Bamboo tights for men and when to wear them
Short answer: Close fitting long underpants are worn as a warm layer under trousers and work clothes. They need to sit snugly against the skin, or they fold and chafe instead of helping. Worn properly, they keep your legs warm without making your trousers any bulkier.
Snug rather than loose
A warm layer works by lying against the skin and moving moisture away from it. If it sits loosely, folds form at the knee and crotch, and those folds become pressure points that chafe as you walk. A snug model follows the leg and stays put, even when you bend or crouch. See the styles in bamboo long johns.
When they make sense
Tights for men are most useful when you spend long periods in the cold. That might be cycling to work, standing on the sideline at a football match, hunting or a long walk on a frosty day. If you are mostly standing still, you notice the difference most, because your body produces little heat of its own.
Under work clothes
In the cold and during stationary work, a thin layer on the legs does more than a pair of thicker trousers. The air between layers is what insulates. A thin layer under work trousers gives you two layers with air in between, which holds warmth better than one thick layer, and you can still move freely.
The fabric compared with wool
Wool is warmer than most fabrics, but it itches for some people, especially directly against the skin on the thighs. Bamboo viscose does not itch and moves moisture just as well in moderate cold. For ordinary winter days that is often enough. In hard frost with many hours of standing still, wool may be the better choice. See also bamboo underwear for men.
Under jeans and chinos
Tights work well under jeans as long as they fit snugly. Loose tights fold under tight trousers and creep up the leg as you walk. Choose a style with some stretch so the fabric moves with you without squeezing. Looser chinos leave more room, but the principle is the same: keep the layer close to the skin.
Leg length
The leg should reach the ankle or just above it, so it does not ride up when you pull on your socks. A leg that is too short leaves a cold strip of skin between sock and fabric, which is exactly where the cold gets in. A leg that is too long bunches over the foot. Try them with your boots.
The top that goes with them
The same principle applies to your upper body. A thin layer under your shirt or jumper holds warmth and moves moisture away from your back and chest. Wear tights on your legs but nothing under your top, and you will still feel cold during breaks. Choose a top long enough to stay tucked in. See bamboo undershirts for men.
Washing and stretch
The elastic that keeps tights snug is damaged by heat. Wash them at 40 degrees without fabric softener and dry them on low heat or on a line. High heat in the dryer makes them lose their spring until they sit loosely and start folding again. Read more under washing and care.
How many pairs you need
If you wear tights every day during a cold spell, two or three pairs are enough. One pair can be in the wash, one on and a third ready to go. If you have sweated in them at work, wash them after use, because moisture and sweat make them less warm the next day.
Frequently asked questions
Should tights be tight?
They should fit snugly without squeezing. If they sit loosely, they fold at the knee and crotch, and those folds turn into pressure points that chafe when you walk or bend.
Is bamboo warm enough for winter?
For ordinary winter cold, yes, especially as an extra layer under trousers. In hard frost with many hours of standing work, wool will still keep you warmer than bamboo viscose.
Can you wear tights under jeans?
Yes, if they fit snugly and have some stretch. Loose tights fold under tight trousers and creep up the leg, so a close fitting style is the better choice.
See our range of decoy tights.
