Clothing that has compressive qualities can be very beneficial for runners. Running with compression pants, calf sleeves or socks on can help give you a bit of an extra edge. As you may or may not know, oxygen is what provides fuel for our muscles when we exercise. Having adequate amounts of oxygen will allow us to go further and faster. But if you don’t have enough oxygen, your body will then produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is that burning sensation you feel when you’re working out and pushing your body very hard. We can almost guarantee that every single runner has felt this at some point. In order to stave off premature muscle fatigue, we have to be able to give our muscles more oxygen more efficiently. We also need to be able to get deoxygenated blood to the heart in order to take away the lactic acid that is fatiguing the muscles. This, my friends, is where compression clothing comes in handy.

Properly made compressive clothing has graduated compression panels through it. Manufacturers are known to put a greater amount of pressure on the panels that are compressing the muscles furthest from the heart. In running leggings, the focus is on putting more a greater amount of pressure around the ankle. This will help to squeeze the muscles of your calf, ultimately giving the veins the necessary push they need to get that deoxygenated blood where it needs to go. When this process is in motion, you’ll be able not only run further because you’re getting more oxygen in your blood that can then be used to give power and strength to your muscles, but you’ll also be able to recover much faster because of how quickly your body is getting rid of the waste lactic acid.

The compression leggings on our list will be able to provide runners with the support they need in the areas they need it in order to perform their absolute best during every run. These running tights for men and women will give your quads and knees additional support to help cut back on some of the vibrations those muscles would otherwise have, helping you feel powerful for longer during your run.

No amount of compression can save a pair of running tights if you find them uncomfortable to wear in the first place. Comfort level is often determined by the materials used in construction of the clothing, as well as the way they are designed to fit on your body.

We scoured material lists, clothing tags and reviews from current wearers while we were choosing the best options to include in our buying guide. You’ll be happy to know that every one of the ten garments listed above have far surpassed our expectations in terms of comfort.

All of that said, however, comfort is a relative thing. What we might find to be a comfortable pair of leggings might not be so for you. If you know you’re a bit picky with the fabrics you find comfortable on your skin, we recommend making sure the product you’re investing in has a solid return policy. This will protect your investment in case you receive your item in the mail and find that you aren’t a fan of it in some way, shape or form.

The way your new running tights are designed to fit depends entirely on which product you choose from our list above. Some of the garments that made the cut on our buying guide are compression tights while others are not. As we touched on in the Compression section above, these particular options are designed to fit tightly on your body. They will feel entirely different than a pair of leggings that do not have compressive properties. If you’ve never worn compression clothing before, you might be surprised at how tight they feel. But, don’t worry. You didn’t purchase the wrong size. Compression tights are supposed to feel tight – that’s how they provide you will all that delicious compression. If you know you’re someone who hates the feeling of clothing tight against their skin, you may wish to pass right on by the tights with compression qualities. You will, more than likely, not find them comfortable at all.

If you tend to overheat and sweat a lot when you run or perform high-intensity activities, you know just how important it is to have the best running tights that are going to help keep you cool and dry during your workouts. This is why we wanted to take breathability into account as we chose the ten best options for our buying guide.

Breathable leggings are made from fabrics that naturally allow air to circulate under the clothing and over it. This allows sweat to dry as fast as possible and will stave off bacteria build-up. It’s this build-up of bacteria on our skin that leads to the scent we associate with body odor (or B.O.). If you’re doing a lot of running and experiencing a ton of moisture on your skin (especially in areas like your groin and armpits), it can be very easy to come down with a fungal infection. Investing in clothing that enhances the breathability of the product is essential in this case.

It can be really uncomfortable to wear clothing that has is not breathable. These garments can make you hotter which leads to even more sweat and bacteria build-up and further discomfort. No one wants to wear soaking wet clothing during their runs. Not to mention, clothing that is not breathable can lead to overheating very quickly which can not only affect your performance but can make you susceptible to unfortunate heat emergencies as well.

Support and compression go hand-in-hand. If you purchase a pair of leggings with compressive qualities, you’re going to be wearing something that is supportive. But do your tights need to be compression pants in order to be supportive? No. Not everyone likes the way compression clothing fits and feels on their bodies. That’s okay. You can still purchase a pair of running leggings that are supportive without being compressive. It’s the material of the garment that makes them supportive. Regardless of which product you choose from our list, we believe you’ll be happy with the amount of support they provide.

Why is support something you want in your running pants in the first place? Great question! No one wants to feel like their bodies are jiggling during their runs. It’s normal to jiggle. We all have a little extra skin where we may not necessarily want it. But feeling our tummies or thighs moving as we run can be really distracting. When you have a pair of supportive running leggings, they’ll hold your skin in place when you run.

Running tights are meant to fit, well, tight against your skin. This slim fit will help to ensure your clothing is not riding up mid-run. It also helps to eliminate any friction that baggier and less-fitted pants might cause on your skin. Tights don’t have to be restrictive, though. Materials like polyester and spandex will provide ample amounts of flexibility and freedom without making you feel like a busted can of biscuits or like you’re sliding into a pair of too tight Spanx.