Tracksmith Twilight 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. Even so, some items still have limited sizing and their women’s sizes could be more inclusive. 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.

Tracksmith Knows How to Pick Fabrics

You can always rely on a Tracksmith product to have superb fabrics and the Twilight half tights are no exception. The official specs have the main body fabric at 74% nylon and 26% elastane, with a slight ribbed texture and mild compression. The liner fabric has a higher elastane content, coming in at 57% nylon and 43% elastane. The liner fabric is so soft and stretchy that it disappears against the skin. The main fabric is overall soft, but you can feel the ribbing and slight compression. Compared to the Turnover half tights, the Twilight half tights feel a bit more stout and durable — the Turnovers are the silk pajamas, while the Twilights are the crisp, sturdy cotton. The Twilights are also a bit more compressive and supportive. Both are comfortable, both do the job, sometimes I just prefer one over the other. If I had to guess, Tracksmith chose the slightly more robust fabric for the Twilight half tights specifically to support the leg pockets and the added weight they may carry (more on those pockets later). Even so, compared to almost all other half tights, these do not carry that typical slick, synthetic feel, which is a nice change and makes them feel durable.

While the fabric is on the more robust side, this has not led to excessive sweat retention for me. The half tights definitely still retain sweat, but the nature of the fabric seems to mean saturated does not equate to weighed down, as is common with other synthetic materials. The weight of the fabric also does not seem to translate to lack of breathability or excessive heat retention, as I have been fine with these half tights on very hot runs.

The Twilight half tights feature a full brief liner. I generally prefer the “modesty panel” approach, with just a second liner layer of fabric only in the front of the crotch, as it just results in less bulk. Thankfully, with the material selection and construction for the brief here, I have no issue with bulk or bunching. Tracksmith also used a similar inseam and gusset design to the Turnover half tights — a separate double-layer strip of fabric on the inside of each leg, plus a diamond gusset in the crotch. Combined with the brief, this has led to no issues with chafing on any of my runs.

The waistband on these half tights is above average. It feels precisely finished and sturdy — if one complaint, it perhaps feels slightly overbuilt and thicker than necessary. The drawstring is a bit of a letdown, as it does not grip itself very well, making a tight cinch difficult to achieve. Even so, on the run, the waist feels comfortable and stays put, without excessive rollover at the belly.

Tracksmith Also Knows Construction

I have not yet owned a piece of Tracksmith apparel that isn’t superbly constructed and the Twilight half tights are no exception. The stitching is all flat and well placed to minimize bulk, while looking sufficient to ensure long-term durability. Save for perhaps the waistband (noted above), nothing feels overbuilt, but rather well thought out and suited to purpose. The fanciest part of the construction is the design between the legs, called out above, to minimize chafing and maximize flexibility. Beyond that, there are no specific details to call out — for instance, no silicone leg grippers — just straightforward techniques, well executed. Likely due to the slightly compressive fabric, the half tights stay in place on the run, with nothing riding up or moving around noticeably.

Tracksmith Still Does Not Know Pockets

I have some qualms with Tracksmith’s decisions on the pocket design for these half tights…

First, the leg pockets are much smaller than I expected. There’s no hope of fitting a 500ml soft flask in these — something other half tights achieve. In fact, getting my iPhone 16 Pro (non-Max) with a case into the leg pockets is a struggle. It slides in nicely without the case, so I usually take the case off before a run in these half tights. A Max size iPhone does just “fit,” but only because the fabric is stretchy. Certainly you can carry gel packets in these pockets, but you could also carry gels in the rear pockets of the Turnover half tights. You can also fit a 150ml HydraPak nutrition flask and, barely, a 250ml soft flask. The items you can fit in these pockets are carried nicely, without excessive bounce or sway.

Second, the leg pockets are placed strangely high up. Most other half tights place the leg pocket top opening a third to halfway down the leg — Tracksmith placed theirs literally right at the bottom of the waistband, so maybe an inch from the top of the half tights. You might think this is so you can get taller pockets, to fit a taller flask more completely, but you would be wrong — the bottom is still stitched, resulting in a pocket that seems to have less depth than other half tights. If the pockets were taller, I would think they were placed close to the waistband for stability — as is, I’m not sure the reasoning. The unfortunate side effect for me, as a bigger runner with a belly, is that getting things into and out of the pockets is more challenging than it needs to be.

Third, and finally, we lost rear storage relative to the Turnover half tights. Those have drop-in pockets along the back, to fit gels, with a small zippered pocket on the right rear. The Twilight half tights have a slightly larger zippered pocket at the center rear, with no additional pockets back there. It feels like we end up with similar overall carrying capacity, just in a different place — and maybe the ability to carry slightly larger items — but you’ll really have to shove it in to fit something like an iPhone.

Tracksmith gets so much else right that I can only assume they aren’t even trying here. High-capacity half tights are clearly popular. I don’t understand why Tracksmith won’t build one. Please, Tracksmith, design some higher capacity half tights. While I’d prefer larger, more optimally placed leg pockets, a simpler solution could just be combining the design of the two current half tights — the leg pockets of the Twilight with the rear pockets of the Turnover.

Comfortable, Lightly Compressive Fit

In use, the Twilight half tights are unobtrusive and not noticed — that’s a compliment. The fit is lightly compressive, supportive, but we aren’t talking anything approaching actual compression shorts. As a bigger runner with a belly, the rise is exactly correct for me to wear the half tights where I want — below the belly roll, not up near my belly button — with the crotch hitting where I expect. The one complaint I have with fit (cover your ears and eyes, children) is that the seam of the crotch, relative to the fabric around it, stretches in a slightly different way. The uncomfortable outcome of this is a bit of man camel toe. It’s not especially noticeable once you are running, but when you are standing still, it can look a bit… off-putting. I’ll spare you the picture to demonstrate — you can imagine it.

Luxury — Just Not for Long, Loaded Runs

No pair of half tights has caused so many mixed feelings in me before. I was super excited when the Twilight half tights were announced, thinking Tracksmith had finally delivered the cargo half tights I want, with the Tracksmith quality I love. After receiving them, that excitement turned into disappointment — the pockets simply do not provide real cargo carrying capacity. That disappointment has changed over time. For my everyday runs, where I’m just bringing a phone, the Twilight half tights represent a compromise — slightly less comfort than the Turnover half tights, but actual phone carrying capability. With that viewpoint, the Twilight half tights have become my outdoor, non-long-run default, with the Turnover half tights my treadmill, not-carrying-a-phone default. For longer outdoor runs, I’d reach for other half tights.

Ignoring my pocket ambitions, the Twilight half tights are undeniably excellent in almost every way. Any issues I raised above are minor — there’s very little to complain about, so that is me searching for flaws.