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Author’s Note: I purchased the Mack Weldon, Bamboo Cool, Colorfulleaf, Calvin Klein and Jockey underwear I review in this post with my own money. David Archy sent me their underwear for free to review. Other than that and affiliate marketing, I did not receive any other compensation.
My 6 Best Men’s Brief Picks on Amazon (2026)
Here are my six picks for the Best Men’s Briefs on Amazon. Here is why I chose these:
- Bamboo and modal are my favorite underwear fabrics. If you are used to wearing cotton undies, try classing it up with the softness of bamboo and modal. That is why I love wearing Colorfulleaf, Calvin Klein, and Bamboo Cool bamboo and modal briefs, which are my first three picks.
- Guys who wear briefs also work out in briefs. I love my Mack Weldon AIRKNITx briefs for gym sessions, but they cost around $30/pair. Instead, you can buy a three-pack of Calvin Klein’s Micro Stretch Hip Briefs for around the same price. Calvin Klein’s Microfiber boxer briefs were among my first high-end pairs, and the material is so smooth and well-made.
- I purchased Wirarpa’s bikini briefs last year, and they are pretty nice. They are a bit skimpy for me, yet they are still very comfortable. Guys looking for a bikini briefs drawer upgrade can mix and match Wirarpa’s color selection to create a bikini briefs set that won’t get boring.
- Finally, some guys love 100% cotton briefs. If so, consider getting Fruit of the Loom’s 94% cotton briefs with 6% Spandex. The added Spandex provides a bit more stretch, while the price is still unbeatable for briefs in this category.
If you need a quick decision, here is my 30-second cheat sheet to use with the picks below:
- Need a one-and-done drawer upgrade? Start with COLORFULLEAF Bamboo 4-pack.
- Want something more premium? Calvin Klein Cotton-Modal 3-pack (for everyday underwear) or Calvin Klein’s Micro Stretch 3-pack (for gym and special occasions).
- Best value Gym underwear? Calvin Klein Micro Stretch Briefs 3-pack.
- Looking for colorful bikini briefs? wirarpa Bikini Briefs 4-pack.
- Need to replace your current 100% cotton briefs? Try Fruit of the Loom’s 94% cotton briefs in a 6-pack.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 14:16 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Since abandoning briefs in high school due to peer pressure—boxer shorts ruled the early 2000s—I hadn’t worn briefs until 2020. That is when I purchased my first pair of adult briefs: my Mack Weldon AIRKNITx briefs. Although it initially felt weird to wear briefs as an adult, I slowly got used to them and have since added them to my collection.
Briefs are returning to the world of men’s underwear after being shunned for decades in favor of boxer shorts and then boxer briefs. More and more “cool” brands embrace briefs as part of their lineup. Like me, guys are talking more about wearing briefs and their love for shorter underwear styles (trunks – my favorite! – are also becoming the new boxer briefs for Americans).
In this post, I’ll briefly discuss why guys should try out briefs if they aren’t wearing them. I’ll then detail some of the best briefs for men on the market to ensure your next experience wearing briefs is fantastic. Thus, keep scrolling if you want to read why briefs may be your ideal underwear, or click here to go straight to my picks.
Why do guys wear briefs?
Last year, I wrote an article asking whether briefs are superior to boxer briefs. It was a response to me wearing briefs for the first time since I was a kid, as I learned why briefs could be better than boxer briefs. I still wear boxer briefs and trunks, but briefs carved out a section of my underwear collection for several good reasons.
No underwear riding up on the legs
No riding up is so self-evident that you might not realize it. Briefs have no legs, so there is no material to ride up your legs, which is common with boxer briefs and, to a lesser extent, with trunks. Riding up isn’t an issue with the right pair of high-quality boxer briefs that you wash and dry correctly. Yet, if you want to eliminate the chance of riding up entirely, briefs will solve the “riding up” problem.
Raw sex appeal
A guy wearing plain black briefs is incredibly sexy to me (although black trunks are my absolute favorite). Briefs show off much more skin than boxer briefs; thus, they may appear sexier to you and your partner. Yet when I first started wearing briefs, I was embarrassed to walk around the house—even in front of my husband—because I was showing off too much skin. I soon overcame that stigma, and now I love walking around in briefs.
Some guys may fear the “tighty-whitey” look, which, for many guys, is the opposite of sex appeal (although some guys find tighty-whiteys hot, no shame in that!). I did not want to wear the briefs that I wore as an adult as a kid, so I picked out modern styles. Modern style includes wearing Hip Cut briefs (not full-cut briefs), choosing darker colors, and selecting low-rise models that sit below your waist. You can look sexy in briefs regardless of what styles you and your partner prefer!
What are visible boxer brief lines?
If you wear tight pants—especially thinner ones—and boxer briefs, you are likely to have boxer-brief lines. These lines appear on the back of your thigh, where the leg bands of your boxer briefs are located. When you have a thick leg band on your boxer briefs and thin pants covering it, the leg band will make an indentation in your pants.
Boxer-brief lines are especially noticeable with tight pants, as the pants cling to your legs and the underwear. Boxer brief lines also show themselves on your rear thigh as you walk, as, at that moment, your pants are tight against the rear of your thigh. Guys may also experience this when wearing light-colored shorts with dark or black boxer briefs. The color difference may cause the outline of your boxer briefs to show through your shorts.
Many guys don’t want the outlines of their underwear showing through their pants. Briefs essentially eliminate this problem because briefs don’t have leg bands, so there is nothing to show through your pants. However, that doesn’t mean visible brief lines aren’t an issue.
Brief lines occur under the same conditions as boxer brief lines: wearing tight pants or shorts, or pairing light-colored pants with dark briefs. However, men’s brief lines are less common than women’s visible panty lines. One reason is that most men’s briefs cover the full butt cheek, so the seam sits underneath the butt rather than on top of it, unlike women’s panties. Another reason is that men’s shorts have pockets that cover the butt, thereby hiding many would-be-visible lines.
Thus, wearing briefs will eliminate the lines of boxer briefs. And as long as you aren’t wearing super-tight pants or white pants with black briefs, you’ll also be able to avoid most brief lines.
Increased air circulation and cooling
When wearing briefs, your legs and thighs are fully exposed, so they can cool off naturally. Especially when wearing lighter shorts, I can feel the breeze on my legs much more with briefs than with boxer briefs—and I wear breathable boxer briefs! I love this airy feeling on my thighs, which is another plus to briefs.
What do the best men’s briefs include?
There are millions of pairs of men’s briefs out there. But what sets the best briefs for men apart from the rest of the pack?
Best Men’s Briefs Fabric
If you exercise or spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to choose a moisture-wicking synthetic material, such as polyester, nylon, or polyamide. Note that to ensure the greatest comfort, you’ll want at least 10% elastane or Spandex content, but 15-20% is what the best briefs contain.
Otherwise, stick with bamboo or modal briefs for the office, hanging out at home, and general everyday wear. They are far softer than cotton and more environmentally friendly. Because bamboo and modal materials are so soft, as little as 5% elastane or Spandex content works with modal and bamboo briefs. You can read all of my modal and bamboo underwear reviews here.
Colors and Patterns of the Best Men’s Briefs
Many guys shun the word “tighty-whiteys.” As a Millennial, hearing that word brings me back to school (although some guys love tighty-whiteys, which is perfectly fine!). Yet, the best briefs come in various colors and patterns to satisfy any guy’s fashion tastes. Choose the colors and patterns you love, but if you aren’t sure, dark colors such as dark blue, dark gray, and black will lend your briefs a modern sophistication.
Style Differences of Men’s Briefs: Hip Briefs vs. Briefs vs. Bikini/Tanga Briefs
To most guys, briefs are briefs. That isn’t true, though! Today, there is a wide variety of designs for men’s briefs. The three most common styles are full-cut briefs, hip-cut briefs, and bikini/tanga briefs. The differences are primarily in how much the briefs cover your hip’s front and side parts.
Hip briefs are the trendiest style right now and the most “modern” looking. As such, most pairs of men’s briefs will be variations of the hip brief design, such as Calvin Klein briefs. For full-cut briefs, you’ll most likely be looking at the big three American companies: Hanes, Jockey, and Fruit of the Loom. And for bikini or tanga briefs, you’ll go with some specialty companies or Jockey (read my Guide to Tanga Briefs here).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 04:15 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Notice almost all of the hips are covered by these Full-cut briefs from Hanes
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-03 at 19:01 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Hip cut briefs, however, show a lot more of the hips and legs.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 16:52 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Bikini – or tanga – briefs have no hip coverage, leaving only the waistband connecting the front and back of the briefs.
When choosing your briefs, consider other features, such as fly design, pricing, and waistband logos. Yet, the fabric, style, color, and patterns available are the best place to start, as they’ll impact your comfort more than other qualities.
Below, I highlight a few brands I believe make some of the best men’s briefs. Take a moment to review all the options to understand what is available for men’s briefs.
Hip Seams on Briefs
If you haven’t worn briefs in a long time, one thing you’ll notice right away is the hip seam. This seam doesn’t appear on other men’s underwear and gives briefs their snugness. If you buy stretchy material and the right size, you’ll get used to the seam and won’t notice it after a bit. But if you buy rough materials and briefs that are too tight, you’ll be annoyed and won’t want to wear them anymore. Follow my suggestions in this guide, and you’ll be fine.
What are the Best Men’s Briefs?
COLORFULLEAF Bamboo Men’s Briefs
There are a plethora of Chinese men’s underwear companies on Amazon, and COLORFULLEAF is one of them. However, I was intrigued by the combination of low prices and high Amazon review ratings. I had to try them out because I am always on the lookout for new underwear companies.
I purchased a four-pack of their bamboo men’s briefs, and wow, was I surprised! They are so comfortable, and I don’t even notice wearing them. I love underwear that works without any hassle, and these COLORFULLEAF briefs hit the mark. Furthermore, I love the color variety, ranging from brighter hues to sophisticated blacks, dark grays, and blues.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 15:37 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
- Fabric: 95% Bamboo Rayon and 5% Spandex. Very soft yet supportive. I love it.
- Style: These are less revealing on the hips than other hip briefs, such as the Calvin Klein Hip briefs below. However, they aren’t full cut briefs either, like your Hanes 100% cotton briefs. The cut is a good middle ground for guys who want a modern look without being too revealing.
- Colors and Patterns: Solid colors only. However, Amazon has a great selection of dark and lighter colors, so you can choose what suits your mood.
- Fly: Note that some models include a vertical fly, while others do not. If a fly is crucial to you, please ensure you get the models with a fly.
- Price: The price – around $5-7 per pair – is one of the best values for men’s bamboo briefs on Amazon, in my opinion.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 15:42 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Calvin Klein Modal Hip Briefs
So many guys wear Calvin Klein “Cotton Classics” but this is the wrong move! CK Cotton Classics are essentially overpriced Hanes 100% cotton briefs with a different logo on the waistband. Stop it!
Instead, buy Calvin Klein modal hip briefs. I just picked up a three-pack of CK cotton-modal briefs last month, and they are amazing to wear. I love the cut on the hips, the fabric, and the colors, and I don’t even notice I’m wearing them. They are everything that men’s underwear should be!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 14:16 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
- Fabric: 87% Modal/13% Elastane for the modal briefs, or 57% organic cotton/38% modal/5% elastane for the cotton-modal briefs. I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the cotton-modal briefs are, considering I don’t like cotton. Modal and elastane are very stretchy materials, so you should take care of them properly to keep them lasting. Wash in cold water and air dry if possible. (Or tumble dry low if you can’t air dry.)
- Style: These are definitely hip briefs, which is the modern style in men’s briefs right now. If you want something less revealing, stick with COLORFULLEAF above.
- Colors and Patterns: No patterns, solid colors only. There is an all-black three-pack on Amazon, or you can spice it up a little by getting a blue/gray three-pack. This is a sophisticated three-pack, not a time to let your wild side ride.
- Fly: There is no fly. That doesn’t matter to me, and the waistband is easy to pull down so you can pee over it.
- Price: Getting a three-pack for $30 or under is a steal ($10/pair). Between $30 and $45 is still great. However, anything above $45, I would wait until there is a sale or get something else on this list.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 15:29 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
Bamboo Cool’s Best Men’s Briefs
Many guys told me Bamboo Cool is incredible. I have seen several guys wear them, and Bamboo Cool’s briefs have many fabulous reviews on Amazon. Plus, bamboo is one of my two favorite underwear fabrics! So with all of this in mind, I tried out Bamboo Cool’s bamboo trunks. Love them!
Obviously, I love the fabric. Another thing I really like, which I didn’t realize I would at first, is the fabric-covered waistband. Instead of a regular underwear waistband that is a separate strip of fabric, on some Bamboo Cool underwear, the waistband is covered by the underwear fabric itself. Not only does this provide a monochromatic, sleek appearance, but it also offers the softness of the fabric against your waist.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 14:16 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
- Fabric: 92% bamboo viscose, 8% Spandex. Most men’s bamboo underwear has only 5% Spandex; thus, I appreciate Bamboo Cool increasing the Spandex level to 8%. Spandex (or elastane) increases the stretchiness of underwear. Thus, a higher level allows a more excellent stretch and greater comfort. Plus, I can’t say enough how much I love bamboo underwear.
- Style: These briefs are closer to full-cuts than the hip briefs like Calvin Klein. As such, these briefs will look a bit more “old-school” than modern hip briefs. At the same time, some guys love more coverage, especially if they are hanging out in their underwear at home.
- Colors and patterns: Bamboo Cool offers a wide range of solid-color briefs, from a seven-pack of solid black to multi-color packs. Note that Bamboo Cool does not offer patterns, which I’d appreciate if they did. Also, note that their waistbands contain a variety of logos, none of which I particularly like, to be honest. I prefer the Bamboo Cool underwear with fabric-covered waistbands that blend in with the rest of the underwear.
- Fly: Most pairs do *not* have a fly. While most men do not use a fly, if you must have one, get pairs with a vertical fly, such as the briefs below.
- Price: $6-8 per pair, which is incredible. Good quality bamboo briefs are in the $7-8/pair range, so Bamboo Cool is right on target with pricing. Also, if you are looking at Amazon, click through all the patterns in case one is on sale.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 15:53 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
wirarpa Bikini Briefs
As I go through Amazon’s men’s underwear pages a lot, I kept seeing wirarpa’s briefs come up. Thus, I purchased Wirarpa’s bikini briefs last year to try out. They are pretty nice and quite comfortable. My main hesitation is that they are a bit skimpy for me, skimpier than what the photos appeared to be.
If you are looking for good bikini briefs, wirarpa definitely fits the bill. The quality is good, the briefs are comfortable, fabric is soft, and they are revealing on the hips. The price is also excellent at $6 per pair or less. Furthermore, Wirarpa has many colors to choose from so you can create a bikini briefs collection that won’t get boring.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2026-01-04 at 03:24 and are subject to change. / Affiliate links.
- Fabric: 95% modal viscose and 5% Spandex. The fabric is soft, although thicker than more sheer bikini briefs.
- Style: These are bikini briefs, not hip briefs. There is a bit of side hip coverage, similar to Calvin Klein’s Hip Briefs, but the waistband is much thinner on these wirarpa briefs.
- Colors and Patterns: wirarpa has many solid colors to choose from, which is fun. They also have some briefs with random wording and patterns on them that are just weird to me, so I deliberately chose only solid colors to wear.
- Fly: There is no fly on these briefs.
- Price: I believe the price at $6/pair or less is fantastic and very easy to stock up.
Mack Weldon – AIRKNITx (Hip Briefs)
Although the underwear I featured above is available on Amazon, I also want to add one non-Amazon pick. It is no secret that I love Mack Weldon underwear, and my first pair of adult men’s briefs were Mack Weldon AIRKNITx briefs. AIRKNITx briefs are excellent for all situations, especially high-sweat situations, and are the best briefs in Mack Weldon’s collection. I believe that the AIRKNITx underwear collection is the best value of Mack Weldon’s underwear lineup, regardless of style.
- Fabric: AIRKNITx briefs are 50% polyamide, 33% polyester, and 17% elastane, while AIRKNITx HD briefs are 86% polyamide and 14% elastane. The 14-17% elastane content is around the sweet spot for synthetic briefs, 15-20% elastane. I wear AIRKNITx underwear as everyday underwear, even though it’s designed for high-sweat activities like workouts, outdoor activities, and travel.
- Style: I classify AIRKNITx as hip briefs, although they provide more hip coverage than other hip briefs. This length could be ideal for guys new to briefs who want a modern look with hip briefs yet appreciate more coverage.
- Colors and Patterns: AIRKNITx comes in eight solid colors. Mack Weldon used to make patterned AIRKNITx briefs, but they no longer do so. If you really want a greater selection of colors and patterns, you’ll need to check out Mack Weldon’s 18-Hour Jersey briefs.
- Fly: AIRKNITx briefs do not come with a fly. However, 18-hour Jersey and Silver briefs do come with a fly.
- Price: $31 per pair, although you can get the price a bit cheaper by buying multipacks. Mack Weldon is a premium brand so you are paying a premium price. I would get one or two briefs for you to try out first before diving in and replacing your underwear drawer.
- Note about sizing: Most guys that wear AIRKNITx briefs report they feel a bit more comfortable with a larger size. Thus, if you are in between sizes, get the larger size.
Final Thoughts on the Best Men’s Briefs
Briefs have come back! In 2025, briefs are a great addition to any guy’s underwear drawer. Hip or bikini briefs are even excellent for date night! If you follow my Three Simple Steps to Buying Men’s Underwear, you’ll note that I recommend getting briefs for office work and hanging out at home.
In the comments below, let me know your thoughts on the best briefs for men. If you are looking for Boxer Briefs instead, check out my Guide to the Best Boxer Briefs on Amazon!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes! I reguarly wear briefs throughout the month as part of my usual underwear rotation. Many guys wear briefs exclusively and find them more comfortable than trunks and boxer briefs. This is especially true if you wear tighter pants or if you have thicker thighs and suffer from your trunks and boxer briefs riding up. On the other hand, if briefs feel “pinchy,” it’s usually the cut (too high) or sizing (too small).
Hip briefs sit lower on the waist and look more modern; full-cut sits higher and usually gives more coverage/support. Bikini briefs, on the other hand, are the skimpiest cut as they are generally low-rise and offer little to no hip coverage. Guys wanting “modern” briefs generally choose hip briefs over full-cut briefs, and offers a good mix of support and fashion while not being overly revealing.
Only if you actually want to use a fly. In fact, according to several surveys, only around 20% of guys use the fly on their underwear. Flyless underwear is more common for guys and looks modern. Even if you have a fly on your underwear, plenty of guys – like me! – ignore it and just go over the waistband.
Most guys are happy with 14 pairs (enough for two weeks). If you’re switching from boxer briefs, start with a multipack + 1 premium pair to test comfort and then you can always buy more. Furtheremore, you need not only wear briefs or only wear boxer briefs. Many guys interchange styles based on their mood!
If you’re between sizes, sizing up is often better with briefs as they are a bit tighter in the groin and around the hips than boxer briefs. For example, the guys I have spoken to about Mack Weldon’s AIRKNITx briefs all mention one size up is more comfortable.
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I restarted wearing briefs in 2019, CK to start but polo and 2 xist are way better, i work in an office , have large legs(years of rugby) and briefs are the only underwear that i do not notice. if ru in half decent shape they look great too. i always went dark colors and grey but now really dont care and wear white and other colors a lot too
Thank you for sharing, Elliot! That is great to know about Polo and 2xist. Which are your favorite models of Polo and/or 2xist?
for 2 xist the essential cotton fly front brief, these are awesome , white ones are sexy and just fit great
polo the men stretch classic, again wear all day and super comfortable
Nice! I have only one pair of white briefs, which are lovely to wear. But for me, black is the sexiest color, while blue is my favorite color. And for a wildcard, red underwear! 😜
I’m searching for a unicorn apparently. I want briefs with a sized C pouch, like from real men, I want a super narrow gusset between my legs, I want a horizontal fly, and I want them to be modal or bamboo. They also need a thin waist band and be low cut. Do they exist?
Hello Craig, thank you for asking. That is quite the wish list! All of your criteria can be accomplished, but just not all together. 😉
Have you considered having underwear designed by a tailor? I know of someone who makes custom underwear for men based on any criteria you want. It is definitely pricey, but the value comes from having high-quality underwear that is exactly what you want. And if you take good care of it – wash cold, air dry – then it will last a long time. That could be a good solution compared to buying underwear that ultimately doesn’t work out.