Every guy who’s had to deal with sweat, excess fabric or discomfort (which is to say, damn near every guy) understands why finding the best underwear brands for men is so imperative.
Each day we trust our underwear to house and protect the most sensitive parts of our bodies, which makes finding the right mix of comfort, style and performance arguably more important for underwear than for any other clothes.
But in addition to function, we also have to worry about form:
Most of us want underwear that not only feels good under our pants, but also looks good in the bedroom once the pants come off.
Fortunately, nowadays we have a lot of options to choose from, because in recent years there’s been a veritable explosion in men’s underwear.
(Yeah, I heard it. Leaving it in!)
Today there are dozens of great brands offering a wide range of styles, fabrics and patterns to suit guys of all shapes and sizes.
So in this post I’ll round up a few dozen of the best mens underwear brands on the market and break down what makes each one worthy of wrapping around your junk.
Look Sharp in Your Skivvies:
The (Absolute) Best Men’s Underwear Brands
Fabletics
Fabletics is an athleisure brand like Lululemon that’s still kind of under the radar for most guys—but should be at the top of their lists.
Their Blueprint boxer brief is a damn-near perfect pair of underwear that’s lightweight, breathable and made with anti-chafe fabric that keeps you comfortable all day long.
Frank and Oak
Frank and Oak is one of my favorite brands for all kinds of menswear thanks to their modern take on classic staple pieces made from quality fabrics.
They take the same approach to their boxer shorts and boxer briefs, which are made from excellent quality organic cotton and have an antimicrobial coating for added protection and all day comfort.
Public Rec
With a core focus on everyday staple pieces that come in comfortable fits, Public Rec is easily one of my favorite men’s athleisure brands.
They offer two different underwear styles – a boxer trunk and a boxer brief, which has a longer inseam – both of which are made from premium materials and have a no-roll waistband that won’t bunch when you’re on the move.
Mott & Bow
Mott and Bow started out making some of the most comfortable denim products on the market, before expanding into other casual stapels like chinos, sweaters and tees.
They’ve recently intoduced a line of boxer briefs that are just as elevated as their denim, boasting a silky soft blend of modal fabric and spandex, and a waistband that’s designed to prevent the dreaded “ride up” that can make you uncomfortable.
BN3TH
Founded in Vancouver, BN3TH was one of the first brands to include a three dimensional pouch designed to keep your boys comfortable and supported.
Their patented MyPakage pouch perfectly cradles your package, keeping it separate from your leg and helping you avoid awkward adjusting throughout the day.
In addition to various different styles and fabrics for their underwear, BN3TH also offers a wide range of patterns and designs.
I recently tried a couple pairs designed by well-known Montréal artist LeBicar, which are completely unique from anything else in my underwear drawer.
MeUndies
If you’ve ever heard a podcast before, you’ve probably heard of MeUndies, a direct-to-consumer underwear brand that makes (what they claim to be) the world’s most comfortable underwear.
And they have a pretty strong case to make.
Their flagship boxer briefs have a near-perfect rating after more than 4,500 reviews, with a lot of reviews coming from ladies who say that not only do their boyfriends love them, but they love seeing their boyfriends in them.
Saxx Underwear
Saxx is one of the most popular brands in the world of pouch underwear, and with good reason:
They popularized a new style of underwear that includes an extra bit of fabric to cradle your boys, keeping them off your leg and avoiding the dreaded “bat wing” that occurs when things get too sweaty down there.
Check out our in-depth Saxx underwear review to find out how their ball hammock underwear performed after a thorough (and, at the risk of oversharing, thoroughly sweaty) test.
Shinesty
If Saxx invented the pouch type of underwear, Shinesty may damn well have perfected it.
They offer a pretty wide range of underwear, but their Big Blue boxer briefs have become my favorite pair of boxers, and the one I look for most often when reaching into my underwear drawer.
Available in a variety of colors, the ball hammock pouch provides necessary support while the micromodal fabric gives you sweat-wicking comfort, making them a great option for daily wear.
Tommy John
Another direct-to-consumer brand that built its name through podcast advertising, Tommy John started with a shirt designed to stay tucked in all day, but is probably best known as a mens underwear brand.
They offer a wide range of men’s underwear styles and options, and their online store is pretty frequently restocked with new arrivals, so it’s worth checking in on them periodically to check out the latest styles.
Turq
Turq is an underwear brand that’s focused on performance, both in athletics and in every other area of life.
Their underwear is made from ventilated air-flow fabric that’s designed to dry quickly, making it perfect for hitting the gym or long (and potentially sweaty) days at the office.
UnderGents
UnderGents is lesser known than brands like Tommy John and MeUndies, which have gained a lot of steam over the past decade, but just as worthy of inclusion on this list.
Their calling card is their unique CloudSoft fabric, which is designed to provide a tight fit that maximizes comfort, without being as restrictive as compression shorts.
Calvin Klein Underwear
When it comes to designer underwear, Calvin Klein is still the reigning champion.
Long before anyone had heard of micromodal fabric, CK became known as the most attractive and sexy underwear brand for both men and women thanks to their provocative ads and celebrity endorsements from bad boys like Mark Wahlberg, Justin Bieber and more.
Today they’re still regarded as one of the most sophisticated underwear brands, and a great option for date night when you know (or at least, hope) there’s a chance of someone new seeing you in your skivvies.
Hanes
A lot of men grew up wearing soft cotton Hanes and probably still think of it as a brand for boys (or for Walter White-style tighty whities).
But you’d be well advised to give them another look.
Yes, you’ll still find the classic pair of briefs on their website. But today the brand’s underwear options have expanded, and now include a wide range of boxers and boxer briefs in cool patterns, bright colors and fabrics that go well beyond cotton.
Lululemon
Another brand that some guys might gloss over, Lululemon may have started making women’s yoga clothes, but their menswear has become a seriously viable option for the modern gentleman.
Their Always in Motion boxer brief is a particular stand out that combines the sweat-wicking and quick-drying properties of performance underwear with a super-soft micromodal fabric that makes them great for everyday use.
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom has long been a go-to brand for a good pair of underwear.
Much like Hane’s and some of the other old school underwear brands, Fruit of the Loom has diversified their offering in recent years, and today sells a wide range of styles, patterns and fabrics that go well beyond the classic briefs most of us associate with them.
Polo Ralph Lauren
Calvin Klein may be the king of designer underwear brands, but he’s far from the only big-name designer in the game.
While the main Ralph Lauren brand is one of the world’s most expensive clothing labels, the Polo brand focuses on similarly stylish gear at a more affordable price point.
It’s a good option if you’re looking for luxurious boxers and briefs that are good quality, but won’t break the bank.
Duluth Trading Company
Duluth Trading prides themselves on making menswear that’s tough, functional and comfortable.
(But fortunately only those last two apply to their underwear offerings.)
They carry a wide range of boxers, briefs and boxer briefs, all of which feature a comfortable elasticated waist and comfortable materials like breathable cotton and sweat-wicking nylon.
Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the best known and most prolific designers to come out of the United States in the past century, and his line of men’s underwear is as classic as you’d expect.
While you won’t get the most cutting-edge innovations from Hilfiger’s underwear, you will get a range of unimpeachable styles that will continue to look good for a long time to come.
(Although, depending on how many pairs you have, I wouldn’t recommend hanging on to any single pair of underwear for more than a year.)
Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss is another big-name designer who’s made a big splash in the world of men’s underwear.
The Boss line offers quite a wide variety of styles, colors and patterns.
And their offing includes not just underwear, but also tank tops and under shirts.
Emporio Armani
Italian fashion brand Emporio Armani has followed a similar playbook to Calvin Klein, casting big names like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo to model their underwear over the years.
As you might expect from one of the world’s biggest fashion brands, Armani’s underwear is sleek, sexy and fashion-forward, making it great for special occasions when you want to feel like a baller.
American Eagle
From one end of the fashion spectrum to another, American Eagle may lack Armani’s high-fashion bonafides, but they also lack the high price tag that comes with them.
What they do have is a pretty wide selection of boxers and boxer briefs in a wide range of patterns and sizes, all at prices that are easier on the wallet than some of the big designer brands.
Bonobos
Bonobos is one of my favorite menswear stores, and a great place to turn for well-made, affordable underwear that you can wear on a daily basis.
Their boxer briefs are made from a blend of breathable cotton and stretchy spandex, come in two different inseam lengths, and are available in a wide variety of cool colors.
David Archy
You may have seen David Archy pop up if you’ve ever searched for men’s underwear on Amazon.
They advertise heavily and seem to always pop up, even when I’m looking for other brands.
And it isn’t hard to see why.
They specialize in underwear and offer a huge range of styles and varieties, most of which have excellent reviews—their quick-dry sports underwear alone has more than 6,000 reviews, and still maintains an average 4.6/5 rating.
Well played, Mr. Archy. Well played.
Sheath
Like Saxx and Shinesty, Sheath is another brand that specializes in pouch underwear designed to cradle your manhood.
They only offer a few basic models, but each one comes in multiple colors/patterns and has received strong reviews for stylish look and comfortable fit.
Ben Sherman
Ben Sherman is a British men’s brand that makes stylish men’s basics with a distinctly British feel to them.
As with Sheath, they only have a handful of models available, but offer a variety of patterns in core menswear colors like black, grey, red and blue.
Under Armour
Under Armour has become one of Nike’s top competitors across pretty much every category of athletic gear.
But as their name implies, base layers like underwear are their bread and butter.
They offer a wide assortment of performance-based pairs in flexible and sweat-wicking fabrics, making them a perfect choice for the gym, the golf course or pretty much any other athletic endeavor.
(And yes, I do consider golf to be an athletic endeavor, thank you very much. When you hit as many shots as I do, it’s a helluva work out.)
Tom Ford
Tom Ford is one of the top designers in the world, but he’s best known in menswear circles for one simple and undeniably cool fact:
He makes suits (and presumably underwear) for Daniel Craig’s 007. And around these parts we have a simple rule:
If it’s good enough for Bond, it’s good enough for us.
To paraphrase Vesper Lind, there are men’s underwear and men’s underwear. These are the latter.
Rhone
Rhone is another brand that has made its name by offering functional and comfortable men’s staple pieces.
Their Everyday Essentials boxer brief is the perfect underwear for guys who want a good, everyday pair that’s both soft and sweat-wicking.
They’re made from a blend of pima cotton and modal fabric and available in six fairly standard but entirely unimpeachable colors.
Nike
As the world’s biggest athletic apparel brand, it’s no surprise that Nike makes some of the best men’s underwear.
Obviously, their offerings skew more toward the athletic.
But they also work really well for days when you know you’ll be doing something active, if not exactly athletic, like mowing the lawn or going for a long walk.
J.Crew
J.Crew is another one of my favorite menswear brands thanks to their perfect mix of classic style with a modern twist.
Their underwear offering ranges from relaxed fit boxers to snugger boxer briefs, both of which are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic is another brand that you’ll find in malls all across North America, and a great J.Crew alternative.
Their underwear offering includes boxers, briefs and boxer briefs in a wide variety of colors, patterns and fabrics.
Interestingly, in addition to the classic cotton boxers you’d expect from a brand like Banana Republic, they also have a line of “tech cotton,” underwear, which blends cotton with lyocell and lycra for a stretchier, sweat-wicking combo.
Uniqlo
Uniqlo has become one of the most popular Japanese brands in North America and around the world thanks to their smart, functional and stylish approach to basics and staple pieces.
They offer a wide range of underwear in a variety of patterns and styles, but one word of warning here:
Uniqlo’s sizing tends to run small, so check their size guide closely before buying.
If you’re usually a medium in other brands, you may well be a large at Uniqlo.
H&M
H&M falls squarely into the “cheap and cheerful” category.
H&M’s whole brand is built on offering low prices for stylish stuff, which makes it a risky place to buy bigger-ticket clothes like suits or even sweaters.
But the good news is that, while their underwear certainly isn’t quite as high quality as some of the brands above, it’s really not bad for the price.
So this is a good place to stock up if you’re on a budget and want some good-looking briefs that don’t cost a fortune.
Myles Apparel
Myles specializes in making comfortable basics that you can easily move in, and their lone foray into the underwear game is designed to make compression shorts comfortable.
Their Momentum compression boxers are made from a polyester/spandex that’s built for performance, but doesn’t have the artificial feel or funny shine that most athletic underwear have.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon is a modern menswear brand that made its name by applying smart design and premium fabrics to men’s basics.
They offer a variety of underwear styles that includes boxers, briefs, long johns and more, all in comfortable fabrics that look as good as they feel.
Modus Vivendi
Founded by Greek Designer Christos Bimpitsos, Modus Vivendi offers a more tailored approach to men’s underwear than some of the mass-produced brands like Hane’s and Fruit of the Loom.
In addition to underwear, they also carry a range of loungewear, swimwear and activewear, all of which are designed with softness and comfort in mind.
Gregg Homme
One of the more out-there brands on this list, Gregg Homme offers a wide range of underwear styles that go well beyond the classic look of boxers and briefs.
With everything from thongs and jockstraps to chaps and leggings, it’s a good place to turn if you’re looking for something outside the mainstream.
More Resources ↓
More Men’s Underwear, Style & Grooming Advice from Irreverent Gent:
- The 12 Best Trimmers for Shaving Your Balls
- The 13 Best Hair Removal Creams for Your Private Parts
- The 9 Most Essential Mens Underwear Styles
- In Review: Saxx Boxer Briefs
- The Best Shorts for Men
- The 11 Best Pairs of Pouch Underwear
- The Best Panties for Men
- The (Absolute) Best Trimmers for Shaving Your Balls
- The Best Athletic Fit Dress Pants for Men
- The Absolute Best Men’s Sweatpants and Joggers
- The 19 Best Pairs of Thermal Underwear for Men
- The 15 Best Mens Bamboo Underwear Brands
- The 17 Coolest, Sharpest and Best Shorts for Men
