let's get this out of the way: i was az running tights skeptic.
for years i couldn't get past it. half tights just didn't look right to me. too much compression, too little short, too many guys at the start line looking like they were about to audition for a cycling team. i was firmly in the split shorts camp and didn't see a reason to leave.
then you realize twenty-four hours in that wearing a pair of sweaty shorts across & over rolling mountains rubs you the wrong way. literally. so i picked up a pair of patagonia endless run tights a few years back because they didn’t look as “tighty” as some others. the fit was right. the feel was right. i stopped thinking about what they looked like and started thinking about how they ran. that pair eventually wore out, and i've been searching for a replacement ever since.
now i found it.
saysky combat+ short tight
this is the one. i picked up the combat+ 9" in rum raisin during my 2026 boston build and it immediately went into heavy rotation. the compression is firm but not suffocating. the waistband stays put through tempo efforts without digging in. and the 9" length hits that sweet spot where you get real coverage without feeling like you're wearing capris.
and yes, even my wife thinks I look good in them.
that’s what makes saysky different from other tights i’ve tried on the market. you actually want to be seen in them. the rum raisin colorway is subtle enough for everyday training but distinctive enough that you don't look like everyone else at the track or on the trails.
i've also been running in the saysky cr 8" short tight, which is a slightly shorter, lighter option. less compression than the combat+, more of a second-skin feel. i reach for these on what i think are my faster days. both have held up through weeks of boston marathon prep - tempo runs, long runs, track sessions. no signs of wear.
saysky combat+ 9" short tight - cr 8" short tight - check saysky.com for current pricing.
path projects sentinel half tight
looking ahead to summer ultras on my schedule, i needed something built for longer days on the trail. path projects already makes some of the best running shorts out there, so when i found the sentinel half tight i had to try them. i’m particularly drawn to their ‘liner is separate’ concept so picked up a pair of the lynx liners as well.having the liner separate is boon as the weather and activity shifts across days and seasons.
the sentinel is touted as lighter weight - clearly designed for hot miles and long efforts. the pocket situation is smart (secure without bulk) and the fit is relaxed enough for all-day comfort without being sloppy. i haven't put 200 miles into these yet so i'll hold off on a full review, but coming shortly after boston.
path projects sentinel half tight - check pathprojects.com for current pricing.
years in the making
if you're where i was a few years ago - convinced that tights aren't for you - i get it. but the new generation of half tights from indie brands has quietly solved most of the old complaints. the fits are better. the materials are lighter. the designs actually look good. and once you stop fighting it and just go for a run in a pair, you realize the performance benefits are real: less chafing on long runs, better muscle support during speedwork, and pockets that actually carry what you need and don't bounce.
you don't have to go full compression-everything. just try one pair. start with the saysky combat+ if you want something structured, or the path projects sentinel if you want something lighter. worst case, you have a new pair of tights you occasionally reach for. best case, you're a convert.
i was. and i'm not going back to chafed inner thighs on 20-milers.
