I'm not alone when I say that I despise wearing knee or leg warmers. They create the dreaded 'sausage leg' look or fall down during the ride. Instead, I tend to opt for the hassle-free, full-coverage protection of bib tights. However, most bibtights on the market today have some sort of insulation or weather protection – great for freezing temps but prone to overheating as the mercury rises. For spring and fall riding, when the weather is mild, all I really want is full-length lycra – just some thin fabric to ward off the air's chill, a good chamois, comfortable bib straps, and little else.
In my experience, the availability of such tights is far too limited. I've completely worn out two Castelli knickers after several shoulder seasons of riding, and Velocio's Signature Bib Knickers, which have been around for quite some time, also feature heavily in my rotation. But these are all shin-length.
I was, therefore, thrilled when Ornot unveiled its all-new women's Lightweight Droptail Tight earlier this spring. These full-length tights claim to offer year-round comfort, UPF 50+ sun-protection, a chamois made for endurance riding, and "life-changing, drop-tail functionality" that allows for bathroom breaks without having to take off your jersey.
Of course, I was keen to put these to the test. And not to give away the conclusion, but suffice it to say, tights like these are why I've bid farewell to the hassles of knee- and leg warmers for good.
Ornot's Women's Lightweight Droptail Tight
Ornot is a San Francisco, California - based cycling apparel company known for its minimally branded, understated on- and off-the-bike apparel. The brand also prioritizes local manufacturing and sustainable practices in their production processes, which led to the brand earning a Climate Neutral certification in 2019.
For these tights as with all its products, Ornot sourced as much recycled content as possible. The fabric consists of 78% recycled polyamide and 22% elastane. The endurance chamois is made of recycled content as well and carries a Oeko-Tex-certification, meaning it has been tested and certified to be free from harmful substances.
The tight's features at a glance:
- Lightweight, full-length coverage
- Fabric features a textured pattern
- Pull-down droptail functionality for easy bathroom breaks
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Stretchy and soft bib straps
- Reflective detailing on the lower legs.
- Suggested temperature range: 50-75°F / 10-24°C
- Made in Italy.
- Sizes: XXS - XL
- Cost: $194
The Riding Experience
In the marketing copy for these tights, Ornot warns that you might find yourself rushing to do an emergency load of laundry just to ensure these lightweight tights are ready for the long weekend rides ahead. And indeed, I've practically been living in these tights ever since I laid my hands on them, and consequently racking up our water bill, while Portland's weather stubbornly hovers between 43 and 58 degrees.
True to its name, the fabric of these tights is quite thin indeed, and has just the right amount of stretch to it: it slips on easily while there's also some resiliency to prevent the fabric from overstretching and remain form-fitting. Despite the lack of any grippers at the ankle, the tights stay in place and simply disappear from notice.
These tights offer no compression, however, and since I was between two sizes, I probably could have opted for the smaller size for a tighter fit.
Unlike your typical black bibtights, these 'obsidian' bibs actually sport a fine textured pattern throughout, which stands out and I often get asked about the tights when wearing them. There are minimal seams for comfort and the wide bib straps are noticeably soft. The endurance chamois on the denser side and serves me well.
The droptail functionality is pretty much a must-have these days. Gone are the days of wrestling with or removing top layers just to reach your bib straps. Ornot's droptail design is a clip- and magnet-free operation. Just pull the tights down when squatting and slide it back up when you're done.
Overall, these big tights boast a no-frills, sleek design, thoughtful construction, and supreme comfort – great for the mild and dry spring or fall days. On the flipside, these tights do not offer any insulation, wind blocking or water resistance. As such, they soak through quickly in the rain and won't offer you any warmth when that happens. I also cannot yet speak to the tight's performance in the sunnier 60-75 degree range. Personally, I overheat pretty quickly and prefer to wear shorts anytime the temperatures top 70 degrees. Yet, for endurance rides under the blazing sun, the UPF 50+ sun protection serves as a welcomed alternative to the constant reapplying of sunscreen.
Value and Verdict
Ornot's Women's Lightweight Droptail Tight is a game-changer for those who, like me, find knee or leg warmers more trouble than they're worth. They have become my go-to bottoms for spring cycling, and they'll likely remain a staple as fall rolls around.
They're a well-designed, no-frills and comfortable option for lightweight, full-length coverage for a rather wide range of riding conditions. From morning summer commutes to endurance rides during the shoulder seasons, these tights are quite versatile and will likely see a lot of use.
At $194, they're by no means cheap but certainly in line with, if not cheaper then, bib tight offerings from competing brands.For comparison, the aforementioned Velocio Signature Bib Knickers retail for $239, Rapha's Pro Team Lightweight Tights retail are $250 and Castelli's range of bib tights range between $174 and $230.
For riders seeking a versatile knee-warmer-free solution for milder weather conditions, these tights are a worthy investment that won't disappoint.
