Andrew Christian Air Brief

 
Now that we’re well into summer, it’d be a great time to discuss a recent item from Andrew Christian, one of the companies that offer the biggest pouches. The Air Brief is a mesh brief composed of 90% polyamide and 10% spandex. The colorful waistband has something of a retro vibe, but the simple black and blue colors on all of the material beneath give what is for an Andrew Christian item a rather understated appeal. All in all, it is a good and practical item worthy of the Andrew Christian label. 

Materials and construction: The pouch is similar to what Andrew Christian uses in their Almost Naked line: Considerably bigger than most underwear, but not as big as the Trophy Boy line. The elastic in the waistband is not very taut, but seems firmer around the leg holes. The polyamide/spandex blend is stretchy, but not quite as stretchy as the modal fabrics the company usually uses. Overall, it’s a design that’s pretty well oriented for athletics. There’s a tag in the back, and tagless designs are always preferred, especially for underwear that’s geared towards athletics. As a bonus, the mesh material dries very fast, although the waistband retains water as long as most underwear does. 6/10 

Comfort and usability: Being used to the biggest pouches that Andrew Christian offers, the Trophy Boy pouches, I was a little underwhelmed by the pouch in this pair, although it is by no means small. I managed to compensate by wearing the underwear a little lower than I usually do, which was manageable and comfortable due to the relatively slack waistband. Support is great, and with the strong leg holes, I found this pair great for athletic sessions and time outdoors in the summer heat, but for the longer periods, I still find the Trophy Boy offerings ideal. 7/10 

Aesthetics: If you like the feel of Andrew Christian but not the eccentric styling, this might be what you’re looking for. The colors and patterns work together well, and there’s a bit of an old 80’s retro vibe to it. Still, I find this one a bit uninteresting visually, which is something that can’t usually be said about Andrew Christian items. 5/10

Overall rating: 6/10

Big enough? You could find bigger pouches, but I find it appropriate for trips to the gym and summer walks.