Friday 28 December 2018

Reviewed: Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights

British hosiery brand Pretty Polly sent us a pair of their new 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights.



Pretty Polly state that the all "Legs On The Go" range contain compression which can help your legs feel less tired and achy when you are on the go.

The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are "light compression hosiery that helps reduce swelling in the ankles, making these tights ideal for long periods of standing out sitting."



Packaging


The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are packaged quite simply in a card clasp that enables the the tights to be displayed in a retail setting.





Material and features

The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are made with a ladder resistant yarn of 81% Nylon, 18% Elastane and 1% Cotton.

The tights feel quite robust when you take them from the packaging. The yarn is smooth, quite soft and clearly good quality.

They are not quite sheer to waist, with a very fine and hardly noticeable demarcation between the brief and the leg.

Seams are conventional. The waistband is 2.5cm wide.

A nice touch is the pink Pretty Polly tag inside the brief. It would be great if Pretty Polly added this to all their tights.

There is a cotton gusset.

Toes are reinforced.



Sizing, fit and wearing experience


The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are available in three sizes:

  • Small/Medium (S/M)
  • Medium/Large (M/L)
  • Extra Large (XL)


I tested the Extra Large size.

Like all compression hosiery, these tights need to be put on carefully. You can feel the compression in the calf and lower leg. But the tights have loads of stretch, and with some patience and repositioning they go on nicely.

The brief is roomy and stretches easily above the waist and navel.

Opacity on the leg is deep and even. In appearance they look more like 70 denier, and give smooth matt coverage to the leg.

The high Elastane content in the yarn provides the light compression. The legs do not feel constricted but lightly energised. The sensation is really warm, comfortable and relaxing. 


The only real improvement I would suggest is to make a wider waistband. The current one is  rather thin and not that comfortable. A wider one would provide better support and be more comfortable.

Colour range


The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are available in Black only.





Price and availability


The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights are priced at just £8.00. You can buy them directly from Pretty Polly.

You can also purchase them them from other retailers, including UK Tights (a retailer we highly recommend).




Conclusion


Following the launch of the "premium opaques" range, Pretty Polly continue to innovate and expand their range. I have to say that the quality of Pretty Polly tights has improved hugely recently. There is clearly an emphasis on using better yarns and premium features, but still maintaining an attractive pricing structure. In other words, the better quality Pretty Polly ranges are a bargain.

The Pretty Polly 60 Denier "Legs On The Go" Light Support Opaque Tights cost £8.00 which is a a great price for a very decent pair of support tights. They do not have "medical grade" levels of compression, just a good steady level of support which will be appreciate by women and men whose legs get tired at work.

Plus you get a great fit and wearing experience. What's not to like?

If you don't need compression check the Pretty Polly 80 Denier 3D Opaque Tights and the Pretty Polly 150 Denier Matt 3D Opaque Tights, both in the premium range and also recommended by us.

Monday 24 December 2018

MEN BUYING TIGHTS SURVEY: WHEN BUYING TIGHTS WHICH ASPECTS ARE IMPORTANT?

Here are some more findings from our MEN BUYING TIGHTS survey.

The third question we asked in the survey was:

When buying tights which aspects are important? 


Here is a summary of your responses:






The responses are clear that "feel and comfort" of tights are the aspects that are most valued by men.

The survey confirms that we like tights that fit well, and are well made with quality yarns that use Elastane/Lycra.

It is notable that there is not a strong demand for specific features for men such as front panels and fly openings.

But men do value the availability of larger sizing options and expect products to be durable.

Once again, there is a lot here for brands to pay attention to if they wish to secure and build on the male segment of their customers.

Here are some of your additional comments on what you look for when buying tights:

It's all about fit, fit, fit. I'm bigger, 6'2" athletic. Much prefer conventional tights with a regular gusset over the "rear comfort panel" common on larger sizes of certain brands. A wide, comfortable waistband is essential. Have not tried many tights with a front comfort panel, not a big fan, not really interested in those. 


I’ve put the feel and comfort as I always wear tights under jeans or trousers therefore the feel of them against the trousers is important some tights will grab or bind with the material of the trousers which make them uncomfortable and pulls the tights down which is this issue I found with long johns and one of the reasons I swapped to wearing tights. 


Fly opening and/or front comfort panel is an option but not mandatory for me and only useful when worn without underwear, which I personally do not like. When worn over underwear the fly opening is almost never matching the fly opening on the underwear.

I NEED tights with good quality but I LOVE tights with good feel.

Price.

Seamless is better both in leggings and tights. 


I prefer seamless tights which if I find are the most comfortable for the male anatomy 

Mainly quality of compression, quality of product, packaging and durability. 


For tights worn under trousers/leggings/jeggings, l like a smooth glossy finish. 


I like to feel as though I am wearing tights. I dislike poor fitting tights that sag...which is often a trick with a 33" inseam. Many manufacturers assume that because I am tall I must have a big girth on my legs - Oroblu are a rare exception. 


Gusset very important. 


I do sometimes like to wear tights with some compression, especially if I have to sit all day or during hikes.I also like tights (like the LM glow brand) that prevent you from getting sweaty. That's also one of the reasons that I prefer tights over long johns. The fact that you can choose from a range of materials and types means that you can adjust to diffrerent weather conditions. Tights that are well designed also stay in place while long johns bunch up under your trousers (I mainly wear my tights under trousers). 


Length suitable for long legs, and proper sizing for someone with slim, normal waist. I also found that seamless tights and pantyhose are very comfortable, even if they don't have front panel for male anatomy. 


I’m 5’11" and 185lbs with runners legs and just about every brand is just a tad to short, so I have to go with queen size and that reduces the options of so many brands I’d love to wear. We need extra tall so I and everyone above 5’9" could buy from all these companies.


Longer leg length.


The overall look of pantyhose, if they're ugly I wouldn't buy them. That is also why I dislike pantyhose made specifically for men because they just look so ugly. So I select from women's range. 


Lycra in the tights help them stay put better throughout the day and also feel nicer as well. The main issue for guys is the legs are not long enough. 

Friday 21 December 2018

Just arrived from Wolford: Wolford Socks

Here's the last of the items in the wonderful box of samples that Wolford sent us recently: a section of Wolford socks.



Wolford already have a wide selection of socks on the pages of their online stores. However these three styles are new and not widely available yet.

They are:

Wolford Logo Socks

Wolford Sail Print Socks

Wolford Vibrant Echo Socks


Tuesday 18 December 2018

Reviewed: Hop Hosiery 60 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights

Hop Hosiery recently sent us one of their "Hop Boxes".



A "Hop Box" is what you receive through the post when you take out a flexible subscription from Hop Hosiery.

Hop Hosiery makes it easy to get tights regularly and you can control what you receive and when.

At Hop Hosiery you can choose from the following style of tights


60 Denier Opaque
40 Denier Semi-Opaque
20 Denier Sheer
15 Denier Sheer
20 Denier Control & Support

Then you choose the shade and your size.

Each "Hop Box" contains three pairs of sheers OR two pairs of opaques OR two pairs of control & support tights. The cost of each Hop Box is just is £10.95 including delivery.

All you need to do next is tell Hop Hosiery how often you would like your "Hop Box" and where it should be delivered to.

I received two pairs of the 60 Denier Microfibre Opaques to trial and review.

Packaging


The two pairs of the Hop Hosiery 60 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights arrive in some of the nicest hosiery packaging we have seen.

Each pair of tights is folded around a card rectangle. Both pairs are then wrapped lightly in blue tissue held together with a Hop Hosiery sticker.

Everything is housed in a beautifully designed and sturdy card box. It's easy to open with its hinged lid.






This box really is excellent. Not only does it keep the tights safe and protected, but it can be posted through a normal size letter box. There is also no plastic used at all so the card can be recycled.

Materials and features


Hop Hosiery describe their 60 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights as:

"top quality, matte, winter weight tights. They are super soft, warm and comfortable. These tights come in one shade only, deep intense rich black completing any outfit."

The tights feel extremely soft to the touch. The yarn used is great quality and is made from 
86% Polyamide and 14% Elastane.

Key features are:

  • Reinforced panty/brief 
  • 4cm wide waistband
  • Conventional seams
  • Reinforced toes
Opacity is even throughout, but not total.





Sizing, fit and wearing experience


Hop Hosiery tights come in are three sizes: S, M and L.



We trialled them in the L size.

As mentioned above these tights are extremely soft and feel wonderful on the skin.

They have good stretch, but although I am 5'10" the L size only just stretched out enough to come up to the groin and just about over the hips the waist. The brief felt almost like a low waist style.

I couldn't fault the quality and the feel of the tights, and the fit on the leg was excellent, providing that sought-after second skin experience. The tights also provide a nice, smooth, sculpted sheen to the leg with just a hint of shine.

However, for me there needed to be more room in the leg (overall length as well as width in the thigh area) and a deeper brief to provide a perfect fit. If Hop Hosiery addressed this in an additional Extra Large (XL) size, I think that would resolve these issues.

Colour range


The Hop Hosiery 60 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights are available in Black only.



Price and availability


The cost of each Hop Box, with two pairs of the opaque tights, is £10.95 including delivery.

Although Hop Hosiery is technically a subscription service, through your online account you can cancel or change it at anytime. The subscription is entirely flexible ensuring you only get the tights you need when you need them. Everything can be managed online.

Conclusion

Hop Hosiery have developed a great concept here which works really efficiently.

The packaging, ease of ordering and range of tights available are all excellent, and a boon for busy people who need a regular tights supply.

The microfibre yarn used in the 60 Denier Opaques is top notch, with the tights being ultra soft and smooth on the leg. They feel so nice you won't be able to stop touching them!

The only slight let down for me was that the L sizing needed to be bigger. As suggested above, an XL size with a deeper brief and longer leg would be a welcome development.

You can follow Hop Hosiery on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Monday 17 December 2018

Just arrived from Wolford: Colorado Lax Fit String Body

Wolford have sent us a new product - an addition to their extensive range of bodies/bodysuits.



The Wolford Colorado Lax Fit String Body is described as follows:

A casual cut: The loosely-fitting top section and slim-fitting panty section featured on this string body make it a new, fashionable and, most importantly, wonderfully comfortable fashion item. The semitransparent roll neck featured on this body softly caresses the neck while the body and arms are made from an ultra-soft material containing a high cotton content.

  • Close fit
  • Seamless
  • Oversized sleeves with an integrated Wolford logo

MEN BUYING TIGHTS SURVEY: WHICH STYLES DO YOU PREFER TO BUY?

Today we share further findings from our MEN BUYING TIGHTS survey.

The second question we asked in the survey was:

When buying tights which styles do you mostly prefer? 


Here is a summary of your responses:



A clear trend showing here: you preferred sheer and semi-opaque tights overall.

Guys are also buying opaque tights, and a preference is shown for 50-60 denier styles.

Heavier opaques (70-100 denier, and 100+ denier) are also popular.

Nearly a third of men are buying support or compression hosiery. This is not surprising as, like women, many off us spend long periods standing or sitting

Another interesting finding is that almost a third of men like buying patterned tights. When you see the incredible range of patterned styles available now, it might not be that surprising.

Hosiery brands take note of all of this!

Here is a selection of your additional comments:

Typically 20-30 denier with a pattern or shine.

I like having the option of footed or footless, it gives you a choice depending on the activity, whether for work, working out or casual wear.

Ultra-sheer feel great but only on freshly-shaved legs, which I'm just too lazy too maintain; low durability. Regular sheer and semi-opaque provide a nice combination of light weight, cosmetics, and durability. Opaque tights for warmth and support.

Seamless.

Full four season range, from 5 denier to cotton, pure new wool, cashmere/silk, depending on temperature.

Fleece-lined tights.

Wool/cotton tights.

Depends whether worn under trousers/leggings/jeggings, then I prefer glossy semi-opaque. When worn on their own with a long t-shirt or jumper at home, I prefer high denier opaques.

Semi opaque with reinforced toe, sole, heel.

I usually only wear sheer to waist and have found them to be quite comfortable and secure and always stay in place.

Knee-highs.

I am not really into patterns but I do like ribbed tights and argyle patterns (like those on the Adrian tights).

I really like 100% nylon plain knit tights that don't have any Lycra as these are so much more comfy. I once had some tights made by Pretty Polly 5 denier tights 100% nylon and they were incredible just how thin they were. I buy 10 and 15 denier plain knit tights in multi packs and 1 pair packs and I like to wear work trousers or normal trousers over them lovely feel.

40 denier are ideal as they are soft enough to give the feel of sheer tights but I can wear them without socks without giving the game away

I like all styles but do like tights to be footed as it helps keep the feet warm and only requires one pair of socks over them on cold days for an extra layer. I find socks can make my feet cold due to the elastic grip at the top of them reducing circulation, wearing 2 pairs of socks therefore defeats the benefits for me. Tights are great as there is no elastic and they also don't fall down.

Sunday 16 December 2018

Just arrived: New Falke Seidenglatt 80 Tights

We recently brought you the news that FALKE had relaunched their range of Seidenglatt tights, with a series of significant improvements.


The FALKE Seidenglatt 70 Tights have now been upgraded to the FALKE Seidenglatt 80 Tights "Elegant, opaque fine tights in a slightly shiny look."

UK Tights have sent Hosiery For Men a sample to trial and review.





A pair of the new and upgraded FALKE Seidenglatt 40 Tights are also on their way to us.

Saturday 15 December 2018

MEN BUYING TIGHTS SURVEY: WHY DO YOU WEAR TIGHTS?

Here are further findings from our MEN BUYING TIGHTS survey.

The first question we asked was:

Why do you wear tights?


In this question we wanted to get a deeper understanding of the varied reasons why men buy and wear tights.

Here is a summary of your responses:




It's well known by now that many guys wear tights for warmth in colder months, but the standout finding is that the main reason we wear them is that we like them.

We like how they feel and we find finding tights a pleasurable feeling.

Many of you contributed further comments on this issue. Here is a selection:

They compliment outfits so good and on warmer days it's a lot nicer to wear hosiery than thicker socks.

I like how tights make my legs look (wife agrees), though I don't wear openly in public. In the winter especially, they add a little extra warmth without weight. Mostly, they make me feel subtly sexy.

I like how they make my legs look.

I wear tights/pantyhose because I think woman does not have exclusive right to wear them. Todays standards are not what it was 50 years ago so I think it is a mans right to wear tights if he wants to wear them.

I wear tights for lounging at home.

To keep a smooth line under skin-tight trousers, leggings and jeggings.

They are just comfortable some times to lay around the house.

The comfort and feel of these garment is truly amazing. It’s not just a fetish for me as a man to want to wear these. This is more for the warmth, the fit, the feel, love the way they wear under my pants. More practical and comfortable to me as a consumer.

I love the euphoric feeling it gives. It’s an aphrodisiac.

Tights feel comfortable and keep me warm. Compression/support tights are also a plus when one is walking around a lot in the day or standing.

Friday 14 December 2018

Just arrived: Bahner Stripes Ribbed Support Tights

As fans of ribbed opaque tights we were delighted that UK Tights offered to send us a pair of the Bahner Stripes Ribbed Support Tights.



UK Tights told us that these provide a perfect fit, along with support and relief for the legs.

The German brand Bahner is new to us, and we are eager to see how they wear.



MEN BUYING TIGHTS SURVEY: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE TIGHTS?

Now that the MEN BUYING TIGHTS survey has closed, we are beginning to analyse the responses and data. Over the next few weeks we will publish the findings section by section.

One of the first sections we have looked at in detail is the one where we asked you the question:

Can you name one pair of tights that is your favourite? Name the brand and precise product.


There were more than 400 responses to this.



This is what you told us.

The favourite style of tights was the Wolford Neon 40 Tights.



This was chosen by more respondents than any other. It's a classic style by Wolford and even quite iconic now. It comes in a very wide range of colours and sizing up to XL.




The second most popular style you chose was another by Wolford: the Satin Touch 20 Tights.

Another classic by Wolford and these are available in an even wide range of colours as well as sizing up to XXL.



Indeed Wolford get plenty of mentions when it comes to your favourite tights. The following all have a number of fans:

Wolford Velvet De Luxe 66 Tights

Wolford Fatal 15 Tights

Wolford Fatal 50 Tights

However, looking through all the responses carefully, in third place was a style that many of you really like: L'eggs Sheer Energy Tights.



Other brands and specific tights that get a number of mentions are:

Cecilia De Rafael, including various styles in the CdR Eterno range are mentioned.

Kunert, including the Kunert Velvet 80 Tights.

Charnos, particularly the Charnos 24/7 range.

Heist. The Nude tights by Heist get a few mentions as do The Thirty, The Fifty and The Eighty tights.

Marks and Spencer, especially tights from the Autograph range. The M&S Body Sensor Tights are also mentioned a few times.

Oroblu, several mentions including the Magie 20 and the All Colors 50 tights.

Falke, especially the Seidenglatt 40 tights.

Fogal, including the Opaque 30 tights.

Pretty Polly, including the Legs On The Go Support Tights and 60 Denier Opaque Tights.

Adrian's range of men's tights gets a few mentions including the Grating style.

Finally the genderless hosiery brand I SEE YOUR LEGS has admirers, particularly for their Classic 20 Denier Tights. This brand have responded to the needs of male customers by making this style available in L/XL, MAXI and MAXI+ sizes.

Thursday 13 December 2018

And the winner is.....

The MEN BUYING TIGHTS survey closed last night.

Thank you to everyone who participated. The participation was fantastic with 474 responses.

The survey has provided a wealth of interesting, useful and surprising data. We will share this with Hosiery For Men readers shortly.

We also know that hosiery brands and retailers will also be very interested in the findings. Get in touch with us if you would like to see the data.



In the meantime, we have chosen a winner of the £30 UK Tights gift voucher.



All the entry emails have been placed in a hat, and one winner has been chosen at random.

Check your email inbox to see if you are the winner.

Just arrived from Wolford: Merino Fine Rib Pullover

Wolford are famous, of course, for their legwear. But did you know that they also offer a wide range of clothing including tops, shirts, pullovers, bodysuits and more?



Wolford have sent us a sample of their Merino Fine Rib Pullover to trial and review.



This is described as: "Knitted minimalism: Roll-neck pullover made from fine, soft Merino wool. The ribbed look and slim-fit make this item a timeless classic."


It is available in two colours: Black and Ecrue.

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Reviewed: Almost Opaque Tights by Carra Hosiery

Last year we brought Hosiery For men readers news about CARRA Hosiery, a new hosiery brand with a unique feature: a built-in panty.



You can still read our feature and interview with CARRA Hosiery CEO Christi Hairston.




CARRA Hosiery sent us the Almost Opaque Tights to review.



Packaging

The CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights are very nicely packaged. The tights are folded around a rectangular white card, which is then enclosed inside a polystyrene bag. The wrapped tights are then housed in a study card box.

The box provides detailed more detailed information on the tights as well as sizing information.





Material and features


The CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights are 16 denier tights. You could describe them as verging on semi-opaque in appearance, or as the product information says, "not quite opaque".

The yarn is 90% Nylon and 10% Spandex. The fabric is described as 'run-resistant" and has an antimicrobial wash applied to keep skin dry, fresh and keep bacteria under control.

A key feature is the built-in "French lace bikini with moisture wicking gusset".





The yarn is noticeably soft to the touch and very stretchy.


The brief is quite deep: 29cm from gusset to waistband. The waistband itself is 3cm wide.



The "built in French lace panty" is (as can be seen above) darker than the leg and the pattern can only really be seen in full when worn. The "French lace panty" is really the design on the panty/brief part of the tights. You can choose to wear the tights with or without underwear.

Toes are very lightly reinforced.

Sizing, fit and wearing experience


The CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights are available in four sizes: Small, medium, Large and X Large.

We trialled them in the X Large size.



When I removed the tights from the packaging I was slightly worried as they looked very small for X Large. But my word, these tights really have amazing stretch.

Once I got them on, my first thought was: "this is a perfect fit!" My second thought was: "Oh wow, they feel so good!".

As described above, the tights are incredibly soft. The Spandex content in the yarn enables a close, second skin fit on the leg.

The brief/panty was also equally stretchy, and sat comfortable above the waist.

These tights stay in place well and need little adjusting throughout the day.

Colour range


The CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights look black in publicity images and also when you take them out of the packaging.

However when worn they look to me more like a dark charcoal colour, or what European hosiery brands often call Almost Black or Anthracite.





Price and availability


The CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights are made in the USA and CARRA is a USA brand. They are therefore priced in US dollars. They are currently priced at $15.99.

Conclusion


As a guy I wasn't completely sure about wearing tights with a built-in "French lace panty" but I will assess them essentially on two key factors: Fit and the feel/wearing experience.

On both counts the CARRA Hosiery Almost Opaque Tights score highly. Fit was really excellent and the tights do feel quite amazing to wear. They have this amazing softness and second skin feel that is a bit addictive. You want to put them on again to get that sensation you first experienced the first time you tried them.

Most guys will wear these under trousers or shorts, so the French lace panty won't be seen. With or without underwear you will enjoy these.

Recommended