Half tights and shirtless is the worst look in distance running.

I would like to put on record that the reason I didn't consider shorts over tights is because I don't consider anyone who does it an actual runner. Very jogger behaviour.

Boxers under split shorts is a good honorable mention

Worse is shirtless with arm warmers. AND gloves. Some local “elite” group is promoting this look.

I feel like shirtless with full tights is worse

A singlet tucked into the tights reduces the drag. Those precious seconds matter.

The thing is, you look even more effeminate when you put split shorts over tights. Split shorts alone are fine, but when you put tights under them, it makes your hips look wider relative to your upper thigh; in essence, giving you a more feminine looking physique.

It also screams insecurity. If you don't want to be showing off your bulge, that's fine, just wear the split shorts. But "oh no, I can't possibly have someone see my upper thigh."

My gripe with half tights and no top is purely aesthetic. I just think it looks sh*t; like wearing jeans or chinos without a belt.

Gerry would have looked better and run faster in half tights than those billowy sail shorts.

This is entirely dependent on who the beholder is. When I was in college as an 800 runner, I did all track workouts in short tights and no shirt, because that was the most comfortable and the only people around were my teammates and coaches. When doing long runs I only ran in shorts because I was running through a town filled with college girls who were not on the track team and I know for a fact did not consider short tights an attractive look. My pure distance running teammates would run in short tights and no shirt and looked ridiculous with their skin and bones physiques. A number of female friends commented to me about how grossed out they were by that look. I did wear long tights with long sleeves when it was cold though

I sometimes run laps at a track open to the public. It's conspicuous that the first to take their shirts off are guys who aren't that good at running but fancy themselves as looking real muscular. Fifteen degrees celsius and intermittent rays of sun? Get that shirt off immediately. Most of them just look plain flabby and bloated to me and would be better off with their shirts on.

Whereas the guys who take running seriously tend to keep their shirts on until it's 25 degrees celsius or so.

Low confidence high anxiety beta wanting to impose their preferences on others to feel better...

Honestly, just as long as the tights aren't white (men or women) then we're good.
In the cycling world where ALL shorts are tighties, white shorts is a running joke. Just don't wear them. If you do, just please make sure to have underwear.

Wearing tights when out for a run just looks stupid. Doesn't matter if they are half tights or full length. You might think you are being cool but people are laughing at you.

In competition tights are fine.

Half tights and SHORT-LESS is the worst look in distance running.

Fixed it for ya!

Full tights and shirtless is much worse.

And Rupp has had a half-dozen worse looks than merely half tights and shirtless.

it's the ratio of garment length relative to limb length.

the problem is that half-tights are too long to pair nothing on the torso.

if one is shirtless, the tights should have about a 3" inseam.

most men are too insecure to wear something that is both tight and short.

given 3" inseam tights aren't easy to come by, split shorts do indeed make more sense aesthetically.

As a self-appointed LetsRun fashion police officer, I agree. Proportions are important when it comes to the clothing itself and the shape of the person. I'm not shaming anyone for looking "bad" when they run as it's not the most important thing, but certain choices look "better" than others.

Split shorts look better on narrow hips while shirtless, which is generally most slim male runners. However, balanced with a loose-fitting shirt, half-tights look good.

The difference between split shorts (or any loose-fitting shorts) and compression/tight shorts is more obvious on female runners because our hip and butt shape tends to be more diverse. Other than how the shorts look, the feel of the fit itself is more obvious.

Let us women sexualize men for once and stop spreading lies 😭😭 Half tights ALWAYS look good.

Half tights are contraindicated for those suffering from Dunlap disease.

The worst look is not half tights/shirtless. The worst look is aluminum spandex pants crafted from the fingers of child workers + a 1960s era pink puffy vest + a fluorescent Nike bra + your dad's old socks with the toe parts cut off. And a beanie that is so small it cuts into your cranium, restricting blood flow to your brain.