13 best underwear for men: Lululemon, Uniqlo, Tom Ford and more
Experts agree a good pair of underwear is worth investing in: While prices have increased in recent years, so has the quality.
Ambar Pardilla
Jeremy Glass
Ambar Pardilla
Jeremy Glass
Brooklyn-based Tani says its SilkCut Hip Brief as ideal for running, but doesn’t discourage all-around wear of this lightweight MicroModal fabric garment. Shanahan counts himself a fan of Tani, even considering their higher price per pair. “When I wear Tani, I feel better through the day,” he said. This brief currently comes in sizes S to XX and four colors: White, Black, Gray Heather and Sky.
One of the brand’s signatures is the BallPark Pouch, a contoured pouch with two mesh panels to help prevent skin-on-skin friction and keep “everything in place.” Another of SAXX’s notable anti-chafing measures is having panel seams turned outward, on the garment’s exterior, away from the skin. SAXX is “still one of the best” in the crowded men’s underwear market, according to Shanahan. He gives the company high marks for design, comfort and its use of a flexible, moisture- and odor-beating Modal-Spandex fabric mix. The company “continues to improve” its product line year after year, Shanahan added. The brief is available in sizes S to XXL, two solid shades and seven patterns.
Tom Ford introduced his underwear line in 2018. Fashion stylist Neil Cohen called the collection “as sexy as you’d imagine,” which originally featured things like animal prints. The line includes silk boxers, which are much more expensive than other offerings on the market. But the brand also carries subdued shades including cotton briefs and these boxer briefs, which come in colors like Tan, Brown and Beige. You can choose between colors S and XXL.
A self-described “briefs guy,” Shanahan said if he were just buying clothes — and not grading them — he might fill his entire underwear drawer with these Mack Weldons. Shanahan credits the Polyamide fabric in AIRKNITx products with wicking away moisture in a garment that’s designed to fit snugly. They come in sizes S to XXL and colors like Succulent Heather and Billiard Table Heather. Blackman also mentioned that Mack Weldon’s best men’s basics are in the AIRKNITx line. He’s a fan of the Silver Trunks made with an antimicrobial cotton.
Blackman recommended this boxer brief as both comfortable and antimicrobial. Notable features of this undergarment include a flat front and a flyless pouch. Swiss brand HANRO makes this brief from Egyptian cotton and elastane. It currently comes in sizes S to XL and six colors including Black and Cerulean Blue.
While Blackman’s original recommendation is currently sold out, which he called a comfortable garment with a slim cut and an unobtrusive fly, this boxer brief is similarly made from premium cotton Supima. It’s designed to make the front fly less bulky and features odor control, according to Uniqlo. It currently comes in sizes S to 3XL and seven colors including Red and Black.
Rhone’s Pima cotton boxer brief features a 5-inch inseam, no-roll waistband and horizontal fly. It has a distinctly athletic cut and is designed to be chafe-free, with a gusset meant to provide breathing room. Blackman mentioned that it’s a good choice for athletic builds and “perfect” for wearing under slimline trousers. You can choose between sizes S to XXL and eight colors including Navy, Olivine and Black.
While Lululemon is synonymous with yoga wear, the brand also carries this sporty, quick-drying undergarment for guys. “They have done a beautiful job,” Blackman told us of Lululemon’s foray into men’s underwear. This may be labeled as a boxer but might be better described as a leg-hugging boxer brief. It’s available with a 5-inch and 7-inch inseam. And, either way, Blackman said to expect all-day comfort with a good range of motion from this versatile pick. It’s available in sizes S to XXL and eight colors including Wild Mint and Sports Red.
Founded in 2015, Related Garments uses a lightweight, luxurious-feeling fabric called Modal. “They spent money on technically engineering a very sound garment that fits well,” Blackman said. The brand claims its boxer briefs won’t ride up the thighs, and the company offers a variety of colors and designs. “Many people consider it the entry-point luxury wear,” says Blackman of FIT, “but in terms of quality they’re really competitive with the big boys.”
These briefs are popular with Amazon shoppers, earning an average 4.5-star rating over more than 4,500 reviews. With sleek, dark fabrics, David Archy menswear is meant not just to be worn, but actually seen in. “Those are very designed for a guy to look his best for when he’s just wearing his underwear,” Shanahan said. The briefs are made of a bamboo fabric blended with rayon and spandex, and have a reinforced pouch available in fly- and no-fly models. They’re also more affordable compared to many of their competitors. These briefs currently come in sizes S to XXL.
Nice Laundry offers a relatively more affordable solution to the constant problem of boxer briefs riding up: Leg bands to hold the garment in place. The company is one of the few to have figured this out, Blackman told us. For Nice Laundry wearers, this means no more tugging at their underwear seams. This boxer brief with a horizontal fly is made with a custom blend of the MicroModal fabric that has caught on with several menswear companies. “It’s basically still polyester, but it’s a high-end polyester and it’s extremely comfortable,” Blackman said. The brief is designed for odor-resistant, breathable support. “It’s a good bargain for what they do,”Blackman added. It currently comes in sizes S to XL.
Known for their prints and color palettes, the Los Angeles-based subscription service uses MicroModal in its designs. Using this wood-derived cousin of Modal fabric in underwear was a “breakthrough” in men’s basics, according to Shanahan. He likes the brand for its playfulness with design: He and his wife have pairs in matching patterns. Like most MeUndies, the Men’s Trunk comes in three styles for colors: classic, bold and adventurous. You can choose between sizes S to XL.
Where as many underwear is knitted, this British brand weaves in order to produce a more durable garment that will stand up to washings without disintegrating over time. Blackman described the Sunspel weave boxer as something of a “throwback” from a company that dates back to 1860. It’s a well-made and “very English” garment, he said, with a lightweight feel and a comfortable back panel to replace the standard middle seam that most underwear makers thread between the legs. It currently comes in sizes XS to XL and eight colorways including White/Red Pinstripe and Blue.
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