I Tried the Sheertex Rip-Resist Tights—Here’s My Honest Review

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality: 19/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 19/20
• Rip Resistance: 20/20

Total: 97/100

When I received the Sheertex tights in the mail, my first impression was, “Whoa, these are thick.” Despite their substantial knit, they weren’t heavy at all. (However, I will say each pair does take up a good amount of space in my sock and underwear drawer.) In fact, they're rather lightweight and unbelievably stretchy. Through all my pulls and tugs, the knit continued to stretch…and stretch and stretch and stretch, which came in handy when I wanted the tights to look a bit more sheer.

The fabric looked like it was double-stitched in one area, taking on the form of a dark run, but this was one of those minor imperfections my Virgo eye spotted that others probably couldn’t. My mom immediately stole the classic sheer leggings from right up under my nose (and I haven’t seen them since), but I found them to be rather opaque. The super sheer, pictured above, wasn’t as sheer as I expected a “super sheer” tight would be either, and this is where the tug and pull technique came in handy. The more I yanked them up the legs, the sheerer they’d be.

Naturally, this meant I had to deal with extra fabric around my waist, which I don’t love, but the joys of being a woman, right? I have a short(er) torso and long(ish) legs, and the six-and-a-half-inch mid-rise waistband sat right underneath the underwire of my bra like a super high-rise. This is great for wearing with dresses, especially since it boasts a light compression comfort that slims and smooths my stomach area. When I wore my high-waist jeans and skirts, I did have to roll the tights down as not to have the fabric popping out. Not ideal, but I concluded that I’d prefer to deal with too much fabric instead of having to constantly pull them up because they sag in the crotch, you know?

I normally wear tights with dresses, and the super sheers looked beyond chic paired with my blazer dress and heels, though the jeans and tights proved to be an unlikely match. If you know me, then you know I love my Agolde jeans, but my ripped pair is notoriously difficult to wear when it’s chilly out, so layering the tights underneath provided ample warmth and looked darn cute, if I do say so myself. And that rings true for the tights in general. They’re plenty warm, super soft and really hug your body well. They didn’t sag in the butt or crotch throughout the day or catch on anything sharp, so that’s a win for me.

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality: 19/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 18/20
• Rip Resistance: 20/20

Total: 96/100

The diamond pattern on these rip-resistant tights proved to be a super fun swap to the previous pair. As someone with a wardrobe bursting with predominantly neutral colors (blacks, whites and browns), incorporating eye-catching patterns like this was a fun way to spice up my outfits. All the same sentiments I had about the sheer tights ring true for the diamond pattern tights. I did notice that the tights looked extra opaque around the knees and ankles where the fabric naturally bends and gathers, so I had to pull the fabric up to get the pattern to sit evenly and sheer out.

Ordering one size smaller might’ve upped its sheerness and minimized the amount of extra fabric I dealt with, but I referred to the size chart and ordered a size medium. For reference, Sheertex recommends sizing based upon your weight, and I’m on the lower portion of medium, so if you’re between sizes—or, in this case, weight—I’d suggest opting for one size down if you don’t want to deal with extra fabric bunching around your midriff, knees or ankles. If you’re blessed with curves, then stick with your usual size. Best of all, Sheertex has a 90-day rip-resist guarantee in place for all orders, so you have time to test these babies out and figure out if they’re up to snuff for you.

Yes, the $59 to $89 cost is pretty steep for many like me who are in the habit of picking up an $8 option at the drugstore, but the indestructible knits are worth it, especially when retailers like Amazon and QVC are selling them for a steep discounted rate of $35 and $39. If I compared the number of wears between the two, it’d be laughable. I probably enjoy three, maybe four or five (if I’m lucky), wears of my CVS tights before they get a run or fall apart, and my Sheertex’s lifespan has yet to be determined—even after a full year of owning them. I can happily report that I’ve far exceeded that amount and they still look as good as the day that I received them in the mail.

If you’re someone who loves to wear skirts, dresses or denim jeans with rips while it’s cool out, then investing in a pair of rip-resistant tights that’ll last you all season and then some is one of the smartest investments you can make. And considering the tights are available in inclusive sizes (XS to 3XL), many patterns and fits—such as sheer nude, mini dot, cherry red, fishnet, maternity, shaping and more—what’s not to love? We’ve got options, people.