Briefs That Do Not Ride Up – The Secret Is the Fit

Short answer: Briefs ride up when the size, the model or the material does not suit the body. The answer is a brief in the right size, with the right leg opening and in an elastic, soft material such as bamboo viscose that follows the body rather than sliding up it.

The three common causes

A brief rides up for three reasons: it is too small, the elastic is worn out, or the fabric is smooth and inelastic. A brief that is too small constantly seeks out the path of least resistance, and that is upwards. So start with the size before you change model or brand.

Why too small is worse than too big

Most people believe a tight brief stays put better, but the opposite is true. The fabric is stretched to its limit and has nowhere to give, and so it rides up at every movement. A brief that fits has enough fabric to stay where it is.

The leg opening keeps the brief down

It is not the waist that holds a brief in place, but the leg opening. An edge lying flat in the groin all the way round has grip, while an edge touching the skin at only two points slides. That is why a model with a wider leg often solves the problem without changing size.

The material needs stretch in it

A fabric without stretch can only follow the body by folding, and folds travel upwards. Bamboo viscose with a small amount of elastane stretches with the movement and returns afterwards. See the range of bamboo briefs and look for a fabric that gives when you pull it.

The edge should be knitted, not stitched on

A stitched on elastic sits like a ring on top of the fabric and only has contact along that narrow strip. An edge knitted into the fabric has contact over several centimetres and therefore stays put. That is the single detail that most often decides whether a brief rides up.

Try it sitting down, not standing

Most people try underwear standing in front of a mirror, but the problem shows when you sit down. Sit, stand up again, and see whether anything has moved. It takes twenty seconds and tells you more than a whole day of wearing it afterwards.

Worn pairs ride up regardless

If the elastic in the waist or leg has gone slack, neither model nor material helps. Pull the edge out and let go: if it does not snap straight back, the pair is finished. See the rest of the range under bamboo underwear for women when the drawer needs refreshing.

Washing that keeps the elastic springy

Wash at 30 to 40 degrees and hang them to dry. Elastane loses its spring in high heat, and one round in the dryer costs more than ten washes at a low temperature. Skip the fabric softener, which lays a film on the fibres without making the edge any softer than it was. See also finding the right size in bamboo clothing, bamboo briefs: find the right style for you and washing guide for bamboo clothing.