Should Men Wear Shorts Over running tights?

edalkelly · 11-01-2022 12:49pm #1

The age old question of modesty versus functionality. But being a new year and minds have broadened I pose the question.

robinph · 11-01-2022 12:51pm

Shouldn't wear running tights in the first place. :)

brick tamland · 11-01-2022 12:56pm

Its definiatly a fashion look now. You see in it gyms/sports training/just generally out and about all the time

My thoughts are that my legs never get that cold no matter how cold it is out if im running. Just shorts always work fine for me. If its cold I could wear hat/gloves/running jacket ect but legs always fine in shorts for whatever reason.

Plus leggings just seem like one extra thing to wash afterwards.

Trampas · 11-01-2022 12:57pm

Doesn’t get cold enough here to wear them.

Where’s Anto for his comment?

jlang · 11-01-2022 1:05pm

I don't do tights but the related conversation about running underpants should also be had. If I was to wear tights, I think I would do the runderpants.

diego_b · 11-01-2022 1:07pm

If temperatures get sub zero I occasionally wear running tights but never wear shorts over them. To be honest out on the road I don't feel self conscious at all with these running but wearing them to a gym I can understand why someone would want extra coverage. Saying that wearing tights indoors...I'd boil up so I'd just be in shorts in the first place. I do wear runderwear under the tights though so for me that works and the extra mm of material helps me feel like I'm not quite wearing nothing at all.

jacool · 11-01-2022 1:08pm

Wait until you're older lads and the knees refuse to warm up - tights are a necessity!

I would wear shorts over them as well, as I'd be conscious of the "other effects" of cold weather! Says more about me though :(

FlipperThePriest · 11-01-2022 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454778#Comment_118454778

Couldn't agree more. Old knee injuries here, did 20k Sunday morning (about 2 or 3C I think it was), leggings under the shorts. If I just wore shorts, I'd have been hobbling home, with cold painful knees. Any warmer or shorter distance and it's grand though, would defo leave the leggings at home.

FinnC · 11-01-2022 3:18pm

Wear what you want and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks about it.

Thats what I do anyways.

6run28 · 11-01-2022 3:42pm

Tights are great on a cold winter morning, never wear shorts over them though.

marathon2022 · 11-01-2022 3:45pm

Had the long johns on once this year, biting windy day and had to push myself out the door.

When I started running first I wore the man tights under shorts. I mostly wore track suit bottoms. I remember seeing some pictures of a very early race I was in, 2017 Dublin half in Newbridge house. I was the only one in the picture with bottoms on!

**get to the point I hear you say- There was a reason. I had the worst varicose veins, horrible big blue ones which had me very conscious. Didn't get them ripped out till 2019. Been wearing shorts ever since. I would go so far as to say if I didn't get them removed I would not be running as much as I am now. So every time I see fellas wearing stretchy tights under togs or shorts I think maybe they are hiding the dreaded varicose and feel sorry for them,

TheW1zard · 11-01-2022 3:49pm

Unless you want to show off your lunch box, the answer is yes.

TFBubendorfer · 11-01-2022 5:19pm

Personally I would not wear shorts over tights, and if you do so you might get some comments.

On the other hand, I would not give the slightest damn about what others say, and if you feel wearing shorts over tights is the most comfortable solution then wear shorts over tights, and anyone not liking it can go and do one.

shotgunmcos · 11-01-2022 5:36pm

Yep Sub Zero or sub zero wind chill I have a pair of leggings that I quite like. Jocks underneath.

On the lunchbox thing and more the warmer temps. Anyone ever regretted wearing short shorts soon into a run?! I generally dont like jocks with shorts and many have a good enough emm nets. Its rather mortifying to try and subtly tuck the lad back in.

Swashbuckler · 11-01-2022 6:06pm

It feels like it was only a matter of time that the question would be asked...It also feels like the account may have been set-up specifically to ask this very question making me wonder if the OP is someone we all know already 😂

I used to wear shorts over tights. I don't anymore thanks to some friendly ~~abuse~~ advice from fellow Boardsies.

Thankfully I'm a practical person and I'll wear whatever I need to get the best out of my run, and not give a sh*te what people think.

@shotgunmcos I can't handle jocks, whether i'm wearing shorts or tights. Nothing worse than them bunching up and very little to be done about it when you're already on the move. I always go after shorts with some sort of netting or underlayer.

11-01-2022 6:25pm

I think shorts and running tights together look ridiculous.

What's the point?

You can get tracksuit bottoms that are not too loose that they would impede your stride.

Or else just wear shorts.

Its the same with the shorts with bicycle shorts attached to them for women, just a stupid fashion

trend that serves no purpose.

If you're self conscious about your thighs then don't wear shorts or wear baggy shorts.

jamule · 11-01-2022 7:24pm

warm up in tights if its too cold and whip them for the short shorts underneath

OOnegative · 11-01-2022 8:52pm

Tights are for wearing with high heels, nothing else!!

11-01-2022 9:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118457646#Comment_118457646

Whatever you're into :)

11-01-2022 9:23pm

crisco10 · 11-01-2022 9:24pm

I have never understood the stigma around shorts with tights, I see it alluded to here and there but just don't get it.

Fwiw, I've 1 pair of running tights for the odd super cold run and when I do wear them, it's with shorts. Couldn't be handling the lack of...ahem...coverage.

Actually, I also wear running tights under shorts a lot during the summer for tag rugby. But that's just to protect from astroburn.

Slow_Runner · 11-01-2022 9:40pm

If it's cold enough to wear tights it's cold enough to not have to worry about any lunchbox issues.

Dubh Geannain · 11-01-2022 9:51pm

Coming from Cavan originally I don't need another reason to be called a tight bastid. Wear whatever helps you get you out the door though.

Swashbuckler · 11-01-2022 10:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118457646#Comment_118457646

Well the original question was whether shorts should be worn with tights...I don't think there's any question about the validity of wearing tights 😆

Bluesquare · 11-01-2022 10:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118456842#Comment_118456842

Women wear tight shorts under baggy shorts for several reasons - the least reason being that it’s a fashion statement .

12-01-2022 12:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118458262#Comment_118458262

I suppose that's a sweeping statement there from both of us.

I know plenty of women who wear them because they're fashionable and there's nothing wrong with that.

It seems like a trend to me - if they had any real purpose to them, they would've been in all the shops years and years ago.

You only ever seen them before the past few years on women where they were playing a rough and tumble sport like

Rugby or Tennis or something similar.

For the likes of running which is what I was referring to, I think they're pointless.

I wouldn't bother paying for them, if I was self conscious Id stick to leggings or baggy shorts.

squinn2912 · 12-01-2022 12:37am

I wear running bottoms, I’m not calling them t****s but never wear shorts over them. I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks of that. There’d be no question on what is visible when a woman wears Lycra bottoms… usually to go shopping nor would she be expected to wear a T-shirt to hide any other part of her anatomy so what’s good for the goose…

12-01-2022 12:42am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118458923#Comment_118458923

Let it all hang out brother. Wear them proud!!!

Pherekydes · 12-01-2022 12:54am

The two-in-one shorts alluded to above are very comfortable. The tight short (inner) is very soft and seamless and doesn't "dig in" anywhere and keeps everything in place. The loose outer maintains one's modesty. They're the most comfortable shorts I've worn. I wear tights if the weather is inclement. My legs seem to suffer when the wind chill is low. Shorts over? Never.

12-01-2022 12:56am

Quite few days cold enough to justify full coverage on the legs in Ireland

Prefer slim-fit sports joggers myself for those days

TheW1zard · 12-01-2022 10:38am

Where are we with budgie smugglers on the beach?

longrunn · 12-01-2022 12:13pm

If it's an easy run and it's about 5 degrees or less, then I'll wear running tights. Only wear shorts over them if I'm bringing my phone and need a pocket.

If I'm doing a session then I'll wear a tracksuit pants with compression shorts for the warm up and then for the session I'll whip off the tracksuit pants and wear loose shorts over the compression shorts.

sully123 · 12-01-2022 1:06pm

Are shorts over tracksuit bottoms still acceptable?

Laineyfrecks · 12-01-2022 1:38pm

I personally don't like to see shorts over leggings but each to their own.

I was going to start a thread something like this but asking why the taboo around wearing tights in the first place? I wear my tights when it's cold to make sure my muscles are kept that little bit warmer and I like the tight feeling of them especially on my calves.

Swashbuckler · 12-01-2022 1:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460807#Comment_118460807

Why the taboo? Coz cranky feckers like @OOnegative walk the planet (wearing speedos in -10'C no doubt)...😂

12-01-2022 1:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460807#Comment_118460807

You took the words right out of my mouth!

I was trying to Quote Quinn from the other page and yourself simultaneously but there's a bug in the system that doesn't allow it to quote properly from the two pages.

Apparently its offensive to the public for men to wear tight shorts or running tights on their own.

A lot of men say that its women who are offended but is it?

The thing is this, if men went around with everything on display they would be open to as much criticism about their

bodies as women are and you'd probably find men looking for a lot more procedures than hair transplants.

Maybe that's not what you were thinking about Laineyfrecks......:)

OOnegative · 12-01-2022 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460849#Comment_118460849

No issues with ladies wearing tights whatsoever be they running or nylon!! I’ve ran in -10 here in shorts and not felt cold but that’s just me. Tights just look wrong on men, but each to their own. If they help you get out the door in inclement weather keep wearing them.

Ye’ll all still be pansies in my eyes though!!!

12-01-2022 1:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460807#Comment_118460807

Yeah joking aside, tights are very handy as well, but I could never wear them indoors.

Just too much heat.

Housefree · 12-01-2022 1:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118457646#Comment_118457646

It's one thing wearing the shorts over the tights but you will do yourself serious injury trying to run in high heels

Slow_Runner · 12-01-2022 1:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460597#Comment_118460597

Only if your name is Rocky Balboa 😁

Cleanman · 12-01-2022 3:11pm

i've one pair of tights and love them.....never wear shorts over them - there's no practical advantage for me. Tights are worn in cold weather primarily to keep everything down there....ahem warm....everything gets painfully cold otherwise😂 Recently (by mistake) bought a pair of shorts with bicycle shorts attached and although I do like them, they're not nearly as comfortable as the tights.

Swashbuckler · 12-01-2022 3:18pm

Just back from a lovely 7 mile run.......................in my tights.

skyblue46 · 12-01-2022 5:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460897#Comment_118460897

You have thermal regulation issues anyway 😂😂

I have become a convert to running tights, without shorts. Nothing wrong with wearing the shorts over them but I just find it gets too warm and too cluttered in the lunchbox area.

As for the reference to 2 in 1 shorts. They're far more than a fashion statement for men or women, for me they totally eliminate chaffing of the inner thighs.

Murph_D · 12-01-2022 7:42pm

I once realised a couple of miles into a the Charleville Half Marathon that the shorts I'd chosen were the only non ‘2 in 1’ pair that I owned. Don’t know if the ‘loose’ feeling had anything to do with it but I ended up running a PB!

Don’t like tights myself, so the ‘shorts-over’ debate doesn’t apply. I do notice that a lot of GAA and rugby people adopt the football shorts-over-tights look when out for a run.

12-01-2022 8:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118462845#Comment_118462845

lol, this is becoming kind of tedious and technical now.

The women's two in one shorts that I have seen in Lifestyle etc - the inner shorts (which are the lycra bicycle shorts) are usually almost as short as the

baggy outer shorts and as anyone who has worn bicycle shorts knows, they ride up quite a lot.

So I'm not sure if they are fit for the purpose you describe. This is ridiculous, you'd know I was bored to tears 😂

But if your shorts serve the purpose of your chaffing then that's good enough reason to wear them.

I'm not looking at this thread again, this is dreadful lol.

Bluesquare · 12-01-2022 9:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460807#Comment_118460807

Im the opposite - I hate wearing tights - I feel restricted in them . I only wear them when it’s very cold now . I wore tracksuit bottoms running for years - as tights were only for proper runners - then tights , then baggy long shorts . Now I have ditched the baggy shorts and wear tight not so long shorts . I’m older and fatter and am more comfortable than ever - dunno why it took so me so long .

Lots of my friends wear both because of chaffing and because of other womanly issues related to childbirth - a double layer is needed . They want shorts during summer but need to feel protected as well .

The struggle is real .

Laineyfrecks · 12-01-2022 9:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118463968#Comment_118463968

Don't get me wrong I love nothing more than wearing my shorts, tight, loose, short, not so short whichever I pull from the drawer but I also don't mind the running tights when needed! God we are gas, I see someone in a certain pair of shorts or tracksuit bottoms & think ah they are just beginners & would also think "real" runner when I see running tights especially on blokes! Of course anybody can run in anything that makes them feel comfy but it's just the perception!

Bluesquare · 12-01-2022 10:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118464173#Comment_118464173

Your right lol ! Most male runners wearing tights in winter are “ runners “ and would see running as their actual hobby - then the short wearing multi layered guys - are using running to stay fit or are soccer/gaa players.

So wearing the pants says your trying and the other guys like to pretend they are not 🤣

Funny - I was at a race recently ( In November ) wearing shorts - and I said to my buddy people are going to think we are very serious front of the packers here with our shorts on . You could pick out all the fast runners by their shorts - and the back of packers by the millions of layers they had on .

Murph_D · 12-01-2022 10:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118464276#Comment_118464276

True. I saw a certain outspoken boardsie at Jingle Bells and he looked like he was dressed for a slow walk in the Alps. 😉

OOnegative · 12-01-2022 11:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118464451#Comment_118464451

Be the first man to abuse lads wearing tights to!!!

diego_b · 13-01-2022 12:58pm

I might have a resolution for all, is there anything to be said about wearing underpants over the tights...

Should Men Wear Shorts Over running tights?

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