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The 7 best black tights, from ultra-sheer nylons to fleece-lined stockings
I bought my first pair of Sheertex Classic Sheer Rip-Resistant Tights last Christmas after seeing the company's bold claim that their proprietary material is 10 times stronger than steel. I'll admit, I was skeptical. But after a year of testing, that same pair is still snag-free.
To this day, I still can't find many cons to these tights. The material feels super smooth, the mid-rise waist hits at the perfect spot (a little under 2 inches above my navel), and they offer light compression yet plenty of stretch. I love the ultra-wide 6 ½-inch waistband.
I also appreciate the reinforced toe — this feature definitely helps the tights withstand more friction from my footwear.
By the way, it's not only the classic sheer tights that hold up well — in her Sheertex Tights Review, Business Insider's Gina Marinelli noted that the semi-opaque tights showed no tears or snags after several weeks of wearing and washing.
Historically, I've only purchased tights at the drugstore when I'm desperate and need something last minute for plans that evening. But I'd heard good things about these L'eggs tights, and the price point is tough to beat, so I snagged a pair at my local CVS — and I can honestly say these are much better quality than other budget-friendly picks I've tried in the past.
These aren't the softest tights I've ever worn, but they don't feel itchy or scratchy against my skin, either. They feature a control top that lends a decent amount of compression around my thighs and stomach — however, I didn't feel uncomfortable in them even after cleaning my plate at a steakhouse dinner. At 30-denier, they're a true sheer — offering a peek of skin without being totally see-through.
The one thing I will say is that these tights seem to run a bit short. I had to exert a little extra effort inching the legs up to make sure the crotch wasn't sagging. If you're taller than 5'4, I'd suggest sizing up to make sure the legs are long enough.
It can be hard to find tights that are truly opaque — often, when the fabric stretches against the skin, particularly around thicker areas like the thighs, it can sheer out a bit. That's not the case with the Commando Ultimate Opaque Matte Tights: they offer full coverage everywhere.
The first thing I noticed about these tights was the patented raw-cut waistband, which lay flat against my stomach without digging in even a little bit.
These tights are made from a luxury microfiber blend that feels ultra-soft — almost like a luxurious suede. They offer some light compression while still letting me breathe, and thanks to the 10% elastane, these tights stretch with my every movement.
I can't stress enough how much I adore an ultra-sheer pair of black tights — since they show a little more skin, they're perfect for slinkier date night ensembles. They also have a decidedly more dressy look than opaque tights, making them pair well with more formal fabrics like silk.
This particular pair of J.Crew sheer tights felt super delicate when I took them out of the packaging, so I kept my expectations low in terms of durability. That said, they're surprisingly strong. Despite the calluses on my heels and one split toenail, I was able to pull them on without any snafus. I even ran my fingernails over the material while wearing them, and they didn't snag.
While these tights aren't quite as as soft as the others I tested, they're definitely not scratchy. I can tell they also have a generous amount of elastane, because they stretched over my thighs with ease. Finally, the control top feels like a firm hug but not oppressive — which is an impressive feat.
It only made sense to turn to Spanx on my quest for tights-meets-shapewear. Luckily, Spanx definitely delivered with this pair of Tight-End Tights, which provides medium compression and an ultra high waistband for smoothing and sculpting from my thighs to my waist.
I'll be honest: pulling these on required a bit of a comical dance — not unlike when I'm donning a pair of skinny jeans. Let's just say there was definitely some wiggling and jumping involved. But once they were on, they felt like a second skin. The fabric is buttery soft, the waistband doesn't dig into my skin, and the open gusset makes bathroom trips way easier.
To really test the shaping power of these tights, I slipped them on under a snakeskin-patterned midi skirt that's been increasingly challenging to zip up in recent years — the waistband has zero stretches, so it's not the most forgiving piece, particularly after a meal. To my delight, it was a cinch to zip up the skirt over my Tight-End Tights.
For more of our favorite Spanx pieces, see our full Spanx review.
When shopping for the best black tights, it's important to understand what "denier" means. Denier is a unit of measurement that refers to how thick the fabric is. Tights that are 20 denier and below tend to be ultra sheer and lightweight, whereas 70 denier and above are opaque tights that show no skin whatsoever.
These Lustrous Lechery Tights come in 20 denier and 40 denier. I tried and loved both, but ultimately felt the semi-sheer 40 denier offers a perfect balance between strength and transparency.
Lechery is a woman-owned brand that's been spotted on countless "it girls" from Bella Hadid to Selena Gomez. Lately, I keep seeing shiny, wet-effect tights all over Instagram — and I knew Lechery would have a pair, given that the brand is known for its unique, on-trend colors, patterns, and styles.
These tights definitely didn't disappoint. The eye-catching sheen elevates the look, giving some extra visual appeal to an all-black outfit. I'm especially swooning over the textural juxtaposition of their glossy finish looks next to a matte black leather skirt. ("Glazed donut" skin and nails had their moments, but are glazed donut legs a thing yet? They should be, IMHO.)
Also a perk? There's no defined waistband — instead, the top edge is laser cut and lays flat without digging in, making it almost impossible for me to tell where the tights end and my skin begins.
Ever since I saw these TikTok-trending fleece tights, which are lined for warmth but still have a sheer effect, I knew I had to find out whether they were worth the hype. So I picked up a pair of these X-Cheng tights, which not only had a budget-friendly price point but also thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon.
The first thing worth noting about these tights is how absurdly easy they are to get on. Sliding my leg through one of the legs felt like sliding a hot knife through butter — the impossibly soft fleece lining created quite a slippery runway against my skin. (I actually exlaimed "Woah!" out loud.) I can't help but think that feature will come in handy when I'm rushing to get ready and out the door.
I love the idea of wearing sweater dresses during the winter, but it's not exactly a practical choice in New England. With these insulated tights, though, it feels like anything is possible. I wore them on a bitter cold February day (the high was 23 degrees) and it felt like I might as well have been wearing pants. Never once did my legs feel chilly. The best part, though, is that unlike most thicker tights — which are almost always opaque — these are designed with a skin-toned underlayer to give the illusion of sheerness.
As an added bonus, these tights are machine washable. My only beef? The oddly placed seams down the left and right side of the bum feel — and look — a little awkward. But truth be told, I quickly forgot they were even there.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.