Our Favorite Stockings That Will Last Forever
Whether you call them stockings, tights, or pantyhose, I love wearing them all year round. Sheer black hose make any outfit sultry, and skin-color ones are like leg makeup. Fishnets and patterns are just fun. If you've only ever worn pantyhose in an egg from the drugstore, it's time to level up. Those ones tend to run and tear easily, sometimes after a single wear—or while you're still wearing them. They may cost you just a few bucks, but once they've ripped, they go with the rest of the world's textile waste—straight to a landfill.
You don't have to spend a lot to get hosiery that will last. We tried a few brands that promise durability. We wore them for a few washes and also tugged and yanked and tried to rip them. No tights are going to be bomb-proof, but these ones come pretty close.
Brenda Stolyar, Nena Farrell, Louryn Strampe, and Jaina Grey contributed testing to this guide.
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Our Favorite Brand So Far
Snag proves you don't have to spend a ton for durable and fun tights. Depending on what style you're looking for, they cost between $10 and $30. Of the brands we tried, Snag has the most options available in color, design, style, and size. Whether you want sheer tights, fishnets, or patterns like argyle or stripes, there's something for you. I particularly love these sheer glitter tights. All pairs we tried held up after wear and washing.
Be sure to consult the size guide. I appreciate that there are two guides, one for prominent “bums and tums,” but size up if you're unsure. WIRED writer Louryn Strampe tried the mock garters and said she wishes she sized up, as the back of the knee was tight. “They were made for thick thighs but not soccer calves,” she said.
Upgrade Tights
Sheertex is one of the best-known durable brands, and they really are strong. WIRED writer Jaina Grey has been wearing hers for years. She said she isn't gentle at all, washing them in hot water and putting them on like jeans—as in, not rolling them down and sticking just your foot in first and gently rolling them up. Her cat even gave it the old claw treatment. I thought they might be a fail when a thread pulled as I walked past a wood table, but that pull never turned into a run or tear, even after several wears and washes. WIRED writer Louryn Strampe tried the pair with the cute backseam detail and had a similar experience. On cheap tights, one pulled thread would be the end of that pair.
All of the WIRED writers who tried Sheertex also agreed they were comfortable, not squeezy, and stayed put. As writer Brenda Stolyar said, she never had to adjust them like she does other brands. One quirk is that some pairs have a prominent, bumpy seam up the front that shows through fitted clothing. You can even see it on some images on the website. The biggest con, though, is that Sheertex is expensive. It's hard to imagine spending $80 to $100 on tights unless you wear them often. However, we do see them discounted frequently.
Recycled Tights
Cheap tights are wasteful in how fast they fall apart. Swedish Stockings tights are not just durable, they're also made from recycled materials. The Olivia tights are made specifically from 92 percent Sensil Ecocare recycled nylon. The company also posts the product footprint and environmental assessment. The Lois tights, made in collaboration with Sheertex, use 56 percent recycled nylon.
I love that there isn't a control top, so you don't have to worry about it peeking out from under a short dress.
Best Fishnets
We Love Colors isn’t just a fun name—the tights really do come in an almost shocking variety of colors, ranging from your standard tights to fishnets. I’m a large and tested the fishnets in the standard “one size” (though there’s also a second plus size) and found them to be super comfortable and fit nicely without squeezing my waist at all. If you want tights for the tummy panel, these won’t help you, and they aren’t particularly warm either, but I loved wearing them to add some fun to a sweater dress or outfit.
The tights are well made and beautiful to look at, both in my hands and on my legs. I didn’t find my fishnets getting caught on many things as I walked or moved around, even with my toddler grabbing onto my leg. Some lighter dresses and fabric sometimes did get snagged or dragged up a little bit by the fishnets, though. —Nena Farrell
Try Fake-Sheer Fleece Tights Instead
Sheer tights are very pretty. But by nature, the thinner the tights are, the more risk they have of tearing. They also don't provide much warmth during the winter. I tried two pairs of illusion tights which are thick and fleece-lined, but instead of being solid black, look like sheer black tights over skin. I didn't think they'd actually look legit in person, but they do.
I tried two affordable pairs from Amazon. I prefer these ones from the brand X-Cheng, which are fleece-lined, except for the foot. The thinner nylon in that area gives you more airflow so your feet don't get sweaty in your shoes, and they don't feel as bulky. I also tried these ones. They're less sheer than the X-Cheng and have fleece throughout the foot. Both tights—and all the fake sheer tights I looked at—have very prominent butt seams. They feel very weird at first, but I did get used to it. Paler skin probably matches the nude color of the black tights, but based on the Amazon reviews, try the brown color if you have darker skin for that true illusion look.
★ Note: I, and many other people, buy clothes off Amazon. However, many international clothing manufacturers notoriously do not rigorously test for toxic chemicals. If you have sensitive skin or other health issues, you should probably choose a different option.
More Tights We Tried
Photograph: We Love ColorsHonorable Mentions
- Shapermint Essentials Ultra-Resistant Shaping Tights for $54: These tights also held up to yanking and pulling. I love the wide waistband because it doesn't dig into your stomach, and it keeps it smooth-looking under fitted clothes. But this is the only style from the brand (though you can buy Hanes and other brands on the site).
- We Love Colors Microfiber Tights for $18: We recommend this brand's fishnets above. This brand doesn't have sheer tights, but we also tried the 80-denier microfiber tights. If you like solid colors—or even just thick black—they're affordable and come in a wide range of sizes. I'm already planning which ones to get for Halloween costumes that would otherwise involve body paint (like a baby blue alien, a la Juno Birch).
How to Pick and Take Care of Your Tights
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Photograph: SnagTips and Advice
- We talked to a few experts in the fashion industry who said that a blend of materials adds durability, particularly a mix of nylon and spandex. For example, Snag's composition is listed as polyamides and elastane (that's nylon and spandex).
- Tights are categorized by denier, which refers to the thickness of the threads. So 20 denier tights will be sheerer and therefore more fragile, and 60 or 80 denier are opaque and stronger.
- It's better to size up. One size larger likely won't look baggy, but it will protect the seams and other weak points.
- Keep your nails trimmed and file sharp edges. Even durable tights can get pulled if something sharp goes through them.
- Consult the laundry suggestions for each brand, but in general, hand washing will extend the life of your tights. If you machine wash, use cold water and a mesh laundry bag.
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