Too Tight to Review 3: Supawear Supanova Hip Brief

The "Too Tight to Review" series covers the pairs of underwear I've tried on that I couldn't wear long enough to give a fair review. If I can't keep a pair on for at least the length of the day, I'll leave a few brief thoughts rather than a full review.

Supawear is an Australian company that makes men’s clothing. They have some cool-looking designs, so I decided to order the Supanova Hip Brief to see if it would offer a comfortable fit. They do utilize a proper pouch, separated from the rest of the garment like many of the most comfortable pairs of underwear I’ve tried, so I thought I might have good results. When it arrived, I noticed that the size looked as if it would wear a bit small, but that hasn’t always been an issue. Quality looked decent. Putting it on, I immediately realized that the space allotted for my genitals wouldn’t be nearly enough. The experience I’ve had with constricting pouch underwear is that pouches are only a benefit for comfort if they’re big enough. If they’re not, they merely force the genitals into an insufficient space and become worse than a more generic underwear design. Supawear isn’t an option for me. 

Andrew Christian Black Boxer Briefs

 

Andrew Christian’s Black Boxer Briefs are another one of their more subdued styles. Available in briefs and boxer briefs and in three simple colors (black, blue, red), this collection is not as attention grabbing or innovative as many, but is well constructed and solid enough for me to enjoy wearing them. (Note: Apparently the item in review, purchased a few months ago, is not identical to the current version.) 

Materials and construction: The material is a rayon/spandex mix. It’s comfortable and stretchy, but after a few washings (air dried each time), the body of the underwear has started to adopt a fuzzy look due to the degradation of the material. (The waistband still looks new.) The pouch is similar to the horseshoe-shaped attachment found on the Obviously Essence AnatoFREE Hipster Trunk, with the exception that the pouch on this item has more depth and has more material in the pouch, both of which increase comfort for the genitals. The leg holes don’t have much elastic material, and the garment as a whole doesn’t stay in place well as a result. There is a fairly long tag in the back, although it seems like the newest version has resolved this problem. 6/10

Comfort and usability: The overall fit is comfortably fitted around the waist and a little looser in everything below. The legs, given their minimal elastic, do slide up my legs quite a bit. For this reason, I do not think this boxer would be acceptable for exercise, although it is decent for leisurewear. The large pouch is rather comfortable in a sitting or standing position, and stays that way even when the material around the legs piles up, but the pouch’s inflexible seam makes deep squatting and crouching uncomfortable. 6/10

Aesthetics: With the thin yellow stripes on the waistband being a nice accent, the colors work together, but the overall visual appeal strikes me as a bland compromise between the playfulness that Andrew Christian is known for and a more conservative style. The way the pouch holds the genitals, while comfortable, is also unflattering. 5/10

Overall rating: 6/10

Big enough? Yes, although this is not among the best offerings from Andrew Christian.