How to choose between two brands

Short answer: Compare four things: the weight of the fabric, the type of seams, the size chart in centimetres, and what you need the garment for. The brand name comes last, because it tells you the least about how underwear feels after a full day.

Start with the use

Before you compare anything, decide what the garment is for. Will it sit under a shirt at the office, come along to training, or just live in the everyday drawer? The use decides which qualities matter and makes it much easier to rule out what does not suit you. See bamboo underwear for men for an overview.

Fabric weight

A heavier fabric often lasts longer and is less see-through, while a lighter one feels cooler in summer. Choose by season and use, not by what sounds nicest on a product page. Check the weight in grams per square metre if the brand lists it, and compare that number rather than words like soft.

Seams

Flat seams help when something has to sit close all day, because they do not rub against the skin. Overlock seams are strong but can be felt at the legs and waistband. Turn the garment inside out and look at the seams before you decide. It takes ten seconds and says more than most photos do.

The chart in centimetres

Two brands' medium is rarely the same, and the letter on the label is only a guide. If you measure hips and waist in centimetres, you can set the numbers directly against each brand's size chart. It takes a few minutes and saves a return. Look at JBS of Denmark and Boody and compare the figures.

Measure a garment you know

The easiest way is to lay a favourite garment flat and measure the waistband width and the inseam length. Double the width if the chart gives circumference. That way you compare with something you already know fits, not with your own idea of what a medium usually is at other brands.

Elastane and fit

Bamboo viscose alone is soft but does not give much. That is why many garments contain a small share of elastane, which helps hold the shape and makes the fit more forgiving. Read the material label to see the share. Two brands with the same bamboo percentage can fit very differently if only one has elastane.

Price and quality

Price does not automatically follow quality in basics. An expensive garment can have a nice name and a thin fabric, while a cheaper one can be knitted densely and last for years. Count price per wear instead: how often can you expect to wear it before it is worn out, and what does each wear cost?

Try one piece first

If you are torn between two brands, buy one piece from each and wear them normally for three months. Wash them with the rest of the laundry and see which keeps its shape and which starts to pill. That test gives a better answer than any comparison chart, because it rests on your own everyday life.

The name comes last

Once weight, seams, measurements and use are settled, there is usually not much of a choice left. Then the brand name can decide the rest, if you have a favourite or know the retailer. But the name should be the last thing you weigh, because it says nothing about how the garment actually fits and holds up.

Frequently asked questions

What if both look the same?

Then weight and seams decide. You can measure and feel both yourself, and they matter more for comfort than small differences in price or presentation.

Should you always choose the most expensive?

No. Price does not automatically follow quality in basics, so compare weight, seams and centimetre measurements before letting the price decide what goes in the basket.