I’m a fashion expert & tested out best tights money can buy, from super expensive to mega cheap – here’s the top pair

AS a hardened northerner, I leave it as long as possible before putting on a pair of tights.

I’m made of strong stuff and can usually get away without hosiery for the majority of the winter.

GettyAbby McHale tests out some high street favourites to save you time and cash[/caption]

Abby wearing a pair of Sheertex tights

But, feeling the chill during the recent cold spell, I caved and snapped up some new pairs to keep my pins warm.

Each year I hit the high street on the hunt for the perfect pair of tights because they never last long.

They always develop a ladder or pills – or fall straight down.

And the gusset never stays in place.

But this year I’ve made it my mission to find a decent pair that will last me more than one season.

From rips and tears to ladders and everything in between, I’ve put these tights through the ringer and marked them out of five.

Which brand will come out on top?

M&S: 3pk 60 denier supersoft opaque tights, £5 – 3/5

MY first port of call is to trusty M&S, which sells two pairs of single tights every minute.

Initially they feel good quality, fit well and I don’t fear they are going to fall down. Plus, they aren’t itchy.

A 3pk of 60 denier supersoft opaque tights is £5 at M&S

This pair washed well and were really comfortable to wear

Am I on to a winner?

As the day rolls on – and as my stomach begins to bloat – they do roll down slightly.

Then after pulling them up one too many times a hole forms around the top, obviously from my tugging.

I am always wary when washing tights as I find they can easily pull, or unsightly bobbles can form.

But these wash well and I head off for my second day of wear on a trip to the shops.

When I get home I notice my toe has poked a hole through the tights.

What a shame, because they are really comfortable and make me feel secure. 

Sheertex: Shaping luxury semi sheer rip resistant, £73 – 3/5

THIS brand dubs itself “rip resistant”. A bold claim, indeed.

At £73 for a pair, they aren’t cheap, but if it means I’m never going to buy another pair again then to me it’s worth it.

Sheertex: Shaping luxury semi sheer rip resistant are £73

After a few hours I notice they have developed one small bobble at the top but, other than that, no snags. So far, so good.

I sit down with my pal’s dog, who climbs on to my lap and paws away – and yet still no holes.

My only bugbear is that they keep rolling down over my stomach.

On one outing the gusset comes down so much I have to take matters into my own hands.

Using the Superman method, I end up wearing a pair of pants over them to hold them up.

But on the walk home, the pants end up around my ankles as the tights have pushed them down.

I would like to try them in a different size to see if that helps.

New Look: 5pk black opaque 70 denier tights, £11.99 – 1/5

WHERE do I begin with this pair? It’s not going to be good.

Shortly after arriving at a friend’s house and announcing I am testing out tights, she quips: “Well these ones aren’t very good, seeing as you have spent the last five minutes pulling them up.”

New Look: 5pk black opaque 70 denier tights are £11.99

This pair felt like the thinnest out of the lot

Without much movement they are fine, but after day one I notice a ladder in the crotch.

I can only imagine this happened as I was constantly yanking them upwards.

My second wear is even less successful, with a trip to the supermarket resulting in my tights literally falling down underneath my bum by the time I get back to my car.

These are actually ten denier more than some of the other tights tested – and they still feel like the thinnest out of the lot.

Primark: 3pk opaque tights 60 denier, £4 – 2/5

WHEN I give Primark a whirl I find that putting them on is a breeze and the fit is nice.

Throughout the day they don’t fall down when walking, the gusset stays in place and there is no itch.

Primark: 3pk opaque tights 60 denier are £4News Group Newspapers Ltd.

This pair ripped at the seam and became pretty painful to wear

But I’ve noticed that with 60 deniers, while they aren’t the thinnest of tights you can buy, they’re also not the thickest either, meaning there is more scope for holes and snags.

Cautiously optimistic, I carry on with my day until disaster strikes in the evening.

They begin to slide down a bit – nothing I can’t deal with, I think.

But they soon begin to run at the top of my legs.

By the time I get home they are actually pretty painful.

When I take the tights off I notice they have ripped at the seam. Not good.

Very: 2pk Pretty Polly 60 denier opaque tights, £6 – 5/5

IN the aftermath of the New Look tights debacle I was nervous about this even cheaper pair.

However, they slip on nicely, feel super comfortable and stay up all day. What a result.

Pretty Polly from Very is the clear winner

Tempting fate I head off to the office, and after a rather large Pizza Express lunch they still don’t roll down like others.

Even the gusset stays in its rightful place.

After work I meet friends at the pub and by the time I get home at 11.30pm – having worn the tights for around 15 hours – there isn’t a hole, pull or mark in sight.

They washed fine and after wearing them multiple times they are yet to sag or pull.

I think it is clear I have found my winner, right at the last.

Verdict

I’VE suffered a lot of discomfort at the hands of these tights, most of which I’ll be glad to see the back of.

I usually opt for a size large, but it’s clear now I could have sized down to stop some of them slipping.

That being said, Pretty Polly from Very is the clear winner.

They get top marks for quality and fit.

Plus they are a bargain.

What more could you want?