been acclimatized to the local conditions their entire life), but since moving home, I’ve realized I needed to keep the legs warm. Running fast reps on a track in 3 degrees is tough on the body.

I don’t believe tights are only needed by sprinters. Middle distance runners and long distance runners who do sessions (any runner worth their salt does sessions) would need them too.

the vast vast majority of guys that I see out in tights just seem to be jogging (a constant moderate pace as opposed to "session" or interval work etc) tbh.

Enduro

glasso wrote: »

Why the need for tights at all - it doesn't get that cold in Ireland...?

Wrong.

There are plenty of ways of going hypothermic in Ireland. There's no shortage of eejits getting themselves into trouble because they think that just because we're not in the alps / the arctic that you won't get dangerously cold. The all-pervading dampness in Maritime climates, such as the UK and Ireland, is potentially lethal.

DubOnHoliday

Enduro wrote: »

Wrong.

There are plenty of ways of going hypothermic in Ireland. There's no shortage of eejits getting themselves into trouble because they think that just because we're not in the alps / the arctic that you won't get dangerously cold. The all-pervading dampness in Maritime climates, such as the UK and Ireland, is potentially lethal.

Quite right, and here is exhibit A from yesterdays IMRA race in Laragh. A photo I took from the start of the race and at then end about 40 minutes later...

sconhome

glasso wrote: »

the vast vast majority of guys that I see out in tights just seem to be jogging (a constant moderate pace as opposed to "session" or interval work etc) tbh.

True.

That's a 75% of the time description for me but at the end of the day I'm of an age:
1) where I couldn't give 2 fiddlers what anyone else thinks of me and
2) who cares, they're out running / jogging / walking whatever is better than slouching on a sofa watching Fair City.

Djoucer

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Quite right, and here is exhibit A from yesterdays IMRA race in Laragh. A photo I took from the start of the race and at then end about 40 minutes later...

True but the person who won the race did it shorts and a vest.

Running tights pollute the countryside and have no place on the mountain.

DubOnHoliday

Djoucer wrote: »

True but the person who won the race did it shorts and a vest.

irrelevant really.

Djoucer

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

irrelevant really.

Twas a joke.