The Right Gear

Shorts and Tights

Shorts

Shorts should be comfortable, lightweight and have the ability to wick away sweat when you train. Most running shorts now come with a pant liner so you don’t have to wear anything else with them. Try them on first, as some of the inners can be a little restrictive if you don’t get the right size. Most shorts come with elastic waist bands, but it is worth paying a little extra to get a draw string as well, so you can tie the shorts to your specification rather than rely on the elastic to hold them up.

Elastic-only shorts often move down a little, especially in wet conditions. Your shorts shouldn’t be so tight that they cut off circulation round your waist but not so loose that they flap around all the time either. Check the slit up the side, often this is quite large to allow for a greater ventilation but make sure you are happy with how much leg it shows when you run.

Tights

When the weather gets cold it is advisable to wear tights to keep your legs warmer and thus reduce the chance of injury. Running tights can be custom fit to hug the legs more efficiently and stop the wind and rain penetrating the leg itself. This helps to reduce injuries from cold muscles and also means that you can enjoy running when the weather is a not ideal. Only diehard older runners now wear loose fitting cotton tights. Tights should be snug fitting and comfortable. It is important to try them on before you buy because many manufacturers have different cuts to suit different styles of runner. Generally the more expensive the tight, then the more comfortable they will be, and the better at keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter.