The Best Women’s Tights and Pants to Keep You Running All Winter

Running through winter can be tough, no matter where you live. Thankfully, the best running tights for women continue to advance, with technical fabrics, smart designs, and flattering styles that make us feel good while we’re out there battling the elements. From the cool and breezy California coast to the bone-chilling damp of the mid-Atlantic, snowy Colorado to the frigid northeast, these women’s running pants have you covered. And all but one of them have multiple pockets, so you can carry your phone, money, or credit card to grab a hot chocolate on your way home. Chocolate milk is the best recovery drink, after all.

Best Women’s Running Tights: At a Glance

• Best All-Around Women’s Tights: New Balance Sleek Pocket High Rise Legging 27” ($90)
• Best Value Women’s Tights: Under Armour Launch Tights ($60)
• Best High-visibility: Oiselle Glow Tights ($132)
• Best for Wet Weather: 2XU Ignition Shield Compression Tights ($110)
• Best for Winter Trail Running: Salomon Sense Aero Stow Tights ($110)
• Best for Beginners: Smartwool Active Fleece Joggers ($170)
• Most Versatile Women’s Tights: Branwyn Essential Compression Leggings 28” ($158)
• Most Versatile Women’s Running Pants: Brooks Momemtum Thermal Jogger 2.0 ($120)
• Best Tights for Mild Winters: Lululemon Fast & Free HR Tight 25” 5 Pocket ($128)

Best All-Around Women’s Tights

New Balance Sleek Pocket High Rise Legging 27”

$90 at New Balance

Material: 71% polyester, 29% Lycra

Pros and Cons
+ High performance and flattering
+ Wide, flat waistband
+ Two side drop-in pockets
– No internal pocket

We absolutely love the fit, feel, look, and performance of these women’s running tights. The polyester/Lycra blend material is lightly compressive without being constricting and, as the name promises, made us feel sleek and ready to crank out miles. The extra-wide waistband lies flat and comfortable against the skin, and one tester noted it felt supportive andgently held her stomach in.

An internal infinity drawcord helps the tights stay put, and a drop-in pocket on each leg securely holds a phone, gloves, or other essentials. (The lack of an internal pocket had us trusting our car key would stay deep within a leg pocket and not bounce out.) For running in low light, a simple rollover of the ankle cuff reveals reflective detailing—a nice touch now that it gets dark so early.

Flat seams, flattering lines, and a matte finish add to the overall sleek vibe of these high-performance women’s tights. On the run, they kept us warm without getting hot, wicked sweat, and made us feel fast. And they kept performing apres running. “The fabric and fit are versatile enough to wear these to the grocery store or coffee after a run—a huge plus!” said a tester. Another found these running tights comfortable and attractive enough to wear to gym sessions where she’d end up hanging out in her tights for a while afterwards.

Best Value Women’s Tights

Under Armour Launch Tights

$60 at Under Armour

Material: 77% polyester, 23% elastane

Pros and Cons
+ Thin material is quick-drying
+ One drop-in pocket on the leg
– Cool runs only (not cold)

In a sea of pricey running tights, it’s refreshing to find a performance-oriented pair for under 70 bucks. The Under Armour Launch Tights deliver both value and comfort. The fabric is soft and stretchy, a high-rise waist with a flat drawcord keeps them snug, and a drop-in pocket on one leg holds a phone, fuel, keys, or ID. The material is thin with perforations behind the knees, which makes these ideal for runs in the 30s to 50s (we wouldn’t recommend them for cold, damp runs in freezing temps). But the light weight and breathability make them ideal for runs in the 30s to 50s. “They get the job done,” one Colorado-based tester said.

Best High-Visibility

Oiselle Glow Tights

$132 at Oiselle

Material: 90% Supplex Nylon, 10% Spandex; 76% polyester, 24% Spandex side panels

Pros and Cons
+ Unique reflective detailing
+ Two side drop-in pockets, back zippered pocket, storage loops
– Internal side seams can be slightly distracting

Oiselle has chosen to make reflectivity fun and artistic on these running tights, with side panels covered with their signature birds that light up when illuminated by car headlights. The contrast stitching outlining the bird panels is also reflective and adds flattering lines. The thicker main nylon/spandex fabric kept us warm on downright cold mornings in sub-freezing darkness, and the thinner material on the side panels seemed to help heat escape. “It’s a very comfortable fabric that’s versatile enough to be worn in a variety of conditions,” said a tester.

These are fully featured women’s running tights with two drop-in side pockets, a back zippered pocket, and interesting storage loops at the waist that we used to keep a long-sleeve shirt or jacket in place once it was shed. We loved the high-rise fit with a wide waistband. One knock: we could feel the internal seams where the fabrics join on the sides of the legs—a minor irritant.

Best for Wet Weather

2XU Ignition Shield Compression Tights

$110 at 2XU

$110 at Amazon

Material: 100% polyester (upper front membrane); 65% nylon, 35% lycra

Pros and Cons
+ Waterproof membrane on the upper thigh
+ Graduated compression
– Membrane fabric is noisy
– Zippered pocket too small for most phones

The 2XU Ignition Shield Compression Tights kept us warm and comfortable in wet weather: their waterproof material on the upper thigh shed moisture, and they stayed put when soaked (unlike many tights that sag when wet). A waistband drawcord helps, as does the overall snug, compressive fit.

The running tights were protective enough that one tester said they helped get her off the treadmill and outside during a cold, damp, mid-Atlantic winter. “Being able to run in rain and wind chill in these tights, I feel like a badass earning my miles!” she said.

The moderate graduated compression is designed to improve blood flow. One tester felt the tights decreased the tendonitis in her hip. “Even if it’s placebo effect, I’ll take it!” she said. A zippered back pocket comfortably holds a key and/or fuel, but we found it too small for any phone bigger than an iPhone 12 Mini. Some testers noticed the waterproof membrane making a light, somewhat annoying, buckling noise.

Best for Winter Trail Running

Salomon Sense Aero Stow Tights

$110 at REI

$110 at Salomon

Material: 76% polyamide, 24% elastane blend

Pros and Cons
+ Allow comfortable carrying of multiple items
+ Targeted insulation: thicker around butt and thighs, thinner/more open weave from the knee down
– Can feel thin and cold in frigid temps

These tights have a host of bells and whistles while feeling simple and dependable for everyday wear. Made out of stretchy, breathable polyamide/elastane, they’re soft against the skin and thin enough to allow full mobility, but provide adequate warmth in most winter temps. Ankle zippers allow easy on-and-off and the ability to hike the fabric above the calf if temperatures warm mid-run. Storage options include a large phone pocket on the leg, and a pocket at the low-back that’s roomy enough to hold a 250ml soft flask, with a small internal pocket and a key clip inside. Bungee loops at the low-back can hold a layer like a lightweight jacket or long sleeve shirt, should you need to shed it mid-run.

The Sense Aero Stow Tights were the utility tights of choice for testers in a range of wintry conditions around Boulder, Colorado. “I love how I can ball up and shove my jacket into the storage loops,” says one tester whose layer never stays tied around her waist. “These are just solid, all-around tights with good pocketing.”

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Best for Beginners

Smartwool Active Fleece Joggers

$170 at Smartwool

$180 at REI

Material: Main Body: 47% Polyester, 38% Merino Wool, 15% Elastane

Pros and Cons
+ Super-soft and comfortable
+ Zippered hand pockets and jogger-style fit allow them to crossover to casualwear
– Can be too warm for hard efforts or mild winter conditions

Motivation to run in the cold can be hard enough for die-hard, lifelong runners. But when you’re first starting out? Having a pair of pants that are a treat to pull on—super-soft against the skin and warm despite cold temperatures—can take away the excuse to not head out the door for fear of being too cold when you do.

The interior of these pants is a soft-brushed Merino wool blend that helps regulate body temperature, warming while wicking sweat to the pant’s smooth exterior. The fit is slightly loose with a tapered leg—they’re more jogger than running tight, which makes them versatile for wearing as good-looking sweatpants as well as on the run. In motion, we appreciated their stretch for ease of movement, and their insulation which kept us from freezing our butts off if we slowed to a walk. When we picked up the pace in these pants, they proved adequately breathable, albeit a little warm in mild temps. But boy, are they comfy, cozy, and capable.

Most Versatile Women’s Tights

Branwyn Essential Compression Legging 28”

$158 at Branwyn

Material: 76% extra fine ZQ Merino wool, 14% nylon, 10% elastane

Pros and Cons
+ Temperature-regulating wool
+ Can pass as casual wear
– No pockets

“The more I wear these, the more I appreciate them and love them,” said a tester.  While some wool garments can feel a touch scratchy, these 76 percent Merino leggings feel soft and smooth and stay comfortable all day. Their thick fabric provides warmth and coverage, breathes fantastically, and regulates body temperature naturally.

Testers praised the Goldilocks fit. “These are the perfect amount of tightness: not too tight, but tight enough to feel like a cozy embrace and so that they don’t slip down at all in action,” said one. The 28” inseam means the legs are long on most bodies, keeping ankles covered, even when wearing short socks.

They’re great for running, but also extremely versatile. We’ve worn these running tights for dog walks, meditating inside and out, and running errands when paired with a long sweater. One knock: a complete lack of pockets reduced their versatility.

Most Versatile Women’s Running Pants

Brooks Momentum Thermal Jogger 2.0

$120 at Brooks

$120 at Running Warehouse

Material: 79% polyester, 21% spandex

Pros and Cons
+ Casual style with high-performing material
+ Two zippered pockets
+ Can be worn on their own or over tights
– Seem to run a little small

We love the super-stretchy polyester/spandex blend of these joggers for their ability to move with us and not restrict our motion, no matter how steep a hill we’re climbing or how dynamic our post-run stretching. And the soft, fleecy interior feels great next to skin while wicking sweat on the run. The smooth exterior looks good and provides a bit of wind protection.

A flat waist with drawcord and two zippered side pockets add to the casual style of these functional running pants, as does the small (reflective) logo, and ankle cuffs that are tapered stylishly instead of zippered. These come in a wide range of sizes, from XS to XXL, but note testers mentioned the pants felt slightly small at their usual size.

These running pants proved warm enough for mornings in the low 30s in Colorado, and they can be worn over tights for extra weather protection when the mercury drops.

Best Tights for Mild Winters

Lululemon Fast & Free HR Tight 25” 5 Pocket

From $69 at Lululemon

Material: 84% nylon, 16% Lycra elastane (main body); 89% nylon, 11% elastane (inner waistband)

Pros and Cons
+ Cool, breathable fabric
+ Two drop-in pockets and three waist pockets
+ Material is rated UPF 40+
– Too thin for many winter climates

For places where winter days hover in the 50s and 60s and rarely dip below the mid-40s, these Lululemon running tights may become your winter uniform, given their luxurious material that feels soft, buttery, and cool against the skin. We particularly loved the lack of a seam on the inner leg that gave the pants an overall feeling of smoothness and comfort. The fabric also breathes well and dries quickly, which is a bonus for heavy sweaters and those who live and run in humid climates, plus makes it easy to keep wearing them for hours after a workout. “These are all-day comfortable!” exclaimed a tester.

Two very deep drop-in pockets on the legs and three pockets on the wide, smooth waistband provide ample storage, but not all pockets supported all they could hold. “I like the leg pockets for quickly storing AirPods, but didn’t love them for my phone because the phone seemed to overwhelm the thin material when I ran,” said a tester, who moved her phone to a pocket on her sports bra.

These 25-inch tights hit above the ankles on our testers, and come in 19”, 23”, and 28” inseam length options for options in capri or full-length.

How to Choose Women’s Running Tights and Pants

Consider the conditions you’ll most often be running in throughout winter to select how insulated, weather-resistant, or breathable tights or pants you need. Then think about what pocketing needs you may have–do you carry a phone in your tights? Want to carry an extra layer, or a car key securely without wearing a pack? Then try on tights made of the material that will work best for you with the ideal pocketing for your needs. If the tights feel at all uncomfortable in the store—the fabric against your skin, the seams, the fit, the feel around your waist—try on something else. If they feel good and make you want to run, even in cold, wind, snow, or rain, you found your pair.

How We Test Women’s Running Tights

Head tester and writer Lisa Jhung researches each gear category and works with gear companies to narrow down which items to add to the test loop. She then orders samples for herself and her team of five testers, who live in Colorado, Virginia, New Hampshire, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For this test, tights and pants were worn in a range of winter conditions, from cold, dry, sometimes snowy Colorado Front Range and high country, to frigid, damp East Coast and cool, rainy, mild Northern California.

Meet Our Testers

Lisa Jhung has been running for 35 years, testing and writing about gear for 25-ish years, and manages a pool of testers out of her home in Boulder, Colorado. She runs in all conditions and loves heading out in a gnarly snowstorm.

Kristen Mecca moved to Virginia after running all over Colorado, including multiple podium finishes at the Pikes Peak Ascent and snowshoe races. She now tests gear through the East Coast winter and is a stickler for irritating seams and rough materials.

Beth Smith lives and runs in Burlingame, California, and runs roads and trails while trying not to get Prednisone-level poison oak rashes. She loves functional clothing with smart pocketing for her phone, which she always has with her.

Sara Yoder lives and runs in Boulder, Colorado, and runs roads, trails, and roads-to-trails often before work. Her weekend runs include high-mountain adventures or training for the rare, but occasional road race.

Katie Bleichman trains around the dirt paths around Louisville, Colorado, and speeds around trails at the base of the Boulder Flatirons. She loves a cushy shoe and apparel that transitions from high-performance on the road to highly functional at the grocery store.