A good pair of tights聽is one of the most versatile pieces of gear in any woman鈥檚 closet. They鈥檙e comfortable, flattering, completely unrestrictive, and work for a range of sports. Any time I go camping or take a trip that I know will involve a smorgasbord of outdoor activities, tights are the first item I pack.
My issue with them聽has always been durability. I spend a lot of time rock climbing in the spring and fall,聽dragging myself over granite and sandstone, and can鈥檛 even count the number of leggings I鈥檝e ruined. So I was excited to try out Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 new ($89),聽women鈥檚-specific bottoms聽made from a knit nylon-elastane fabric that鈥檚 thicker and tougher than what you鈥檒l typically find in bottoms.
Initially, I was struck by how lightweight the Oriel is. It has聽the airy feeling of a tech tee, not the cottony heft or compressive fit of some other models. In addition to its聽stellar performance on rock, the Oriel聽protected my shins from cholla cacti during hot July days.聽The first few times I brushed against sharp branches, I held my breath and glanced down, expecting to see a giant rip. None appeared. Now, after more than four months of weekly use in the gym and on the gritty sandstone boulders near my home in Santa Fe, these bottoms聽hardly look worn.
Aside from the fabric, I love the power-mesh waistband, which helps wick sweat in hot weather. I would prefer a slightly higher rise in聽the waist鈥攁s is, the Oriel聽hits just at the hip, low enough that I have to tug it聽up before sit starts. But these tights are聽so comfortable that I keep grabbing them聽first over every other pair in my drawer.