Nine of the best tights that won’t snag or ladder, tried for every occasion – from durable everyday tights to party chic sheer and patterned pairs

A pair of tights to rule them all. These are soft and stretchy, with an ultra-wide and soft waistband that still offers plenty of support and holds the tummy in without feeling restrictive or tight.

The innovative waistband also ends in a flattering upwards curve shape just above the bum and hips, which creates a lifting effect around the bum.

The opacity is decently high, offering plenty of coverage and warmth without feeling thick and harsh, and without bunching up behind the knees or around the ankle.

It is designed without a gusset so it doesn’t sag, and this design truly works, there was little to no readjusting needed throughout the day.

These tights are strong and successfully resisted a myriad of snags and pulls, making it a brilliant all-rounder.

M&S is the undisputed queen of practical clothes, and these tights are the perfect blend of durable, reliable and budget-friendly.

At only £10 for a pack of three, you’re getting plenty of value for money and each pair lasts a decent amount of time if you are careful while wearing them.

Word to the wise: ladder-resistant does not mean rip-resistant, so if the possibility of poking a hole in these may be quite high if you have long nails or you’re a bit clumsy like our reviewer.

However, the ladder-resistant technology does stop the small holes from developing into big, unsightly ladders, so they are fine for wearing under trousers or long skirts.

They create an attractive, only slightly shiny finish that create the illusion of sleeker legs, but also come in a 10 denier matte version.

If you’re after a pair of tights that are super opaque, you won’t get better than Snag’s 120 denier tights in black.

The brand is beloved for its inclusive sizes, ranging from UK4 all the way to UK36, with a design that is flattering, comfortable and long-lasting. They are also great value of money at under £10 for a high-quality pair of tights.

The waistband is soft and wide, making it largely resistant to rolling and pinching. It doesn’t offer as much tummy control as some of the other tights we tested, but still has a good amount of support and stays comfortable all day long.

As the tights are made with different thigh sizes and heights in mind, the likelihood of finding a pair that fit your unique shape is high, making it really innovative.

True to the brand’s promise, they don’t snag or ladder easily, and as they are fairly thick, it would take a lot to poke a hole into these.

These have the lowest denier of all the tights we reviewed and they are so sheer they almost seem like a second skin.

The black tights offer just a sheen of darkness, whilst the nude colours, which come in three shades but are all so sheer they hardly seem to matter, are practically invisible.

That said, if sheer is what you are after, then sheer is what you get with these tights by Falke.

The soft yarn offers a luxurious feel on the legs, and the tights have a surprisingly comfortable flat waistband that we weren’t expecting – such thin tights tend to have equally thin waistbands that end up making you feel like you’re being sliced in half.

Given how fine the fabric is, we also expected it to ladder almost straightaway but were pleasantly surprised that the tights lasted a full day without ripping, although they are prone to a few snags and we expect they will ladder if you pull at them just a little too carelessly.

Swedish Stockings have been around for over 10 years and are a cult brand for those in the know. They promise sustainably made stockings that are long-lasting, and customers say they live up to their reputation – and now, we think they do, too.

The Malva Tights are sheer, at just 20 denier, but surprisingly durable even after an impromptu brush with a bush and surviving a cat who very briefly mistook its owner’s lap for a scratching post.

Throughout these ordeals, the tights still stayed intact and while they did snag a bit, no major holes appeared.

The wide waistband also has real staying power, never rolling or slipping down even after a full day of standing and sitting in the office.

£32 does feel steep for a pair of tights, but we foresee these lasting a long time even with regular, heavy wear, so it’s a worthy investment in our books.

Heist’s spin on leopard print is somehow simultaneously minimalist and maximalist, stripping the ubiquitous pattern to just the spots while blowing them up for extra impact.

The effect is both highly chic and fun and these tights would look just as good at the office as they will at the office Christmas party.

In true Heist fashion, the waistband is ultra wide and supportive, offering some compression for tummy control without pinching, digging or making you feel like you can’t eat or breathe.

The base of the tights are sheer so that the darker leopard spots really stand out, and the fabric is soft and smooth.

However, do be careful when pulling them on as we found these are prone to holes if pulled with some force over the thighs and hips – as our reviewer found when she put a finger through upper back of the tights, below the reinforced waistband.

We’d recommend shimmying them on with care so they last longer, which you really want them to do at £35.

As mentioned before, Swedish Stockings tights possess the remarkable ability to stay up all day without ever rolling or slipping down, and their control top tights are just as good at doing so with the added benefit of keeping your tummy tucked in and your bum lifted.

They feature panels on the front of the tights that are seamless and a wide waistband that hold everything in without digging or feeling too restrictive.

The panels cover the hips, upper thighs and bum as well, providing a lifting and smoothing effect.

What our reviewer especially liked about these tights was that the control panels don’t extend to the mid thighs, which is normal with most control tights on the market.

This means there’s no unsightly shorts-like area around the thighs that peeks out under short skirts and shorts, giving the wearer a more seamless look.

Whilst this pair of Swedish Stockings tights aren’t advertised as ladder-resistant, the fabric is durable and smooth, making it less likely to snag.

Fishnets are a bold choice but a must-have for anyone who is a fan of expressive tights, and these combine fishnets and lace for a classy, elegant look.

Whilst our reviewer feared they would be extremely prone to ripping, but a little care went a long way and they went on without a hitch.

These M&S tights come in four colours – black, brown, ivory and burgundy – but our favourite was the brown as it gave a softer look compared to the black while still being bang on trend.

The lace details on these tights are floral and feminine, yet they belong firmly in autumn and winter and look stunning with a pair of slingback heels or in ankle boots.

Our reviewer particularly enjoyed how soft they were to the touch, and how generous the give is – in fact, we would recommend sizing down because of how much these stretch.

The waistband is also generous in size and very comfortable despite being quite thin.

However, these tights call for some care – stay away from bushes and definitely don’t let the cat near them.

No other tights brand does colours quite like Snag does, as they have mastered the art of creating bright pops of solid colour that stand out on all skin tones.

We love these icy cool blue tights, appropriately named Menthe Glacier, but they have a huge range of colours from trendy butter yellow to emerald green and beyond.

The 80 denier tights provide just enough opaque colour to stand out while still being able to see a little skin tone underneath so they don’t appear too costume-like.

They feature Snag’s signature waistband, which is soft and stretchy enough to be super comfortable but doesn’t stretch out of shape even after numerous washes.

They are also ladder-resistant – great for adventuring, if you feel so inclined – and moisture-wicking to ensure breathability and comfort.