The 13 Best Pairs of Underwear for Men

Boxers or briefs?

It's all about what you prefer, support or air flow. Briefs offer more support, but if you're buying cheap ones, the material is going to be sub-par. Boxers offer way more airflow, which can be extremely comfortable, but some of us find the freedom a bit too much, depending on the pants we where and our personal preferences. Personally, I find boxer briefs strike the best balance (leaning more in favor of support, but still being breathable) and so that's where I land on the debate. But it's all what's most comfortable for you.

What material is best for underwear?

Sorry, but we're old school. We have to go with cotton. Cotton gets a bad wrap for not being "moisture wicking," but that's only when it's in a jersey fabric (like what they do on briefs to make them kinda stretchy). In a plain weave—like you get with boxers—cotton becomes stiff, dry, and airy. Literally the perfect underwear material.

Ok, but what if you don't love cotton? Or want a pair of briefs?

If you've tried cotton and find it tends to bunch up, doesn't mesh with the tight pants you love to wear, or leaves you feeling a little unsupported below the belt, there are other ways to go. If it's not 100 percent cotton, you're likely getting a blend with polyester, nylon, and the wood-pulp derived fabrics like lyocell, modal, or viscose. All of these materials add stretch, but garden variety polyester lacks moisture-wicking qualities. For that we turn to Merino wool and nylon. Brands like CDLP use Tencel lyocell which does the adds the same stretching and wicking qualities but in a more sustainable, "natural" way.

This is where it gets into nuts and bolts of what you like vs. what someone else likes. However, there are enough pairs on this list to cover all your bases.