Written By: Eric @ MensUnderwearGuide.com, Founder and Head Writer of MensUnderwearGuide.com
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I talk a lot about what kind of men’s underwear to buy and wear as part of men’s fashion, but can you achieve comfortable underwear by simply avoiding certain underwear? Today, I point out five kinds of men’s underwear that you should avoid.
Avoid Expensive Men’s Underwear
Don’t feel you must spend hundreds – thousands? – of dollars to get a new underwear drawer! I’ve seen men’s underwear for $50, $100, and $150+ per pair – even these $310 boxers! I have no idea who is buying this underwear, but more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. These Tom Ford cotton boxer briefs for $65/pair probably aren’t better than these Pair of Thieves cotton boxer briefs for $5/pair. You don’t have to pay a fortune to get comfortable underwear.
The sweet spot for men’s underwear is $10-20/pair. Some great underwear is in the $7-10/pair range – especially when on sale! The key is to get high-quality underwear for a great price. And then, make sure you take care of your underwear by properly washing and drying it (high temperatures degrade underwear quicker). That way, you can spend your money wisely by buying a high-quality underwear collection without spending more money to replace it sooner.
To design your underwear collection without spending a fortune, read my guides on building a Capsule Underwear Drawer and How to Buy Men’s Underwear in Three Simple Steps. Or, in the meantime, check out my picks for the Best Boxer Briefs on Amazon, my reviews of Bamboo and Modal Underwear, and my guide to the Best Briefs.
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Avoid Tight Men’s Underwear
Men are into tighter underwear styles now, especially as men’s briefs become popular again. But tight doesn’t mean uncomfortable! Why bother wearing tight underwear for the looks if you are uncomfortable? You can get some sweet, sexy body-hugging underwear that is very comfortable.
First, pay attention to the size chart for each brand, as each brand may have slightly different sizes. This is especially true if you are in between two sizes. Below you’ll find four popular men’s underwear brands and what waist size they consider to be a “medium.” As you can see, the sizes can vary widely. Always double-check the size chart when buying a new brand.
| Brand | Waist Size for Medium |
| Saxx | 32-35 inches / 82-89 cm |
| Jockey | 32-34 inches / 81-86 cm |
| Hanes | 30-34 inches / 78-86 cm |
| Intimissimi | 29-30 inches / 74-78 cm |
Second, ensure you buy men’s underwear with Spandex or Elastane. Spandex – also known as Elastane – allows the main fabric to stretch more than it otherwise would. More Spandex content provides greater stretch, making your underwear feel more comfortable. For softer materials like modal and bamboo, you need at least 5% Spandex/elastane content, with 8-10% being more luxurious. However, synthetic materials like polyester or nylon need at least 10% Spandex content, preferably 15-20%.
Avoid Men’s Underwear without a Pouch
Besides wearing too-tight underwear, men’s underwear without a pouch doesn’t make sense. Pouch underwear creates additional room for your package and, depending on the style, can also help with support and prevent skin irritation (“chafing”). And there are so many styles and options today for men’s pouch underwear that you can get something you like.
For example, I really like Saxx’s I-Shaped pouch and Separatec’s Dual Pouch, but I don’t get much benefit from Shinesty’s U-shaped pouch, even though Shinesty makes really comfortable underwear. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Men’s Pouch Underwear to learn about the various pouch designs, brands, and styles. You may need to experiment to find the ideal pouch for you.
Avoid 100% Cotton Underwear
I know many, many people love cotton underwear. Men cite that cotton underwear is soft, breathable, widely available, and cheap. Yet today, there are better options than 100% cotton underwear.
Readers and subscribers know I am a huge modal and bamboo men’s underwear fan. Modal and bamboo are much softer than cotton, breathe well, hold up for years if properly cared for, and are more environmentally friendly. Modal and bamboo aren’t as common in the United States as cotton, so many guys don’t know what they don’t know. But if men tried modal and bamboo underwear, many guys would double down on it!
If you want cotton underwear, experiment with 95% cotton and 5% Spandex/elastane pairs. As mentioned above, the Spandex/elastane allows the fabric to stretch more to fit comfortably. Often this is referred to as “stretch cotton,” like these Calvin Klein hip briefs. Or, for a much more luxurious fit, you can splurge for high-end cotton underwear like Tommy John Cool Cotton boxer briefs or a cotton-modal blend like Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey Trunks.
Tommy John’s Cool Cotton is 86% Pima Cotton and 14% Spandex, for a very luxurious cotton feel.
Avoid Synthetic Underwear without at least 10% Spandex/Elastane
As mentioned above, synthetic underwear – primarily polyester, polyamide, and nylon – needs additional Spandex/elastane content to stretch and feel more comfortable. While 5% Spandex/elastane content is ok for modal and bamboo underwear, you need at least 10% for synthetic underwear, although 15-20% is ideal. You’ll especially appreciate the additional Spandex content if you wear long-leg boxer briefs.
There are very well-priced options in the 10-20% Spandex range. Note that a few pairs have more than 20% Spandex/elastane, but they are rarer, more expensive, and unnecessary. You’ll be fine if you buy good quality synthetic underwear with 10-20% Spandex content.
These 90% Polyester/10% Spandex New Balance boxer briefs are less than $7/pair.
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Last update on 2023-09-23 at 20:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
