Bamboo sports trousers for women and the difference between tights and loose legs
Short answer: Close fitting training trousers give better control in strength training and yoga. Loose legs are cooler and more comfortable for walks and warming up. The purpose decides the choice, not taste.
Close fitting for strength and yoga
When the fabric sits close to the body, you can see what your knees, hips and back are doing, and no fabric hangs in the way when you bend or lie on the mat. That makes it easier to hold a good position during exercises. See bamboo training trousers for women.
Loose legs for everything else
For walks, light sessions and low intensity, loose legs are cooler and less tight. Air can move along the leg, and you notice the fabric less. Loose trousers are also better for wearing something underneath, such as tights on a cold morning, or for pulling on over your clothes after training.
When tights work best
Tights work best when you move in many directions and spend time lying down. In yoga, pilates and strength training, the fabric does not slide over the knees or bunch into folds. They also suit running, because they do not flap in the wind or rub between the thighs the way loose trousers can.
When loose legs work best
Loose legs work best when comfort and air matter more than control. On a long walk in warm weather, during warm up and cool down, or on a day at home after training, they feel freer. Many keep both types in the drawer and choose by the plan for the day.
See through in close fitting styles
Bend forward in front of a mirror in daylight before wearing tights for the first time. If you can see skin through the fabric, it is stretched too far and you need a size up. The same rule applies to bamboo leggings for women. Ceiling light reveals less than daylight, so test by a window.
The waistband has to stay put
A high, wide waistband stays up when you jump, run or lie on your back. A narrow one often rolls down and needs pulling up between exercises. Try squatting in the fitting room. If the waistband stays where it is and does not press on your stomach, you have found a pair that holds during training.
Leg length
Tights should end at the ankle or just above, so they do not bunch over the shoe. Loose trousers can be a little longer, but not so long that you step on the hem. A cuff at the ankle keeps loose legs in place and stops them catching on a pedal.
Washing that protects the elastane
Wash at 30 to 40 degrees and avoid high heat in the dryer. Elastane loses its stretch from heat, not from washing. Hang the trousers to dry and they keep their shape longer. Skip fabric softener, which can settle in the fabric. More on this under washing and care.
One pair of each
With both close fitting and loose training trousers, you cover most kinds of training. Tights for days with yoga and strength, loose legs for walks and recovery. It also means both pairs last longer, because neither is washed every single day and the elastane gets a rest between wears.
Frequently asked questions
Are tights better than loose training trousers?
For strength training and yoga, tights are better because you can see your position and no fabric hangs in the way. For walks and warming up, loose legs are cooler and more comfortable.
Why do my tights become see through?
Because the fabric stretches too much when you bend. Going up a size usually solves it. Always test by bending forward in daylight before you wear a new pair for the first time.
How does elastane last longest?
With low heat in both washing and drying. Wash at 30 to 40 degrees, hang the trousers to dry and avoid the dryer on high heat, so they keep their stretch for longer.
