I Tried 20 Pairs of Stockings—These 6 Pairs Don't Rip, Last Forever, and Look Chic

Last fall, when the weather started to chill, I went into my stockings drawer and kept pulling out pairs that were ripped entirely. On the rare occasion I found an intact pair, I'd put them on only to have them rip while I was out. It was extremely frustrating, especially for someone like myself who rarely wears pants and needs a good pair of stockings to wear with all of my dresses and skirts come October.

This year, I decided I'd conduct an experiment to prevent this from happening. And I took that seriously. I researched the internet extensively to see what pairs of black tights came most highly recommended by shoppers and then bought 20 pairs to wear test and see which ones held up the best. Below are the seven absolute best pairs that made me feel comfortable and didn't rip or budge.

Why I Love Them: First up are the Sheertex classic rip-resistant tights. I've tried a lot of tights with 'anti-rip' in the name, but these—which are also Sheertex's best-selling tight—really did live up to that title. They're extremely durable, and you can feel the quality as soon as you pull them out of the bag. I also love that they're available in different waistbands, either 2" or 4", and they're super lightweight. These are by far my most worn.

Why I Love Them: I wanted to test out an option that I could easily order if I were ever in a pinch, and came across this pair by Hue on Amazon. For $15, I was shocked by the quality. These are definitely the best value for the price that I found. To me, these are the best pair to order in bulk for when you have a trip coming up. I recently ordered a handful to pack for a weekend away because I didn't want to risk ruining my pricier pairs, and they held up great.

Why I Love Them: If you ever read any celebrity interview, specifically of a supermodel or fashion icon like Alexa Chung, you'll hear them name drop Wolford tights. And there's a reason for that. They are expensive in the world of tights but they're worth it. You can feel the quality as soon as you slip them on and they really are incredible. I personally love to wear these when I'm going out to a more formal event and think that they look the best with cocktail dresses.

Why I Love Them: Nothing is better than walking into Calzedonia and leaving with an entire bag of tights. There is always a 'buy 2, get 1 free' deal, which is great because they offer the largest variety in terms of opacity and color. These are my go-to for when I want to wear a really sheer tight or an option in a fun color like black or navy.

Why I Love Them: If I'm wearing something really tight, these Commando tights are what I opt for. They have a really nice control top with invisible edges that have smooth so that you can't see the tights or the band underneath the outfit.

Why I Love Them: I've heard a lot about Falke and I can see why. They're made of sustainable cotton so they're comfortable to wear all throughout the day and I loved the matte semi-sheer appearance. I'd say these were the pair that most made me forget I was wearing anything; they truly fit like a second skin.