Best Men’s Underwear, Tested: The Right Pair for Every Body & Budget

Saxx is the brand your most stylish friend quietly switched to and never shut up about. The Vibe is its bestseller for a reason: a slim-fitting boxer brief in a 95% viscose blend that feels buttery the second you put it on, with a 5-inch inseam that stays put on the thigh.

The headline feature is the BallPark Pouch, two little mesh panels that create a hammock so everything sits in place instead of sticking to you. It sounds gimmicky. It's not. After a week you notice every other pair you own does nothing of the sort.

It works at a desk all day, holds up to walking and light activity, and feels good immediately with no break-in. If you've never owned a premium pair, start here.

If you're a briefs guy, or you're briefs-curious and want support without the leg, Tommy John's Cool Cotton brief is the one. The stretchy pima cotton runs cool, the waistband stays put, and it's completely tagless so nothing scratches.

The clever bit is the top-pouch Quick Draw fly. Instead of the usual front slot you fumble with, the opening sits up top so you never accidentally flop out mid-run. Sounds small. Saves real embarrassment.

Fair warning, it hugs enough that it made a couple of us look a touch flatter back there than we're. If you like to show off your assets, keep scrolling. If you want tidy support, this is it.

Nobody on staff is a die-hard boxers guy, so we went hunting for a pair that would change our minds. Most boxers we tried felt like stiff paper, so boxy it was like wearing a second pair of shorts under your pants. Double pants. No thanks.

This 2-pack from Tommy Bahama was the exception. The knit is soft, has real give, and moves with you instead of ballooning out. It genuinely doesn't feel like there's extra fabric down there.

It's not the pair for the gym or anywhere you need real support, and it costs a bit more than basic boxers. But for lounging, sleeping, and easy days, these are the boxers that finally made sense to us.

For anything with a sweat component, this is our go-to, full stop. The UA Boxerjock nails the stuff that matters when you're working: moisture-wicking, seriously fast drying, and odor control that actually holds up through a session.

It stays locked in place, won't ride up, and the 6-inch leg lands just right so there's no bunching when you move. We've worn these through gym sessions and hot outdoor runs and stayed dry and chafe-free.

The catch is variety. The color range is thin and popular sizes go in and out of stock, so if you find your size in a color you like, grab a couple.

There's nothing more classic than Calvin Klein, and this 3-pack is the smart way to buy it. You get that famous soft micro-stretch fabric and the iconic waistband at a price per pair that's hard to argue with.

The elastic waistband is soft and doesn't dig in, the fabric feels like your favorite jersey sheets, and the front pouch keeps things tidy. High and tight, but not too tight.

Because the value is the point, don't expect a rainbow of options. It's usually just the classic solids and a limited size run. But for stocking the drawer, it's tough to beat.

MeUndies is the most fun brand in the drawer. The prints are the draw, over 70 rotating patterns from tame to loud, and the MicroModal is oddly soft and genuinely breathable.

We usually avoid boxer briefs because the legs stretch and roll up, but these have stayed put nicely. The leg runs a touch longer than we're used to, though the comfort more than makes up for it.

There's a membership option that drops the per-pair price hard if you buy regularly, plus the materials are sustainably sourced. Just know that when a fun print sells out, it often doesn't come back.

Never thought we would be recommending Spanx for men, and yet here we're. If you want a little help holding the midsection in for a wedding, a big meeting, or a photo day, these quietly do the job.

They also fold in moisture-wicking and odor control, so they're not just shapewear, they're functional underwear that keeps you dry and fresh through a long day and night.

The higher waistband takes a couple of wears to feel normal, and one pair isn't cheap. But after a week or two, a lot of us came around to that held-in feeling for the occasions that call for it.

A trunk is the answer under slim trousers, and Mack Weldon's AIRKNITx is the trunk we reach for. The 3-inch leg sits between a brief and a boxer brief, so you get coverage with none of the fabric that bunches or peeks below a short hem.

The AIRKNITx fabric is the lightest, most breathable thing Mack Weldon makes, with targeted cool zones and a no-roll waistband. It's the definition of forget-you-have-it-on.

It's a flyless single pouch and comes in solids only, no patterns. But for a clean line under fitted pants in warm weather, nothing on this list does it better.

Most standard underwear is a losing battle if you're built bigger or taller, either the seams scream or the legs ride straight up. Duluth's Buck Naked is engineered for real proportions and runs up to 4XL in a proper big-and-tall cut.

The 93% nylon fabric is slick, sweat-wicking, and antimicrobial, so it fights funk instead of holding it. The no-pinch waistband stays put and the legs don't creep, even on a bigger thigh.

With over 15,000 five-star reviews, this isn't a niche pick, it's a cult favorite. Guys buy one pair, then come back and buy ten.

If you sleep hot or live somewhere humid, the DropTemp is Saxx's answer and it's a good one. The fabric has actual cooling tech woven in that pulls heat away, so you're not waking up in a swamp.

You still get the BallPark Pouch and the same soft, stay-put fit as the Vibe, just tuned for temperature. We wore these on the muggiest nights of the summer and genuinely noticed the difference.

It costs a few dollars more than the everyday Vibe and the size range tops out at XXL rather than 4XL. For hot sleepers, it's worth every cent.

Sheath built its whole reputation on one idea: a dual pouch that actually separates everything into its own space. If skin-on-skin sticking and chafe are your problem, this is the most targeted fix on the list.

The 4.0 is the flagship, a soft modal boxer brief with a 5-inch leg and a vertical fly. The separation sounds fussy but feels natural fast, and it keeps things genuinely cooler and drier through the day.

The branded athletic waistband is a little loud for some tastes, and it's a premium price per pair. But for support and separation, nothing here beats it.

Boody does one thing and does it well: seam-free bamboo basics that feel great and tread lighter on the planet. The bamboo viscose is silky, breathable, and gets softer with every wash.

The seam-free build sits flat under clothes with nothing to dig in or irritate, which makes it a favorite for sensitive skin. It's a Certified B Corp, and the bamboo uses a fraction of the water cotton needs.

It's a simpler, no-pouch design, so it's comfort-first rather than performance-first. With 65,000-plus five-star reviews and a sub-$30 price, it's the easy eco upgrade.

Merino wool sounds wrong for underwear until you travel in it once. Smartwool's merino boxer brief resists odor naturally, regulates temperature, and dries fast enough to rinse in a sink and wear the next morning.

That makes it the ultimate travel and multi-day pair. Testers, and just about every gear lab out there, put merino at the top for exactly this: you can wear it far longer between washes than any synthetic and it still stays fresh.

The waistband runs a little thick and one pair costs more than a multipack of cotton. But for a trip where you pack light, one or two of these does the work of a week's worth of underwear.