How to wear tights correctly?

When buying sportswear, it is always important to make sure not only that the equipment is appropriate, but also that you know how to wear it correctly. But there are times when asking others for advice can be awkward. Men's tights (and sometimes women's tights) are one of those times.

If you are seriously involved in running, fitness, strength training, you need tights. Compression clothing is also needed if a person is not into sports, but due to the nature of his work, sits a lot, stands, often takes long flights or suffers from varicose veins.

We would like to warn you right away - do not consider our publication as a direct guide to action without consulting your doctor. Sports (as well as medical) compression has indications and contraindications. And in each specific case, the degree of compression and the time of wearing such clothing is selected individually.

The purpose of this article is to introduce the reader to how to wear tights correctly, exploring two issues: comfort and hygiene. Using information from open sources, we tried to find answers to the following questions:

1. What are tights, and what is their special feature?
2. Rules for wearing tights.
   • When are compression pants used?
   • How long can you wear tights?
   • Who should wear tights?
   • When is it not advisable to wear them?
3. How to wear tights?
   • Can you wear tights on your bare skin?
   • Can you wear tights with underwear?
   • Should guys wear shorts over tights?

1. WHAT ARE TIGHTS AND WHAT IS THEIR FEATURE

Tights are tight-fitting pants with a pronounced compression effect. Designed for active training and sports competitions, both outdoors and indoors.

Very popular among athletes who do dynamic sports such as sprinting and marathon running, crossfit, weightlifting, football, basketball. They come in long, short and medium length. They differ in compression level and season: there are thin pants for warm weather and double-density products with a warming fleece layer for cold weather.

The benefits of compression pants go beyond simple comfort. By compressing the lower limbs and blood vessels to varying degrees, tights facilitate the outflow of venous blood to the heart. As the blood rises through the vessels, it passes through a series of valves on its way. On “normal days,” these valves allow blood to pass freely, preventing it from accumulating in the lower legs. And on days of active training or when a person experiences long-term static loads (standing, sitting for a long time), blood vessels expand and lose shape. As a result, the valves malfunction, the cardiovascular system experiences overload, and there is a risk of thrombosis.

Tights help healthy blood vessels withstand heavy loads, and deformed ones - to function correctly, without any negative consequences for your health. Good blood supply to actively working muscles reduces the amount of lactic acid, which, in turn, reduces muscle burning and increases their performance.

Other benefits of compression pants include:

• The tight fit reduces friction on the inner thighs and increases aerodynamics.
• High elasticity of the fabric (stretches in four directions at once) does not restrict movement.
• Compression pants breathe well, do not absorb moisture, but quickly remove it to the outside.
• The muscles are kept warm, so the body starts working faster.
• In addition to accelerating muscle warm-up at the initial stage, compression pants have the ability to cool the body in the active phase due to the rapid removal and evaporation of sweat.

2. RULES FOR WEARING TIGHTS

When choosing tights, consider: type of activity, season, waistband shape, fit, presence of flat seams, special insert in the groin area, reflective elements and pockets. But size will always be important.

Compression pants should not be chosen half a size larger or smaller, otherwise you will not get any compression benefits. The product in the correct size is put on with a little effort. The pants should fit tightly, like a second skin, but not cause discomfort (press, rub, restrict movement).

2.1. When are compression pants used?

If you often do intense and long workouts, want to speed up the recovery process after heavy loads or are undergoing rehabilitation after injuries, compression pants are recommended for you.

It is also advisable to use tights for any load if:

• your legs swell after training;
• you are prone to varicose veins;
• you notice dilated vessels or vascular network on your legs.

If after a long cardio workout you also plan to "work" with weights, compression pants will also help improve strength indicators.

2.2. How long can I wear tights?

Tights are an effective way to reduce muscle burning during and after exercise, speed up recovery, and prevent swelling. Pants with medium compression (15–20 mm Hg) can be worn for several hours a day and feel comfortable. For example:

• Strength training 1.5-2 hours + 45 minutes for recovery after it.
• Marathon 5 km + 60 minutes after it for recovery.
• After half marathons (21 km) and marathons (42 km) - recovery from 12 hours or more.

The data provided is approximate, since there are no strict restrictions on wearing tights. But in pursuit of high sports results, one should always remember that moderation is important in everything.

2.3. Who is contraindicated to wear tights?

The high efficiency of compression pants gives excellent results in sports. However, compression hosiery has its own medical contraindications that cannot be ignored. They can be absolute (that is, not recommended at all) and relative (can be used if necessary).

Absolute ones include:

• Trophic ulcers of non-venous origin.
• Obliterating processes - endarteritis, vascular atherosclerosis, Raynaud's syndrome.
• Polyneuropathy (one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system).

Relative contraindications include:

• Acute soft tissue infections.
• Acute and septic thrombophlebitis.
• Hypersensitivity of the skin.

A consultation with a phlebologist will help you decide whether you can wear tights and what compression is best for you.

2.4. When is it not advisable to wear them?

Long-term wearing of compression clothing without medical indications and without necessity (that is, outside of training and during routine training with a usual load) is fraught with consequences, since it is impossible to keep the vessels in a constantly compressed state without load.

• Blood flow in the legs deteriorates, which can lead to negative consequences, from increased sensitivity to cold to disruption of tissue nutrition and damage.
• Veins can lose their tone from constant compression. And this is a direct path to varicose veins, which is what compression pants are supposed to protect against.

3. HOW TO WEAR TIGHTS?

Once you have appreciated the benefits of training in tights, you will never want to go back to regular sweatpants or shorts. But these clothes have their own characteristics. Be prepared for the tight cut to show off your figure in all its glory. And it is quite possible that at first you will need to overcome your shyness.

3.1. Can you wear tights on your bare skin?

Yes, you can! Basically, all models of these sports compression pants are designed to be worn on your bare skin. And here are two main reasons not to wear underwear under tights:

1. Keeping your body dry.

Tights are made of special sports knitwear that allows the body to breathe and easily removes sweat. The fibers do not absorb moisture, but pass it through themselves to the outer surface, where it quickly evaporates. Therefore, in tights, even during high activity, the body always remains dry. Using underwear (which is usually a cotton product) will result in the panties quickly becoming damp and starting to chafe, with all the unpleasant consequences that follow.

2. Presence of inner panties.

Many models of compression pants already have inner panties made of special fabric. Wearing regular underwear underneath is not recommended, and some manufacturers even prohibit it. Such pants are worn only on the naked body.

3.2. Can I wear tights with underwear?

The question is relevant for those who plan to wear tights as independent outerwear, but cannot wear compression pants without underwear for some reasons. What are these reasons?

• Firstly, psychological discomfort - in tights many feel naked (the effect of a second skin), so the presence of underwear adds confidence.
• Secondly, hygienic habit. Those who consider underwear a necessary condition of intimate hygiene cannot refuse to wear panties during training.
• Thirdly, the peculiarity of thin pants is that they do not always hide the intimate area well, so they require additional coverage.

In such cases, one can only say: "If the potential harm from wearing underwear under tights is less than the benefit, do what you feel comfortable with."

3.3. Should guys wear shorts over tights?

Looking at a photo of LeBron James, we perceive his sports equipment quite normally. Agree, it would be strange to see a basketball player without shorts! And, even if you are not a fan of basketball, there are still people who can copy the combination of "shorts + tights" - most often football players, boxers, runners train and play like this. At the same time, the latter, together with powerlifters, were divided into two camps. Some say: "Of course they should!" And the others: "You're kidding, no way!"

The proponents of this combination have their own arguments:

"You feel more confident wearing shorts over tights, especially on the street. They act as a buffer between your body and the outside world: they dampen the attention of others, allowing you to enjoy running. Plus, shorts provide extra warmth on a cold day."

To which the "opponents" respond:

"Following your logic, why don't you wear a T-shirt to the pool? What's the point of shorts? With them, you lose the benefits of compression pants: air and vapor permeability are impaired, and clothes dry worse. Even if not completely, shorts restrict your movements. In that case, wear regular sweatpants for a run."

You have to admit, there are some pretty compelling arguments on both sides. And since there is no social norm about whether shorts and tights are acceptable or not, we think both options are viable. It's up to you to decide.

Let's sum it up

The tight-fitting cut of the tights looks quite provocative. The clothes emphasize the figure with all its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, to wear compression pants, you will need a certain amount of liberation. If you are ready for this - great! And if you can't overcome the embarrassment - no problem, use shorts. Especially since today it's common to see shorts over tights or sports leggings on the street and in the gym. But this has its pros and cons.

Tights are designed to be worn next to the skin. In this case, you get absolutely all the benefits of compression clothing. But if you feel awkward and uncomfortable, use underwear. When choosing underwear, stay away from cotton. Instead, choose a product made of lightweight, breathable and vapor-permeable sports knitwear with flat seams.