The Best Men’s Underwear to Buy in 2022, Tested & Reviewed for Comfort and Longevity

Whether you want athletic underwear, classic boxers, boxer briefs or anything in between, you can find the best men’s underwear online for a reasonable price. The only catch? Scoring the most comfortable men’s underwear requires careful research, and who wants to buy dozens of pairs of boxer briefs to compare them side by side? We do, of course.

Over the past years, we’ve tested everything from the best bald head shavers to the world’s coolest adjustable dumbbells to help guys find the greatest men’s products for everyday life. And, in our testing, we didn’t forget about men’s underwear. And do you want the truth? We found them.

To select only the best men’s underwear of 2022, we’ve tested over 30 different underwear brands, from popular picks like Calvin Klein and Hanes to up-and-coming brands such as Shinesty and Mack Weldon. That’s not all; collectively, we’ve tested over 100 different pairs of men’s underwear to settle the debate of all debates. What is the best, most comfortable men’s underwear?

The Best Men’s Underwear At a Glance

We’ve been testing SAXX for years at this point, and every pair we own (which is, like, a lot) has held up the test of time throughout multiple wears and washes. SAXX uses a BallPark Pouch to give men enough room for a non-sweaty, roomy fit for their junk.

Comfort, breathability and longevity seem to be SAXX’s main priority, and it shows with each wear. Sure, they’re a bit pricy, but these are the best and most comfortable men’s underwear your money can buy, full send. We’ve found ourselves only ever wearing different brands when we run out of clean SAXX.

These undies are built with cozy jersey fabric with cool mesh zones to keep you comfortable and sweat-free. We weren’t sure about it, but it’s true — each pair has a non-roll waistband, so your boxer briefs will stay in the same spot you pull them up to in the morning. These are the underwear you can wear the entire day and completely forget about: no fixing, no discomfort, nothing.

The only thing we wish were slightly different is the pouch that holds your family jewels; we simply wish it was just a little more like SAXX’s. Nonetheless, the second you slip these on, you’ll never want to take them off — even if you’re on day three of wearing them.

Jockey’s ActiveBlend Boxer Briefs are like music to your ears. You know, if the music was men’s underwear and your ears were your legs and crotch. These boxer briefs offer full coverage with a mid-rise design, essentially a Goldilocks zone in terms of boxer briefs.

In the past, when we’ve worn Jockey, the moisture-wicking abilities were relatively sub-par, but what impressed us most now is how well they wick moisture in 2022. Talk about a great upgraded pair of boxer briefs for folks who work out frequently or get sweaty downstairs more often than not. They fit us like a glove and even come in four packs to help you save money.

We’ve been long-time fans of Banana Republic’s Supima stretch underwear, which is comfortable and long-lasting. In our experience, you can wear and wash this underwear for at least a year before they need to be replaced.

You can find these boxer briefs in fun prints if you stop by a Banana Republic store, but if you buy them online, you can often save money on your purchase because they’re on sale a ton of the time. Like all of the best underwear for men, it’s all about the material. These shorts are made from 93% Supima cotton and 7% lycra for stretch.

MeUndies is an underwear subscription service that delivers premium underwear to your door each month. It’s also a very flexible service with no long-term contracts, so you can skip a month or cancel any time. But if you’re not into the subscription, you can also buy MeUndies normally and enjoy the incredible quality without the delivery service.

MeUndies is best known for its fun prints, as they have dozens of stylish designs to choose from in addition to classic solid-color underwear. When trying them for ourselves, we were blown away by how soft they are. Their underwear is made from a super-soft MicroModal fabric that will keep you cool downstairs, especially compared to 100% cotton briefs and boxers. The only thing we didn’t love? That front seam. It’s somewhat uncomfortable at times.

It’s hard to find the perfect fit for everybody. The Goldilocks pair of underwear, essentially. But, it’s not that hard if you have Undergents. These boxer briefs are made for any guy, no matter their age.

When testing, our editor decided it would be fun to get his family involved with Undergents just to see how well they did amongst folks in different age groups. While testing them, he also had his younger brother in his early 20s and father in his late 50s give the boxer briefs for a spin. What did we find? Everyone loved them.

The only issue we found is that in some pairs (but weirdly not all), the crotch got a little tight when wearing at times. In addition, these aren’t the sexiest of men’s underwear. The lettering and branding feel very old, so you won’t necessarily be interested in showing these off if you catch our drift.

If you don’t want to wear underwear, wear Go Buck Naked. They aren’t playing around when mimicking that classically nude feel to the best of their ability. These stretchy, odor-fighting, moisture-wicking boxer briefs are made for the kind of guy that doesn’t feel like getting dressed in the morning. In our experience, they can keep you feeling fresh through a whole day of wear.

Here’s where it gets a little strange — these aren’t the softest pair of underwear in the world. These undies are made to feel a bit scratchy when sliding on, but we think this material is what leaves your body feeling like you’ve got nothing on to begin with. We don’t know the science behind it and don’t have a problem with the feel, but we’re confident some texture-sensitive folks will.

Like MeUndies, Shinesty is an excellent underwear subscription service, but the biggest callout (aside from their eclectic and occasionally NSFW patterns) is the brand’s mastering of breathability. When testing, we noticed the best place to wear these is in the gym on the hottest day of the year. They have an exceptional ability to air out your downstairs and wick away sweat like it was never there.

Each pair is complete with a Ball Hammock similar to SAXX’s BallPark Pouch; we just noticed you have to fix your junk a little more than you ever have to with SAXX. Nonetheless, it still allows your jewels to sit comfortably and cozily. Although this is a subscription service, you don’t need to subscribe and can buy separately.

Hear us out when we say the IONIC+ NO STINK Technology used by BN3TH is the real deal. We don’t know how, and we don’t know why, but we decided we’re not going to ask any questions. We love working out in these because they keep us feeling clean throughout. They’re also very comfortable when on and stay put all day.

Here’s the catch: they’re extremely long. Like, if you enjoy wearing short shorts, they’ll peek out of the bottom. This is something to keep in mind before purchasing because they aren’t necessarily a warm-weather pair.

Hanes is a brand known for quantity over quality, but recently, they’ve changed that notion with their new Sport Men’s X-Temp Boxer Briefs. Unlike the ghosts of Hanes’ past, we’ve tested and proven that these boxer briefs won’t ride up or leave uncomfortable chafing rashes throughout your thighs.

They come in an affordable variety pack and are built to be long-lasting, but the material is a little thinner than we’d like, so we’re not sure they will last as long as they claim. Nonetheless, it’s time to stop sleeping on Hanes!

In our experience, the Brady Boxer Briefs are worth considering as a pair of underwear in 2022. These trunk-like boxer briefs fit the body pretty well for many washes. They come in a 5-pack at just $17 a pop, which isn’t too bad given what they are. The waistband is a total standout here, too — it doesn’t roll up or make wearers feel uncomfortable when spending the day in these.

The only issues, in our opinion, are that these boxer briefs shrink ever so slightly after washing a few times. Sure, they last a good while, but shape retention isn’t as stellar as we’d hoped. In addition, a front seam on the crotch tends to be a little noticeable and uncomfortable, but we suggest just moving your little guy to the side if that’s ever an issue.

If you’re looking for a great pair of sustainable men’s underwear at a solid price, you’ve found them. In Common’s The Better Boxer Briefs come in a variety pack of 5 at just $10 a pop, which is excellent for something made with modal and recycled spandex.

Each pair is beyond soft to the touch, a curse and a blessing. Why? Because they don’t exactly wick moisture as much as we want them to. In Common claims that these are moisture-wicking and maybe we’re sweatier than others, but we didn’t experience this when wearing. They definitely get pretty wet.

We suggest these for wearing at home when you just want to lounge in your undies all day. No sweating, just chilling in front of the TV. It’s comfort you’ll have to understand for yourself.

These are the classic pair of boxers you grew up with. They’re comfortable, loose around the legs and crotch and have a soft-to-the-touch material you’re familiar with. Although they claim to be moisture-wicking, this isn’t something we necessarily agree with. Like, come on, they’re boxers — how much moisture can they wick? In addition, these aren’t the longest-lasting. You’ll find some pilling toward the crotch after just a few washes. Nonetheless, they’re affordable, comfortable and super easy to replace.

If you’re an elder millennial who remembers classic American Apparel briefs, then Los Angeles apparel briefs will feel very familiar on your bum. For Gen Z or Boomers, American Apparel was a controversial clothing brand that singlehandedly revived briefs.

The briefs are comfortable as far as briefs go, although the fabric isn’t as soft as what you’ll find with most modern men’s underwear. The briefs keep your unmentionables secure without being too cramped, and the waistband held up well for the first few months of wear. The color options are probably the best feature of these briefs.

Everlane’s Uniform collection of boxer briefs is something to geek over. Not only is this necessity comfortable and affordable, but it’s backed by a 365-day warranty. So, if you find holes at the crotch after a couple of washes, you can get a brand-new pair without any questions asked.

One pair of these will cost you $24, with two being $40. We loved Everlane’s Boxer Briefs so much last year that we named them the best underwear of the year in The 2021 Man, our annual product awards. But, here’s the thing — we don’t necessarily know if they hold up as much as Everlane says they do. Maybe we over-loved them, but these have shrunk a ton and don’t stretch nearly as much as they used to. Nonetheless, we’re still big fans.

Not only are these Uniqlo boxer briefs some of the best men’s underwear in the world right now, but they’re also some of the most comfortable men’s underwear under $10. Regarding boxer briefs, we strongly prefer underwear made with soft and stretch Supima cotton, and these undies offer the perfect balance of comfort and value.

Unlike most men’s underwear, they don’t feature any branding on the waistband, which provides a unique look if you prefer it to logos. In our experience, though, these aren’t the most moisture-wicking underwear you can throw on. In addition, we notice they do tend to shrink and pill a bit after a couple of washes. To be honest, this isn’t something we’re too upset with due to that incredible price.

Some guys just want underwear of any kind – and that’s fine. If that sounds like you, we suggest saving some coin and picking up this 5-pack of Gildan boxer briefs for just $15. They’re affordable, but according to almost 70,000 5-star reviewers, the boxers are still very well-made and comfortable.

After testing these ourselves, we were shocked to know that Gildan holds up, but again, we wouldn’t consider these truly moisture-wicking. They definitely get a little wet if you sweat, but they’re cheap. What did you expect? The whole truth? Regardless, these are pretty comfortable for classic solo cotton boxer briefs and can hold up more than a few washes.

Since their famous ad campaign with Mark Wahlberg in 1992 (and the re-creation with their iconic new Pride Campaign from last year), these Calvins have been the modern underwear to make guys look and feel better. This status is thanks to two key features: the recognizable logo waistband and balanced cotton-spandex construction.

This fabric provides support and stretch, keeping the family jewels comfortable. Here’s the truth, though: Calvin is outdated. Sure, they’re a must in every underwear drawer, but they lose shape after just a few washes and are plain in terms of comfort.

Yeah, that says pocketed. Jambys have become our newest obsession this year because of how damn comfortable they are. You know when you want to wear underwear around the house, but the time doesn’t really call for it? That’s where Jambys come in. Each pair has pockets to make them socially acceptable to wear in events like these. Plus, soft is an understatement. This is single-handedly the coziest article of clothing we’ve placed on our bodies.

Jambys became a SPY favorite in the last year, so we named them one of the best products of the year in The 2021 Man, our end-of-year awards.

What to Consider Before Buying the Best Men’s Underwear

One of the most important things you need to remember before buying men’s underwear is which style works best for you. Keeping underwear styles straight is still tricky for most guys, so here’s a refresher:

Among modern men, boxer briefs are far and away the most popular. An estimated 58% of guys prefer boxer briefs, according to an AskMen/Huffington Post survey. However, that style doesn’t fit everyone. While tighty-whities were going extinct, brands such as Los Angeles Apparel resurrected the look with their trademark colorful briefs. If you haven’t tried each style, we suggest giving each a shot — you might be surprised which is your favorite.

In addition to style, you will want to look at material. While you might be used to cotton underwear due to its unmatched comfort, you’ve probably realized that 100% cotton underwear doesn’t hold up quite as well in the wash. This is something to keep in mind if you’re the tried-and-true type who doesn’t want to go out and buy a new pair of skivvies every couple of months.

The most comfortable underwear nowadays typically uses varying cotton blends to maximize an ideally long-lasting fit. You might see nylon, spandex, modal and more. These fabrics all add different qualities to men’s underwear that might allow for extra stretch, shrink-resistance, moisture-wicking properties and more.

How We Tested the Most Comfortable Men’s Underwear

The two W’s — wearing and washing.

We wore each pair of underwear countless times, washed them more times than we can remember and lived our day-to-day lives the way we usually would. They’ve come to the office, flown across the country, gone to the gym, gone to the bars, and laid on stranger’s floors thereafter. They’ve gone through it all through testing because that’s how regular people wear underwear.

During our testing efforts, we considered several different categories to ensure greatness. For each of these categories, we decided to weigh differently depending on how important we felt each variable was. After scoring every product, we compare the final results to determine the overall best pair of men’s underwear. Check them out below.

The SPY team has tested around 100 pairs of underwear and over 25 brands in the past few years. Yes, you read that right. One hundred. For this guide, we chose the 19 best options. We will continue to update this guide as we test new products.

About the Author: Tyler Schoeber

Tyler Schoeber is SPY’s E-Commerce & Special Projects Editor. In addition to testing men’s underwear and grooming products such as bald head shavers and men’s razors, he also is the brain behind our social media pages and even shoots a number of photo projects for SPY. In his time at SPY, Tyler has reviewed men’s cologne, the latest products from YETI, and the best men’s t-shirts in the world. Before joining SPY, Tyler covered stories relating to grooming, men’s fashion, travel gear and more at travel sites such as Jetsetter and Smarter Travel.