Underwear is one of the most common and important wear for men nowadays. It serves several purposes, including comfort, protection, and preventing some body parts from harm, infection, etc.
However, almost all men wear underwear, but individuals choose the most befitting underwear for themselves. As there are several underwear categories, the question is, which is the best? And how do you know the most suitable one for yourself? You don’t have to worry; I got you covered.
In this article, I’ll outline the different types of men’s underwear, the pros and cons of each type, the benefits of underwear, and the factors you should consider before buying underwear.
The Origin Of Underwear
There are different accounts of the origin of underwear, depending on the location, culture, and civilization. The most common account traced the origin to ancient Egypt around 500 BC after the discovery of the remains of some cavemen and ancient Egyptians, likely those who lived around the Stone Age.
The 1991 archeological discovery of the “Oz Iceman,” a mummified man who lived around 3350 and 3105 BC, was discovered in the frontier of Austria and Italy wearing linen loincloths, which was so common in ancient Egypt.
However, there are traces of underwear during the Middle Ages. Some of these medieval men’s underwear are prototypes of the present boxer shorts and boxer briefs. Notwithstanding, the continuous evolution of underwear industries makes the production of new designs, with comfortable materials available compared to ancient materials.
Types Of Men’s Underwear
Today, industries produce different types of underwear, and individuals choose the most suitable and comfortable for themselves. However, out of many types of underwear, you need to know the best for yourself. Below are types of men’s underwear, including their pros and cons.
Men’s Boxer

Boxers are ideal for men who prefer comfort and loose-fitting underwear than anything. Among other underwear, it’s known for its ability to give more breathability than support. However, there are different types of boxers in the market, but the majority have an open fly that makes an exit easier.
Moreover, you can wear boxers with tailored dress pants, slimmer-fitting bottoms, and casual or dressy outfits. But not all men’s clothes fit boxers.
Pros
- It’s more breathable than other underwear.
- It’s loose-fitting and comfortable.
- Most of them have an open fly that makes exit easier.
Cons
- It’s not suitable for tighter pants.
- It doesn’t give more support.
Men’s Brief

Brief is mainly known as the direct opposite of boxers. Compared to a boxer, it covers your butt and entire pelvic region but leaves your upper thigh and leg exposed. Moreover, the brief gives more support and is comfortable to be worn with most men’s outfits. Most significantly, men that love athletic activities will find it more comfortable.
Moreover, the brief is made of a quality material that makes it more flexible and stretchable. It comes in various colors, rises, and designs.
Pros
- It’s comfortable underwear.
- It gives more support.
- It’s perfect for almost all men’s outfits.
Cons
- It’s not loose fitting.
- It doesn’t have open flies as boxers.
Men’s Boxer Briefs

Boxer briefs are the combined feature of both boxers and briefs. It amends the drawbacks of both. For example, I’d brief doesn’t provide proper coverage and the boxer is too loose, then a boxer brief is the perfect amendment to both.
Moreover, the boxer brief is suitable for men who are big and tall. However, if you’re a fan of sports and exercise, you can choose boxer briefs over other underwear.
Pros
- It’s a hybrid of both brief and boxer.
- It offers support.
- It’s suitable for sports and exercise.
Cons
- It rides up often and can cause leg irritation.
Men’s Trunk

Trunk is known to be a hybrid between briefs and boxer briefs. That’s because it combined almost all the features of both briefs and boxer briefs. It gives more support likewise comfort, and it’s suitable for those who want to switch their underwear from boxer briefs to another. A trunk is more extended than a brief, which means it sits on the thigh, but shorter than boxer briefs.
If you’re the kind that loves to go swimming or any other moderate sport, trunk is a good ideal for you.
Pros
- It’s perfect for tall guys.
- It’s suitable for casual and dressy outfits.
Cons
- It might not be suitable for me with long builds.
- It chafes most times.
Men’s G string

G-string is not common among men, but most men prefer wearing it because it’s more sexy and comfortable than other underwear. Most especially, people who want more breathability and massive airflow. It provides minimal coverage, and its fabric is like string while your buttocks are fully exposed.
Pros
- It allows massive airflow to your body parts.
- It looks sexy.
- It’s more comfortable to wear
Cons
- It might be uncomfortable for some people.
Men’s Long Underwear

This kind of underwear is not common among men, but most people wear it. It was introduced in England around the 17th century. People wear this kind of underwear mostly around winter to serve as a layer to the outerwear.
Pros
- It’s quite comfortable
- It gives support.
- It keeps your body warm in a cold environment.
- It helps your body warm in a cold environment.
Cons
- It might not be easy to take off
- It can get sweaty inside sometimes.
Why Do I Need To Wear Underwear?
Most people prefer going commando compared to wearing underwear, believing that it’s more comfortable and breathable since they will wear outerwear. Now, the question is, what is the essence of underwear? These are some:
To Prevent Exposure Of Your Privates
You need to wear underwear to prevent your private parts from exposure. Accidentally, your clothes can tear, which might be unknown to you. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary embarrassment, you need to wear underwear.
To Prevent Your Outerwear Clean
Most times, if your body releases liquid substances that can stain your clothes or cause some odors, wearing underwear can serve as a barrier between your clothes and the body. Most especially people who suffer from diarrhea. Therefore, since you can change your underwear daily, it’s safe.
To Be More Comfortable
Most times, going commando might be more harmful compared to wearing underwear. Most especially, if you’re a fan of jean trousers, the zip might affect your genital. Therefore, to prevent your genital and other sensitive organs from harm, you need to wear underwear.
To Prevent Infections
Another major reason why you should wear underwear is to prevent infections. You can be exposed to infection due to more exposure to outside elements and improper hygiene. Therefore, as a result of wearing underwear and changing it often, you might be safe from infections.
To Have Perfect Support
Wearing underwear gives you excellent support when walking and running. Most especially, people who like athletic activities and other related sports should be able to wear underwear alongside running shorts. This is essential to prevent your private parts or testicles from constantly bouncing, which might lead to varicoceles.
To Make Clothes More Fitted
Clothes can be more fitted if you wear underwear compared to going commando, especially if the clothes is tight.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Underwear
You don’t just go to the market without proper information about what you want to buy. Likewise, you need to know things to consider before buying your underwear to be the most suitable for yourself. However, these are the basic things to consider when buying underwear.
Comfort
The first thing you should consider before buying underwear is comfort. You should be able to know the underwear that fits your body shape and height so you won’t be uncomfortable when wearing it. Your underwear shouldn’t be too loose or constricted; it must be fitted.
Support
Another thing your underwear should give you is support. This is necessary to prevent unnecessary injuries and grams when walking or running. Most especially, if you’re a fan of athletic activities, you need underwear that gives proper support.
Material
You should be able to consider the material used for the underwear you want to buy. There are several materials or fabrics for men’s underwear, including Cotton, Modal, Bamboo, Viscose, Silk, Lycra, Nylon, Spandex, and so on. However, choosing the suitable material for you is determined by your activities. For example, underwear made with cotton provides more breathability, which is ideal for day wearing, while spandex underwear is suitable for athletic activities and gym.
Therefore, you need to consider what you do most when wearing underwear, or you should be changing your underwear as you change activities for comfort.
Climate
The climate you live in should also be considered before choosing any underwear. Most especially, the type of fabric that suits your environment. For example, if you live in a hot environment, you should use lightweight and breathable materials that allow massive airflow.
In contrast, if your environment is cold, you should wear heavy-weight underwear to keep you warm.
Style
You can see several styles of boxers in the market, but you must choose the style that matches your personality. How do you know the one that fits your personality? You can buy pairs or a few styles to test run for a few days and see the one that suits you most and is comfortable when wear.
Size
There are different sizes of underwear in the market, depending on the brand or manufacturer. However, you need to consider your waistline before choosing any underwear to have a perfect fit for yourself.
Additionally, your underwear shouldn’t be too loose or tight, so you won’t be a discomfort when wearing it. The table below gives perfect sizes for waistline measurement in inches.
Size | Waistline [ inches ] |
S – Small | 28 to 30 inches |
M – Medium | 32 to 34 inches |
L – Large | 36 to 38 inches |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Wear Boxers Or Briefs?
Either of them is good but also has its drawbacks. For example, if you prefer underwear that will give you support, you should go for briefs instead of boxers. In contrast, if you’re the kind that loves breathability more than anything, boxers are the best option for you compared to briefs. However, boxer briefs might be the best option for both.
Why Do My Boxer Briefs Ride Up?
There are several reasons why your boxers ride up, but the most common reason is if the elastic is shot or not effective enough. Most times, this can result from getting cheap material boxer briefs.
Can I Wear Boxers Under Jeans?
Absolutely yes, you can wear boxers under jeans or chinos. Though boxers are perfect for lounging around the house since they give more breathability, they are perfect for jean trousers.
Are Trunks The Same As Boxers?
No, they might have some similarities, but they have slight differences. Trunks have almost all the features of boxer briefs, except they are shorter. Most people find it difficult to differentiate between trunks and boxer briefs. However, the major difference between trunks and boxers is that the former gives more support than the latter, while the latter provides more breathability than the former.
Why Do Most Guys Wear Briefs?
Brief is very common among men for several reasons, while giving support is one of the major reasons. Since most men like to wear underwear that fit and provide enough airflow, the brief is a perfect option.
Do Briefs Affect Sperm Count?
Yes, it can. Likewise, some tight underwear, but you don’t have to panic; it can’t reduce your sperm health enough to cause infertility.
Conclusion
Choosing the most suitable underwear is important for your comfort and safety. However, after going through this article, you should be able to know the most befitting underwear for yourself. By the way, consider all the factors mentioned before buying any underwear.
Moreover, you must change and clean your underwear often to prevent infections and other related diseases.
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