Which is the best pantyhose for men to wear? No fictional character has articulated this writer’s position on pantyhose so well as when Claire Fisher of HBO’s Six Feet Understood atop her cubicle desk and belted out “You Ride Up My Thighs” (sung to “You Light Up Life”) an ode to her ill-fitting nylons.
Most sane people would agree: Hose is the bane of womanhood. Who wouldn’t hate being confined in nylon as it slowly squeezes the life out of her?
Men’s pantyhose
Alas, there comes a time in every woman’s life when the wearing of pantyhose is required, the same is true for men. This may be a dance for women.
It is also necessary for men to work in the field. I used to have an office job that required the best men’s pantyhose or the best pantyhose for men often enough to remind me how maddening they are.
Now, I work at home and spend much of my “free” time chasing a toddler. When I wear men’s pantyhose or the best pantyhose for men, I need them to be good—I don’t have the time or the energy to stash an extra pair or a bottle of clear nail polish in my diaper bag.
So, I want to know: Are all pantyhose created equal or does popping for a fancy pair ensure higher quality and less sausagelike discomfort?
A Brief History
There is some comfort in the knowledge that, sadly, hose used to be more uncomfortable than they are today. In the days of Charlemagne, both men and women wore hand-knit stockings—a practice that continued until 1589, when Reverend William Lee invented a time-saving knitting frame that could weave stockings out of wool, cotton, and silk.
For the next several centuries, hose evolved little, until 1937, when a group of scientists at DuPont led by Dr. Wallace Carothers invented nylon. A DuPont team subsequently created nylon hoses, unveiling them at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
Like their predecessors, the hose had seams and was attached to garters, but the new material made them much less difficult to tear and much easier to wash and re-wear. In their first year on the market, DuPont sold 64 million pairs of hose. By the 1950s, seamless stockings hit the scene.
In 1959, DuPont scientist Joseph Shivers invented spandex, bringing forth the next generation of the hose. (DuPont’s brand name for this product is Lycra; all Lycra is spandex, but not all spandex is Lycra.) Because spandex boasts soft and rubbery segments, its fiber can stretch to as much as 600 percent of its original size and then snap back into shape.
Since you now didn’t have to worry about stretching your hose, they could last—in theory—a lot longer. According to the United States Patent and Trade Office, Allen Gant Sr. of Glen Raven Mills invented what we call “pantyhose”— an opaque nylon top that is sewn onto a pair of stockings—that same year. (Reader: Do you notice that all of these people are men?)
The Test
Combing the aisles of a hosiery department, be it at Duane Reade or Neiman-Marcus, consumers must not only decide which brand suits them but decipher the differences between, say, L’eggs’ “sheer vitality” and “sheer energy” lines, all without stepping foot in them.
My testing criteria were as follows: All hose boasted sheer toes, and, whenever possible, I chose the color “nude.” Nude is hardly a set color; some are the color of a bottled self-tanner while others give you a Goth look.
It’s no small feat to find the perfect match: Many women I know would gladly sacrifice comfort for sheerness, so I evaluated color, too. I tested the hose by wearing each pair for a minimum of 10 hours; nearly every pair was worn for at least 12.
I tested them by doing what most moms do every day: regularly jogging up and downstairs, picking up toys discarded from strollers, and other similarly vigorous physical activities.
My friend Alicia, another work-at-home mom, helped me out. We were careful to note how long it took to don each pair, as wriggling alone can be an exercise in self-flagellation.
Best Pantyhose for Men – The Results
(1) Sheertex Pantyhose for Men & Women
- Panty and Leg: breathable material
- Cost: $59
- Run count:
- Texture and Color: Medium Nude, Light Nude, Dark Nude
- Fit Sheertex Classic Sheer Tights—the world’s most durable pantyhose. Unbreakable in human hands. Ethically woven in Montreal, Canada. 30 Denier. Available in Small to XXL sizes and Short to Tall height ranges. Named One of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions.
(2) ElsaYX Men’s Glossy Tights Pantyhose Open Sheath
- Panty and Leg: 86 percent nylon; 14 percent spandex
- Cost: $15.99
- Run count: 3 before the entire right foot popped out
- Texture and Color: ElsaYX offers an open sleeve in front of the male anatomy. See-through nylon material with one open sheath in front for men especially and the waist is double thick and the legend have a non-roll construction that is perfect. Wearing these under your work clothes to get a special feeling.
- Fit: The confines of the control top require one to dance a bit more than usual to put them on, but they feel good and even somewhat refined when on. They cling to your body in a way that is not uncomfortable.
- Grade: D-. It’s so cool for men, it’s perfect for fall and winter wear.
(3) L’eggs Sheer Elegance Silky Sheer Pantyhose Control Top
- Panty: 80 percent nylon, 20 percent spandex
- Leg: 85 percent nylon, 15 percent spandex
- Cost: $19.67 – $19.68
- Run count: 3
- Texture and Color: Like faux silk—mildly smooth but with a cheap, mesh feel. This L’eggs line doesn’t make “nude,” so I tried “buff,” which resembled light ivory on my legs—it’s definitely for a pale woman or winter-only wear.
- Fit: On the tight and suffocating side. The waistband in particular feels super-cinched. The hose began to itch halfway through the day, and we found it difficult to get on because of the fit.
- Grade: F. Runs began spontaneously about three hours into wear, and did I mention that they are very tight?
(4) Melas Microfiber Opaque Control Top Tights AT-636
- Panty: 88 percent nylon; 12 percent spandex
- Leg: 84 percent nylon; 16 percent spandex
- Cost: $8.50 – $10.13
- Run count: Stopped counting at 5
- Texture and Color: Melas offers ten shades of “natural” in this line; I tried “Natural 04,” a pretty, pale color. The texture was outstanding—very soft. The hose made the legs look, well, “natural” and thus attractive.
- Fit: Melas’s tights are cut smaller than others of the same stated size, resulting in a tighter fit that’s more difficult to get on the body: The first run occurred while pulling them over the first thigh. The second and third runs occurred while pulling them over the second thigh.
- Grade: F. These are dreamy to touch, but they’re too fragile to sustain even the slightest movements.
(5) Hanes Absolutely Ultra Sheer Control Top Sheer Toe Pantyhose
- Panty and Leg: Nylon/spandex
- Cost: $18.06
- Run count: 3 before the entire right foot popped out
- Texture and Color: Hanes offers a seemingly helpful control top that quickly turned suffocating. The “absolutely bare” moniker was almost accurate; they were a touch darker than we would have liked, but not objectionable.
- Fit: The confines of the control top require one to dance a bit more than usual to put them on, but they feel good and even somewhat refined when on. They cling to your body in a way that is not uncomfortable.
- Grade: D-. While these look and feel great, they couldn’t stand up to activity; by the end of the day, they were completely shredded. Like a boxer with a weak heart.
(6) L’eggs Sheer Energy Active Support Regular Pantyhose
- Panty: 83 percent nylon, 17 percent spandex
- Leg: 70 percent nylon, 30 percent spandex
- Cost: $17.13
- Run count: 0
- Texture and Color: Nicely smooth but a touch itchy. Itchiness grows progressively more intense. By “nude” here, they mean “for women who live in Florida”—suntan city.
- Fit: Very loose; after 15 minutes, the roll-down waistband syndrome began. Ironically, as the waist got looser throughout the day, the legs felt more confining. Discomfort grew to such a level that these were torn off.
- Grade: C-. The high point here is sturdiness. Try all you want: These won’t run. Still, that doesn’t make up for the texture, fit, and color. I’d buy these again if they were the only option.
(7) Spanx All the Way Full Length Hose Super Control
- Panty and Leg: 85 percent nylon, 15 percent Lycra spandex/elastane
- Cost: $24
- Run count: Two, although the first happened a full 10 hours into the wearing, and the second happened at the 12-hour mark.
- Texture and Color: Somewhat reminiscent of what satin leggings might feel like—very soft and more substantial than others. Spanx offers three colors: Nude 1, Cocoa, and Black; Nude 1 is ultra-sheer in color and subtly tinted brown; pretty.
- Fit: Spanx glided right on to the body and seemed to create a slimmer silhouette—any pantyhose that make you feel a few pounds lighter are a wonderful invention. Also, these were extremely comfortable.
- Grade: B. The ultimate special-occasion pantyhose and good for a splurge; these would have been better, though, had they not spontaneously bust a run in the toe while a wearer was sitting on the couch!
The Verdict
If there’s one lesson I learned in the world of best pantyhose for men, it’s this: The more spandex in the hose, the tighter the fit; the more nylon, the scratchier the texture. Another lesson: Cheaper brands tend toward the fake ‘n’ bake end of the color spectrum; to find a color that more closely matches your own requires some spending.
I cannot say I enjoyed wearing men’s pantyhose or best pantyhose for men every day for weeks, sometimes I always wear sheer pantyhose for men, but I can say that the impossible happened. I actually found a pair I liked: Call it sheer luck.
Best men’s pantyhose
Fishnet Mens Pantyhose with Pouch Review 14.99
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little rubber balls keep things from sliding around
(5)
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sexy
(5)
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No rolling issues with the waist
(5)
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Comfortable and great fit
(5)
Fishnet Mens Pantyhose with Pouch
These are soft, comfortable, high-quality fishnets with a pouch for male comfort. These are soft, comfortable, high-quality fishnets with a pouch for male comfort. I like them because, they’re very sexy; it’s fun dressing my Boyfriend, for cosplay:) One person found this helpful.
Overall
5Pros
- little rubber balls keep things from sliding around
- they’re very sexy
- No rolling issues with the waist
- Comfortable and great fit
Cons
- Those who like big mesh will be disappointed
Absolutely, this blog post resonates with many who’ve endured the trial of finding a comfortable, durable pair of pantyhose. It’s clear that the search for quality hose—especially for men—is as complex as for women, and it’s fascinating to see each brand graded with such scrutiny. The history section added a nice touch, showing that pantyhose have come a long way (although sometimes it doesn’t feel like it!). I love the honest reviews of each brand, from Sheertex’s “unbreakable” appeal to Spanx’s subtle slimming effect, highlighting that, in the world of pantyhose, comfort and durability are hard to come by.
For men especially, I can see how some of the options you tested might be too tight or ill-fitting for daily wear. It sounds like Sheertex came out on top for its toughness, but Spanx might still be the choice for a special occasion when comfort meets a bit of compression magic. Overall, the article gives a refreshing perspective on a sometimes-overlooked struggle and does a great job breaking down the pros and cons of each brand!
I love this Fishnet Mens Pantyhose
It’s really eye-opening. I always think that Fishnet Pantyhose is worn by women. I didn’t expect that in this post, there was actually a Fishnet Pantyhose for men. I also plan to buy it for fun.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes (6) No
Yes, at the end of the post, I reviewed a fishnet Pantyhose for men, which also received good reviews on Amazon. thanks.
Wow, when did you do pantyhose test in the seventies or maybe eighties? I’m 57 and have been wearing silky pantyhose in central Florida at least 45 years and openly with shorts everywhere every single day for at least 7 years. The only comments ever have been very positive. I have worn dozens of brands over the years but usually wear Leggs sheer energy sheer to waist in suntan. I also wear Leggs active support suntan. They are shiny and shimmery and obvious that you are wearing pantyhose. I wear them because they look and feel terrific and they help my poor circulation. As for the cost the Leggs sheer energy and active support today are $4.97 @ walmart and you can get 3 pairs of Leggs everyday support for $5.87 that’s less than $2.00 a pair! And I get at least 20 to 30 wearings from them before a single run. I’m just getting started! So if you hate the idea of men loving how great your legs look and all of the other benefits of pantyhose more power to you but quit fooling yourself about the reasons because you are only lying to yourself! Oh by the way if you and your friend are walking down the street and she is wearing pantyhose and you are not I guarantee you she is getting all of the looks!
Wow, Thank you for leaving such a wonderful comment. You can share your views with anyone who reads this article.
I forgot to leave you links for the excellent Jobst DON’T RUN pantyhose we HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
https://amzn.to/2QCUZyW
https://amzn.to/37NyqgB
If you want a hose that DOESN’T RUN, hugs the leg nicely, and doesn’t fall down, try Jobst!
The women’s styles are just fine for guys. I’m a carpenter, 5’10”, 185 lbs, by size medium, and wear these every day. I can get 20+ wearings out of a pair before they loose their hugginess. Forget they’re “medical grade graduated compression,” I have no medical problems and they’re just hose . . . forget the marketing chat. \ Signed a guy CG