How do I tell a dude not to wear shorts over his tights?

These guys don't wear shorts over their tights. Just sayin.

http://d28mt5n9lkji5m.cloudfront.net/i/XJLz0j7WrT.jpg

Long Johnny Silverado wrote:

So 70s wrote:http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/cross-country-meet-oregons-alberto-salazar-in-action-news-photo/81374792

For what it is worth, those look like Long Johns, not tights. Which makes it even more 70s...

Great photo.

Salazar's in tights in this one.

I'm utterly confused. Why do you need to tell him he shouldn't wear shorts over tights? Is this a thing? Is it not "hip" to wear shorts over tights? Is there any actual benefit to not wearing shorts over tights? Or is the OP one of these snobs who believes some clothing is correct to run in and others are incorrect? Legitimately don't understand this...

Um... What? wrote:

I'm utterly confused. Why do you need to tell him he shouldn't wear shorts over tights? Is this a thing? Is it not "hip" to wear shorts over tights? Is there any actual benefit to not wearing shorts over tights? Or is the OP one of these snobs who believes some clothing is correct to run in and others are incorrect? Legitimately don't understand this...

The OP is frustrated because he cannot see his buddy's "outline"... But he does not know how to come out of the closet.

I wear shorts under mine because I'm nervous about chafing my donger to a bloody pulp. But that might just be my problem.

Charlie sheeen wrote:

Um... What? wrote:

I'm utterly confused. Why do you need to tell him he shouldn't wear shorts over tights? Is this a thing? Is it not "hip" to wear shorts over tights? Is there any actual benefit to not wearing shorts over tights? Or is the OP one of these snobs who believes some clothing is correct to run in and others are incorrect? Legitimately don't understand this...

OP is a 210 lb hobby jogger who asks if he should wear a locket to time his cadence

I really occupy more of your thoughts than I am comfortable with.

There is nothing wrong with wearing shorts over tights. I do it also. Apparently some people think it looks funny, but so what? I think the OP is probably a young guy who is overly concerned about what other people may think.

Nothing Wrong wrote:

There is nothing wrong with wearing shorts over tights. I do it also. Apparently some people think it looks funny, but so what? I think the OP is probably a young guy who is overly concerned about what other people may think.

This.

OP sounds like a real loser.

I train outside in sub-zero temps with a group all winter. I don't think that either the men or the women in the group want to see my unit in various states of freezing pressed up against a spandex layer. I think that is a certain premise. Another safe premise is that putting a pair of running shorts over is no trouble at all.

The only reason anyone has ever clearly articulated NOT to do this is basically "Letsrun losers say it's for losers."

blaazing wrote:

sometimes you just need to choose your battles wisely. If they are short shorts over tights, something needs to be said. If they are knee length shorts over tights, let it go.

Disagree. Just like running at an temperature, tights or not, you don't want long shorts flapping everywhere. And the knee length shorts over tights thing will make you look like an X-fitter or ultimate frisbee player, and therefore slow.

homo milk wrote:

Some guys don't want to freeze their junk or show it off like Nureyev.

Shorts over tights are a practical thing, not a fashion statement.

Stop being a homo.

+1

beatup&operatedon wrote:

Oh my, the smart things they do, those MMA fighters!

Anyway, my neighbour, you know the famous brain surgeon. that guy is also towns' arm wrestling champion. On top of that, when he wears tights... well you KNOW he aint no girl either.

He worked on me too, in all of his three disciplines mind you

So...he did brain surgery on you, arm wrestled you, and humped you?

shorts over tights wrote:

Nothing Wrong wrote:

There is nothing wrong with wearing shorts over tights. I do it also. Apparently some people think it looks funny, but so what? I think the OP is probably a young guy who is overly concerned about what other people may think.

This.

OP sounds like a real loser.

I train outside in sub-zero temps with a group all winter. I don't think that either the men or the women in the group want to see my unit in various states of freezing pressed up against a spandex layer. I think that is a certain premise. Another safe premise is that putting a pair of running shorts over is no trouble at all.

The only reason anyone has ever clearly articulated NOT to do this is basically "Letsrun losers say it's for losers."

No good deed goes unpunished...sad face

thejeff wrote:

I mean, I know it is good advice...but that seems like a weird thing to tell another guy, lol

1) Obviously, none of this REALLY matters.

2) Completely understandable that people don't want others to see their shrink-wrapped genitals.

3) However, this leads to 2 other issues:

a) In the case of short tights, why are you wearing them to begin with? If you feel the need to wear 2 pairs of shorts when you're wearing tight shorts, why not just wear regular shorts and be done with it? And please spare me any compression short benefits BS. NO ONE is running faster or recovering quicker or anything else because they're wearing short tights.

b) The REAL issue regarding shorts/short tights: Wearing longer short tights under shorter team shorts, because, "Oh no, someone might see my mid or upper thigh !!!" And yes, thighs are far less "personal" than genitals (or asses), though one wouldn't think so based on current (and fairly long-standing) apparel norms.

And yes, I am a p***** who likes to wear shorter shorts but is annoyed by strangers calling me a f** for doing so.

thejeff wrote:

Background:

This is a running buddy (I don't know him outside of running, tho) that we as a group are breaking of cotton shorts and crew length cotton socks. He said he was "good" for our long run tomorrow in the cold because he has some "nice" sweat pants :-)

I am not trying to BREAK him from wearing shorts over his tights... he actually just got his first pair of tights... but he looked shocked when I told him that they were meant to be worn on the outside, lol

So, not just a random dude, but a semi-regular running buddy... just trying to show him the bliss that is moisture-wicking material.

Sorry Jeff, but guys who where just long tights are gay. That's the rule.

I think most of the push-back against tights as outerwear is just blatant homophobia. I recall in high school (in the south) wearing shorts over tights because I thought wearing only the tights was "gay." But then, you know, I grew up.

(The "practical argument" is silly. What in the world is functional about a thin layer of polyester shorts in cold weather? If you need to keep your junk warm just throw some underwear on underneath. It would need to be very cold indeed for the three layer combo of shorts, liner, and spandex, no?)

But why be pushy? I'd just let your friend figure things out on his own. If he's more comfortable with shorts over tights, hey, it's his body.

Team Spandex wrote:

(The "practical argument" is silly. What in the world is functional about a thin layer of polyester shorts in cold weather? If you need to keep your junk warm just throw some underwear on underneath. It would need to be very cold indeed for the three layer combo of shorts, liner, and spandex, no?)

It isn't about heat. Shorts aren't going to do a thing for you in sub-Arctic Canada or Minnesota. Tights made for the cold will do a good job for warmth, no shorts needed for that. But they will also form-fit around your piece really well. And when you warm up and get condensation going on down there you will literally have icicles forming on it. Shorts recommended for that.

It is about not presenting you shrink-wrapped genitalia to the good men and women in your training group, or to the rest of the world. As I said in my post above:

I train outside in sub-zero temps with a group all winter. I don't think that either the men or the women in the group want to see my unit in various states of freezing pressed up against a spandex layer. I think that is a certain premise. Another safe premise is that putting a pair of running shorts over is no trouble at all.

Again, what's the argument against it, other than "Losers on Letsrun say it's for losers"? Because if your only reason is it looks silly, I promise plenty of people think all runners look silly prancing around in any season, whatever you wear. Some of us don't give a crap.

runnerbro wrote:

whats with all the hate against guys wearing tights? tights are MEANT to be worn as the outer layer and if you are so insecure about that you have to wear shorts over them then you have big problems

Oh yeah, Mr. Macho? Would you wear white tights?

explain yourself wrote:

beatup&operatedon wrote:

Oh my, the smart things they do, those MMA fighters!

Anyway, my neighbour, you know the famous brain surgeon. that guy is also towns' arm wrestling champion. On top of that, when he wears tights... well you KNOW he aint no girl either.

He worked on me too, in all of his three disciplines mind you

So...he did brain surgery on you, arm wrestled you, and humped you?

Well, seems like you need no explanation at all.

Although his cutting skills are not on par with his other talents, he's a great guy.

Read your post re NYC yesterday and thought I would try to observe on run this morning. Did 10 miler on West Side Highway. I would say a solid 75% of the men had the shorts over tights thing going on. To your point, most were younger. Of note, also noticed some women doing the same thing. Don't crush me for this, but most of the females doing so were quite booty disproportionate. Just an observation...