Stay Warm and Dry and Look Hot While You're at It
Written: Jan 26 '06 (Updated Jan 26 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: comfy and warm, keeps skin dry from both inside and out, excellent waist design
Cons: Cut assumes everyone's tall and skinny, only available in black, rather pricey
The Bottom Line: Brooks Vapor-Dry˛ tights are an indispensable part of the winter runner's wardrobe.
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| scmrak's Full Review: Brooks Vapor-Dry 2 Men's Running Tights |
Not long ago I was reading an essay about finishing one's first marathon, in which the author called herself an "adult-onset runner" as if it were some sort of disease (her words, not mine). I guess I'm an AOR myself, since I started near the midpoint of my 28th year, meaning that I'm fast approaching having pounded the pavement for half my life. I've run on three continents, seven countries, and sixteen states. I've been out there in weather ranging from -15°F to 100°-plus, but I'd much rather run when it's cold than when it's hot - you can always put on another layer, but you get arrested it you take too many layers off...
Cold-weather running originally entailed a pair of sweat pants or a "jogging suit" (remember those?) to keep my legs warm, but somewhere along the line I discovered tights - and I've never looked back. Now I won't go into the psychology of men and the wearing of tights. I won't point out that he needs to be secure in his masculinity; I won't suggest that the boy who would mock a man in tights is secretly ashamed of looking at another man's butt or jealous that not only do his legs not look that good, his girlfriend's legs don't look that good. Won't go into that at all... What I will say is that tights are vastly superior to clammy nylon windpants and clumsy, bulky sweats. They cut the wind, provide enough insulation to keep your legs from turning blue, and wick away moisture instead of trapping it against your skin. And one of the best pair I've ever had is a pair of Brooks Vapor-Dry˛ Tights.
What's Good
Brooks constructs the tights using their Vapor-Dry˛™ fabric, a fabric composed of a gradient-design polyester for the moisture-transfer properties and 7% spandex for elasticity. This blend is well-suited for cold weather, as it's heavier than most "standard" running tights made of spandex and wicks moisture away from the wearer's skin. The poly-spandex blend has a nice, smooth hand, wears well, and is not prone to snags. The fabric moves extremely well without binding, and does not hold moisture at the skin level. On damp days, the tights act to keep moisture from penetrating, so that even such a thin layer of fabric keeps the wearer warm and dry. They're machine-washable, drying in just a few hours if you have a short turnaround time.
The tights' waist is elasticized with a flat mesh drawstring, which is cunningly constructed so that it's already crossed inside the waistband. Unlike many tights I've owned, this pair has a key pocket sewn inside the waistband. The legs feature elastic grippers much like those seen on cycling shorts, so that they fit snugly at the ankles. The all-black (the sole color available) tights have a reflective Brooks logo at the right ankle and a tiny reflective Vapor-Dry tag on the left hip. The seams are sewn flat to prevent chafing, and the tights are shaped anatomically to increase the wearer's comfort and mobility.
Comparison to Other Brands
I've owned perhaps a dozen other pairs of tights over the years. With the exception of a pair very heavy-weight polyester tights from Tinley (rated for sub-zero weather), these are the best for cold temperatures, though they're still comfortable up to the mid-thirties. Above that temperature I usually switch to lighter tights. The use of leg grippers is a huge improvement over old-style stirrup tights and over tights that have plain, simple seams; and the drawstring design is the best of any pair I've ever owned.
Where Brooks Might Improve
A common complaint in fitness gear is the assumption that everyone is built like an elite athlete with a BMI of 15. These Brooks tights are no exception - a men's Medium (32-34 waist) is sized for a 32-inch inseam, a Large (35-37), for a 33-inch inseam. As to color, perhaps I strike a plaintive note, but I've always wished that there were more color and pattern options: plain black is so dull! And last, when running after dark I prefer to have reflective strips, dots, and splashes everywhere - a couple of stripes on the legs would be appreciated (note that Brooks does sell this design with a high-visibility yellow insert, but it's 50% more expensive).
Recommendations
If you're planning on running in a cold climate (temperatures from zero to freezing) the Brooks Vapor-Dry˛ tights will keep your legs warm and dry. Be forewarned that most average-sized men will find the legs a little long.
Recommended:
Yes
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