We’ve said it time and time again, sometimes gear can just make you feel good in your own skin. And when you feel good, confidence and better performance can follow. That was certainly the case when it came to Wattie Ink’s tights.

Our multisport editor, Tracy, fell in love with Wattie Ink’s designs, so she was stoked to try their Crane Collection tights.

Before we tell you about the tights, let’s start with a bit of background about the brand itself. Wattie Ink’s founder, Sean Watkins (AKA “Wattie”) saw a gap in the market for a different kind of apparel—we’re talking something completely different. Wattie left his job with Triathlete Magazine in 2009 and began Wattie Ink., drawing his inspiration from album covers, skateboards, and sleeve tattoos.

In addition to the awesome designs, we loved that Wattie Ink’s fabrics are sourced out of Italy, and the products are all developed in San Diego at the Wattie Ink. factory. In fact, quality was one of the first things we noticed when we tried on the tights. Every stitch and seam was perfect.

And the fabric itself? It felt as if we’d slipped into a second skin. We were a bit concerned about how well the tights would breathe when we first looked at them (the shiny nature of the fabric worried us). But we’re very happy to report that we felt perfectly comfy in them. Tracy wore the tights for several one-hour yoga and strength training sessions, and she never felt like her bottom half was overheating.

Thanks to the non-slip waist band, the tights also never fell down—a huge plus in our book! Because the last thing you want to do during an intense strength session is worry about tugging and pulling at the waist of your tights to keep them where they belong.  There’s also a little pocket hidden inside the waist, which was perfect for carrying a hotel key card, house key, or even a gel.

In addition to simply fitting like a glove, Tracy received several compliments on the tights every time she wore them. And let’s face it, sometimes that’s a confidence booster in itself.

After wearing the tights for a few weeks now, we can safely say that these have quickly become a favorite. The fit is absolutely perfect, the fabric and construction are high-quality, and the design is a definite head-turner. If you’re looking for an all-around great tight, we’d highly recommend these. You can pick up a pair for $100 at WattieInk.com, and they’re available in sizes XS through XL.