Price: $90
The right tights for:
Conquering the frozen tundra

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These are the tights I plan to don for winter’s coldest days, which is to say they’ve insulated me a bit too well during testing in 30- to 40-degree temperatures. The New Balance Heat polyester and spandex blend (it’s mostly polyester) warms me up the moment I step outside into the cold. I can hardly feel wind through the material. The thigh pockets are just big enough for my iPhone 7+, although I’ve yet to determine whether adding 5 ounces to one leg is a good idea for longer runs. Despite their relative thickness, the tights don’t slide down or restrict knee movement.

I like to choose my tights by temperature, wind, and precipitation. The NB Heat Tight is probably overkill for a clear 40-degree day, although if your body runs a bit colder, they might be ideal for almost-winter conditions, too. Once the temperature drops below 30 and wind and snow enter the mix, though, these are the tights I’d pick. I’ve not used them to run in the snow, but I used them on the bike in blowing sleet. They’re quite resistant to wind and water, and although they’re not the most breathable, I’d rather be a little sweaty than cold and wet.

New Balance NB Heat Tight

NB Heat Tight

New Balance NB Heat Tight

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Credit: Trevor Raab

Fleecy Interior

New Balance states the Heat Tight uses a mix of woven, brushed, and knit fleeces, which essentially means the polyester blend is designed to feel warm and cozy inside and smooth externally. This gives the tights a layered feel, as the fuzzy internal fleece felt soft against my skin compared to the outer fleece’s weather-resistant surface. That’s great for super-cold days and shorter runs when I just want to be warm, but I wouldn’t pick these for a harder effort unless it were below 20 degrees: The internal fleece collects sweat and doesn’t breath well enough to cope with serious perspiration.

New Balance HeatView 10 Photos
Trevor Raab
The reflective decal makes you seen.

Elsewhere, I appreciated the reflective decals (especially post-daylight saving time) and the thigh pockets are deep and stretchy. The waistband drawstring is thick and easy to manipulate with gloves on, as are the zipper pulls on the lower legs.

Verdict: For Your Coldest Runs—Feel the Heat

If the intended purpose of the Heat Tight is to be warm on the coldest of days, then New Balance has succeeded. They’re a bit thick for the marginal days when shorts or tights would work, but for frigid conditions, they’re my new go-to.

Headshot of Dan Roe
Dan Roe
Test Editor

A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.