Thermals are one of my favorite styles of active fabrics out there, but there aren’t many brands that do them well. I first fell in love with Sweaty Betty’s thermal tights when I got my first pair last fall. If you like lululemon’s rulu, as I do, chances are you’ll also love Sweaty Betty’s take on thermals. Their fabric holds you in while feeling cozy and warm.
Although Sweaty Betty’s regular prices are usually pretty high, their sales are awesome. During a sale over the summer, I bought two more pairs of thermal tights to have ready when cold weather came around.
As of this week, their sale is back in full force! The same styles I bought a couple months ago are back, so if you need some cold weather gear but don’t want to pay full price for new arrivals, now is the perfect time to score a deal. Here’s the scoop.
Reflective thermodynamic run tights
These pants are high in both style and function. The entire side design is fully reflective, but the fibers are extremely flexible. There’s no plasticky stiffness or awkwardness that can sometimes come with reflective gear. The panels are wide enough that you can see the reflectivity from the front, plus there’s an ankle detail at the back that adds to the 360-degrees visibility.
I purchased these in XXS, my usual size. These fit perfectly with firm compression. The fabric is stretchy enough that I’m not constricted in my movement at all, just supported. I recommend going with your true size. If you’re between sizes, go up for light compression or down if you prefer more. Either one should work. And, these are completely opaque.
These tights have a high rise that comes up just a little below the belly button, which helps keep the cold air out. The only pocket is a zip pocket at the back of the waistband.
The lower panel on the leg does have some perforation, so these aren’t completely cold air resistant, but the fabric is still quite thick and warm overall.
If you are an outdoor runner, these are extremely practical, and their current sale price of $84 is very reasonable compared to the majority of reflective designs out there. I love the overall fit and feel of these tights.
Relevant side note: I also ordered the matching reflective 1/2 zip with this order, but I returned that one. It fit true to size through the body, but the sleeves were oddly loose, which I didn’t like. If you don’t mind a looser sleeve, the current price of $52 is a nice price for a top that’s both thermal and reflective, especially if you’re a fan of matching sets.
Trail thermal training tights
The trail thermal tights are another neutral, but instead of a reflective print, these are blocked with grey space dye panels. They have a little stripe of reflectivity that wraps around the side and back of the calf and a fun contrast back zip pocket.
The rise on these is just a hair lower than the reflective tights, but is still on the higher side of medium. As with my other thermal SB tights, these are fully opaque. The fabric is the same thick, lush fabric as the reflective tights above.
I bought these in an XS since there isn’t an XXS available. They definitely don’t have as much compression as the reflective tights, but they still fit pretty well. As with the previous tights, I recommend sticking with your true size. You might notice that these wrinkle just a tad bit more at the hips and knees compared to the XXS tights above, indicating that these aren’t quite as perfect of a fit on me.
Also on the topic of fit I wish these had come in a short length (as many of SB’s styles do), since that would’ve made the paneling a little bit better proportioned, but for $48? I’ll certainly forgive the bit of extra length.
Overall, I’m really happy with both of these tights and would definitely recommend them at their sale prices! My thermal tights from last year have held up well and have no issues, so I’m optimistic these two will be the same.
Update: since this post went live, most sizes have sold through of the two styles featured in this post. That said, if you’ve got your heart set on them, keep checking the website, as I’ve noticed they’ll often receive returns and restock styles during the sale!
Shop the sale
Reflective thermodynamic run tights
P.S. My favorite style so far from the new season.
woohoo! i have both of those tights (and the half zip top you mentioned) and love all of them… i got them last year with one of my husband’s 30% codes (haha). not as good as the sales prices, but i did wear them all winter and loved them. i wear the non-reflecty tights a lot casually too.
last night i ordered 3 things that i had been coveting at SB for insane prices. my total was $200 and the original full price total would have been $700. hell yes.
30% off is definitely respectable, and your sale savings even moreso. ;) I’m really looking forward to the thermal styles this year, just bummed they won’t be released in time for my trip. (Yes I asked haha.) Oh well, I have plenty of other worthy thermals for the occasion. :)
Gotta love a good SB sale! Unfortunately neither of these tights are available in S in the UK anymore:( in fact, from when I looked 2 hours ago, half of the sale items in my size have gone!!
Dang!
Question however…have you ever tired merino for bottoms and/or tops for activewear? Curious to know how sweat wicking they actually are?
Nope, I’ve never tried their merino pieces. No matter how soft it is, wool has always made me itch! So, I generally steer clear.
Thanks for the tip, Suzanne! Went straight to the SB site and the only size left in the trail thermal training thights was xs – perfect, as it’s my size! Can’t believe I got them for 33 euros!!
Perfect!! :) I hope you love them! That’s an awesome price, especially considering everything seems to be more expensive on your side of the pond. :)
Love, Love, LOVE Sweaty Betty! I have been trying not to buy anything recently, but saw their Power 7/8 tights in black with the embossed Union Jack flag and couldn’t resist (you can take the girl out of London, but you can’t take London out of the girl!). They should be on my doorstep today – I’m so excited! Then by chance I went online yesterday to check the shipping status of my pants, and lo and behold, the sale was on! So I promptly threw about 15 things in my bag, whittled it down to less (with a few headbands for Christmas gifts thrown in for good measure) and should be the proud owner of that 1/2 zip ($52!!!!) and several other things later this week. I was actually happy with what you said about the sleeves being loose on the half zip – I seem to have monkey arms, so am hopeful that they will be comfortably not-skin-tight :) And since it’s SNOWING today in Tahoe, I might actually get to wear the shirt soon! Ugh (in my mind it’s still summer!)
Thanks as ever for all your great reviews – you looked SO CUTE in the photos of the brightly-colored Power 7/8 pants! xo
I would love to hear what you think of those Union Jack leggings, Claire. I ordered them and they fit very well everywhere but were very very baggy in the knees. It was super weird – they were not wrinkly, they were baggy like a softball would fit behind each knee without stretching the fabric too much. It was bizarre enough that I thought it might be a fluke and that I should reorder them. Anyways, there are no reviews online yet, so I would love to hear what you think of yours!
Oh, and I am a S in SB yoga tights but usually a M in running tights there. In these I got the M.
Thanks!
Ugh – I’m super bummed. They arrived today and I ripped the package open gleefully – pulled the pants on and revelled in how gorgeous the material felt, the great fit etc. – only to find that they have no back pocket; no pocket at all in fact. Such a pain. They are stated to be running tights, and I swear I read something about a pocket when I ordered. They’ll be too hot and long for studio work for me – I’d only wear them for running, but without a pocket, that’s impractical. So, with great regret, back they go! For what it’s worth, I thought the fit was spot on – I’m a Lulu 4, Werkshop XS, and got these in an XS and I thought the fit was perfect…. Carrie, I think maybe you got a weird pair?? I specifically checked behind the knees etc. after reading your comment, and didn’t find them baggy there at all. I thought the fit was nicely compressive – a touch wriggly to put on, but once on they felt great! Maybe you need the small?? If you’re usually a small in SB yoga stuff, it might be worth a try?? Good luck!
That’s so weird! If you haven’t already packaged them up, is it possible you missed it? The zipper on mine is an invisible zip with a very small zipper pull, so it’s certainly possible you wouldn’t notice it if you didn’t go looking for it. But maybe the union jack version is different? That would be strange.
Definitely no zipper pocket, or even fold flap pocket, at all. Funny – if you read the reviews for your pants, someone comments that the black ones (without the Union Jack) don’t have a pocket either!! So strange!!
Ya know, now that you mention it… I remember reading one of the reviews for the power leggings (the black version of the ones that Suzanne got), and the reviewer mentioned that they didn’t have a pocket either. It is also clear in the pictures that the black ones don’t have a pocket (and neither do the Union Jacks) but the printed ones do. Strange.
Five reviews have appeared for the Union Jacks and a couple mention the flag detail cracking/peeling. So I guess it is just as well.
Regardless, thanks so much for your response to my response! If you need an alternate pair of running tights… I also ordered (and kept) the Zero Gravity Run Tights in the glacier marble print. They are awesome. I’m wearing them now :) AND….. (drumroll)…. they have a back zip pocket!!
Yay! I’ll check them out :) Thank you!!
Omg people. I just got my Nastia bag from Caraasport (Liukin bag i think it’s called?) in Navy. Good heavens it is amazing. THANK YOU Agent Florencia for putting it on our radar!!
I needed an everyday purse big enough for normal purse stuff + hoodie, water bottle, diaper and sippy cup. It is perfect and divinely gorgeous and luxe down to every perfect detail.
Just thought I would share, as I know that this is crucial info for many of you :)
I now am going to email my parents and inform them that the Studio Bag is All I Want For Christmas.
I ended up returning the Studio 2 Bag even though it is beautiful and high quality. I prefer Crossbody and Satchel style. Studio 2 is more or less a backpack and more boxy. After consulting with their customer service, it seems that the most popular Studio Bag will be a better fit. I will preorder next week after I get refund for Studio 2. Carrie, your parents will likely need to preorder to make sure that the Studio Bag does not sell out again.
ooooh good point. thank you.
sorry your studio 2 didn’t work out… although luckily there is an excellent alternative :)
i prefer satchel/crossbody too for everyday (love the satchel handle and cross body option on the liukin), but want the additional backpack option for gym.
i swear i thought owning multiple expensive bags was so dumb until about 8 months ago :-/
Oh dear, this is not helping my resolve. I’m guessing the Liukin bag would be a far superior travel companion to my ancient lulu “bowling bag”. I was considering ordering it to have for my trip. My trip is quickly becoming an excuse to buy all the things. Which kind of sucks, given that the whole wedding/trip ordeal is rather expensive on its own. :) At any rate, thanks for sharing!!!
honeymoons are the ultimate excuse to shop. and you’re right – it makes no sense given that everything you do leading up to it is one giant money sandwich. i bought lots of white… i had it in my head that people on their honeymoons wear white flowing garments while sipping wine by pools. and you know what? i did that many times during my honeymoon. and it was just lovely.
Well, my resolve wore thin and I ordered the Liukin bag… Sorry not sorry, lol. On the other hand, I’ve been selling a ton of stuff, so that helps a little. ;)
yayyyyyyy! i hope you like it (although if you don’t they have free returns, which is nice). they sent it priority mail so it came in two days. woot woot.
Yessss. Hoping it gets here on Saturday! :D If not, I suppose I can wait til Monday, lol.
Do let us know how you like your Liukin Bag. I preordered the Studio Bag, but I also need/want an everyday one :).
The Liukin bag arrived today! First impression is that I like it a lot as a whole. One bad thing is that when the short handle is attached, it can get in the way and make it difficult to get in and out of the main compartment.
Another issue: my laptop doesn’t fit!! D: The website says it will fit a 13″ laptop and my laptop is the 13″ model of the MacBook Air. Except, the actual dimensions of the laptop are >13″, so it’s too big. In practice, I imagine the bag would only fit 11″ models. Such a bummer, because I was hoping my laptop would just slide right in. I may still keep it since I can always carry my laptop in a different bag, but I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to do that. :\ Still deciding! The rest of the bag is beautiful, and all the pockets are amazing.