Long Tom

Got a $100 gift certificate from REI to spend and am thinking these are the ticket. I have tights, but they are more a spring/fall affair, and if it's "cold" I have to wear a base layer under them, which gets weird in the chamois region. So, I'm hoping these thermal type tights will be warm enough to just wear them. I have some PI Elite shorts and really like them.

Thoughts? Are thermal tights a big step up in warmth? TOO warm?

Oh- use is recreational fitness rides in the 30-40 mile range with lots of hard climbing.

Edonis13

i have a pair on their way in the mail. I can't wait for them to show up.

xscottypx

i opted for the Novara ones, i forget which style but they had wind blocking. the non wind blocking thermals were useless. they do a pretty good job and were far cheaper than the PI. PI rules though. so curious how they are.

chaadster

I have PI Select thermal bib tights that do not have wind blocking, or at least don't have complete wind blocking. Some models do, e.g. Elite Barrier and Amfib.

Ben I.

While I don't have those tights, I do have PI Pro Leg Warmers and they are very warm. Went on a ride in the low 40's/high 30's and was fine. They also do a great job blocking the wind. As someone else mentioned, definitely want wind blocking in tights/leg warmers.

Bunyanderman

They do the trick for me, I got some for $50. Ran them in sub freezing temps and no problems. I feel good compression from them, and they don't get me to hot if the weather goes to 55f.

UnfilteredDregs

I have the Amfib Elite bibs, I love them, warm, even below freezing.

kingston 

That's amazing. I have never found a pair of tights that are comfortable from the high 20's to the low 50's. That's a huge swing. PI recommends those tights from 44-51°F.

+1 The Amfib tights are the best I have found from the low 20's (F) to high 30s. Below 20 I add a gore-tex shell, above 40 I go with leg warmers. For what it's worth, I have tights with and without a chamois and prefer no chamois tights over normal shorts with a chamois.

jaxgtr

I have some and I like them. Good to about 35F for me in humid NE Florida, but once I get rolling, my legs warm up and I am good. I also have the same model leg warmers that I use more often, and they are good to about 40F...but save your funds for REI for something else. I generally find you can get this stuff on Amazon much cheaper. I got a PI thermal jersey that REI wanted $110 for on Amazon for $50. Same for PI leg warmers, REI $50, Amazon for $30.

timmbo

i have both the elite thermal barrier and a pair of the Amfibs. The Amfibs are nice in below 30 degrees or rain but are a little restrictive. The Elite thermal barriers are AMAZING!!!!! They are not restrictive at all and super warm! I would totally suggest them. I posted a thread about a warranty issue. When you purchase from a place like REI you have a lifetime warranty. They replaced my pair no questions asked after sending in the defective pair.

Carbonfiberboy 

PI tights have three distinct levels:
Thermal - Really cover the same level as leg warmers for me, ~50 in rain, ~42 in the dry
Thermal Barrier: good in rain down to ~42, in the dry maybe ~35
AmFIB: Good in rain down to snowing. Don't know in the dry as I don't ride on ice.

Get the Barriers w/o pad. Wear summer shorts under. More useful in Oregon. I wear my Barriers 10 times for every time I wear my Thermals w/pad.

rm -rf

I have the unlined PI Select Thermal tights. They rate them for a temperature range of 47F to 53F. They work well down to about 40F for me, and get to be too warm at the low to mid 50s. If it's 50F or above, I have some old Performance unlined tights, just plain lycra. And I wore the thin tights over the PI Select tights at 28F-32F and that was just right. If I planned to ride a lot in the 30s, I'd consider the Elite or the Barrier tights, but I tend to wait until it's 40F or higher.

I like unlined tights. I can wear my older ratty bike shorts underneath. The unlined tights last a long time.

Trsnrtr

I've been using a set of these for several years* now. My feet will freeze and fall off before these tights quit doing their job.

*The suckers just won't wear out.

Jarrett2

I'm not sure which ones I have. They block the wind and are good from about 30-45 degrees for me. I do like them but wish I would have invested in bib tights at this point. Not digging the double layer.

JeremyLC

I have PI Select tights, they're good from 30-50. In the teens and twenties I wear a second layer of tights. In the fifties? HTFU and wear shorts (if I'll be riding hard enough I can go bare legged in the fifties, otherwise I do wear tights)

colnago62

I have a pair of Am Fib tights. As has been said, they are very good from low 30° on down. Rode in 17° and totally warm.

mister

I just got another pair of these and the arm warmers. I commute year round and its rarely above 50 in the morning here. I have used them as low as 30*F and been plenty warm. My fingers and toes get cold long before my arms and legs do.

dleccord

Link?

Bunyanderman

That might take some time for me to find, I purchased them in person.

Long Tom

Mine are supposed to arrive Thursday; I'll report!

Realy really really need to get in some RIDES........

Long Tom

Rode them today. Starting temp 43F, finishing ~38F. 30 miles, late in the day, big time hills. I was a bit skeptical at first but they were "warm enough".... but that's about it. I wouldn't want to ride much colder in them.

For $110 I was surprised they have no chamois. That's my own lack of due digence so I'll own it. They were fine over PI shorts and I can see the appeal of the shorts/tights system.

Smithson1

They'll keep you warm. Make sure to wear thick sock and shoe covers as well.