Why are half tights preferred over shorts?

There's a temperature range, roughly 30-45F, where I do find them helpful to keep the quads and hamstrings warm. At those temps when I'm running anything easy or moderate, those muscles don't stay as warm as I'd like. I've actually had a few cramps in regular shorts on longer runs, 2+ hours, where I'm working cold muscles pretty hard even though the pace is easy. So for me there's a utility to them, I couldn't care less about the aesthetics.

Less chafing for me with half tights. If Im running long, I also prefer half tights with pockets to hold gels securely, vs small butt pockets in shorts that only hold a couple of gels.

Beta males.

For me personally

• Less chafing
  
• Pockets are bigger and aren't flapping around
  
• Good for a wider range of temperatures
  

You're spittin', Mikey.

For me, less chafing between the legs.

I wear them because I look incredible in half tights!!!!!!!

Half tights for events 800M and below (maybe 1500m too).

Split shorts for everything else

Either way, yeah, the biggest reason for me is chafing. My quads have grown since my XC days so wearing them is uncomfortable now. I would wear them almost every day back in XC practice though

If shirtless, split shorts look better than half tights imo

True that, or just regular shorts are fine. But shirtless with half tights look goofy