Best Running Half Tights: Our Favorite Picks for Training, Racing, and Everyday Runs

Introduction

Half tights divide opinion. Some runners swear by them for every session, others still find the whole idea a bit strange. We sit firmly in the first camp: three of our four testers use them regularly for daily runs, hard workouts, and race day. After testing a large number of options across a wide price spectrum, these are the pairs we keep coming back to, organized by what we use them for.

Best for Storage and Ultras: Janji 8” Trail Half Tights

The Janji 8” Trail Half Tights are our go-to pair for anything long or gear-heavy. They have been raced in marathons, used at the Comrades Marathon, and taken on 100k ultras, while also serving as a daily training option. At £80 they are not cheap, but the sheer amount of use they handle makes the value add up, and a pair approaching 1,000 miles still looks close to new.

Storage is where these genuinely stand apart. You get seven pockets: two double-tiered side pockets making four on the thighs that will happily swallow an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a large rear pocket that doubles as a jacket tuck, and two small internal pockets including a key pocket with a clip. Load them with camera, gels, and a battery pack, and they still run smoothly with no bouncing. The fabric is fairly thick, which may feel limiting in heat, but it is stretchy and gives a nicely locked-in sensation. Flat seams, laser-cut hems, and a wide soft drawstring waistband round things out, though sizing comes up snug, so consider sizing carefully.

If you want pockets that hold a full ultra loadout without impeding your stride, we have yet to find a better option.

Best Utility Training Tight: New Balance 9” Half Tights

The New Balance 9” Half Tights do not match the Janji for storage, but they still offer a solid setup. Two drop-in thigh pockets handle a phone and gels, two smaller rear pockets fit a headphones case or a small gel, and a zippered rear pocket secures a larger iPhone or anything you cannot afford to lose.

Comfort is good, with flatlock seams to reduce chafe risk, solid coverage and support, and stretch fabric that moves well. The fabric is thick, which helps durability but can feel heavy in hot conditions or when layered under shorts. The substantial leg cuffs hold their position without rolling up. For day-to-day training rather than marathon racing, these are a pair we have used an awful lot.

Solid All-Rounder: The North Face Summit Repedo Tight Shorts

The North Face Summit Repedo Tight Shorts beef up your stash space with four pockets: a rear zippered pocket that easily takes a larger iPhone, two thigh pockets that hold contents securely, and a small key pocket inside the waistband that is awkwardly open and less useful. You could carry half a dozen gels comfortably, making these good for long training runs and potentially a marathon, depending on your fueling.

Other details impress too. Wide cuffs with grippy fabric woven in resist curling and rolling, though ours have worn through slightly. The drawstring waistband offers plenty of stretch, the gusset seams sit fairly flat, and breathable back panels add some airiness even if things still get warm when doubling up with outer shorts. Overall we would pick the Janji first, but these are a genuinely good daily option.

Best Budget Everyday Pick: H&M Move Half Tights

From the H&M Move range, these are the cheapest of our picks by some distance and the pair we reach for on everyday runs. They are the easiest to put on, sit lighter on compression than race-focused options, and still feel supportive and snug in the key areas. The soft material is very comfortable against the skin.

Storage is minimal: one pocket, effectively designed for a phone, though keys fit too. That has been enough for long runs and harder sessions, and nothing bounces around. If you only need to carry a few small things and want an affordable, comfortable half tight that still delivers the support you expect, this is an easy recommendation.

Best Compression Pick: Stocks Compression Half Tights

Stocks, better known for compression socks, have moved into tights, and these lean hard into compression. They are noticeably harder to get on, but once in place they support the key muscle groups in a very effective way. In hard sessions we felt that support clearly when pushing the pace.

You still get useful storage: one larger side pocket suited to a phone or a soft flask, plus a discreet rear pocket that we used for an energy chew, though keys would really want a zip to feel secure. They work fine for longer runs with a few items, but they shine in shorter, sharper sessions, and they are the pair lined up for our next race.

Best Value Performance Pick: Kiprun Trail Running 900 Ultra Half Tights

If value is your priority, Kiprun is a great place to shop. The Kiprun Trail Running 900 Ultra half tights use Re-on technology, a fabric approach designed to enhance the benefits of compression: it stiffens when muscles are stretched under impact, then relaxes, adding muscular support while staying comfortable. Comparable Re-on shorts from premium brands have sold for around £250, whereas these cost £40, making this a very cutting-edge performance option at a friendly price.

Even setting the Re-on tech aside, you get a very good half tight with loads of storage: a big front pocket and a big rear pocket, both able to take a soft flask, plus two smaller side pockets. That is everything needed for a long race or a long day on the trails. They are comfortable enough that they are currently in use for most key workouts and firmly in the running for a autumn marathon slot. If you want even better value, Kiprun’s other half tights in the range offer a lot of storage for around £20.

Best Long-Term Daily Trainer: Saysky Combat Plus Half Tights

The Saysky Combat Plus Half Tights are the pair we have used most over the past five years, with the same set serving weekly workouts, races, easy runs, and long runs throughout. That is a strong durability endorsement: they hold up to constant use and frequent washing. The only failure so far has been a drawstring pulled out of one set.

They are really comfortable and well put together, with a good supportive level of compression that never becomes uncomfortable. Storage covers daily needs with drop-in side pockets and a rear pocket for a phone or a gel. They are not the lightest or most aggressively compressive option, and pricing is on the higher side, though sales appear regularly and the longevity makes the value respectable.

Best for Comfort on Long Runs: Tracksmith Twilight Half Tights

At £90 or $90, the Tracksmith Twilight Half Tights are never going to be the budget option, but what they excel at is comfort. The inner lining is excellent, the thick material provides a lot of support, and the compressive feel on the legs stays comfortable without being overbearing on long runs. These are probably the most comfortable half tights in our collection right now.

Storage is well handled too, with expanding drop-in side pockets that take a phone and a zip pocket at the back. They are not just an easy-day option either: we have done full workouts in them and they feel good, and while they are not as light and stripped back as the most race-oriented tights, you can certainly still run very fast in them. For long easy runs in particular, they are an excellent choice.

Buying Advice

If you carry a lot of gear, start with the Janji; nothing we have tested manages a full loadout better. For everyday value, the H&M Move pair is hard to beat, and the Kiprun Trail Running 900 Ultra delivers genuinely advanced compression tech at a mid-price. For speed-focused sessions, the Stocks compression tights are our current pick, while the Tracksmith Twilight wins on comfort for long, relaxed miles. It is also worth noting that high-storage options exist from brands like FlipBelt and Rabbit, and that very cheap pairs can be found from budget marketplaces if you want to experiment before spending more.

Conclusion

Half tights have earned a permanent place in our running kits, whether that means stuffing seven pockets for an ultra, chasing a new 5k PB in strong compression, or just enjoying a comfortable easy run. Pick based on what you actually carry and how you run, and any of these eight will serve you well.