Description of The North Face WindStopper Hybrid Tight - Women's:
Winter endurance runs call for wind-blocking, wicking tights. What if these tights could also block sweaty odors so you wouldn’t have to run the washing machine so often? Take a look at The North Face Women’s WindStopper Hybrid Tights. Gore WindStopper fabric takes care of harsh gusts during your winter runs while biconstituent fiber in the Hybrids decomposes odor-causing molecules. This fiber also increases the wicking and fast-drying capabilities of these tights (as compared to regular polyester fabric). Calf-length zippers ease the dressing process.
Runs really big. Only the front panels over the thighs are windproof. The back of the tight including the butt is a thin, non- wind resistant fleece. Overall, not a warm tight.
I wore these (always with base layer underneath) for XC skiing last winter. With a warm base layer, they were generally fine except on the coldest, windiest days. I like the wind-blocking panels, but they should be on the backside and the back of the thighs, not just on the front of the thighs. I would prefer more wind-blocking, so I'm still looking for X-C pants for those colder, windier days.
(A note about fit: TNF sizing seems wildly inconsistent. I'm 5'6" tall, was about 115 pounds this past winter, and I needed an XS in these. At 120 pounds now, I can still wear the XS, and might use these to ski on warmer days, but a Small would be better for fitting a thick base layer underneath. For comparison: I just tried on the TNF Apex Big Wall pants in a size 6, and those were too tight in the hips. In other TNF pants I have tried on, the small usually fit. It's all very confusing....)
Ordered and returned 'em. I run in Chicago winter and need more than just windstopper-- I need some insulation/warmth the whole way around. I'd rate these to 30 degrees, if that. Behind the windstopper and in the back, they're really thin.
