Compression tights vs Longjohns

it's part of my layering system winter/spring/fall in the mountains. the running tights are my base layer and probably aren't going to come off for the entire trip. i like the feel/fit of running tights more than standard long underwear, but they aren't as tight as say under armor heat gear tights. the running tights work through a pretty wide temperature range, shed rain/snow well and dry fast. my legs need much less insulation than my torso and the tights do a good job of cutting the wind and breathing without overheating my legs. at some point during the trip i take the shorts off and layer a pair of soft shell pants over my base layer. i wear the shorts because there are very few people who want to see me in just running tights.

These are two very different things. Beware the difference.

Longjohns or thermal longs put an insulation layer over your legs. In cold weather this can help keep both your feet and your whole body warm. And yes, I have seen people walking with thermal longs and shorts. I have worn them myself in the winter. They work, but watch out for the scrub.

Compression tights are not designed for warmth but to compress your legs. In doing so they restrict the flow of blood down and up your legs, with three consequences:
* your leg muscles are starved for energy because of the restricted blood flow
* your legs and feet get cold because of the restricted blood flow
* you enrich the vendors

Yes, I know they are heavily advertised with all sorts of medically false claims, but so are cigarettes and crystal healing. Yes, I have tried them myself, with bad results. I even tested them while sleeping, but my legs froze (so I took them off and was OK).

Cheers

Actually, both enrich the vendors! :-)

Compression tights are useful for lengthy air travel to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. They also help people with varicose veins who have to stand a lot. However, I've found hiking and backpacking (not with compression tights) to be a better and far more enjoyable cure for the latter!

Shorts over longjohns were very popular here in the Pacific NW in the 1980's–they were almost a backpacking uniform. They seem to have gone out of fashion since. IMHO the only problem is that in brush, especially the thorny type, you can really snag the longjohns!

Well anything can be taken to extremes such as the assessment that it is entirely marketing hub-bub and pooled with something as general as cigarettes. I guess it depends on just how tight you're going though.

One of my wife's biggest pet peeves when it is colder is clothing that has gotten wet from perspiration but cools because it is not entirely touching the body at all times. I got her a compression base-layer this winter since it was on sale for cheap. Well this made a HUGE difference for her because it is form-fitting enough that it stays in contact with all of her body at all times. Thus any sweat she generates does not ever cool down unless she is stationary for a long period in which case she experiences a uniform cooling sensation.

I do not believe they are intended to sleep in. They are an active-wear. I won't judge the merits of blood flow or muscle alignment, etc., but, I find compression underwear to be a great way to manage chaffing without any detriment of 'too cold'. Also compression layers really layer excellently, fwiw.

Most people don't have radically horrible experience with them as far as I can tell, it is mostly a preference thing.

>"Compression tights are useful for lengthy air travel to help prevent deep vein thrombosis."

My MD wife sometimes pushes a baby aspirin on me before a cross-country redeye on which I'm likely to have lousy circulation in my legs for hours.

On most flights, my approach is to drink a lot of water. (1) you're almost always dehydated at altitude and (2) you WILL get up to go pee, even if you have to wake the guy on the aisle. Getting up to walk around frequently is the best preventative measure.

Matt – I'm with your wife on the form-fitting garments not being unpleasant cold because sweat has been evaporating all along. But I think of form-fitting as being stretchy, not compressive.

My winter cycling "tights" are the best of both. Not too tight and plenty warm. Go to your local bike shop and try on a pair of non padded ones.