Reviewed: TIM Legwear Action 90 Denier Men's Tights

Lumen Tights recently sent Hosiery For Men samples of the men's tights made by Tim Legwear, a hosiery manufacturer based in Bulgaria. Lumen Tights are an online hosiery retailer, based in the UK. They stock a range of men's tights from the TIM Legwear brand.

You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite.

Our second review is of the TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights. You can also read the review of the TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights.





Materials and features
The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are made from 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane.

They are packaged in the same way as the Force 40 denier tights. The tights are folded around a card rectangle then house in a full colour card sleeve. This is then covered by a clear plastic envelope.

The packaging provides an impressive level of information on the fabric, features and sizing.



At Lumen Tights the following description is provided:

'If you’re looking for biking, running, other sports or exercise legwear, ACTION 90 DEN offers of the line quality, comfort and style. Designed specifically for the masculine build, men’s tights provide leg support, aid circulation and keep your muscles at a comfortable temperature.

'You want your tights to last and ACTION 90 DEN was created with that in mind. The pattern and construction is designed for both long-term durability and superior masculine comfort. The reinforced brief no-fly opening panel provides additional male comfort and security when cycling, running or at the gym.'

As with the Force 40 denier tights, the Action 90s look long in the leg once removed from the packaging.

Legs are straight and toes have no additional reinforcement. The packaging states 'reinforced toe for strength and comfort', but this seems misleading to me. I looked carefully and I couldn't see any toe reinforcement

The fabric is soft but also quite durable in feel. When worn the tights have good, but not total, opacity and the coverage is even throughout. Appearance is mainly matt, with just a hint of shine.

The reinforced brief is constructed with denser material. There is a male comfort panel at both the front and rear of the brief. The seams that run around this are flat and well-engineered.

As with the Force 40s, the waistband has been designed for comfort is 5cm wide. This is 1cm wider than the Force 40 denier tights.

Fit and sizing
The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in three sizes: 3 (L), 4 (XL) and 5 (XXL).



I tested a pair in Size 4.

The Action 90s fitted really well especially in the legs. There was no constriction at all and I didn't need to over-stretch them when putting them on.

They were a really comfortable wear and also nice and warm under jeans.

Like the Force 40s, the male front panel provided good support.

The brief was a little too shallow for me; some more depth there would definitely have been a further positive. However, the brief does have plenty of room which is an advantage if you are carrying a few more pounds in the lower belly area.

Colour range
The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in just one shade: Black.

The website of TIM Legwear indicates that a wider range of shades might be available.

Price and availability
The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights cost £11.99 at Lumen Tights.

UK orders of over £20.00 are shipped free.

Conclusion

The TIM Legwear Action 90s are good quality men's opaque tights. They are soft and feel extremely comfortable against the skin. The fabric is pretty robust and I feel these would stand up well to a lot of wear.

A further positive is the flexibility and elasticity of the fabric, meaning they would be a good choice if bought for sports and outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing and cycling.

Reviewed: TIM Legwear Force 40 Denier Men's Tights

Lumen Tights recently sent Hosiery For Men samples of the men's tights made by Tim Legwear, a hosiery manufacturer based in Bulgaria. Lumen Tights are an online hosiery retailer, based in the UK. They stock a range of men's tights from the TIM Legwear brand.

You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite.



Our first review is of the TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights.



Materials and features
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are made from 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane.

The tights are attractively packaged in a card sleeve that is enclosed in a clear plastic envelope. The tights are folded around a plain card rectangle.





At Lumen Tights the following description is provided:

'You want your tights to last and FORCE SEMI-SHEER 40 DEN was created with that in mind. The pattern and construction is designed for both long-term durability and superior masculine comfort.' 

The Force 40 denier tights look really long once removed from their packaging. In the Size 4 that I tested, there was clearly not going to be any issue with the leg length. These tights have clearly been designed with men in mind.

Legs are straight and toes have additional reinforcement.

The fabric in the legs is semi-sheer. The brief is reinforced and constructed with denser material. The centre seam is conventional rather than flat. There is a male comfort panel at both the front and rear of the brief.



The waistband has clearly been designed with comfort in mind and is 4cm wide.

Fit and sizing
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in three sizes: 3 (L), 4 (XL) and 5 (XXL).



I tested a pair in Size 4.

The Force 40 denier tights were a good fit. There was plenty of room in the leg and the tights didn't need to be overstretched.

The fabric is really soft and smooth, with a very slight shine. The glide under trousers was really excellent.

However, the material is also quite delicate and if not handled carefully might ladder.

The brief had a reasonable amount of depth and the front comfort panel was excellent.

Colour range
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are currently available from Lumen Tights in just one shade: Black.

The website of TIM Legwear indicates that a wider range of shades might be available.

Price and availability
TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights cost £8.59 at Lumen Tights.

UK orders of over £20.00 are shipped free.

Conclusion
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are good, basic men's semi-opaque tights. They would be a good choice in cool, but not very cold, weather for a light additional layer under trousers.

The positives for me were the leg length and the well-designed male front panel. These tights were also really comfortable to wear. In appearance they look like those sheer men's executive socks that are popular in countries such as Italy and Spain.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution and help to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on Lumen Tights: Part 2

I recently published the first part of an interview with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite.

Lumen Tights are an online hosiery retailer, based in the UK. They stock a range of men's tights manufactured by the Bulgarian hosiery manufacturer TIM Legwear.

In Part 2 of the Lumen Tights feature, Jurgita provides more information on the TIM Legwear brand and discusses some of the features she looks for when stocking men's tights.

At Lumen Tights you stock the TIM Legwear brand of men's tights. This is a brand that we haven't featured or reviewed yet on Hosiery For Men. Can you tell us more about the brand and the TIM Legwear styles that you currently have on sale?
The concept of tights for men, especially as an everyday item, is still quite new when it comes to having a sizable customer base. When I was researching possible manufacturers there weren’t a lot of hosiery businesses dedicated solely to men's legwear. As you know, there are quite a few manufacturers claiming that their larger women's sizes will fit men, but that isn’t always the case. Men are built differently from women and some design changes are usually required. What is comfortable, healthy and meets the needs of a man is sometimes different from what women need.



My first acquisition of men's tights was aimed at testing the quality and features. I wanted to get as wide a variety of thickness - from sheer to opaque, from thinnest to thickest as possible. TIM Legwear offered exactly what I was looking for.





I use the same criteria when sourcing men's legwear products as for women: high quality, affordable pricing and a wide range of styles are my key requirements. When I ordered from TIM Legwear, I bought the full range of styles they manufactured. The TIM company representative was also very helpful and informative about sizing and other issues.

I look for the same features in men’s tights as I do for those made for women. Quality. Style and Uniqueness. Affordability. Quality is first and foremost in my mind. There is nothing worse than buying something only to have it fall apart after one washing. I always test every brand prior to putting it on Lumen Tights. I wear the women’s styles and my husband tests the TIM tights.

I also check to see if the tights still fit properly and look good after washing.

In relation to men's tights, I specifically look for a superior fit and durability. Men, by and large, are not accustomed to dealing with tights, so the durability aspect is really important.





Are there any other brands of men's tights that you are looking to stock? 
I’m always looking for new quality lines for Lumen Tights. I would like to add additional selections of workout tights and meggings / leggings for men and women in the near future.

Are there any brands and styles of women's tights that you are selling on Lumen Tights that you feel men might also like to try? 
As mentioned earlier, it was men purchasing the heaviest denier women's tights that prompted me to add tights from the TIM Legwear range. Since including men’s tights, we have expanded shipping availability to Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.

Have you had many enquiries from male customers so far? What styles are they buying?
To date, the bulk of enquiries from men have been about warm tights for wear in cold weather.





To men thinking about trying tights, what would you say are the main benefits of wearing them? 

I think there are three reasons why tights have benefits for men. Firstly, health: tights provide leg support and can also improve circulation. Secondly, they can provide additional warmth when needed. Lastly, they can improve the fit of clothing.

What kind of service will male customers receive at Lumen Tights? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?

 Men will get the same personalised customer service as women do. From the very start, superior and personalised customer service has been a core element of how Lumen Tights operates. I will personally answer every email.

I’ve answered questions ranging from fashion advice, to care instructions, to helping guys buy Valentine’s Day presents for their partners.

I spent many years in retail sales and management and I know how imperative top-notch customer service is. It really is very basic – without your customers being happy and comfortable you don’t have a business. Nothing makes me feel happier than when a new customer places an order and tells me who referred them to Lumen Tights.

Thank you very much Jurgita for speaking to Hosiery For Men. I hope readers have found the interview interesting and that they will check out Lumen Tights.


Hosiery For Men is kept going by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide samples for review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution and help to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on Lumen Tights Part 1

Lumen Tights is a relative newcomer to online hosiery retailing in the UK. A positive aspect of the business is their commitment from the outset to sell a range of men's tights as well as provide a first class service to male customers.

Hosiery For Men recently spoke with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite. In Part 1 of the interview Jurgita talks about setting up Lumen Tights, why tights are a unisex garment and the growing visibility and acceptability of tights for men.

Why have you used the word 'Lumen' as the name of the business? Lumen is the Latin word for Light and the basis for étoile, French for star, estrella in Spanish, stella in Italian, but in any language Lumen carries evocations of romance, glamour and that special mystique we all long for. So naming the business Lumen Tights was my romantic side surfacing!

It's great that a mainstream hosiery retailer is committed to providing an extensive selection of tights for men. Are men a segment of potential customers that you aimed to target from the start of the business? It was something I thought about, but in all honesty, targeting men was not initially high on my priority list. For a start-up company (at the end of January 2013, Lumen Tights will celebrate its first birthday) the concentration had to be on breaking into an existing market as opposed to helping to develop a new one.

During the cold winter months I saw a sizeable increase in sales of the warmest tights we carry – the bulk of them in extra-large and with orders coming from Northern and Eastern Europe. As you know, families share credit cards so the number of men ordering the warmest tights would not have caught my attention – except for the spike in sizing.



That was when I started doing some serious homework on men’s hosiery. I knew Lumen Tights would be going ‘against the grain’, but I thought it was important to offer men a way to be warmer, more comfortable and healthier.

Were blogs like Hosiery For Men helpful when you considered selling men's tights? Hosiery For Men, more than any other source, opened my eyes to the possibilities in that you confirmed what I intuitively felt. Men were not averse to wearing tights.

Yes, it is new market as well as a challenge and a bit of a gamble, but one I felt worth exploring. In many ways the door has been opened by the fact that a lot of men do wear tights when running or biking. The core awareness of muscle warmth and cooling was pre-established. Convincing men to wear hosiery as an everyday garment is a work in progress but the fact that very athletic men do wear tights for sports broke the initial barrier.

On the website you state that 'there's nothing gender-specific in men's tights; they are, by definition unisex.' Can you say more about why you think tights are a unisex garment?
If one is to be factually accurate, tights and pantyhose for women first appeared in the 1960’s as an alternative to stockings and suspenders. The general assumption that tights are the domain of women is incorrect – it was just great marketing on the part of women’s hosiery manufacturers.

When one considers the world of dance - ballet in particular - we recognize immediately that tights have been accepted as unisex attire for hundreds of years. Tights were and are worn primarily for health purposes. Keeping muscles warm during physical activity is a primary means of preventing muscular injury; allowing muscles too cool down properly is crucial. Tights succeed in doing both.




In the non-theatrical world tights were originally conceived for and worn by the noblest of men for horseback riding. To quote something we wrote on the Lumen Tights blog:

“Throughout Europe, the upper echelons of the peerage wore tights made of fine silk. Silk is an adaptable fabric for both heat and cold as it breathes. For bitter cold, the finest wool was the material of choice. Fashion being what it is, the trend spread quickly and soon men of all classes were wearing tights; the materials differed but the look and intent were the same. Remember the word “pantaloons” from French or Spanish class? They were tights – men’s tights.”
It should be noted that dance tights have always been 100% unisex in construction. Some styles of men’s tights also do not have a front fly opening. A no-fly design provides added support and comfort; no slippage so to speak.

In fact, it has only been in the last ten years or so that a few manufacturers have been making men’s tights with a fly. I believe the fly option was more an acknowledgment to male habits than to reasons of comfort, health and optimal fit.



There has been a huge amount of media coverage of 'mantyhose' (tights for men) in recent months. What are your thoughts about the greater visibility nowadays of men buying and wearing tights?
My personal opinion is that if a man is healthy and in shape, tights and/or meggings (leggings for men) look great.

As for men wearing tights or mantyhose under business or casual attire, there really is no way to tell that they are wearing them even to my practiced eye. Seriously, other than the man’s clothing fitting better you can’t tell.

When guys are working outdoors in wet and cold weather, I hope they all are wearing the warmest pair of tights they can buy!

Part 2 of the Lumen Tights feature will be published shortly. Stay tuned.

Hosiery For Men is kept going by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide samples for review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution and help to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on Astral Legxperience

Astral Legxperience is a web store based in Belgium that sells a wide range of tights for men, including leading brands such as Comfilon (Activskin), Doyeah and Adrian.

I have been been publishing a series of features and interviews with retailers and designers of men's and unisex tights.

I am really pleased to publish this interview with Mike Silver, the owner of Astral Legxperience web store, and hope readers will find it of interest.



Can you provide Hosiery for Men readers with some background information about the Astral Legxperience store?
Well the store was started about a year and a half ago. I have always had an interest in hosiery and was at a point in my life where I felt comfortable talking openly about it.

I know that most men wear hosiery in secret and thought it was time to show them that it is okay to wear what you find comfortable. So I made it a little easier for men to feel comfortable with themselves by offering a site that sells exactly what they are looking for.

Do you feel that tights for men are becoming more popular?
I personally have not been convinced that mainstream society has been converted. While the mainstream may be more aware that this product does exits, I believe few have been persuaded to start wearing hose.

I am of the opinion that guys who wear tights and pantyhose start doing so at a young age. It comes naturally and in my experience if you have not been wearing hose from an early age, it is rare that you start later in life.

It is always an uphill battle to convince anyone in my personal circle of friends to even entertain the idea of wearing hosiery!

How do you choose which brands of men's tights to stock?
I contacted all manufacturers that were making tights for men at the time I started this venture. I stocked what I thought to be a broad range of products. Over the year I have experienced good quality hose and the not so good.

Soon I will be adding more products while eliminating some. For instance the Bulgarian brand, Tim Legwear. I decided to phase out all sales due to the lack of customer service I receive on my end. Plus their product consistency is very poor. Yarns and colours change without any notice and I found this to be unprofessional. So we are offering a huge discount of all Tim Legwear products now.

Have you considered selling any brands and styles of women's tights also?
Recently I have. I originally was against it because I really wanted it to be male products made exclusively for males. I find that most men buy women's hosiery and are happy doing so. If they fit, I don't see why not. So including some women's hosiery may appeal to a wider audience.

Many men continue to buy tights that are designed and made for women. What do you feel are the advantages of tights that are made specifically for men?
Certainly that they are made in larger sizes is the biggest advantage. For bigger guys, most regular hosiery will not fit. Some tights are made with a fly opening and this is great for guys who normally utilize this option while going to the restroom.

They are also buying a product made for a man, because some guys just can't face the fact that they are wearing 'women's clothing'.



Which brands are particularly popular and sell well? 
Doyeah seem to sell the best. They are not too expensive and the product is of nice material that will hold up. They offer many sheer to waist products and that seems to be a favorite style of men. Adrian from Poland comes in second.



Do you feel that the market for men's tights is a growing one? Is that reflected in your sales?
I believe the market has peaked and has now levelled out. If we are basing this assessment on sales alone then the trend has maintained its course. Basically there are good months and bad months like many businesses.

What developments can we expect in the future at Astral Legxperience? Are you planning to market any new styles?
Well actually in a major way. As of next month the store will be relocating to the United States. This will make shipping within the US cheaper while European shipments will remain around the same price.

Also a much larger selection of Comfilon hosiery will be available. Here in Belgium the customs duty on items from the USA made ordering from them very difficult and the price prohibitive. I will be offering a full range of Comfilon products and will be proud to sell the original brands of tights for men.

I also hope to add a new manufacturer from Austria, Ufash. I have tested their range of tights and pantyhose and they are of the highest quality and appearance. Can't wait!

Mike, thanks for speaking to Hosiery For Men. I am sure readers will find this this feature of interest and I hope they check out the Astral Legxperience store. Good luck with the relocation of the store and do keep Hosiery For Men readers informed about future developments.

Spotlight on ManStrumpor

I have featured a number of UK-based hosiery retailers at Hosiery For Men. It's quite a long list now and includes:

Eve's Legwear
Itsocks
TheTightSpot.com
thelegstore.co.uk
Tights Please
UK Tights

Although these retailers generally sell tights made for women, they also cater for male customers by selling brands that provide a good fit for men (such as Falke and Wolford) or styles available in larger sizes. Some also sell tights specifically made for men, like the soon to be discontinued Gerbe brand.

I feel it's time to provide some coverage of those retailers that sell tights designed specifically for men. There are several prominent brands now, including Adrian, Activskin, Doyeah, ELA and TIM Legwear.

We will start with ManStrumpor, a retailer based in Sweden. Magnus, the owner of ManStrumpor, has kindly agreed to be interviewed by Hosiery For Men.



Can you tell Hosiery For Men readers a bit about ManStrumpor? 
ManStrumpor is a shop that is constantly evolving. My vision is to create a store that can provide everything from ordinary socks to tights for men.

Why did you set up an online business selling tights and other hosiery to men? 
It was the best way to reach out to as many people as possible and there was nobody else who did it here in Scandinavia.

Is the trend of men buying tights for themselves a well-established trend in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia, or is it still developing? 
I am getting new customers all the time. It feels like it is becoming more and more common.

What do you feel are the advantages of tights that are made specifically for men? 
I do not think there is any real difference. Some tights made for men have a fly opening, but for my part, it does not matter. Some tights made for women can provide just as good a fit, but of course one must choose those that fit well and are not too low in the waist, for example.

One important difference is that men's tights are packaged differently. I think it's important to have a male image on the tights packaging.

Which styles of tights or brands are particularly popular with ManStrumpor customers?
We sell a wide variety of brands at ManStrumpor. In general, sheer tights are the most popular. However, in colder months, such as now, sales of thicker tights increase.

Our best sellers are currently tights made by Doyeah and Comfilon (Activskin).





What can we expect in the future at ManStrumpor? Are you planning to expand the range of brands you stock? 
The site is developing all the time. I'm soon going to be selling casual, self-designed socks.

Do you provide a service for customers outside Sweden? 
Yes, of course. I sell worldwide. Details of shipping to European countries and countries outside Europe can be found on the ManStrumpor site.

Magnus - many thanks for the interview and your time. I wish ManStrumpor further success and I hope Hosiery For Men readers will take a look at the shop.