Calvin Klein Steel Micro Trunk

The Calvin Klein Steel Micro Trunk is an offering from Calvin Klein that is listed as being 89% nylon and 11% elastane. It’s short, tight and pretty straightforward: The garment’s value is in its quality, not any gimmicks. The version I tried had a silver waistband with red brand lettering, and the body was blue with horizontal red stripes. 

Materials and construction: This pair gave an initial impression of being impeccably well-constructed, but after only two or three washes on the gentle cycle, developed some conspicuously loose threads. I don’t expect this pair to fall apart at any moment, but that was a surprising development. Not only is the main material quite stretchy, but all of the seams on the pair are very flexible, which is an advantage that it has over most pairs of underwear. The pouch is enclosed and supported by U-shaped seams. There is no attached tag, but rather words printed on the inside of the waistband, which is always a nice feature. 6/10

Comfort and usability: Putting on the pair leaves me impressed with the feeling of a well-proportioned and wonderfully supportive fit. The feeling of the fabric is probably as comfortable as any other pair I own. It’s tendency to hug the skin makes its flaw almost immediately obvious, though: the pouch is not big enough. Wearing this for the full day that I feel is necessary for a review left my package feeling somewhat abused. Still, it feels great on the skin and support means that it can be used for short periods as workout gear when I need my package to stay firmly in place. 6/10

Aesthetics: The brand name stitching looks great, and the color combination works well. The textured metallic shine of the waistband looks great. This is one of the best-looking pairs of underwear I own. 9/10.

Overall rating: 7/10

Big enough? Not for daily wear. I’m keeping this and might pull it out occasionally as workout gear. If there was a version of this with a big pouch, it might be among my favorite pairs of underwear. 

Obviously AnatoFREE Brief

Obviously is an Australian clothing company that makes high quality underwear and undershirts. They’ve designed some of the most comfortable pouches available for their products, so they’re of great interest to this reviewer. The AnatoFREE brief is part of their basic Core collection. It is comprised of bamboo rayon and lycra. 

Materials and construction: The bamboo rayon/lycra material is thin and very stretchy. The elastic bands around the legs are not very tight, and the body material is rather loose, but the waistband it taut and will stay firmly in place. The pouch is well-designed, and, unlike the design on the trunks and boxer briefs, the seams which surround the pouch on the sides are far apart, creating a less constricting experience. There are no tags, opting rather for such information to be printed on the inside of the waistband. Other than the great pouch design, this garment is a pretty standard (but high quality) pair of underwear. 8/10

Comfort and usability: The pouch design, in conjunction with the stretchy material, feels quite large, which is the main thing I look for in a pair of underwear. The loose material doesn’t quite lay flat against me, and the weak elastic on the leg holes results in the garment riding up. While wearing this with a pair of jeans with an untucked shirt, this tendency could be ignored, but when I tucked my shirt in, it the shifting became a little obnoxious. The seams that surround the pouch are not very flexible, but that did not do much to compromise the comfort I experienced in wearing this brief. The material seemed to retain odors a little more than most underwear, so someone who uses this brief while exercising or spending time outdoors on a hot day might want to change when they’re finished. 7/10

Aesthetics: Obviously’s designs tend towards the more conservative, favoring function over flashy a flashy appearance. That’s not to say they’re bad, though: The construction, streamlined shape and blue color all look pretty good. Nothing offends the eyes, but the repeated “OBVIOUSLY” logo on the waistband looks a little cheap compared to the logos used in the AnatoMAX and premium ranges. 6/10

Overall rating: 7/10

Big enough? Yes.

PUMP! Sonic Brief

PUMP! Underwear is a Canadian company that produces workout-themed attire, primarily underwear. The item in this review is the Sonic Brief, a black brief with neon accents on the waistband and pouch. It’s constructed from 67% nylon, 19% cotton and 14% spandex, and the mesh body and tight (but flexible) elastic bands around the leg holes express its function as workout gear. Though I didn’t ultimately find this garment comfortable on my body, it did impress me enough that I’d be enthusiastic to try a new design with a bigger pouch if such an item is ever released. The size runs rather small, so potential customers should consider going up a size. 

 

Materials and construction: The nylon/cotton/spandex blend feels great on the skin. The mesh body is especially flexible, and it would have been a mild improvement if the pouch used this same mesh material.  Everything on the item is pliable without losing shape or support, which is an excellent asset on an item made for athletics. The construction quality is the best I’ve seen in a pair of underwear, although this design does not give much extra material in the pouch at all. There’s a tiny tag of one square inch, and most of the printed information is on the inside of the waistband.  9/10

Comfort and usability: This garment does its job as a workout item: Jogging, squatting and jumping, this kept everything in place and did not shift position. The mesh material helps keep me cool during exercise. One additional benefit I’ve found is that this garment does air dry faster than most of the underwear I own. Since the brief does not have much extra material in the pouch, it is rather unforgiving to my anatomy. No matter how I rearrange my package, I can’t get through a day without my testicles in pain and my penis feeling squeezed. 6/10

Aesthetics: The brief is black with neon blue and neon green accents. Like most aspects of the garment, everything is top notch. The integration of the varied materials (the mesh body, the waistband, the material around the crotch, and the elastic support on the leg holes) looks sleek and excellent. The photos don’t do justice to the item. I have no complaints here. 10/10

Overall rating: 8/10

Big enough? No, but I was impressed with the quality and style enough to order a PUMP! boxer and jockstrap to try. Stay tuned for future reviews.

Brands

Click any link below to view the posts I've published about items from a particular company. List will be updated as I add new content.

• 2(x)ist
• 2undr
• American Eagle
• Andrew Christian
• C-IN2
• Calvin Klein
• Cocksox
• Diesel
• Duluth Trading Company
• Emporio Armani
• Ergowear
• Express
• GAP
• Garcon Model
• Hollister
• Hugo Boss
• Icebreaker
• Jack Adams
• Jor
• Lacoste
• MeUndies
• MyPakage
• Obviously
• PUMP!
• Saxx
• Sukrew
• Supawear

Fabric Guide

When it comes to comfort and functionality, the type or blend of fabric(s) is one of the most important aspects of a pair of underwear. Fabrics differ in numerous properties, such as how well they breathe, whether they absorb moisture, whether they wick moisture away from the body, how warm they are, how well they keep their shape over time, what kind of washing machine and drier cycles are appropriate, how fast they air dry, and whether they tend to shrink. While some underwear can take the abuse of being repeatedly washed and dried alongside clothing like casual socks and jeans, I tend to subject my underwear to a gentle cycle in the washing machine and then air dry them so they retain their size and shape longer.

Below are the most common fabrics you’ll find in men’s underwear.  

• Cotton—cotton is a natural fiber that is the most common fabric used in underwear. It is durable, fairly flexible and breathes well, but can shrink considerably, depending on how it is washed and dried. 
• Nylon—one of the most common synthetic fibers, nylon is quite durable, does not absorb well, and tends not to wrinkle.  
• Polyamide—a family of fabrics that can be either natural or synthetic, polyamide is often used in mesh fabrics due to its sweat-wicking properties. Polyamide is more absorbent than most synthetic fabrics.  
• Polyester—a synthetic fabric that is durable but not breathable, polyester does not tend to shrink or wrinkle, and dries quickly.  
• Rayon—a synthetic material with a natural base, more fragile than most synthetic fabrics, stretchy, absorbs well, and can shrink if not washed and dried properly. Rayon can imitate the feeling of natural fibers. 
• Modal—a high-quality form of rayon. Modal is common on high-end, form-fitting men’s underwear. Modal fabrics can take a little longer to dry than other fabrics like cotton, nylon or supplex.  
• Viscose—a fabric very similar to rayon, differing in minor aspects of the production process. 
• Silk—silk is a natural fabric used in many luxury products. Very soft but not flexible, silk is sometimes used in loose-fitting boxers, but is not common in more form-fitting underwear.  
• Spandex—also known as elastan, elastane or lycra, spandex is a synthetic fiber that is quite elastic and durable. Often used in blends with cotton and other fabrics, spandex makes garments more flexible but less breathable.  
• Lycra—"LYCRA® is Dupont’s brand of elastane, or spandex.”  
• Supplex—a synthetic material made from more common fabrics such as cotton or nylon, supplex is very durable, stretchy, and resists wrinkles. It also seems to dry quicker than any of the other fabrics I’ve encountered. 
• Wool—is a natural fabric often used in coats and suits due to its warmth and ability to keep its shape. Wool tends to be tough and sweat wicking, but its warmth makes it unsuitable for many styles of underwear. For this reason, wool is often found in long underwear and thermal layers, but not in normal briefs, boxer-briefs and jockstraps.  

Terminology

The information on this page will be updated as needed.

• Anatomically correct--when a pair of men's underwear allots extra space for a man's genitals. Anatomically correct underwear is both healthier and more comfortable than underwear that is not. 
• Fly--an opening on the man's underwear so that the man can urinate without pulling his underwear down. These are most common on cheaper, lower-quality underwear. 
• Leg holes--the lowest point at which the underwear meets the legs. In boxer briefs and trunks, well-designed leg holes with elastic material help prevent the garment from riding up. 
• Pouch--a designated space in a pair of underwear for the man's genitals to occupy. The most common form is the external pouch, where the space that's given lets the genitals hang away from the body. A less common form of pouch is the internal pouch, where pieces of fabric within the underwear hold the genitals in place. Examples of companies that use the internal pouch include Saxx, MyPakage, and 2UNDR. 
• Quality--quality is always a very subjective term. I define high quality as an item that is made well, has minimal imperfections both in the appearance and the functionality, uses appropriate fabrics for the item's intended use, and can be worn and washed numerous times without visual or functional degradation. 
• Ride up/slide up--usually used when discussing boxer briefs or trunks, this is when the underwear slides up the leg and doesn't stay in place during normal activity. While most boxer briefs and trunks do this to some degree, too much of this effect makes the underwear less comfortable to wear. 
• Seam--in making the underwear, the seam is where the two pieces of fabric are sewn together. Items with high-quality seems usually last longer. Whether seams could be stretched could also have an effect on the overall comfort of the item. 
• Waistband--the strip of elastic material that is usually found on the top of the underwear and usually displays the brand's logo. The quality, design and width of the waistband help keep the underwear in place throughout the day.

Navigate

For all the posts on items that are big enough, click here.

For all the posts on items that are not big enough, click here.

For the Too Tight to Review series, click here.

You can click here for my reviews on briefs, here for my reviews on boxer briefs and trunks, here for my reviews on jock straps, here for my reviews on long underwear, and here for my posts on pants and related garments.

Contact

The information on this page may be subject to future updates and alterations. 

For business questions or questions about the site (including prospective reviews), you could contact me at wellendowedunderwearreview@gmail.com or contact me on Twitter at twitter.com/WEUReview. I will try to respond to all inquiries in a concise and timely manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

The information on this page may be subject to future updates and alterations.

What is the point of this site? 

As a consumer who has tried many different types of underwear to find anatomically compatible items, this site chronicles some of my experiences and offers advice to other men who have experienced similar issues.

What kind of underwear are you interested in reviewing?

I'm interested in reviewing briefs, boxers, boxer briefs, trunks, jockstraps, and long underwear/thermal layers. I'm not interested in fetish styles or any underwear that will not fit comfortably under regular clothing. My main interest in the underwear I review is in comfort and functionality.

Will you review a specific brand/style for me?

I will read and consider reader requests but do not extend any promise to act on them. Underwear brands that wish to have their products reviewed can contact me privately.

How often do you release new reviews? How can I learn about new posts?

Currently, I'm releasing between two and five new reviews per month, but plan to eventually increase my monthly output to around four to six. Other than visiting this site, those who are interested could look for updates on my Twitter feed at twitter.com/WEUReview.

Jor Speed Cotton Retro Brief

The Jor Speed Cotton Retro Brief is an attractive and straightforward brief constructed mostly out of cotton. The silhouette is sleek but classic. There are three variations with different colors, and the one I picked up is blue with white accents and a pink waistband. Jor is a Columbian company, and this is my first experience with their products. 

Materials and construction: The materials are listed as 94% cotton and 6% spandex. The pouch stretches out adequately. It’s not an instant and deep stretch like modal fabrics, but a steady accommodation that sets in in the first few hours of wearing and is retained if you briefly pull the briefs down for a visit to the urinal. There are some visibly loose threads, but nothing that would make me worry about the garment’s durability. The brand’s stitching looks cool while in use, but a little cheap and misshapen on the inside. The waistband is both rigid and unevenly constructed: The topside of it is a bit bumpy. The tag on the back, which lists the materials and cleaning instructions, will become too faded to read within just a few washing cycles. 3/10

Comfort and usability: If the pouch is big enough, I prefer cotton over modal for casualwear. This pouch was just barely big enough for me to comfortably fit in, so it was a different but not entirely unpleasant experience. The stitching is inflexible, and the line of stitching that stretches down the center of the pouch caused a small amount of irritation to my glans after spending the day in. Although the briefs did lay flat against me on the backside while I stood (or sat) still, the inflexibility did lead to some awkward shifting throughout the day. This seems to be because the stitching isn’t flexible enough to fully accommodate the range of motion I went through spending a day on the town. This is disappointing, because the cool aesthetics really made me want to like these briefs. 4/10

Aesthetics: I think the combination of neon colors and the brief’s streamlined but classic silhouette work well. The pink of the waistband is more of a bubblegum pink than the pictures depict, and I find the slightly more subdued images preferable. From the front, the pouch, the moderate horizontal strips that surround the hips, and the bold colors just look cool and original. Framed in the white accents, the pouch just really jumps out at you. 8/10

Overall rating: 5/10

Big enough? Yes, although the overall comfort isn’t great.