Tracksmith Turnover Half Tights (Lined)

Give Half Tights a Chance

The fact that my first review is a post covering a half tight is no mistake. While I suspect many larger runners, especially men, may be hesitant to don such skin tight apparel, I am here to encourage you to give them a chance. For more on that, check out my ode to half tights.

Tracksmith

Tracksmith is a reasonably well known, if niche, brand amongst runners. You would definitely know a Tracksmith item if you saw it, as their apparel generally has an identifying, “classic” style (especially if it carries the signature sash). More than anything, I suspect Tracksmith is known for their premium fabrics paired with eye-watering prices (though other brands have outdone them lately). In the past, they have also been known for less-than-inclusive sizing, but they made some efforts here in 2022 and 2023, with expanded sizing across the range. While the brand, and the aura around it, does not feel the most inclusive to me, some of their products are definitely worth a look.

Luxury Construction and Materials

The Tracksmith website says these half tights are made of a brushed-backed fabric of 80% polyamide and 20% elastane. I do not know what those words mean, but I do know they appear to translate into luxurious comfort. Do not expect the most supportive compression out of these half tights, as they seem geared more towards ease of movement. The fabric is perfectly smooth against the skin and just seems to disappear on the run.

Like the fabric itself, the waistband seems to be the perfect balance of stretch and comfort. It is incredibly comfortable against the skin, but does not roll over (as many waistbands seem to against the overhang of my belly). The drawstring is also an ideal material for being able to grip itself and, in concert with the elasticity of the waistband itself, results in a short that stays put on the run, never slipping downward.

The construction choices mirror the excellence of the fabric. The seams are all barely noticeable and appear to be quite strong, with no signs of loose threads after years of use. The fabric transitions to a dual layer, slight softer material between the legs. This isn’t just a simple gusset, but a seamless, low friction affair that runs all the way from one leg hole to the other. This means there is nothing between the legs to cause irritation. And while there are no silicon grippers for the legs, I have never had an issue with riding up.

You can purchase these half tights either without a liner or with a brief liner. I personally prefer built in liners for all of my half tights (though definition of liner varies a lot amongst brands). The liner in the Turnover half tights is a silky fabric that appears to get the job done — I have zero complaints, but also do not have much to say about it beyond it is there and works.

Supreme Performance

In general, chafing is the issue that can make or a break a pair of tights, in my experience. As indicated above, thanks to the unique construction of a seamless dual layer fabric between the legs, I have almost never had issues with these half tights (see the fit section below for a small exception).

Thanks to the fabric used in the Turnover half tights, I have never had an issue with sweat management. As a heavy sweater, this is always a concern, but these tights feel plenty breezy and have never felt soggy with sweat.

Combine these factors with the waistband/drawstring combo outlined above and you end up with a top performing pair of half tights.

Fabric Sacrifices

I am not an apparel designer or textile expert, so I say this with virtually no confidence, but I suspect that the properties that make these half tights so comfortable necessitate the sacrifices that prevent them from being perfect. Specifically, the comfort of the fabric seems to come at the cost of not have the strength to support large pockets. While the tights do have sufficient pockets to carry light items like gels through a long race, they do not have the pack mule capacity of some other half tights. For treadmill runs, these are almost always the pair I reach for first, but I debate grabbing them for outdoor runs. While I can fit my iPhone 16 Pro in the zippered back pocket (a Pro Max will not fit), the weight is noticeable and feels like it’s pulling the half tights down off my waist.

Additionally, after a couple of years of weekly use, there is noticeable pilling, mainly in the high friction area between the legs. While this does not lead to performance issues, I imagine it indicates the fabric won’t have the lifespan of a more durable, but potentially less comfortable fabric. The seams and remainder of the fabric, however, are still in excellent condition with virtually no signs of wear.

One Slight Note on Fit

While generally the fit on these shorts is excellent, one minor complaint I have for my size is that it seems the rise is slightly too long. I suspect this is just a consequence of having a larger waist, without being correspondingly taller. It feels like the shorts should be pulled up a little bit higher for the crotch to sit perfectly, but that would send the waistband of the shorts over my belly, and I prefer to wear the waistband under my belly. Only on rare occasions — hours long runs in high humidity — has this been a problem and lead to a minor amount of chafing in the crotch area.

So Close to Perfect

For treadmill runs where I don’t need to carry gear, the Tracksmith Turnover Half Tights are the ones I grab every time (if they’re clean). The comfort is unparalleled amongst my half tights and the fit is up there with the best. For outdoor runs where I want to carry larger or heavier gear, I still often grab these tights, but it sometimes requires a second thought. If they had slightly larger pockets that could carry heavier items without feeling weighed down, they would be perfect — I would probably stock my drawers with nothing else. But as it stands, you have to make a minor sacrifice in carrying capacity to experience the luxurious comfort.