The Light Alpha Tights, made of Polartec’s Alpha Direct, are ultralight, highly breathable, and extremely versatile.

When worn with shorts they are warm but never hot, providing you exceptional comfort on the move. In the colder months, wear them under the pants to block out the wind and increase the warmth. They also make great pajamas at camp as they are much lighter than down pants.

The Light Alpha Tights are fast drying and do not lose their thermal insulating properties when wet. This is why they are so great with our fast-drying Light 5-Pocket Pants.

Light Alpha Tights are great for those that want to stay in shorts even during the colder months.

The thin (85g/m2) Polartec Alpha Direct used in the Light Alpha Tights is highly breathable and allows the outside air to pass through as if you were wearing nothing at all.
Combined with shorts, you can keep cool while on the move but stay warm when resting. It also dries quickly and maintains the same level of warmth as synthetic down, even when wet.

Unlike traditional pants in the colder seasons when bottoms tend to be heavy, the Light Alpha Tights are lightweight but warm. Combine them with thin long pants to keep things light but toasty.

When wearing the tights under the Light 5-Pocket Pants, the combination of the two products weighs only 228g, which is lighter than the Merino 5-Pocket Pants (423g), made for the winter.

Highly breathable, sweat-proof, and comfortable to the touch, Light Alpha Tights are great for camp wear or as pajamas (wearing them over shorts is also recommended).

Although the thermal insulation is higher in down pants, at only 96g (Size S), these tights make it easy to pack light.

Although it is not as warm as 1000 fill power down, the slightly thick Polartec Alpha Direct (136g/m2) is one of the best insulators available. The Alpha Direct can be used not only in action but also when resting, always keeping you warm.

The below chart compares the 1000 fill power down and other insulators used in thermal clothes on the market:

• Heat retention is measured by JIS L 1096 A method, in Yamatomichi in-house test. The heat insulation property is measured by the amount of energy consumed by the heat-generating element to maintain its temperature.
  The maximum value is 100%.
• The values of Polartec and Primaloft fabrics are the manufacturers’ catalog specs. Other fabrics’ values are measured by Yamatomichi. 1000 fill power down includes its 7 denier nylon outer and lining.

Highly air-permeable Polartec Alpha Direct is used on the outer fabric, achieving even higher breathability. It is warm but not too warm because heat and moisture can properly escape, always keeping you comfortable.

The below chart compares the breathability of middle layer products*:

*Measured by JIS 1096 A (Frazier method), in Yamatomichi in-house test.

Dries quickly even when wet with sweat.

The below chart compares the fast-drying performance of middle layer products*. It is shown that Alpha Direct is not as fast-dry as the extremely fast-drying Shadow Rip (UL Shirt), but the moisture content after spin-dry is much lower than that of wool and other fabrics, and even when wet, it dries quickly if lightly wrung out or worn for some time:

*Tested by Yamatomichi. Compared the difference of the water content after completely wet and 15 minutes of spin-dry. The larger the value, the higher the moisture content, meaning slower drying.

Lighter than typical lightweight wool tights or down pants. Because they are so light, you can pack them without hesitation even in situations where you are not sure whether to bring an insulating layer or not.

Conventional natural down and synthetic insulators tend to contain body moisture within the clothes and as a result, can be quite stuffy. Polartec Alpha Direct, on the other hand, is so air-permeable that it can be worn even during a high level of physical activity.

Alpha Direct is also treated by Polygiene odor control which safely reduces the microorganisms and bacteria by small amounts of silver ions, achieving antibacterial and deodorizing function that well exceeds the lifespan of ordinary garments.

Polartec Alpha Direct

Shedding may occur overtime with use and frequent washing. This is due to the structure of the loft where hairs are directly implanted into the mesh fabric.

• Machine wash, below at 30°C, Use neutral detergent.
• Wash separately or use a laundry net bag.
• Do not bleach. Do not use fabric softener.
• Dry flat in the shade to prevent stretching under its own weight.
• When using a dryer, use a low-temperature setting (60°C or lower).
• Do not dry-clean.
• Do not iron.
• If fluff is noticeable at the time of purchase, please wash once.