A tights review is only useful if you know how the testing was done. This page sets out exactly that, so you can judge whether our conclusions transfer to your own situation.
We buy what we review
Products are purchased at retail. We do not rely on press samples, because a gifted pair tends to arrive in perfect condition and rarely reflects what a paying customer receives. Where a brand sends something unsolicited, we say so in the review or do not review it.
Wear testing
Each pair is worn for a full working day at least twice, in ordinary conditions — desk work, walking, stairs. We are watching for waistband roll-down, toe reinforcement, whether the gusset holds, and how the fabric behaves after a few hours of movement rather than five minutes in front of a mirror.
Wash testing
Hosiery is washed according to the label, in a mesh bag, then inspected for pilling, seam distortion and loss of elasticity. A pair that looks good on day one but pills after two washes is rated accordingly.
What we score
Fit and sizing accuracy — does it match the size chart, and does it stay up?
Durability — resistance to snags, runs and pilling across wear and washing.
Comfort — waistband, seams, breathability over a full day.
Appearance — colour evenness, sheen, how it reads in daylight.
Value — whether the price holds up against what you get, and against cheaper alternatives that perform similarly.
Limits of our testing
We test a limited size range and cannot cover every body type. Fit feedback from readers carries real weight, and we update reviews when we learn something that changes our view. If your experience differs from ours, tell us via the contact page.