This is a review of
Comfilon's ActivSkin A549 tights. As with all of the tights reviews here on
Sheer Geek, this review adheres to this blog's
tights review criteria.
I first heard about these tights not long after Comfilon introduced them in the late 1990s. As such, these tights were part of a breakthrough in my own psyche; with the arrival of these tights, my own liking of wearing tights had been given a measure of credibility and respectability as sheer tights were no-longer an exclusive female item of clothing. I was therefore eager to try these tights as soon as possible.
Curiously, however, it was several years before I placed my very first order for men's tights with
tights-for-men.com. The first item on the order list was a pair of Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights in beige. Below is my review of these tights.
Top Photo: comfilon.comFinish & Composition
FinishThe Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights are packaged in a large flat cardboard outer sleeve. The contents are protected by a cellophane inner wrapper in which the tights are folded around a central card strip. The cellophane wrap is sealed with tape that proudly sports the message "Made In USA".
The front of the outer packaging has the brand name and three black-and-white photos depicting men in three scenarios, namely athletics, leisure and work. The top-right corner of the front of the packaging has a sticker applied that supplies specific details about the product within, namely the item style, size, colour, composition and country of manufacture.
The reverse of the outer wrapping depicts a man cycling and also has a printed size guide. Under the size guide are directions on how to put on the tights and an informative section on the care of the product. Below this is the warranty information. The reverse of the outer wrapping rounds out with copyright, trade mark and contact details for the company followed by the company logo.
Anyone taking a look at the packaging of these tights would be in no doubt that these tights have been specifically made for men. A lot of thought has evidently gone into promoting and marketing these tights as a masculine item of clothing. Upon opening the package, I was pleased by the care and attention to detail that had evidently gone into wrapping and packaging these tights. These tights look like a quality product and accordingly my first impressions were very positive.
Finish: 10 pointsCompositionThe Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights are made from 87% nylon and 13% spandex (or elastane as it is more commonly called here in the UK). The nylon within these tights provides plenty of softness, whilst the spandex helps to keep the tights in place and ensures that they retain their shape.
Composition: 10 pointsDurability, Fit & Sizing
DurabilityI have worn these tights on many occasions and have not experienced any problems with the leg portion of the tights snagging or developing a run. Unfortunately, on one of the pairs of A549s that I own, I have had problems with the fly opening of the tights fraying. This may be due to the material coming into contact with the inside of the zipper of my jeans/trousers. However, I have not had this problem with other tights from other manufacturers. Other A549s that I own are beginning to show fatigue in this region also.
Once washed, the tights retain their shape perfectly and have not twisted. Over the course of many cycles of wearing and washing, the colour has not faded.
Overall, I believe that the leg portion of the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights are as strong and robust as sheer tights can be. Whilst I have reservations about the stitching and material around the fly opening, the body section appears to be well made and durable.
Durability: 7 pointsFit & SizingThe Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights are available in the following sizes: M, L and XL. I am 1.8 metres tall (5'11" in old money) and weigh approximately 81 kilograms (12 and a half stone or 175 pounds). According to the size guide, I fall into the size M category for the waist measurement, but fall squarely into the size L category for height and in-seam. After consulting with the proprietor of tights-for-men.com, I opted to purchase the tights in size L. This proved to be a wise decision as this size fits me perfectly. I think that I would have regretted buying these tights in size M.
Once on, the tights slip only marginally and need to be pulled up very infrequently.
Fit & Sizing: 8 pointsColour Range & Design Features
Colour RangeThe Comfilon ActivSkin tights are available in three colours, namely Beige, Jet Black and Tan. Interestingly, these tights were once manufactured in five colours; the above mentioned three plus dark brown and off-black. It is a shame that the manufacturer was unable to support the wider colour range. Men come in a wide range of skin tones and it would therefore be good if the various manufacturers of men's tights were to supply tights in a wide range of skin matching colours.
If either of the beige or tan matches your skin-tone then these tights will provide a good measure of stealth as they are matt in appearance and are quite sheer.
If worn under shorts or three quarter length trousers a casual observer would be unlikely to notice that tights are being worn.
Colour Range: 6 points.Design FeaturesThe Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights features include:
- Convenient and practical fly opening
- Front male comfort panel
- Sheer leg and boxer brief
- Reinforced toes
- Centre rear seam.
In short, these tights have been engineered for men and have set the standard by which all other men's tights should be judged.
Design Features: 7 pointsComfort, Softness & Wearability
Comfort
As I alluded to in the composition section (see above), these tights are very soft and comfortable and require very little adjustment through the day. The comfort panel has been well designed and offers a good amount of support.
Comfort: 10 pointsSoftness & WearabilityThe Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights feel very soft and sensuous and are a pleasure to wear.
I was happy to wear these tights all day long and have done so on numerous occasions. I have worn them with a variety of outfits: underneath shorts; underneath three quarter length trousers and underneath full length trousers. The tights were comfortable in all instances and glided well under trousers. The fly opening makes for easy access during comfort stops, though I have found that it can be prone to gaping open.
Softness & Wearability: 8 pointsPricing & Value For Money
PricingAs of the time of writing, the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights cost:
U.K: £11.69 (
tights-for-men.com)
U.S: $13.99 (
comfilon.com)
Australia: AU$19.99 (
activskin.com.au)
China: ￥135.00 (
comfimay.com)
Less than two years ago, tights-for-men.com were selling these tights at £8.99 per pair. Unfortunately, since then the world economy has taken a battering and the pound has weakened noticeably against the US dollar. Consequently, the cost of these tights has risen by 30% here in the UK.
Pricing: 6 points
Value For MoneyThese tights offer everything that I look for in a pair of tights for everyday use. Until the recent price increase I would have said that these tights were great value, particularly when compared with a good quality pair of branded ladies tights. However, the price increase here in the UK has meant that these tights are edging themselves away from the everyday tights category.
Ten years ago, if you wanted sheer men's tights with a fly opening then the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights were pretty much your only option. Today, however, there are men's tights from other manufacturers that offer similar features at a lower price. In fairness, however, the Comfilon tights are manufactured in the USA and as such do not benefit from the low-cost work force that some of the other manufacturers utilise. Also, some of the cheaper men's tights are only available in one size. On balance I would argue that the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights represent reasonable value for money.
Value For Money: 6 pointsConclusionWhen I bought my first pair of Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights I was delighted with them right from the moment that I opened the packaging and tried them on. They were as soft and comfortable as any of the other sheer tights that I had ever tried on. Most importantly, however, these tights were made for men and had a body section that included a male comfort panel and fly opening. This made these tights extra-special in my view.
Ten years since their introduction, the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights are still in active production, though their unique status as sheer men's tights with a fly has long since been eroded. Their place in the market must surely have been squeezed by both cheaper brands that offer one-size sheer men's tights (some with a fly opening) and more expensive sheer men's tights that offer a wider feature set (notably the Men Satin 20 tights from Gerbe). Comfilon itself has increased the range of their sheer tights, thus muscling in on the once-exclusive domain of these tights. From having little or no choice in the late '90s, men today can choose sheer tights from several manufacturers in differing styles and price ranges. Consequently, the Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights may not be the automatic choice that they once were.
Would I buy these tights again? Yes, and I have done so several times. The recent rise in price is disappointing, though understandable, and largely only affects those of us here in the UK. Whilst they may be getting a little too expensive to be everyday tights and even though I have minor doubts about the durability of the fly opening, I still look favourably upon them.
Sheer Geek's Comfilon ActivSkin A549 tights review score:
78 points.
Czech hosiery manufacturer ELA has released a range of tights for men.
The second style in the range is called David. Described by the manufacturer as cosy men’s tights featuring front gusset, these tights weigh in at 20 denier. These tights have a 97% nylon and 3% elastane composition and are priced at 32 Czech Koruna per pair (£1.15 or $1.85).
At this price point, this range of men's tights would seemingly be the cheapest presently available on the market.
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