The Best Underwear for Men – What to Look For

Short answer: The best underwear for men has three hallmarks: a soft, breathable material such as bamboo viscose, a fit that neither pinches nor bags, and a quality that holds its shape after many washes. If a pair hits all three, you do not notice them during the day, and that is the measure.

The material is the first choice

Cotton absorbs the moisture and holds on to it, which shows at the end of the day. Synthetic fibres dry fast but bind skin oils, and it is in the oils that odour develops. Bamboo viscose moves the moisture away from the skin and out into the fabric where it evaporates, and the fibre is smooth. See bamboo underwear for men.

The fit has to suit you, not the chart

There is no common standard for men's underwear, and two brands with the same number can fit completely differently. Measure your waist, use the brand's own chart, and buy a single pair before you buy a pack. If something is too tight in one place, it is the cut rather than the size, and then you change model.

The waistband decides whether you notice them

A narrow waistband cuts in and rolls down. A wide, softly knitted waistband spreads the pressure and stays where it is put. Look for the width in the description. If there is a red mark in the skin when you take the item off in the evening, the waistband is too narrow, whatever the size says.

The leg opening decides whether they ride up

A soft silicone strip on the inside grips the skin without pinching, and that works best. A wide, softly knitted opening is the second best solution. A narrow elastic pinches and slides anyway once the skin turns damp, making it the worst of the three.

Seams and where they sit

A seam is thicker than the rest of the fabric and rubs where there is pressure or movement. Fewer seams mean less that can chafe. Turn the item inside out and run a finger along the edges and at the crotch, because what you feel with a finger you will also feel after four hours.

Brands worth knowing

JBS and Resteröds both make classic men's models of good quality and carry bamboo in the range. Part of what you pay for at an established brand is that the fit stays the same from pack to pack, so you can reorder without working it out again.

Quality is measured over time

A pair of underwear is only good if it is still good after fifty washes. Check whether the waistband has lost its tension, whether the fabric has gone thin at the crotch, and whether the shape is gone. Wash at 30 to 40 degrees without fabric softener and hang them to dry, and you move that limit noticeably yourself. See also bamboo underwear as the softest base and the right fit in underwear.