There’s no worse feeling than rolling on a pair of tights and having them rip at the very last second. Or, when you get them on all the way, only to realize there are gaping holes and streaky runs running down the sides of your legs. If you are lucky to find a pair that’s totally intact, good luck keeping them that way—the tiniest nail-snag or pull will leave them in a tattered mess in mere seconds.
Solving the world’s tights problem is exactly what Sheertex set out to do, creating rip-resistant tights that reportedly last 10 times longer than traditional hosiery. That means no rips, no snags, no frays that run all the way from your ankle to the top of your thigh—Sheertex tights ain’t your grandma’s stockings, or so they claim. So, we put ’em to the test.
What are Sheertex tights?
As mentioned, Sheertex tights are rip-resistant hosiery that hold up better than your average stockings. They’re made from Sheertex®, a patent-pending polymer that’s stronger than the nylons of yore, giving you unfettered rip-resistance and protection from snags, scuffs, pulls, and stretches. They come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and thicknesses and include thigh-high stockings, socks, and shapewear, as well.
To ensure the tights are as durable as they claim to be, the Sheertex lab puts them through a series of tests to measure factors like burst strength (aka, how long it takes for a human thumb to rip a hole in the tights while you’re putting them on), abrasion resistance (to mimic chafing) and tensile strength, which is a fancy way of saying how much pulling force they can withstand while you wrestle them on.
The results are promising. According to the Sheertex website, the materials are way tougher than competitor and drugstore hosiery. Apparently, “Sheertex withstood 2.3 times more pulling force than the runner up, and 5.9 times more pulling force than drugstore tights,” per the tensile strength test. Similarly, “Sheertex is 4.21 times stronger than similar tights and 5.84 times stronger than drugstore tights,” per the burst-strength test. You can read all the results here.
Again, it all seems promising. But we’ve all fell for too-good-to-be-true products that don’t live up the hype. To see how they hold up in the real world, three Well+Good staffers tried Sheertex tights out of the lab. Find their full reviews, below.
Editor reviews
Originally $59, now $39
Available sizes: XS-3XL
“While I’d normally shimmy into tights as cautiously as possible to avoid any tragic tears, I can feel how strong and resilient the rip-resistant material is as I put these on. Unlike my usual tights, I’m able to slip these on without breaking a sweat. The Large fits perfectly and gives me free range of movement, which I appreciate. And the thick and stretchy waistband is compressive without being constrictive, hitting me just above my belly button (I’m 5’5”, for reference). They even survived my 50-pound dog’s excited jumps, which I was hoping for but frankly wasn’t expecting. I love the subtle sexiness of the seam detail in the back, too. But most of all, I love how smooth and comfortable the tights feel on—I could wear them all day!” – Alexa Casanova, Commerce Writer
Pros:
- Strong, yet unrestrictive
- Dog-claw resistant
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Expensive
Available sizes: XS-3XL
“Real talk, I haven’t worn tights in over 10 years, so I was pretty curious about how these would fit on my body. But to my surprise, they were incredibly comfortable and easy to slip over my thick thighs. The fabric is both stretchy and slightly compressive, so it does a good job of shaping your body. I could easily move around in them without feeling tightness around my legs. I ordered a medium in the Micro Dot Sheer Rip-Resist Tights and I paired them with my favorite leather skirt. Honestly, I never felt sexier. ” -Taylor Bell, social producer
Pros:
- Sculpting
- Comfortable
- Surprisingly sexy
Cons:
- Runs small/inconsistent sizing
Available sizes: XS-3XL
“The diamond design of these tights is absolutely beautiful and my scraggly, un-manicured nails were no match for the material. I tugged on them roughly while getting them on and dug my nails into the material while adjusting the legs. Alas, no rips or tears. Neat!
Now for the not-so-good: Plus-size shoppers, beware. I’m 5’9″ and wear a size 18 pant. As a plus-size woman, I do my due diligence to properly research a clothing brand’s size range before purchasing. According to Sheertex, size = weight, not pant size (huh???), so according to them, I should be more than comfortable in a 2XL. Plus-size babes over on Reddit, however, mentioned that Sheertex tights tend to run a little small, so I ordered up and got the 3XL. Y’all. These tights fit, but not without a little struggle. Luckily for me, there was no gap at the crotch, but had I been a size larger, I don’t think I would have been able to get them on properly. The band is tight, too; While sitting, it dug into my waist uncomfortably. Major takeaways: beautiful design, quality materials, but major flaws in sizing.” -Amelia McBride, associate editor
Pros:
- Durable
- Long-nail resistant
- Pretty
Cons:
- Runs small/inconsistent sizing
Final thoughts
If you worry about snagging your stockings or your dog ripping a hole in your tights when he greets you at the door, get Sheertex. Albeit way more expensive than drugstore tights, they’ll withstand the test of time, no matter how many nails or claws you throw their way. The only other complaint we have is that they run small, so if you’re in between sizes—or just want a comfier fit—size up. Otherwise, throw those ratty tights away and invest in these—you won’t be sorry.
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