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ARE YOU A BOXERS OR BRIEFS GUY?

A WORD ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNDERWEAR FOR MEN

Written by Menswear Style in Trends on the 28th August 2018

It used to be so simple, didn’t it? Underwear shopping was a breeze! Men were faced with just one decision; boxers or briefs. The whole ordeal used to revolve entirely around this one consideration, so what happened? Well, today there are many hundreds of different underwear styles for men to choose between. For those who have got used to simply buying boxers and being done with it, this can present a minefield. Here’s a breakdown on what you need to look for when buying underwear.

Briefs

Briefs come in a wide range of designs and colours. They are the go-to basic form of underwear. Briefs keep you covered but leave the side of your leg and your upper thigh exposed, unlike boxers. The design of briefs makes them very versatile, and they are the perfect choice for men who need more support down there. Some men prefer to wear briefs when playing sports, in particular, because of the extra support they offer. Briefs can work with any body type too. One important note with briefs though – doctors advise that if you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, men can increase their fertility by wearing boxer shorts. This is because the body is able to drop the testicles further from the body, which offers much finer temperature control. However, some people have misinterpreted this as indicating that wearing briefs is bad for you. Rest assured, unless you’re wearing briefs so tight that they are uncomfortable to wear, they are not in any sense harmful.

Handvaerk

Low-Rise Briefs

Low-rise briefs sit a little bit lower so that they are just under the natural waistline. Low-rise briefs are often designed to enhance the package, while simultaneously offering more sturdiness and support.

Mid-Rise Briefs

Mid-Rise briefs sit higher on the hips than low-rise briefs and are designed to hug the natural waistline. They appear flatter than the low-rise variety and are better for obscuring rather than enhancing the package.

Bjorn Borg

Boxers

Boxers are loose fitting underwear. They don’t provide the physical support that briefs, or even boxer-briefs offer. So be aware that these aren’t a great choice if you’re planning on doing any intense exercise. However, in terms of comfort, they cannot be beaten. There are a number of different boxer styles these days, and there is a range of materials to choose between. For example, if you take a look at the range available on Hamilton and Hare, you’ll see their classic boxer shorts which are inspired by the old school styles. There’s a range of fabrics, patterns and colours to choose from so you’ll be sure to find a pair that are right for you. If you’re looking for something purely to relax in, combine loose boxers with pyjama pants.

Hamilton and Hare

Boxer Briefs

A normal sized pair of boxer briefs will cover around half of the wearer’s thigh. However, the style is beginning to coalesce around a new standard, which is to cover a third of the thigh. Boxer briefs should provide you with the same kind of support you would expect from a pair of briefs but offer much greater coverage. Boxer briefs are well suited for working out at the gym. Their design ensures that they will minimise unpleasant chaffing when working out. With gym shorts on top, you will have all the comfort and support you need for an intense workout.

Calvin Klein

And there you have it! If you’re going purely for comfort, you should look into boxers, the looser the better. If you need something functional instead, check out briefs. The hybrid styles can often serve both functions equally well.