It’s a long held debate with no clear answer: When guys are running in the winter or any cooler weather, should they be wearing shorts over their tights? There are so many questions, like does it make you any warmer to wear shorts over your tights, can you mix the color combination of your shorts/tights combo, or do those around you even care what you are wearing?
A few years ago we had two of our editors at Runner’s World share their opinion for both sides. Vote in the poll below, check out their takes, and if you’re feeling especially passionate, leave a comment.
No way! Are you kidding?
Shorts over tights? How is this even a discussion beyond high school age? I can think of only one reason men wear a second layer when running: modesty. It’s akin to wearing a T-shirt to go swimming. What’s the point? You’re certainly not hydrodynamic in the water in that case. And with shorts, you lose any benefits the tights convey. Skip ’em altogether and wear looser fitting pants, will ya?
Time and again, I hear runners say they wear shorts for extra warmth. My response? You wasted money on a bad pair of tights. Or underwear. Or both. There are plenty of brands out there that build briefs with a windproof panel (check out some of the best tights) and they work very well—even in arctic temps. Running in even nastier stuff? Get some real pants with a windproof fabric.
Now, I get the modesty angle. I do. One time, a photographer posted a photo online of me from the Snowshoe Racing National Championships. The sun was at just the right angle off to my side, the photographer to the other... I blushed for a second or two, thought maybe I could Photoshop it out, but then shrugged and said, “Hey, at least I was in the race.” At the time, I didn’t care what I looked like; I just wanted to run fast.
Embarrassing photos or not, I’m still not putting shorts on over my tights.
Of course they should!
—David Graf
There is no shame in wearing shorts over tights. While my debate partner will bring up modesty, I say it has more to do with confidence. When you are out on the open road, you are all out there, in full motion, in front of all who pass by.
An extra buffer between you and the outside world can do much in allowing you to enjoy your run; especially for runners whose build resembles a wrestler more than a cross-country runner.
Second, there is the issue of support. Tights alone tend to not provide enough of it; on the other hand, tights with compression shorts underneath creates a lycra-based Victorian age prison. But throw on a pair of shorts with a liner over your tights and you have the support you need while still keeping your calves warm with the tights.
Finally, back to the modesty issue, I like to end many of my runs with a stop at the local café or a quick trip to the market. While you could wait in line showing your full running pride, have some regard for those around you who are already having to deal with your sweat.
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
