13 Best Tights for Cooler Weather
Sheer and opaque tights that'll keep your legs warm.
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Picture this: You open a new pair of tights and wear them to the office under your favorite skirt only to find a rip running down your leg within hours. A trusty hack to save your tights is applying clear nail polish to the rip to help stop it from spreading further. But you shouldn't have to employ this trick right off the bat, or constantly be pulling up your tights. That's why we did market research to help you find the best tights that will last.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests everyday essentials from the best no-show socks and T-shirts for women to yoga pants and compression leggings. When it comes to finding the best tights, we put more than 30 styles to the test, evaluating them in the Lab for stretch recovery, snag resistance, bursting strength at the seams and washability. We also had consumer testers wear them in real life to give feedback on comfort, waistband-rolling, snagging, running, stretching out and more. Continue on to learn more about our top-tested picks and how we test.
This pair is a total steal: It was one of the least expensive in our tests and earned one of the highest overall scores. In fact, these tights, also our best value pick, outperformed every other style we tested, including a luxury brand with a hefty $50 price tag. In addition, they aced our stretch and recovery tests — meaning the fabric won't stretch out after many hours of wear — and held up well in both our snagging resistance and colorfastness tests.
Consumer testers raved that the tights were not only comfortable but also easy to get on without any signs of snagging, ripping or sagging when they wore them. Just remember, as the name implies, this pair has super opaque, thick material and includes a control top.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: I Tried the $7 Tights Amazon Reviewers Love and I'll Be Living in Them All Winter
Sizes: S–XXL | Material: 81% Nylon, 19% spandex
Spanx Tight-End Tights
When you think of shapewear, chances are you picture Spanx — so it’s no surprise our panel loved the shaping capabilities of this style (without even knowing what brand they were wearing!). “It held me in without being too constricting," says one tester. "It also did a great job lifting my rear end.” Others were impressed with how comfortable the tights felt and said the fit was spot-on. They offer light compression too.
When we tested these tights in the Lab, they fared well in wash tests with minimal shrinkage and didn't snag easily, so you can rest assured they'll last beyond just a few wears. Plus, one of our editors has had a pair for more than seven years! If you prefer more coverage, the brand offers these tights in a high-waisted version that ends just below the bra for extra shaping. They performed similarly in our Lab tests, but some testers noticed the shorts peeked out under shorter skirts.
Sizes: A–E | Material: 85% nylon, 15% spandex
Commando Ultimate Opaque Matte Tights
If you can’t stand the firm feel of control-top tights, Commando offers a unique, non-binding and seamless waistband that our testers said was super comfortable and didn’t squeeze or pinch the way others do. One tester shared that the waistband didn't dig into her stomach at all, even after she ate. Others also called the fabric "luxe" and "velvety" and raved about the flattering look of these tights with several commenting, "I like everything about these."
While they're definitely on the pricey side, they held up well in our Lab tests, with above average scores in most categories from snagging to dimensional stability. The brand offers a similar style with a control top that our testers called "subtle yet flattering" and performed just as well in our tests, with a slightly higher waist.
Sizes: S–XL | Material: Nylon, spandex, cotton
If you don't like the bulky look or feel of fleece tights but still want to wear tights in colder weather, Uniqlo's tights impressed experts and testers alike. It's made using the brand's signature HEATTECH technology, which, according to the brand, "wicks the body’s moisture into fibers and converts the kinetic energy into heat."
Testers gave high ratings for flattering fit and perfect scores for how warm they felt in chilly fall weather. One tester raved, "they were so lightweight and warm" while another shared that "people kept asking where I bought them since they looked so good." Our analysts also appreciate that the tights fared well in Lab tests, with minimal snagging. Just note that some testers with small waists and larger hips found that this pair sagged more than other tights they've tried, so it's best suited to those with less curvy body types.
Sizes: S–L | Material: 83% Nylon, 17% spandex
Love the look of sheer tights but hate how your pairs never last past a few wears? Enter Sheertex. The brand uses ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a fiber prized for its high tensile strength, great abrasion resistance and overall durable nature, to create some of the strongest tights we've ever tested. Sheer tights tend to be less strong due to their construction, but these tights held their own even up against opaque tights.
In our tests, Sheertex tights received top scores for its comfortable yet durable feel. One GH analyst noted that while the waistband offers some compression, it doesn’t feel as constricting as other tights she’s tried. When we evaluated the seams and fabric in the Lab with our bursting strength tester, they outscored every pair of tights we've ever tested, so you can rest assured that you won't burst a hole in the toe when pulling them on.
However, despite the product’s “indestructible” claims and our consumer testers’ snag-free experiences, our analysts were still able to snag the tights in Lab tests, although there weren’t any runs in the fabric.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: We Tested Sheertex's Indestructible Tights
Sizes: XXS–4XL | Material: Polyethylene
Hanes Silk Reflections Blackout Opaque Tights
Our pros have evaluated style staples from Hanes over the years, including its best bras and loungewear as well as the popular Beefy-T. We are fans of the brand's opaque tights, which scored high in our bursting strength and shrinkage tests. In fact, the Silk Reflections Blackout Opaque Tights outperformed tights three times its price — even with average scores for stretch recovery and snagging resistance.
"Waist band stayed up and didn't dig in too much. It was very comfy," reported one tester. However, another tester round the tights to be a little difficult to get on and said they actually broke out in a sweat while trying to them on (relatable). That said, we recommend sizing up in these tights.
Sizes: S–XL | Material: Nylon, spandex, cotton
Nude Barre Footed Opaque Tights
True nude tights are hard to come by, but this pair from Nude Barre comes in 13 different shades (including a standard black), so you can choose between multiple warm and cool tones to find your best match. Testers gave this pair high scores overall, especially for comfort, with one sharing, "I liked that they weren't super compressive, which made them very comfortable to wear. The thin waistband didn't dig in and I forgot I was even wearing them." When our textile analysts evaluated these in the Lab, this pair ended up being the softest one we tested, with one analyst calling it "buttery soft."
Just note that these weren't the most durable tights we tested, earning lower scores in bursting strength evaluations, so make sure to treat them with care. The brand also offers fishnet tights in the same nude and black colorways, but some testers took off points for the difficult waistband and thought the spacing in the pattern was too close together.
Sizes: S/M–4XL/5XL | Material: 85% nylon, 15% spandex
While you don’t have to spend a lot to get top quality tights, Wolford’s pricey pair did not disappoint. As the name implies, the material is incredibly soft like velvet and testers thought they were comfortable, easy to slide on and non-constricting, especially because it doesn’t have a control top. It was also one of the only pairs that fully recovered its shape after we stretched it out in the Lab. Just know that while these were a favorite among testers and had high marks in Lab performance tests, they didn't excel in our durability testing, earning lower scores for bursting strength and snagging resistance.
Sizes: XS–XL | Material: 89% Nylon, 11% elastane
These tights look just like regular tights, but they’re fleece-lined so they feel extra warm and cozy. They are thicker than most tights we've tested, with one tester calling them "thick but still fairly flattering." They still fared well in our evaluations, though. The tights unanimously earned high marks for comfort from our testers, who all loved the warmth they offered on cold winter days. Plus, this pair barely shrank after multiple washes in our laundering tests. While the fabric snagged slightly easier than others in our Lab test, most of our testers never experienced any snags or tears when they wore these tights.
RELATED: The Best Fleece-Lined Leggings
Sizes: Medium–3X/4X | Material: 91% Nylon, 9% spandex
If you’re tired of basic black tights or just looking for more colorful options, this style comes in 29 different colors with a selection of both bold, bright choices as well as neutral colorways that our analysts can't wait to test. Not only are these Amazon best-sellers with over 11,000 reviews, but the brand even says it’ll give you a full refund if you aren’t happy with your purchase. Just note this pair may be a little more sheer than it appears in product photos, as it has a low denier for an opaque option.
Sizes: S–4XL | Material: Cotton
Hue Super Opaque Tights with Control Top
This pair is super thick and has a control top, but testers unanimously said they were super easy to get on and take off. They also all agreed that the tights looked great on and they didn’t snag, run or stretch out. On top of that, they washed well in our Lab tests, with little to no shrinkage or change in color, so they’ll be easy to care for in the long run.
These tights are very opaque (skip if you want something more sheer) and are available in a dozen different hues, from basic black (pictured) to a fun gold. The only downside is a few complained about the waistband rolling, but if that’s normally an issue for you, consider sizing up for a more generous fit.
Sizes: 1–5 | Material: 90% Nylon, 10% spandex
Fishnet stockings don’t give you the coverage of regular opaque tights (and they won’t always have a denier rating, either), but they do give you fun patterns with lots of texture. This set comes with four different patterns with over 10 different multi-packs to choose from. If you're still not convinced, it's got over 11,000 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars from users on Amazon, including several who say they’re soft, comfortable and actually hold up to lots of wear.
Sizes: One size | Material: 92% Nylon, 8% spandex
With a high-waisted cut and contoured waistband, these tights received unanimous high praise from our testers for their flattering fit. One tester raved, "I like the high waist and the way they smoothed things out but didn't feel crushing, like control tops usually do." Other testers noted that these tights were truly opaque on their legs, with a comfortable mid-weight feel.
In Lab tests this pair fared well, receiving a mix of average and above average scores across the board. The only con was that some testers found that while these tights were comfortable enough to wear all day, the waistband didn't always stay in place, sometimes slipping when sitting down or bending over.
Sizes: A–F | Material: 85% Polyamide, 15% elastane
Other tights we tested
- Vim & Vigr Compression Tights for Women: For a true pair of compression tights, Vim & Vigr is the way to go — the brand was named best overall in our most recent test of the best compression socks. One GH analyst who has knee problems found these tights to be effective without feeling uncomfortable. They are a little over $60, which is the same price if not more for some pants, so it may be a style you splurge on only if compression is what you're after.
- Hanes EcoSmart Women's Sheer Control Top Tights: As previously mentioned, we like Hanes' affordable basics, but found the EcoSmart tights to not perform as well in Lab tests. It had pretty good snagging resistance, but lower bursting strength. Our staffers liked the subtle pattern on these tights but found the material to feel a bit cheap and on the thinner side.
- Calzedonia Invisible 20 Denier Sheer Tights: Beloved by celebrities including Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, these tights have a thick waistband for comfort and a sheer matte finish. While we are still testing this pair in the Lab, our tester found the tights to feel smooth and wasn't as worried about ripping them when placing her toes in the leg. However, she found the sizing to run small and noted a tiny pull formed on the first wear after the tights got stuck on her broken fingernail.
- Falke Pure Matt 50 Denier Tights: We found this pair of tights to be smooth and comfortable, and one tester said "they are a perfect weight — not too thick or too thin." However, they stretched out more and snagged easily during testing. The tights are currently low in stock with limited sizes left on Amazon, but you can head to Falke's website for more sizes and colors.
- L'eggs Opaque Tights: A popular drugstore option, L'eggs tights are great if you need to replace a ripped pair in a jiffy. Testers liked the opacity of these tights but took off points because they felt less high quality. In Lab tests, the tights earned a below-average score for stretch recovery but received better results in other categories.
- L'eggs Seamless Tights: These tights are designed for year-round use, but are more sheer and on the thinner side compared to the aforementioned opaque tights from L'eggs. Testers reported the tights were easy to get on, but noted that they sagged throughout the day. The tights didn't shine in our tests either and also received a below-average score for stretch recovery similar to the opaque version.
How we test tights
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested over 30 tights in recent years. When testing, our analysts use standardized testing methods and specialized machinery to gauge different performance and durability factors. Plus, each style is also assessed by a group of consumer testers in their day-to-day lives. In all, we evaluated more than 16,000 data points to make these choices. Here are a few of the things we tested and considered during our evaluations:
✔️ Stretch and recovery: We cut swatches from each pair of tights, marking them with a set measurement, and stretch each swatch before clamping in place for a few hours. We then unclamp the fabric, allowing it to rest first for a minute before recording any changes and then re-measure after an hour. This is done to mimic real-life wear, simulating whether your tights will stretch out from long-term wear.
✔️ Dimensional stability: To gauge washability and dimensional stability, each pair is washed according to its care label and measured for shrinkage or growth after the first wash and then again after multiple washes.
✔️ Snagging resistance: In order to simulate more extreme conditions, we use a weighted tool with a rough snag-inducing surface and drag it from the bottom to the top of each side of the leg of a mannequin wearing a pair of tights. Any resulting snags are then scored according to standardized testing scales derived from industry standards.
✔️ Bursting strength: Using our pneumatic bursting strength tester, we evaluate the front, back, crotch and toe seams to gauge how much pressure it takes to burst a hole in the fabric. If you've ever burst a hole along the crotch while stretching too far or on the toe seam when rushing to get your tights on, we test whether each pair is durable enough to avoid those situations.
✔️ Consumer testing: Consumer testers wear and rate tights on several factors including but not limited to how easy it is to put them on or take them off, the fit, the sizing, overall comfort, appearance, whether they look flattering, if the waistband stays in place throughout wear, if they maintained a comfortable temperature while wearing them and if they encountered any pilling, snagging, tears, runs, sags or stretching. Testers also share more information on how they styled the tights, how the pair stacks up to other tights they've worn, whether or not they would continue to wear them and any general likes or dislikes.
Things to keep in mind when shopping for the best tights
✔️ Denier tells you the fabric weight and lets you know how thick the tights will be. In general, the higher the denier, the more opaque the tights, meaning they're thicker and less sheer. Any denier 40 and higher is considered opaque and not see through, while anything less than 30 denier is more of a transparent, sheer stocking. You can find 80 denier (and even up to 100 denier) tights that are super thick and opaque.
✔️ Control top tights are essentially tights that have built-in shapewear. They help smooth out areas like the tummy, hips and thighs. It’s really a matter of personal preference; our testers were mixed between liking the feeling of being held in vs. thinking it was too constricting.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Lexie Sachs is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has a B.S. degree in fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development fields. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested apparel of all kind — including swimsuits, workout leggings, pajamas and more — using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of consumer testers.
Grace Wu is a textiles product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute who oversaw recent in-Lab and consumer tests for tights. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering and a B.S. in fiber science from Cornell University.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
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