We only wear fleece-lined tights through winter, as an unlined tight allows the wind to pass through the fabric too easily.

A brushed lining, often dubbed Roubaix by manufacturers, provides significantly more insulation than unlined polyester and is soft next to the skin. The ‘fuzzy’ interior helps trap warm air, while allowing moisture to escape.

Which leads us on to another key consideration – breathability. Many manufacturers will swap that fleece-lined fabric for a lighter mesh on the back panel and bib straps in order to improve moisture transfer in an area already protected by a jersey or jacket.

A fleece-lined tight will provide enough protection for ‘normal’ winter riding conditions, when temperatures are in the low to middle single figures, but what if it’s really cold, wet, or both?

Water resistant

Water resistant tights are a relatively new phenomenon. Sportful, Castelli and Santini are among the manufacturers to offer a tight made from a water resistant fabric.

Castelli’s Nanoflex and Sportful’s No-Rain fabrics use a similar silicone treatment – the two Italian firm’s are owned by the same parent company – to boost their water repellency . We’ve been impressed by both fabrics: Nanoflex when used in Castelli’s arm warmers and No-Rain in Sportful’s tights from the range with the same name. Santini, meanwhile, use a fabric called Acquazero in their H2O collection.

Windproof

Wind is a cyclist’s other enemy in winter and some tights use windproof panels in key areas to beat off the cold when it’s Baltic. Look’s recently-reviewed Excellence bib tights are, well, excellent, thanks to the ‘Windtex’ fabric used on the knees, while Endura’s Equipe Thermo Windshield tights also use windproof panels to similar effect.

A word of warning: windproof fabrics are, on the whole, less stretchy than conventional lycra, so pay particular attention to fit to ensure the tights don’t feel bulky or restrictive. Rapha say the windproof fabric used on their Deep Winter tights has more stretch than most – but you pay for the privilege.

At the other end of the scale, the Vaeon Zero bib tights from Wiggle’s in-house brand, dhb, combine windproof panels with a high, fleece-lined front panel for additional warmth.