Underwear can be a tricky thing; you want to be comfortable, and for men, having support and flexibility are the key things when it comes to underwear. You don’t really want to have to think about what you’re wearing or even bother to consciously have it on your mind. If you’re constantly thinking about what you’re wearing, chances are you’re really excited by it for some reason, or there is a comfort issue that is hindering your peace of mind. Because of this issue, and because many men don’t really give considerable thought to different types of undies for different activities, the following will be the guide to what to wear and when to wear it.
Briefs: best for exercise activities where decent support and flexibility are needed, like running or regular weight training.
There are many variations of the brief that are worn, such as the high hip brief, the bikini brief, low-rise briefs and the traditional, full-cut brief. All are good for different reasons and have their own varied feels, but the reason why briefs are really good for high-motion exercise is because they allow for the wearer to have good hip movement and it covers what needs to be covered, without the wearer feeling unclothed or having too much material around the hips and legs. The best suggestion for exercise purposes would be the hip brief, because of its noted high cut on the hips. Low-rise briefs are more for the feel and look of something that is more trendy and dressed-up, and they correspond to fashion cues, such as low-cut jeans for men. Traditional briefs are more of a classic formality and while not necessarily anything that is especially great, they are still fairly popular and a common buy among men.
Boxer briefs/trunks: good for day-to-day wear; also good for versatility from the job to the gym for basic activities.
Boxer briefs have become the new thing in men’s underwear in the past five years or so. Because of the close fit support of the brief, combined with the cut of a boxer, the boxer brief is a top item for underwear companies. Women usually love the profile that boxer briefs provide, and it’s fair to say that the women’s boyshort and tanga are virtual copycats of the boxer brief. The trunk is basically a boxer brief with even shorter legs than what the boxer brief provides, and they are sometimes called “square cuts”, because of their appearance taking the shape of a near-perfect square.
The downside with the boxer brief is that depends on the body type, the legs can ride up on the thighs, which make the trunk a more ideal choice for wear. This also may affect the comfort level of wearing a boxer brief, so day-to-day wear may be best for the trunk. If you like the feel of the boxer brief or trunk and like the idea of wearing it to exercise because of its support and flexibility, exercise-friendly version can be found in Calvin Klein’s XT and Cotton Stretch lines.
Boxers: best for casual wear only; not recommended for high-intensity activities.
Boxers seem to be man’s best friend in the underwear drawer. They’re safe, moderately dependable, and require no additional attention from friends in the locker room who may look to crack a joke. Boxers are wonderful, as they not only provide great comfort (mostly, depending on the waistband), but also are the most healthy for men to wear, as it has been found in several medical studies that the lack of air restriction and close quarters encourage a healthy sperm count.
While this is all well and good, the worst thing to do is to wear boxers for high-level activities because the lack of support in the groin can result in painful results for the wearer, much like a woman may experience playing basketball or tennis without a sports bra. The traditional boxers are going away, allowing for more streamlined versions that cut closer to the body, almost in the same way that boxer briefs are, without the Lycra or polyester blends for stretch. If you want something easy, the boxers are still a great thing to wear; just don’t become the cautionary tale of discomfort and pain when you decide to play a serious game of hoops with the guys.
