Yesterday we published the first part of our 'Best Of 2013' awards.
Today we will cover the remaining four award categories:
Best new brand: women's and unisex tights
Winner: Nylonica
We were impressed with all the Nylonica styles that we trialled and reviewed this year. This is a brand of the very highest quality.
As well as the superb Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights, you can also read our reviews of:
Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 40 opaque microfibre tights
Nylonica Linea Lusso microfibre 20 tights
Best technical innovation
Winner: Oroblu Different 80 Opaque Tights
Stockings HQ are the first UK retailer to stock the new Different range from Italian manufacturers Oroblu. We were provided with a sample of the Oroblu Different 80 Opaque Tights and our review will be published shortly.
Here is Stockings HQ's description of the Different 80 tights:
"The Different 80 denier tights give you maximum opaque coverage, for day or night, but the ‘difference’ comes in the numerous enhanced features. A slimming waistband that doesn’t dig in, a brief that follows your figure and contours the torso, legs that are shaped to cling, an invisible toe with intricate stitching that won’t rub, and a foot that remains in position. In classic black, these sublime quality Italian tights are the height of style, and will fit like no other hosiery you own."
The award for best technical innovation is merited for the amazing waistband that Orbolu have created for these tights. We have never seen a wider or better designed waistband, that fits perfectly, doesn't constrict in any way and doesn't role over. This feature takes tights design to a new level. Well done Oroblu.
As we approach the end of 2013, there is an opportunity to reflect back on the past year from a hosiery perspective. We have decided to create a 'Best of 2013' awards to provide some feedback and recognition to those brands and retailers that have particular impressed us over the year.
The award categories are:
- Brand of the year: men's tights
- Brand of the year: women's and unisex tights
- Best new retailer
- Best mainstream retailer selling men's tights
- Best opaque tights
- Best new brand: men's tights
- Best new brand: women's and unisex tights
- Best technical innovation
Here are the Hosiery For Men awards for the first four categories. Part 2 will follow tomorrow.
Brand of the year: men's tights
Winner: Comfort4Men
There can be only one winner: Comfort4Men. This brand just keeps on extending its fantastic range which already includes support, sheer, opaque, luxury, robust and warm cotton styles. In 2013, they added three new styles of footless tights/leggings.
Comfort4Men come out on top for their total commitment to quality and constant innovation.
Stay tuned for a major Hosiery For Men feature on Comfort4Men in the new year. They will also be launching a new products - you will read about it first here.
Brand of the year: women's and unisex tights
Winner: Falke
Falke were one of the pioneering brands in the 1970s who made men's tights. They are now one of the leading international hosiery brands with an unmatched reputation for quality.
Falke make a superb range of sheer and opaque tights. They are not marketed as unisex, but their generous sizing makes them the top choice for many men.
If anyone makes a better 100 denier opaque tight than the Falke Pure Matt 100 tights then we have yet to see it.
Best new retailer
Winner: Luxury Legs
Luxury Legs opened in 2013 and already has a deserved reputation for stocking high quality premium hosiery brands, such as Falke, Pierre Mantoux, Fogal, Oroblu and HYD.
HYD is a new brand in the UK and we were really impressed with the HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights when we reviewed them this month.
Luxury Legs provide excellent customer service. They are happy to discuss your needs and will also order anything that is not in stock.
Best mainstream retailer selling men's tights
Winner: UK Tights
UK Tights have maintained their commitment to provide a great service to both genders. In 2013 they revealed to Hosiery For Men that 40% of their business is to male customers.
UK Tights previously stocked the much-missed Gerbe and WoMan men's tights. Since the demise of both of those brands, they have worked hard to find new men's styles.
They now stock an impressive range of men's tights: the Maximus brand developed by UK Tights themselves, as well as the Activskin and Glamory brands.
Our interview with Dawn Barber, managing director of UK Tights, was one of the most popular features published this year on Hosiery For Men. You can still read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our interview with Dawn.
Comfort4Men sent us a sample from their new range of leggings / footless tights for men.
The style we are reviewing is the Comfort4Men C421M 100 den high waist men's leggings.
As Hosiery For Men readers will be aware, Comfort4Men men's tights are made in Germany to the very highest standards. They are a high quality product specifically designed to provide an excellent fit and level of comfort for the male anatomy. Comfort4Men men's tights are definitely not women's tights repackaged for men, nor unisex tights.
Comfort4men footless tights / leggings
There are six styles of footless tights / leggings currently available:
The C420M 60 denier low waist
The C420M 60 denier high waist
The C421M 100 denier low waist
The C421M 100 denier high waist
The C422M 160 denier low waist
The C422M 160 denier high waist
Choosing Comfort4Men tights and leggings
As we have written previously, there are always an extensive range of features and styles available when ordering tights from Comfort4Men.
The Comfort4Men footless tights / leggings are available in high waist and low waist styles.
The leggings / tights are also available with or without a fly opening.
The style of C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings I chose had the following features:
- High waist
- Colour: Black
- Gusset colour: Black
- Fly opening: No
- Size: 6
Materials and features
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are have the same packaging as all Comfort4Men men's tights: a simple card enclosure that is protected by a cellophane sleeve.
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are made from 80% Polyamide and 20% Elastane.
The yarn used here is really high quality - luxuriously soft and comfortable but also durable. The 3D microfibre fabric has excellent stretch and elasticity.
At 100 denier, the fabric is completely opaque with a slight sheen. Opaque coverage is even throughout.
Seams are flat throughout and there is no rear comfort panel. The waistband is 3cm wide.
The cuff as the tights taper towards the ankle is 3cm wide. It is very well-deognedf with some clever reinforcement.
As with all Comfort4Men tights, the gusset and crotch area has been carefully designed to be comfortable for the male anatomy. I prefer the high waist style for the deep brief that stretches comfortable above the waist.
Fit and sizing
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are available in four sizes 4, 5, 6 and 7. I tested a size 6.
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are very easy to put on. The fit was just perfect for my height and weight. The tights cling snugly to every curve of the leg, with the Elastane ensuring there is no wrinkling.
The high waist style provides plenty of room in the brief and the waistband can be stretched above the waist easily without straining the fabric.
Colour range
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are available in Black only.
Price and availability
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are priced at €42.80. The low waist version is slightly cheaper at €41.80.
Shipping rates vary depending on the destination.
Conclusion
Comfort4Men have created another top quality product here. I tested these tights recently over several very cold days, under jeans and corduroy trousers.
The insulation provided is excellent with my legs being kept really warm and comfortable.
The soft fabric was also really comfortable, with a perfect fit. Even after a few days wear, the tights were retaining their shape and showed no signs of wear and tear, or stress at the seams.
The C421M 100 denier high waist footless tights / leggings are ideal if you need the additional flexibility of tights without feet. These would be perfect for using under shorts when running, for yoga, the gym, as well as for for general use.
As with all Comfort4Men tights reviewed here, the recommendation is fully merited.
UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK.
They provide a first rate service for men buying tights for themselves and are continually expanding and improving their range of men's tights.
UK Tights has recently added the full range of men's tights made by the German brand Glamory to the site and they are already proving to be extremely popular with customers.
The Glamory range, adds to the Maximus and Activskin men's tights already available.
To celebrate the arrival of Glamory men's tights at UK Tights, they are offering Hosiery For Men readers 10% off any order. The code can also be reused when needed. Just enter the code UKTIGHTS10 at checkout.
UK Tights is now stocking the full range of the Glamory men's tights.
You can still read our Part 1 and Part 2 of the Hosiery For Men feature on Glamory and interview with Manuela Sommer.
Hosiery retailer Luxury Legs sent Hosiery For Men a sample of the HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights to trial and review.
Materials and features
Luxury Legs inform us that the HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights is HYD's best seller in their winter collection.
Luxury Legs describe them as:
"70 Denier matt opaque tights with 3D second skin effect. HYD uses eco friendly dyes and Aloe Vera giving the product a wonderful soft fragrance upon opening."
The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights are very nicely packaged. Unlike most brands of women's tights, the packaging is gender neutral with no images of the tights being modelled. The tights are folded around a card rectangle that is then wrapped in the external card enclosure. Everything is then housed in a clear plastic envelope.
Manufactured in Italy, they are made from 65% Polyamide and 35% Elastane. The fabric feels very soft and velvety. It is clear that very high quality yarn has been used here.
These tights are almost completely opaque with a matt appearance. There is very little sheen even when caught in light.
Seams are flat throughout. The 4XL Extra Large size that I tested has a rear comfort panel. Other sizes have a cotton gusset.
The waistband is 4cm wide, and as can be seen in the image, has been knitted to provide support and comfort. There is a further 2cm wide reinforcement strip below the waistband extending to each side of the flat central seam and rear seams.
Fit and sizing
The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights are available in four sizes:
- 2 Small
- 3 Medium
- 4 Large
- 4-XL Extra Large
I tested the 4-XL Extra Large size.
The HYD Millenium tights looked on the small side as they were removed from their packaging, but this is deceptive. The high Elastane content provides a really impressive amount of stretch for even very long legs. The sizing information is very accurate. The 4-XL size fitted me perfectly, with no over -stretching required.
These tights really do fit like a second skin as described by Luxury Legs. The fabric clings tightly to every contour of the legs with no wrinkling or bunching at any point.
The brief also provides a superb fit, stretching comfortably over the waist. I particularly liked the exceptionally comfortable waistband.
Colour range
The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights are available in five shades:
- Anthracite
- Cherry
- Grisma
- Marino
- Nero
I tested a pair in (Nero) Black.
Price and availability
The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights are priced at £16.00
Conclusion
HYD are a new brand for us at Hosiery For Men. The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights certainly provided an excellent first impression.
The price of £16.00 takes us into Wolford and Falke territory, so how do they compare with say the Wolford Opaque 70 or Wolford Velvet De Luxe 66 tights, or the Falke Seidenglatt 70 tights?
The HYD Millenium are similar to both the Wolford Opaque 70 or Wolford Velvet De Luxe 66 in that both have a matt appearance. However I find the HYD Millenium to be lighter and slightly less opaque. In terms of fit I feel the HYD are better, with the higher Elastane content in the yarn. Glide under trousers is also better. The Wolford Opaque 70 tights are not always available; they seem to be released just occasionally as a seasonal style.
In comparison with the Falke Seidenglatt 70 tights, I feel the Falke edge it for two reasons: the fabric is denser and more opaque and the largest size (5-XL) caters for taller heights. However, the Falke style is being discontinued and won't be available for too much longer. The Falke Seidenglatt also has a slight shine which may not be acceptable to everyone.
The HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights seem good value to me at £16.00 for the level of quality, and at that price they are also better value than the comparable Wolford and Falke styles.
In conclusion, the HYD Millenium are one of the best opaque styles we have worn this season. They are really comfortable and provide a smart, elegant look under trousers.