Types of Underwear for Men

Alex Kinejara January 28, 2022

By: Daisy Hemmen

There’s a reason we keep our men’s bamboo underwear in the top drawer. As the first thing we put on to suit up, intimates are arguably the most foundational to ensuring comfort for the day ahead—and for guys, who have just a tad more volume to work with, comfort is a bare necessity.

In addition to knowing the best way to fold underwear, it’s important to understand what underwear types are out there for different occasions. There are quite a few underwear style options on the market these days, and getting it right means opting into both your preferred style and the design principles behind the undies themselves.

Here, we’ll take a look at the different styles of men’s underwear every guy should have in his top drawer.

Back To Basics: 3 Must-Haves In Men’s Underwear

While it’s true that men’s underwear can now be found in as many styles as womens’, there are 3 types of underwear for men that no guy should be without: boxers, briefs, and (the hybrid of the two) boxer briefs. When deciding between boxers vs briefs vs boxer briefs, you’ll want to consider fit and function.

Here’s what to expect from each underwear style in a nutshell:

Briefs – The most form-fitting style of everyday men’s underwear, briefs hew close to the skin and keep everything in place while you go about your business. Briefs leave thighs alone and focus on keeping the rear and front sides of your figure snug and secure. Often affectionately called “tighty-whiteys,” you’ll find plenty of everyday underwear options in different shades and patterns to match your personal preference.

Boxers – Boxers have the most relaxed fit of men’s underwear styles. The classic everyday wear boxer is like a lightweight pair of shorts, secured by an elastic band at the waist, giving you maximum ventilation. The loose fit of boxer shorts can sometimes cause discomfort when layered under tight-fitting pants (or zipping up and down when nature calls).

Boxer Briefs – An innovation in men’s fashion from the 1990s, boxer briefs marry briefs’ supportive architecture with the extra coverage offered by boxers.¹ Instead of hanging loose down the leg, a boxer brief fits close against the thigh and buttocks while offering enough room to keep the airflow circulating where you need it most.

Learn more about the different types of underwear for women.

How To Choose The Best Briefs

Since the point of briefs is to keep everything in place, when it comes to choosing the right pair, you should always adhere to the Goldilocks principle: not too tight, and not too loose.

If you err on the smaller side, you’ll risk a day of crushing discomfort and constant fiddling—not to mention some unpleasant odor when your bottom zone doesn’t get enough ventilation. Too loose, and you’ll have some “dump butt” syndrome on your hands—all sag, no structure.

The ideal pair of briefs are:

Lightweight
Stretchable
Breathable

Since briefs cut close to the skin, your best bet is to go with a dynamic fabric that breathes and moves along with you. For instance, by going with a nylon and spandex blend, you can rest easy knowing the adaptable extra fabric will be doing the tailoring for you. This can be especially handy if you’re shopping online.

How To Choose The Best Boxers

Boxers are best for low-key days when you’re staying home, refraining from physical activity, or don’t have much on the agenda—perfect for occasions when you’re giving the boys a break.

Many men can run up against discomfort when layering boxers under everyday workwear, form-fitting pants, or dressy ensembles for special events. Bunching, snags, or minimal support are all common complaints.

Nevertheless, boxers come in a host of colorful everyday underwear styles and patterns that can be a fun way to express yourself (or your love of tacos, for instance) on your days off. So, go with whatever pair speaks to you.

How To Choose The Best Boxer Briefs

Boxer briefs were invented to offset the drawbacks of boxers without sacrificing ventilation. The most comfortable styles of boxer briefs scale down to the top of the thigh, while providing both structure, space, and sometimes extra bulk around your most (ahem) prized possessions.

To level up on support in this style of comfortable underwear, look for boxer briefs with more than one layer to the pouch area of the design. This will keep you protected with a little extra padding. In a silky, breathable fabric like cool cotton or bamboo viscose, you’ll avoid any itching while keeping the air circulating down below.

Get Form, Function, and Fit with Boody Eco Wear

We’ve come a long way since the loincloths of our ancestors. By combining human ingenuity with synthetically made natural fibers, guys today can enjoy barely-there levels of comfort while keeping everything in check.

With this in mind, we at Boody Eco Wear have designed three top-drawer men’s underwear styles for every taste:

Briefs
Boxer briefs
Men’s long boxers

Whichever length you choose, you can rest assured you’ll be treated to no pinching or bunching—our stretchy, luxury-smooth bamboo viscose fabric takes care of that. Whatever your shape, our men’s basics will conform to your physique so you can be confident about ordering online. Open up your underwear drawer and slip into the pair you and your lads deserve with Boody Eco Wear.

About the Author:

Daisy Hemmen is a San Diego State University Fowler College of Business alumni. Based in Encinitas, California, Daisy is a part of the marketing team at Boody North America. She is passionate about learning the ins and outs of living a happy and healthy lifestyle that benefits both people and the planet, and enjoys sharing her bountiful findings with the community.

Sources:

Trex, Ethan. "Brief history of men's underwear." CNN. Updated on 27 October, 2009. https://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/homestyle/10/27/mf.men.underwear.history
Pretl-Drummond Oliver. "What’s The History Of Men’s Underwear?". Ranker. Updated 1 August, 2019. https://www.ranker.com/list/history-of-mens-underwear/oliver-pretl-drummond

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But when it comes to plant-derived textiles, the ones which help us create a healthier world are always a better alternative. Explore the benefits of bamboo with Boody Whether you choose to purchase conventional or organic cotton clothing, the fact that you are shopping mindfully for yourself is a win for the environment. At Boody, we believe in bringing you quality, comfy, sustainable clothing basics that keep you feeling good about yourself and your personal impact on Mother Earth. From our sleepwear to our loungewear, women’s bamboo shirts to our underwear, sustainable and ethical are our touchstones. Our clothing is made of bamboo viscose, requiring less water than cotton while putting precious oxygen back into the environment. That just feels good, doesn’t it? Explore the bamboo benefits today, with Boody. Sources: Britannica. Cotton. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant Cotton. The Story of Cotton - Where Cotton Grows. https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm World Wildlife Federation. Cotton. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton Textile Exchange. Quick Guide to Organic Cotton. https://textileexchange.org/quick-guide-to-organic-cotton Soil Association. What is organic cotton? https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/fashion-textiles/organic-cotton/ USDA. Conservation and Biological Diversity in Organic Production. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/02/29/conservation-and-biological-diversity-organic-production About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.