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.