Nike Lava Loops Half Tights

Nike

It’s Nike. I don’t think this brand really needs an introduction. The Lava Loops do fall into their more trail-focused sub-brand. It is worth saying that, generally, Nike actually tends to stock running gear in a broad size range (XS to XXL in bottoms, XS to 4XL in tops, often with tall variants as well) — a benefit of being a large company, I imagine, but worthy of recognition.

Quick Note

The pair of Lava Loops I am reviewing here pre-dates the current ACG pair linked. While the only thing that I can visibly see has changed is the addition of a bungee system on the rear, it’s possible other details have changed. I will try and get my hands on an ACG pair and update this post with any differences, once budget allows.

A Touch Warm

Nike lists the Lava Loops Half Tights as being “Dri-FIT ADV”, which in this case means an 83% polyester and 17% spandex blend. This same fabric is used throughout the construction — the main body of the half tights, the waistband, and the leg openings. They claim it has superior sweat wicking, with advanced cooling and breathability zones. I honestly have no idea what they are talking about and I’ll say immediately that one of my complaints with these half tights is they trap heat and feel rather heavy. I’ve also noticed they take longer to dry than some of my other half tights. While I would not say they retain sweat — evaporation seems ok — they just generally feel warm to run in. I have not noticed any special construction to enhance breathability and the fabric itself seems like a dense weave. It is very comfortable with a soft feel against the skin, but that comes with the noted tradeoffs.

The Lava Loops also have a full brief liner, which I personally don’t think adds any value, and just adds another layer of fabric to trap moisture and heat — it’s comfortable enough, but unnecessary for me. The other contributor to warmth, in my opinion, is the length of the half tights, which is my only other real complaint. To my preferences, these are way too long — I would prefer them 2 to 3 inches shorter.

Polished Construction

Moving past the fabric, there is virtually nothing to fault in the construction of the half tights. The seams are all well placed, small, and flat, meaning they’ve given me no issues with irritation. There is a thin, but long gusset — it runs the entire crotch, from halfway down one leg to halfway down the other. This design means mobility is excellent and removes seams from the inside of the leg, which for me has translated to no issues with chafing. The leg openings are stitched with a seam, but this hasn’t caused any issues. If anything, I think the leg openings could be tighter to keep them in place better.

The waistband of the Lava Loops Half Tights is simple, but very comfortable. The only complaint may be it’s a bit wide, so the drawstring tends to drift down, relative to the top of the half tights. The drawstring itself is excellent, if just a tad short (though it’s still long enough to tie, so maybe it’s just right). It is a barely-stretchy material that grips itself well, making it easy to get properly tight, without having any biting at the hip bones. This is one of the half tights I battle with the least to get locked in from the get-go, meaning no plumber’s crack issues at all — the waist stays put. Nike foregoes the common silicone dip on the drawstring tips, opting for no tips at all — just the drawstring folded back on itself and stitched. Bonus points for holes in the waistband that enable the drawstring to be tied either externally or internally (I prefer external).

Numerous Pockets

In total, the Nike Lava Loops have six distinct pockets. The first set of pockets is up front, just below the waistband. Here we have three mesh pockets, all of which are four inches deep, with the center at five and a half inches wide, while the side two are four inches wide. This is a lot of carrying capacity — usually I store 150ml nutrition flasks on either side, which fit comfortably. I’ve previously mentioned that my belly tends to get in the way of these waistband pockets. That is still true, but I’ve started getting used to the placement and found that once you figure it out, even with a belly, they are usable and it’s a nice place to add storage. The waistband does still tend to roll a bit and I imagine the whole thing works better for someone without a belly, as the pockets probably require less coordination to get into. That being said, more storage can be nice and it has to go somewhere.

On the outside of each leg is a deep mesh side pocket, but with a unique flare compared to the side pockets on most half tights. Here, Nike has a slightly rounded shape, wider at the top than the bottom. This seems to make it easier to get items in and out, since your hand can get around them in the pocket. There’s another clever trick, which is that the mesh actually goes all the way to the waistband, with the opening in the middle of the pocket (and a slight overlap between top and bottom). You would actually be able to get a taller item in and could probably cram it pretty full, with everything still secure. I have no issues fitting a 500ml soft flask or a large phone in each leg and I can push the top under the upper mesh, so everything is super secure, but still easy to get at.

The final pocket is at the rear and is a typical rectangular zippered pocket. The inside of this pocket seems to be lined with a water resistant fabric, but there is no way you can fit most modern phones inside. It is maybe a place to store your salt pills, some small nutrition sachets, or for me: keys, credit card, and ID. I personally think elastic mesh pockets, similar to the front, may offer more versatility, but there’s no doubting the zipper is nice for “valuables.” Perhaps Nike just making it bigger, big enough to hold a modern smartphone, would solve things for me.

Combined, these pockets represent all the storage I generally need. I can load them up with 500ml in each leg, 150ml in each outer front waist pocket, plus small items and extra nutrition mix in zippered rear or mesh front center. The only awkward item to place when fully loaded is my cell phone, since both side pockets are filled with flasks, leaving basically only the front middle as an option. I find it feels odd to carry there — and this is an iPhone 16 Pro, meaning a Max may be a tight fit up front (but easily fits in a side pocket if not otherwise used). Even with all this stored, I’ve had no issues with tugging or bouncing — the mesh does a nice job keeping everything in place. I’ve maybe felt a little bit of sagging at the leg openings and crotch over a long run, but nothing terribly annoying or noticeable.

No Major Fit Issues for a Bigger Runner

As mentioned above and in other posts, I prefer wearing my half tights (and all bottoms) below my belly, not up near my belly button at my “natural waist.” My assumption from some brands is they want you to wear the bottoms higher, because the rise (distance from crotch to waistband) seems too long to wear lower. For my fit, the Nike Lava Loops do not have this issue — wearing them where I want, the rise seems appropriate, meaning the crotch nestled where it should be with the waistband where I want it. I could maybe go for a half inch to an inch shorter, which would lead to less roll in the waistband (and help out that pocket access), but, perhaps thanks to the brief liner plus the elasticity of the fabric, everything still seems to work out, with no chafing.

Hand It to Nike

There is no doubt that Nike is a big brand and, like others, I like to see underdogs win. In this case, though, we see what big players are able to do with their resources when they focus on a problem to be solved. The Lava Loops are simply excellent half tights. One of my favorite pairs. While I have some minor gripes around fit, fabric, and minor details, the overall finish, quality, and utility are top tier. Plus, Nike actually fits most of their products for a whole range of sizes, which is fantastic. For what is on the market that I have tried, if you want pockets, these half tights should be on your short list.