Men usually tend to think of underwear in two types: loose and tight. There are the loose boxer shorts, and then there are the tight briefs. But in fact, there are many different types of men’s underwear that are available out there, and it helps to know that you have all this choice. From the strictly utilitarian such as the jockstrap, to the completely unnecessary such as the G-string, let’s take a look at the various underwear types and examine their pros and cons.
Briefs
This is one of the most common types of men’s underwear if not the most. Briefs are a guy’s best friend, and they are very versatile. They typically cover your entire butt and the package, and leave much of the upper thigh, as well as the side of the leg exposed. Because of their build, they can be comfortable under almost any outfit you wear, and they firmly wrap around your nether regions, keeping everything in place including your family jewels.
Briefs come in different types. In general there are three:
- Low-rise Brief: The waistband sits below the natural waistline on the hips.
- Mid-rise Brief: The waistband sits at the natural waistline.
- High-rise Brief: The waistband sits right below the belly button. It can streamline the waist, smoothing out the love handles and the stomach.
The designs for briefs have also gotten very creative, and they can be really fun as well, with many brands now printing interesting and colorful patterns on them.
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Pros
- They keep everything in place
- They’re quite comfortable
- They go with pretty much any outfit
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Cons
- They can chafe depending on the type of fabric
- They sometimes keep the balls too close to your body, making you uncomfortable
Boxer Shorts
Boxer shorts are loose underwear that are more about breathability than support. They don’t wrap around the groin as much as briefs do, so they let everything hang freely inside. Many of them also feature an open fly that allows you to exit with ease. If you’re looking for something that’s easy on your junk and leaves plenty of space for a breeze, then boxer shorts may be what you need.
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Pros
- They are very breathable
- They are quite comfortable due to being loose
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Cons
- Boxers can create a bulky mass around your crotch region, so it doesn’t look as good with tighter pants
- Often not as aesthetically pleasing
- Your package is left flopping around all over the place
Boxer Briefs
Boxer briefs are basically a hybrid of the brief and the boxer. They have longer legs like the boxer, offering more cover over the thigh, while tight-fitting like the brief, holding the sack firmly in place. They provide more protection from chafing from sports and exercise, and often have a moderate rise on the waist.
Boxers’ legs fall right around the widest part of the thigh, which means no matter how thick your legs are, boxers will fit snugly around them. Ride up may become an issue, but that depends on the length.
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Pros:
- Pretty much all the benefits of a brief but more comfort
- Great for guys with big thighs
- Less chafing
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Cons:
- Depending on the length, legs may ride up and cause irritation
Trunks
Simply put, trunks are pretty much boxer briefs with shorter legs. The hem falls just above the widest part of the leg, so for guys with leaner builds trunks are more comfortable and have a more snug fit than boxer briefs. Plus trunks can accentuate their muscles better than boxer briefs can.
Because there is less of the fabric and it fits more tightly, there may also be less ride up and bunching happening as you move around throughout the day.
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Pros:
- Great choice for when wearing shorts over them
- Good for guys with lean legs
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Cons:
- May not fit that well for men with large builds
- More prone to chafing
Jockstraps
Jockstraps are basically a pouch with bands. They were first invented in 19th century for bicycle-riding messengers and delivery men who were also known as ‘bike jockeys’, hence the name. It was designed at first to protect men from riding their bikes on cobblestones, which were the common choice of road paving in cities back in the day.
From there, jockstraps spread throughout contact sports and for those who engaged in rigorous physical activity because they provide extra protection for your package. The thing is, they don’t offer much coverage on the back, so you’ll feel a breeze back there. They also lift your genitals up and away from the body, which means it keeps your junk cooler and drier than your run of the mill briefs.
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Pros:
- They’re great for sports activities
- If you and your partner are into it, they can be sexy
- It can be quite liberating due to the minimal nature of it, while not exactly freeballing it
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Cons:
- Your ass is left bare
Long Underwear
Also known as long-johns, long underwear was first introduced in 17th century England. They’re basically Long underwear that are very versatile, and quite useful in winter. Not only are they loungewear, but you can wear them under your pants for an extra layer against the cold. They also cover more of your body so feel free to pop out to take out the trash in your long underwear.
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Pros:
- They keep you warm in cold weather
- They’re quite comfortable
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Cons:
- They can be a bit awkward to take off
- It can get sweaty inside once it’s too warm
G-Strings
Yes, G-strings for men exist and they definitely are not for the faint of heart. These things are exactly like the female equivalents. They provide bare minimum coverage around the pouch and the rest of it is a string. Naturally, your cheeks are fully exposed. If you’re up for it, definitely give them a try. It certainly will be a different underwear experience.
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Pros:
- They leave more of your body parts to breath
- They can look sexy, provided you’re in the right context
- They go well with tight pants
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Cons:
- They can be uncomfortable
- It’s really difficult to pull off the look
Of course, we haven’t even covered the more outlandish ones such as a c-string, which is basically a pouch with a string that tucks between your bum. Honestly, it really looks more like you put a sock on your penis. But you should explore more options when it comes to underwear.
Even if it means trying different types of briefs. You never know what you’ll find comfortable. Heck, maybe you’ll find out that you actually really like the G-string.