Pantyhose - Were they meant for women or men?

Ever wondered whether pantyhose were invented for women or ... men?

If you look around and read posts in the forums or chatrooms, you will find that a lot of women are grumbling about the "evils" of wearing pantyhose. Complaining that pantyhose are hot, makes their legs sweating, difficult to wear, runs too easily, waistband always roll down, the crotch never stays in place ... blah blah blah .. and the list seems to go on and on.

With all these ranting, it does makes one wonder if pantyhose were really for women? Women probably think that pantyhose was invented by men to "torture them. But I reckon, pantyhose were probably meant for anyone who want their legs to look and feel good. Historically, men first wore tights for warmth, then pantyhose came into the picture when ladies need to show some legs as the hems of skirts got shorter in the 1950s.

In recent times, some men have taken to wearing support pantyhose for leg health reasons. Apart from the support given to the legs, these men have also found that pantyhose are also giving their legs a smoother and nicer look. Wearing suntan coloured pantyhose, gives your legs an instant tan without going under the sun for long hours ... hence potentially reducing your risks of skin cancer. Wearing black opaque support pantyhose under work pants, meant that you can forget about wearing socks and at the same time get the support your legs need if you sit or stand for long hours at work.

How to make sure your pantyhose are comfortable to wear? For women and for men as well.

1. Sizing. This is very important if you want to feel comfortable and cool. Most pantyhose are sized according to height and then weight. Height will determine the length of the leg, while weight will likely determine the tightness of the hosiery. You will have to choose the size the fits your height and weight. If your size is between 2 sizes, then go 1 up (for more comfort) or go 1 down (if you prefer tighter fit).

2. Quality. Everyone wants quality at the cheapest price. However, good quality pantyhose usually do not come cheap (hardly below US$2 per pair). Even Hanes cost about $5 per pair. Low quality pantyhose are usually rough and does not fit like 2nd skin, which could be why women says pantyhose are uncomfortable to wear. Some good quality brands are Hanes, Solidea, Wolford, Levante, ActivSkin (for men), Gerbe, etc. Most European brands (like Solidea, Levante) are very good in quality.

3. Durability. How long the pantyhose last before it runs, be it due to carelessness or wear n tear? Pantyhose comes in various thickness, measured in deniers (den in short). The lower the denier, the sheerer the pantyhose and the more delicate the pantyhose. The higher the denier, the less sheer and more durable the pantyhose. Pantyhose of 20den to 40den offers a balance of sheerness and durablility. Apart from the thickness, keeping your toe and finger nails well trimmed are ways to improve the durability of your pantyhose.

Pantyhose is just another piece of legwear, like leggings, tights. When paired properly (skin tone colours, non-floral patterns), even men can look masculine in them.