Legwear Gifts for Men

If you're looking for a holiday gift for a man, legwear is probably not the first thing you think of. Yet there are men's legwear products that make great gifts. In this entry I'll mention two basic and versatile products that every man should have to complete his wardrobe, and take advantage of the benefits of modern men's legwear products.

Men's Athletic Tights

Athletic tights, also known as running tights or sports tights,  are the single most useful legwear product for men. While nominally for sports, they have many applications:

• for warmth playing sports and other activities in cold weather
• for compression during sports and afterwards for recovery
• as a base layer under pants in cold weather

  

  Under Armour Men's ColdGear® Tights

• as a fashion item layered with shorts or worn alone
• as comfortable clothes in a non-social setting

Athletic tights are a modern replacement for sweatpants and long underwear. They use high-tech fabrics that provide warmth without bulk, and do not retain moisture. Their second-skin like fit allows for full freedom of movement for activities, and provides the comfort of clothing that moves perfectly with you. Recently, they've also become a fashion item for men, as I've described in previous entries.

With so many uses, almost any man will appreciate a gift of athletic tights once he experiences their benefits. They're also available in youth sizes for boys.

Buying Athletic Tights

Athletic tights are made by well-known sports gear companies, such as Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas. Under Armour ColdGear® products are among the most popular, including the tights shown above. Athletic tights are available in sporting goods and department stores, and some discount stores sell less expensive brands. They're also widely-available online. An online site with a good selection is Eastbay, which sells name brands and their own brand, such as these tights that are available in black and a range colors.

Men's Opaque Tights

Men's opaque tights are similar to women's fashion tights, and have sometimes been described as mantyhose. Like athletic tights, they are a product for men, and provide warmth and compression. However they are much thinner. They complement athletic tights in a man's wardrobe, providing an alternative when less warmth is needed or thinness is a benefit. They excel in two applications:

• all-day wear under pants in the winter
• as a layer for extra warmth that works under skinny jeans

These are perfect to wear all day under pants in a cool home, school, or office. They stay comfortable  and don't get too warm. The feeling is of cozy extra warmth, without any feeling of extra clothes. They're also convenient to wear all day because the tights I recommend have a fly opening.

Opaque tights are also perfect to wear as a base layer under skinny jeans. Many men now wear skinny jeans, but the fit of skinny jeans doesn't allow for traditional long underwear, or even for athletic tights.  However, the thinner opaque tights work well, and provide a good amount of extra warmth.

Buying Opaque Tights

Activskin® A866 Men's
Opaque Tights

Men's opaque tights are a relatively new product, with fewer options than for athletic tights. The tights I recommend are Activskin® A866 Tights (footed) or A876 Tights (footless) by G. Lieberman & Sons. These high-quality tights are a true men's product, designed and sized specifically for men, and also include a fly opening.  In the U.S, they're available online at the links for the products. In the U.K., you can order locally from Legwear4Men, which also offers other brands of men's tights. Their Activskin® tights are here.

For most men, men's tights provide the best and most reliable fit. Men's tights are also most appropriate as a gift. However, in some cases women's opaque tights may work as a more readily-available alternative, especially for men who don't require larger sizes. Women's 80-100 denier tights are roughly comparable to the men's tights. An example would be these ASOS 80 Denier Black Tights. When buying women's tights, the size charts usually work for men, but if sizes overlap or a size is close to not fitting, it's safest to buy the next larger size.