The best underwear for men to buy

We slip into the coolest and comfiest men’s underwear around – from less than £6 a pair
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Published on 26 January 2023

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According to an April 1935 edition of Mens Wear, the best mens underwear should have the presence of Apollo, the romance of Lord Byron, the distinction of Lord Chesterfield and the ease, coolness and comfort of Mahatma Gandhi, which is a lot to ask from a pair of underpants.

Of course, this style advice does correctly identify the importance of underwear in a mans wardrobe. Pants are usually the first item of clothing you put on and the last you take off. On a simply practical level, they hold everything in place and protect your bits from rough fabrics or and Im wincing as I write this unfortunate zipper accidents. But on a sartorial level, underwear is an affordable luxury that signals a mans style, taste and wealth and, like a fragrance, can be used to boost his confidence and make him feel sexy in his own skin. Its why treating yourself to some new pairs feels so good.

So why not trade in or throw out! those saggy, chewing-gum-white numbers youre clinging to, and invest in something from our roundup of the best underwear money can buy?

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What fabrics are best?

Cotton: The standard fabric for underwear, thanks to its breathability, softness and durability, cotton is super comfy, but 100% cotton pants can go a little baggy between washes.

Cotton/Elastane: Most cotton underwear these days includes a little elastane usually about 5% which improves the fit, adds a little stretch and helps underwear snap back into shape. Included to help keep all your bits in place, too.

Silk: Soft, slinky and sexy silk is usually reserved for boxers. Its cool and lightweight, but not as practical nor as easy to care for as cotton. Silk underwear tends to be pricier, too.

Bamboo: A modern contender to cotton, bamboo is soft, breathable and naturally wicks moisture away from the body so helps keep you cool, fresh and comfortable. Increasing in popularity but still not the standard that cotton is for underwear.

Nylon: It might be soft, durable and inexpensive but nylon a popular undercracker fabric in the 1970s isnt the best fabric for underwear because it doesnt breath as well as natural fibres, preventing adequate aeration of your man bits. Best left in the Seventies, then.

Whats the best way to look after my underwear?

As with socks, we tend to treat our underwear with scant regard, which is fine if you havent shelled out for fancy designer pants, but is a definite no-no if youve something that needs to be washed at 30°C to keep its shape and colour (elastic waistbands dont like a boil wash or a hot-as-Hades tumble drier). So always read the care instructions, wash inside out, and fold neatly to store. It should go without saying that white pants should always be washed only with other whites.

How much should I pay for underwear?

Underwear is one of those products where the price you pay has a direct relation to the brands perceived value everyone knows designer pants arent necessarily any better than high street store ones. Though when it comes to certain brands, such as Schiesser, youre paying for both the quality of material and the manufacture. Having said all that, underwear, like fragrance, has a peculiar power to make you feel good, and you cant put a price on feeling sexy.

What style will flatter my body shape?

Although were all for body positivity and wearing what you like, its fair to say that certain types of underwear do flatter certain types of bodies.

As a rule of thumb, briefs tend to look better on slimmer guys or more athletic frames. Theyre often better for guys with bigger thighs too, as theres less chance of feeling constricted and theyll show the thighs off. Traditional boxer shorts look great on most men unless you have particularly spindly legs but will work best with looser trousers, as the fabric can bunch if you try to wear them under, say, skinny jeans.

The boxer brief a modern classic which is essentially a stretch boxer short looks good on most men, though can look a bit wrong on rugby thighs. Meanwhile, trunk styles are shorter, so fit higher on the leg, and look great on slim to average body types where the thighs arent too big.

Briefs, trunks and boxer briefs will obviously offer more support than boxer shorts on a daily basis. And briefs are better for guys requiring a lot of movement which is why they tend to be the preferred style for footballers or those who sweat a lot since they keep your bits away from your legs, preventing rashes as well as a phenomenon known as batwing ball (no, dont laugh its a thing).

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Price: £42 for 3 pairs | Buy now from Calvin Klein

best buy

As a brand, it might have passed its high-water mark in the mid-nineties, when Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss fronted their campaigns, but there are still plenty of fans for whom Calvin Kleins motto, Calvins or nothing, is more of a mantra. Back in the day, this reviewer would stuff his suitcase with Calvin Klein Y-fronts on trips back from the US, but these days theyre much easier and less expensive to come by.

Such is the strength of the branding that you cant really go wrong with a pair of Calvins. The quality might not be quite the same as it was 30 years ago, and the classic Y-front has been superseded by straightforward no-fly briefs, but they remain as iconic as ever, with the triple packs of both briefs and cotton stretch trunks being great value. For sure, if its Calvins or nothing, wed rather have the comfort of a pair of these than go commando.

Key details Material: 95% cotton 5% elastane; Colours available: 8; Size range: XS-XL

Buy now from Calvin Klein

Price: £39 | Buy now from Mr PorterThey might not be a well-known brand in Britain, but German underwear specialist Schiesser is on the radar of anyone serious about their pants. Exceptionally well made and designed (the Karl Heinz cut dates back to 1923, so you can safely say its stood the test of time), these jersey boxers, with their mother-of-pearl fly buttons and a logo-less elastic waistband, are a real joy to wear.

Unlike the other boxer briefs here, theyre 100% cotton so, though they fit snuggly, there is some give and they end the day feeling a little looser. Perfect if you dont like underwear too clingy, or like wearing pants in bed. And, since they can tolerate a 60-degree wash, theyre also good for bunging in with the family wash.

Key details Material: 100% cotton; Colours available: 3; Size range: S-XXL

Buy now from Mr Porter

Price: £30 | Buy now from Ron DorffPremium fashion brand Ron Dorff is famous for combining Swedish functionality with Parisian chic, so its little surprise its underwear is simple but stylish. These best-selling, bum-hugging briefs are based on a design for the Swedish army from the seventies and tick all the functionality boxes while managing to look super-sexy, too.

Made from organic cotton, with a touch of elastane for stretch and durability and featuring a double-layered pouch for comfort, theyre beautifully soft with a cut that enhances the buttocks. They come in a fantastic array of colours from standard black, white and grey to salty pink and (our personal favourite) striped. Their retro, seventies-style sports briefs are cool, too.

Although the company recently introduced more conventionally branded versions, with Ron Dorff emblazoned across the waistband, its the original styles, with two discreet, embroidered eyelets the branded design signature we like the most. Fit-wise, they tend to come a little small, so you might want to go up a size if ordering online (in their standalone shops you can try before buying), but once you slip them on youll wonder why you wore anything else.

Key details Material: 95% cotton 5% elastane; Colours available: 11; Size range: XS-XXL

Buy now from Ron Dorff

Price: £40 | Buy now from SunspelVenerable British clothing brand Sunspel has an illustrious history when it comes to foundation garments (it created some of the worlds first T-shirts, and introduced boxer shorts to the UK in 1947) and is one of those brands alongside Burberry and Aquascutum thats managed to re-invent itself for a cooler, younger audience without binning its heritage or core values.

Sunspel offers beautifully made premium underpants across the board, including briefs and trunks, but its the traditional poplin boxer shorts that impress the most.

Theyre made in Portugal using cool, breathable, finest-quality cotton (which youll notice the moment you feel them) and are roomy without being baggy, but what really makes them a winner for us is the clever back panel, which eliminates any cheese cutter central seam. Not only does this make them superbly comfortable for daytime wear, but for bed too, if youre not a fan of sleeping in the altogether. Theyre not the cheapest boxers on the block, but theyre well-made and will last for years if looked after.

Key details Material: 100% cotton; Colours available: 6; Size range: XS-XXXL

Buy now from Sunspel

Price: £28 for 5 pairs | Buy now from Marks & SpencerGood old M&S. You have to wonder where the nation’s bums and bits would be without the trusty high-street retailers value-for-money pant selection. If youre not fussed about designer labels, and just want something to keep you comfy and contained, you really cant beat an M&S multipack. We like these best-selling black trunks, made from responsibly sourced cotton and given a bacteria-fighting finish.

M&S is great when it comes to fabric technology, and these soft thigh-huggers are made of Flexifit a four-way stretch material that provides a great fit and helps the trunks maintain shape even after repeated washes. Another big plus is that they come in Big & Tall sizes (up to 4XL), so are available to everyone. Whats not to love?

Key details Material: 90% cotton 10% elastane; Colours available: 2; Size range: S-XXXXL

Buy now from Marks & Spencer

Price: £38 for 4 pairs | Buy now from John LewisIf youre into supporting small, independent British brands then you might want to wrap your bits in British Boxers. Fans of the brand include everyone from Rufus Hound to Reverend Richard Coles, and they offer everything from boxers to briefs.

If youre not fussy about what colours you wear, the company offers a lucky dip four-pack that includes a random selection of colours and saves you a packet. We found them to be true to size and well made. And they became super soft after a couple of washes, retaining their colour well despite an accidental hot wash and subsequent visit to the tumble drier.

Key details Material: 95% cotton 5% elastane; Colours available: Multi; Size range: S-XXXL

Buy now from John Lewis

Written by

One of the UK’s best-known and most experienced male grooming experts, “Grooming Guru” Lee has been writing about skincare, haircare and fragrance for over 20 years and has road-tested thousands of products in that time. An award-winning journalist and former magazine editor, his work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and on websites across the world, and as an in-demand consultant he has worked with some of the world’s biggest skincare, haircare and electrical brands. He is the recipient of two prestigious Jasmine Awards for his writing about fragrance and regularly appears on TV and radio discussing skin and haircare. He always smells amazing.

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