The search for running tights...

I currently have 3 pairs of pants 

to choose from when I run:

1. My Reebok running tights. These are thick and warm. I bought them about 10 years ago. They were $50 and that was a lot of money to me back then. However, they have held up well. I wear them almost every day in the winter. They are perfect for 15-40 degrees.

2. These thin C9 (Target) running tights. They are useless. Not only are they uncomfortable, but they are so thin that I may as well be wearing shorts. I don't know why I still have these. I wear them like three times a year, and every time I wear them, I am reminded of how bad they suck.

3. My lined Adidas swoosh pants. These were hand me downs I was given in college. A friend of mine was a cheerleader and these were the swoosh pants they would wear to football games when it was cold out. I wear these pants over my Reebok tights when it is below 15 degrees. They are not fashionable and I feel like I have on an extra 10lbs when I wear them, but they are warm.

This winter, it finally dawned on me that I should invest in a couple more pairs of warm running tights. If I could go back in time and buy 3 more pairs of the Reebok tights, I most certainly would.

The first place I headed in my search for tights was Dick's. I was severely disappointed. They didn't have a huge selection of pants, and the ones they did have were very thin. I did find a couple thick, lined pairs that were reasonably priced ($30) but when I got them into the dressing room, I discovered there was mesh on the calves. Why would they put mesh on THICK, LINED running tights? Clearly whoever wants tights like these wants to be warm, right?

Even though I personally thought the tights were ugly, I would have bought 3 pair since they were so comfy and warm... besides the mesh.

Here's another example of the type of mesh the pants at Dick's had:

Many friends recommended stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall's. I tried both places. I thought I hit the jackpot with a black pair, but when I got them into the dressing room, I realized I had been tricked...

FREAKING MESH!!!

Here are two ugly pairs that were warm but they were not comfortable. I simply have to be comfortable when I run. I don't care if my clothes are ugly or I don't match, but I have to be comfortable.

Lisa @ Tech Chick Adventures sent me a link to a simlar pair of fleece lined Athleta tights she wears. I normally don't buy clothes online because I have to try them on, but since there were free returns, I bought two pairs.

On Monday morning, when my tights still hadn't arrived, I checked the package tracking online. It said they had been delivered on Saturday and were in my mailbox! I guess we didn't check the mail over the weekend. I wanted to go right outside and get the pants, but I didn't want to wake Paul up with the front door. (I got up super early... no sleep for this chicky.) I could have gone out the side door, but I was too afraid. It was like 3:30am!

When Paul got up to go to the bathroom around 4:30, I went out the front door to get the package. When I got the tights out, I was impressed with how thick they were. Maybe fleece lined it the way to go!?

I tried them on, and unfortunately I had the same problem I usually have with pants. I got a medium, which was the perfect size for my thighs and butt, but there was some excess material around my waist which made the pants sag at the crotch. My butt/thighs need a medium but my waist needs a small.

Sigh.

So I will be returning the pants. But holy hell they were WARM. Now I know that I need to be looking for fleece lined pants!

If you have any ideas for me, leave them in comments!