The 10 Best Mens Underwear
Updated by · How we research
Ten boxer briefs, briefs and boxers compared by fabric, pouch, leg length and drying speed. The 32 Degrees Active Mesh leads for its airy feel and fast dry. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Fabric matters more than the logo on the waistband. Cotton feels soft but holds sweat and dries slowest, polyester and nylon dry fast but can keep odor, and the bamboo in bamboo underwear is chemically processed rayon. This list is for men replacing a tired drawer, training hard, traveling light or just wanting something that won't ride up.
At a Glance
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1
32 Degrees Active Mesh
$19
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2
Saxx Core Performance Mesh
$34
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3
Hanes Total Support Pouch
$18
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4
Under Armour Performance Tech
$32
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5
David Archy Bamboo
$29
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6
Calvin Klein Cotton Stretch
$32
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7
Jockey Classic
$26
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8
Hanes Knit Boxers
$27
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9
Fruit of the Loom CoolZone
$23
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10
Champion Everyday Cotton Stretch
$28
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The 32 Degrees Active Mesh is the new top pick. It's light, airy and quick to dry, it won OutdoorGearLab's 13-pair travel underwear test, and it costs less than most performance pairs.
Most of the old list had disappeared. The Saxx Underwear Co. Kinetic, Under Armour Boxerjock Tech and Calvin Klein Cotton Classics are no longer available, so the same makers' Saxx Core Performance Mesh, Under Armour Performance Tech and Calvin Klein Cotton Stretch take their places. The David Archy One Pouch Trunks give way to the David Archy Bamboo, and the Fruit of the Loom Assorted pack gives way to the Fruit of the Loom CoolZone. We dropped the Chill Boys Quick-Dry, Jinshi Bamboo Long and Eyushijia Bamboo Fiber because we couldn't find anything beyond their own sales pitches to back them. The Jockey Classic stays, and the Hanes Exposed boxers return as the Hanes Knit Boxers.
The evidence here was fiber labels, two outdoor reviews that timed drying after a soak and checked odor after hard use, a Harvard study and Mayo Clinic guidance on tight underwear and sperm counts, and recall records for every brand.
Earlier notes
February 21, 2021, by Brett Dvoretz:
Ask any two men what the best kind of underwear is, and you will rarely get the same answer. Understanding this, we made sure to include a nice variety of cuts and styles here, so whether you are a gentleman who prefers things a bit traditional, or someone who embraces new fabrics and designs, there is something here for you.
If you have been wearing the same kind of underwear for the last thirty years and have no intention of changing anytime soon, you will probably be drawn to the Jockey Classic 9950 and Fruit of the Loom Assorted. Both are made from 100 percent cotton, so they breath well, and have a tag-free design, so there won't be anything to irritate your skin.
While on the topic of breathability, while many of the briefs and boxer briefs on here do breath well due to the fabric they are made from, nothing compares with boxers when it comes to that department. So, if you want as much airflow and freedom as possible, you may want to consider the Chill Boys Quick-Dry, Hanes Exposed, and Calvin Klein Cotton Classics. However, a downside to any pair of boxers is that they aren't going to be as comfortable when running or performing other, similarly repetitive, high-motion activities.
For sports use, the Saxx Underwear Co. Kinetic and Under Armour Boxerjock Tech immediately stand out. They are stretchy, yet supportive, dry quickly, and have strategic stitching to prevent irritation. In the case of the former, that is outward facing seams, while in the latter they have completely removed the seams along the rear and sides that some may have found to cause chafing or irritation on their previous iteration, the Armour Boxerjock.
The Jinshi Bamboo Long, David Archy One Pouch Trunks, and Eyushijia Bamboo Fiber are good all-purpose pairs that work just as well under formal attire as sportswear. All three are made with a bamboo blended fiber, which is known for being very breathable and soft, and they provide a good amount of support.
December 21, 2019, by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi:
To cater to men of all shapes and sizes, we did our best to provide a diverse assortment of options and prioritized designs that are thoughtful and smart. We looked for features like anti-roll waistbands, flat-out seams, tagless interiors, no-wedgie designs, and no-gap flies (with and without buttons). We also wanted fabrics that breathe well, move easily without bunching or riding up, and wash well without losing its shape. We ensured our selection had briefs, boxer briefs, and classic boxers, with sizes that go up to double and triple XL.
We've rounded up underwear ideal for daily wear, even with skinny jeans, and sleek designs that could easily be worn beneath slacks or tailored trousers without showing bulky seams. Every item on our list is designed to keep you cool and be lightweight, yet still supportive, but if you need something hardier for a colder climate, we'd suggest looking into long underwear styles.
Today we said goodbye to the Puma Tech due to repeated complaints about the seams splitting very quickly after purchase. We're recommending the Under Armour Boxerjock in their stead. This option is very similar in design, except is more resilient, has four-way stretch, uses patented "HeatGear" fabric to keep you cool, and has anti-odor technology.
We also let the Jockey Microfiber Performance go due to deliverability issues, and added the much-loved brand Saxx in its stead. The Saxx Underwear Co. Kinetic feature an incredibly thoughtful construction and are meant to feel like they're barely there thanks to their flat-out seams and patented pouch. The idea is to lessen skin-against-skin contact to prevent irritation, which makes them a great choice for long-distance runners and other athletes who run the risk of chafing while they train.
Special Honors
Mack Weldon Mack Weldon sells its underwear mostly from its own site. Its range includes AIRKNITx cotton boxer briefs and woven boxers, sold in single pairs, so you can try one before buying a drawer's worth. mackweldon.com
Zimmerli Sea Island Zimmerli has made underwear in Switzerland since 1871. Its Sea Island line is a luxury pick for men who want very fine cotton and will pay far more per pair than anything on the main list. zimmerli.com
Pick The Cut Before The Brand
A separate pouch, as on the Saxx and Hanes Total Support pairs, keeps everything apart from the legs.
Boxer briefs are the default now: snug like a brief, with a leg that covers the upper thigh and stops skin rubbing on skin. Trunks are the same idea with a shorter leg. Classic briefs have no leg at all, and loose boxers hang like shorts. OutdoorGearLab points out that loose boxers bunch up under other clothes when you're active, while closer cuts cut down on chafing.
Leg length matters more than most shoppers think. A longer leg is less likely to ride up and protects the inner thigh on walks and runs, but it's warmer. A shorter leg is cooler and hides better under shorts. A grippy hem or a hemmed edge helps hold any leg in place.
Pouches are the other big split. A separate pouch, as on the Saxx and Hanes Total Support pairs, keeps everything apart from the legs. Many men like that for running and long days, and others find it odd. CleverHiker noted the same love-it-or-hate-it split. A fly is optional; plenty of runners prefer a flyless front with fewer seams.
Cotton, Synthetics, Bamboo And Merino
Cotton is soft, cheap and easy on sensitive skin, but it soaks up sweat and is the slowest fabric to dry. It's fine for the office and poor for a hard workout. A little spandex or elastane in the blend helps it keep its shape.
Nylon and polyester dry fast and last, which is why they dominate gym and travel underwear. In OutdoorGearLab's travel test, thin mesh pairs dried in well under an hour after a soak. The catch is odor: synthetics hold smell, and anti-odor finishes tend to fade. CleverHiker found one maker's odor treatment lasted only a couple of days of wear. Thin mesh also wears out faster than a thicker knit.
Bamboo, modal and Tencel are all forms of rayon, made by dissolving plant fiber with chemicals and spinning it back into thread. They feel silky and cool, but they wick less well than synthetics and need gentler washing. Merino wool fights odor best of all, but it costs more, dries slowly and wears through sooner.
Fit, Health And Care
Wash new underwear before you wear it. Case Western dermatologist Susan Nedorost explains that new clothes can carry extra dye, which can irritate skin in people who are sensitive to it, and a wash removes some of it. People with sensitive skin should also look for tagless waistbands and flat seams.
The boxers-or-briefs question comes up for men trying to have children. A 2018 Harvard study of 656 men at a fertility clinic found higher sperm counts in men who mostly wore boxers, though counts in the other men were still in the normal range, and the study showed a link, not a cause. Mayo Clinic Health System says there's no proof tight underwear affects fertility and suggests wearing whatever is comfortable.
To make a pair last, wash warm rather than hot and hang dry rayon, bamboo and mesh pairs; heat breaks down elastic and can shrink soft fabrics. Replace underwear when the waistband stops springing back or the fabric goes thin.
How we researched this
We compared 25 current and past picks from 16 brands, read the fiber content and makers' details for the 10 finalists, used two independent outdoor-gear reviews that timed drying and checked odor, read medical guidance on underwear fit and on washing new clothes, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. No underwear recalls turned up.
Sources (7)
- OutdoorGearLab: Best Travel Underwear for Men
- OutdoorGearLab: How to Choose Travel Underwear
- CleverHiker: Best Hiking Underwear for Men
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Does underwear style affect sperm production?
- Mayo Clinic Health System: Boxers or briefs? 4 common fertility myths debunked
- Case Western Reserve University: Susan Nedorost on washing new clothes
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls
Frequently asked questions
Should you wash new underwear before wearing it?
Yes. New clothes can carry extra dye and finishing chemicals, and a wash removes some of them. It matters most for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
Are boxers or briefs better for fertility?
The evidence is mixed. A 2018 Harvard study linked boxers with higher sperm counts in men at a fertility clinic, but it didn't prove cause, and Mayo Clinic Health System says to wear whatever is comfortable. Avoiding hot tubs and saunas matters too.
Why does my underwear ride up?
Short or loose legs and fabric without stretch tend to creep up, especially on muscular thighs. Look for a longer leg, a hemmed or grippy edge and some spandex or elastane in the blend.
What underwear is best for the gym or running?
Nylon or polyester boxer briefs, because they dry fast and hold their shape. Cotton soaks up sweat and stays wet. A longer leg or a support pouch helps prevent chafing on long runs.
How often should you replace underwear?
Makers often suggest every six to 12 months, but the real signs are a waistband that no longer springs back, thin or see-through fabric and holes. Gentle washing makes pairs last longer.
