How to get the best men's underwear for working out
If you’re the typical guy, you might be just slapping on any old underwear when you're working out. But think about it. Would you go running in shoes that are either too small or too large? Would you go work out in your jeans? Of course you wouldn’t, you’re not a masochist.
It's important that men choose the best underwear for working out. It’s literally the first layer. It affects your comfort, your movement, as well as the amount of support for your sacks, which in turn profoundly influences your performance. Whether you're hitting the gym, going for a run, or practicing yoga, the underwear you wear can make or break your workout. For example, a great workout underwear has to be moisture-wicking, since you'll be literally sweating your balls off.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore why finding the best fitness underwear for exercise is crucial, factors to consider when making your selection, and recommend you the ideal types of exercise underwear so that you're fully equipped for your next sweat session.
Why it’s important to wear proper underwear for exercise
So there are two main reasons why proper underwear is essential for exercise. One is that it determines how optimal your performance will be. The other is how it affects the dryness in your groin area. Let’s dive in on each point.
1. Impact on Performance:
Whether you’re trying to set records, or just want to push your body a bit harder, underwear is going to affect your athletic performance.
For example, ill-fitting or uncomfortable underwear can be a nasty distraction, and you don’t want that while trying to focus on being the best you can be.
Not only that, underwear that doesn’t fit very well can hinder your range of motion, which impacts your performance.
2. Sweat control
Sweat. It causes a lot of problems if it builds up down there, and exercise is the one area where you’re guaranteed to create a swamp in your groin. This leads to all sorts of unpleasantries, like BSTL and swamp ass. No one wants to be pulling at their balls out of discomfort in the middle of the gym, and certainly not feel like your genital area has turned into a tropical jungle.
Sweat build up can also grow to more serious problems like chafing and skin irritation, as well as bacterial and fungal infection. This is not something you want to worry about when you’re working out. A good underwear that keeps you dry down there is key.
3. Odor control
We all know how terrible we can smell after a good sweat session, but you don’t want that odor to stick around right? The thing is, certain underwear do tend to trap odor, and it will stink up even after washing. So you definitely want to avoid those and opt for materials that do not absorb odor unless you really want the worst smells of your groin to permanently be stamped on your underwear.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Exercise Underwear
Now that we know why it’s important to wear underwear that is properly made for exercise, here are things that you should look out for.
1. Material:
Material is the first and foremost thing that determines how comfortable your underwear will be. There are two things you need to weigh when it comes to material: softness and flexibility, because first and foremost you want your underwear to feel good against your skin, especially if we’re talking about your genitals. It also needs to have moisture wicking properties in order to prevent the build up of sweat.
Finding the right material in an exercise underwear may be difficult if you’re looking for one kind of fabric to do it all. Cotton might be breathable and soft, but it retains moisture, meaning it’ll be sweaty in your groin during intense workouts. Polyester is a popular choice for fitness gear due to being quite stretchy, but it’s less breathable and it doesn’t help to keep your balls dry. Also, polyester traps odor.
Finally, your underwear for exercise should be ready for some rough use. It’s going to stretch in all directions, and rub up against your body. The last thing you want is feeling that dreaded rip happen right down your crotch in the middle of exercise. So make sure your underwear is made of something durable.
What you want is a nice combination of different fabrics in the materials so that you get the perfect balance. For example, how about modal, a natural fabric, for the soft feel, and spandex for the stretchiness? And as a plus, modal does not trap odor, and it’s super durable. That’s the dream team.
2. Fit:
During exercise you’re going to move constantly, which means if your underwear is not fitting well, it’ll not only restrict your body, but also result in chafing. You need to snug, yet with enough room for freedom of movement.
So anything way too loose, like boxer shorts, may not be a good idea, considering that they’ll bunch up underneath, soak up sweat, and just create a messy situation. On the other hand, a brief may be a bit too tight and cause irritation, not to mention how it may ride up and give you a wedgie since it covers less of your bum.
The sweet spot is something closer to a boxer brief. Not too tight, not too loose, covers just the right amount of area.
Of course, achieving good fit may take some trial and error, since everyone’s body is different, so make sure to shop around a bit for the best fit.
3. Support:
Let’s talk about the real reason why we’re all here. It’s the fact that during exercise your package will be swinging around all over the place, which you definitely don’t want. Adequate support is absolutely necessary to keep those delicate parts in place.
Look for underwear with built-in support features such as a contoured pouch or reinforced seams to provide support and stability. Compression shorts or boxer briefs with a supportive pouch can help reduce movement and friction, minimizing the risk of discomfort and injury during vigorous exercise.
Different styles of athletic underwear
Having looked at what you should pay attention to when buying underwear for sports and exercise, let’s dig a bit deeper. Underwear comes in all sorts of styles, but not all of them are equal and some are just much better at certain activities.
First of all though, let’s just get this out of the way. No boxers. They’re bulky, they bunch up, they let your testicles hang loose, and worst of all, you may even be flashing your genitals out to the world at certain angles.
Now, let’s take a look at what you should wear instead.
1. Briefs:
Pros:
- Minimal coverage of the body offers freedom of movement.
- Provides adequate support for low-impact activities.
- Lightweight and breathable, ideal for hot weather workouts.
Cons:
- May lead to chafing
- Could cause wicked wedgies.
- May keep your balls a bit too close to your body for comfort.
- Less flexibility compared to other styles, and maybe more limiting for men with larger waistlines.
2. Compression Shorts:
Pros:
- Provides targeted compression and support for muscles during intense activities.
- Helps reduce muscle fatigue and soreness by promoting blood circulation.
- Offers a snug fit that prevents chafing and irritation.
Cons:
- May feel restrictive to some individuals, particularly during activities requiring extensive range of motion.
- Tends to be less breathable compared to other styles, potentially leading to increased heat retention.
- Expensive compared to other styles.
- Mostly made of polyester, which traps odor and heat
3. Shorts with built in briefs
Pros
- Convenient and simple because it’s just one garment.
- Provides adequate support and coverage for vigorous activities.
Cons:
- Limited versatility compared to standalone underwear, may not suit all body types.
- Less options for material, since most of them are made of polyester.
- A pain to take off if you’re all sweaty.
4. Boxer Briefs
Pros:
- Offers more coverage and support compared to standard briefs.
- Combines the support of briefs with the coverage of traditional boxers.
- Available in a wide range of materials to choose for moisture wicking and odor control abilities.
Cons:
- May ride up or bunch during vigorous activities if not properly fitted.
If you're thinking of doing one type of exercise only, such as high performance sports, something like compression shorts may be better.
But if you’re simply looking for something that would be versatile and good for all occasions, the boxer brief may be a way to go.
Here's the Shortcut to the Perfect Men's Underwear for Exercise
Before you go off to try to find the perfect underwear for your exercise routine or your next soccer match, let’s recap.
Underwear affects your performance, how much sweat accumulates, and how much smell gets left behind. This is why you have to pay attention to three things when it comes to your underwear: material, fit, and support (for your boys). There are several different styles specifically made for exercise, but the boxer brief is the best all-around choice.
To give you a shortcut, here’s how you can find the best men's underwear for working out:
- Made of modal, a natural fabric that is moisture wicking, controls odor, flexible, and durable. A touch of spandex for extra stretchiness.
- A boxer brief that gives you the right coverage and the right kind of support.
- A well designed pouch for your testicles.
Is it a coincidence that we just describe Manmade’s own Boxer Brief? The thing is, we designed our brief to be absolutely the best when it comes to comfort, style, and fit. So of course it’s going to excel as an exercise underwear.
So if you’re looking for exercise underwear right now, go for the Manmade Boxer Brief. You won’t regret it. Otherwise the first pair will be on us.
If you want to shop around a little more, be our guest, but remember what we said in this article. Keep those balls of yours dry and happy in the most intense workouts with the right underwear.