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December 2012

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_MG_0062We are proud to bring you this Brief Distraction. This is a UNB original and features two new models. The model on the left is David and he is wearing N2N Bodywear‘s PX4 Performance X Brief. While, Josh, the model on the right is wearing the N2N Bodywear UN91 Quantam Bikini. We hope you like these two guys because you will be seeing more of them. We have them already booked for another shoot! This was done by our friends at Seven Continents Photography.

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I am very excited to be reviewing my first pair of boxers for UNB.  Today’s pair is the Front Mesh Boxer from Clever. This pair is made of 94% cotton and 6% spandex blend for a snug fit. These boxers are available in a black/gray and green/black color combinations and feature a comfortable logo waistband. And as the name suggests, the front panels are made of mesh.  I am always a big fan of mesh in undies.

I have worn the Clever Front Mesh Boxer several times since I received them. Personally, I like to put a new pair through the paces and wore this pair both for a relaxing day lounging on the couch and some busy days around town where I spent my time on and off the metro, walking all over the city and taking a couple sit-down meetings for good measure.

With that said I must admit that I’m a bit torn about this pair. The snugness that I previously mentioned is a double-edged sword. The seat felt a little too snug, like I was always on the verge of (and please forgive the crude terminology) a wedgie and they tend to ride up on the legs just a tad and the snugness meant they did not return when I stood up. This was especially noticeable when I was lounging around my house; however, when I wore them on my more active days, I did not notice the wedgie or riding up. Not too say this snugness is all negative because this pair made my ass look amazing – seriously, I received comments.

Another detail that deserves further mention is the mesh front. As usual when mesh is used in undergarments, this promoted great circulation and kept all the equipment cool on the days that I found myself running for the train. The mesh was comfortable like a pair of comfortable basketball shorts, and while it is definitely noticeable, it isn’t so bad that I would avoid wearing them to the gym. Additionally, the construction is also very sturdy which can sometimes be lacking with mesh.

Overall, I still find myself in the middle of this review. They looked amazing but weren’t always the most comfortable which to me is a big factor.

Pros:

  • Great construction
  • Made my butt look awesome
  • Eye-catching

Cons:

  • The seat was too snug
  • Ride up on legs

Ratings

  • Fit – 3
  • Materials – 5
  • Construction – 5
  • Look – 5
  • Daily Wear – 3
  • Overall – 4.2

Clever furnished this pair for review

Win £75 of undies plus new Nils Bohner & Ergowear - Important info re Loyalty pointsDead Good Undies have a few things going on. First check out the new Nils Bohner colors just in, there are three new colors. Next is the Ergowear Max Trio Boxer briefs in stock. While there check out the Davey Wavey Underwear Challenges. Dead Good Undies sponsored a few underwear challenges around London. One of the challenges was see how many pairs of underwear he could put on in 20 seconds. If you post this challenge video on YouTube you could win £75 worth of undies.

Lastly, They are having changes to their loyalty program. Go to their site and check out the changes. Points must be used before the new website launches!

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It’s time for Underwear of the Week! This week is Jockstrap Week! The holidays are in full swing and we wanted something a lot of fun to round out the year. I think we found it with the Diesel Fresh & Bright Striped Jocky Jockstrap. It’s got a colorful waistband and a striped pouch. It’s definitely not your typical jock!

Reasons this is our underwear of the week:

  • It’s not the typical jock. It can be worn every day under jeans or dress pants
  • Colorful and fun – The jock is just a lot of fun. We all love undies just for that reason. A classic jock has its place but so does a colorful striped one!
  • Has 1 1/2 inch waist band. We know not everyone wants a 3 inch waistband. Again this can be worn under anything and now show like a traditional jock would.
  • Made out of a 95% Cotton, 5% Elastane blend.
  • Other colors are: Grey & Blue (shown), Turquoise, Black & Grey and Pink

You can find this pair at International Jock for $25. The picture used is from International Jock

 

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Have you bought everything but that one perfect pair for your significant other? Well don’t fret you may still have time to get that pair or pairs. However, this will cost you if you have to have it by Monday. Here are some tips:

  • Make sure you are ordering in your company or origin (i.e. if in the US order from a US Company)
  • Choose Next Day mail (FedEx or UPS) but not US Postal Service. The US Postal Service doesn’t guarantee delivery. Also certain areas will not have mail service on Christmas Eve.
  • Next Day mail will run your $20 or more depending on what you order so it’s not cheap. It can sometimes be the same amount as the underwear.
  • If you don’t have to have it right away choose priority mail. It will get there after the holidays

Now there is another option to get underwear and that’s brave the mall. If it’s a main stream brand (2(x)ist, C-IN2, Calvin Klein or Diesel). you can get them at most Department Stores. The downside is you have to actually go to the mall!

If you have totally missed the chance to get undies, send a gift card to the guys favorite underwear store. Online stores like UnderGear, Freshpair.com, International Jock, Andrew Christian and more offer them!

Just know shopping this late you may not get your order so be prepared!

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I have only one other pair of Jack Adams and am relatively unfamiliar with the brand. So I was a little uncertain with this  jock . I find some ‘features’ of modern jockstraps to be gimmicky and this pair the straps that make the “X” for which this jock is named. I thought the jock looked over-designed and almost like complicated lingerie. However, I couldn’t have been more delightfully wrong/surprised.

This jock features an ample, knitted pouch that is very soft and provides a great cradling fit. Composed of 70% Polyester, 15% cotton and 15% rubber. I joke that the knitted material is more like the most comfortable sweater than a jockstrap. The leg straps are tighter than I expected, being a beefier guy, I expected that they would be uncomfortable; however, they provide great lift to my rear and keep the pouch snug and comfortable. My only complaint is that I wish the straps were slightly larger to help prevent some minor rolling which I experienced.

The great feature that makes this a truly stand-out jockstrap is the functional fly that makes for easy access in the restroom. The fly that creates the “X” that I previously said gave the complicated lingerie- look, is available in eye-catching Black/Yellow, Black/Red and Black/White that actually gives it a decidedly edgy, athletic look.

Pros:

  • Super soft and unique pouch
  • Functional fly

Cons:

  • Small legstraps
  • Somewhat gimmicky design

Overall, this is a great new take on a classic and I will definitely be buying several more for my drawer.

Fit

5

Materials

5

Construction

4

Look

4

Daily Wear

5

Overall *Out of 5*

4.6

Find this jock at the 10Percent.com site!

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Today’s Brief Distraction features Modus Vivendi. This is part of the new Farmer line. Modus Vivendi released two new lines just in time before Christmas. The Farmer line includes twelve new items all of them featuring a new waistband with transparent stripes and evolutionary underwear design specifically made to boost your “confidence” like no other underwear can. They come in three different cuts, briefs, boxers and jocks and four colours, classic black and white, royal blue and hot red.

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I had a tingle of joy when I heard I’d be getting a Joe Snyder pair for this review cycle. Joe Snyder is one of the brands I’d always wanted but never could find on sale as a very budget restrained college kid. Low and behold it arrived, and I received…THE LAUNCH BIKINI, in white.

As I took the pair out of the packaging, I had a two-part reaction. Part one was the ooh and ahh over the feel of the fabric in my hand. Part two was the moment of confusion upon inspecting the front of the undies. I’ll go into more detail on that in a minute.. The Launch Bikini is an 80% Polyamide and 20% Spandex Lycra blend which gives it the luxurious feel and luster. It is available in White, Black, Red, Turquoise, and Mango (a goldish yellow). There is a tag on the back of the undies that is QUITE noticeable, it’s actually folded over the band so there is taggage on the inside of the back AND the outside of the back, but having worn them for the day, I honestly only felt it a couple times. The price point is on the more expensive side for a pair of underwear, but if you factor in the construction techniques, it is totally understandable (my degree in costume design stands behind this statement).

Now, to explain the confusion over the front of these undies. This bikini features a dual front, the outer front is a nice full contoured pouch to carriage the genitals. The INNER panel is an uncontoured panel with a hole in the center. This pulls your testicals UP and out from your body, and lets your penis drape over them, being presented even FURTHER out. This bikini also doesn’t elasticize the ring, so luckily, you don’t feel like you’re being choked until the elastic is worn in more. The built in ring isn’t a new concept in men’s underwear “technology”, but this is the first time I’ve seen the construction like this. The outer POUCH on this bikini is attached at the front and the top of the pouch, leaving the sides open. It was slightly fussy to put it on and “dress” everything properly, but not too bad.  I have two slightly opposing opinions attached to this engineering.

Having worn it all day, I found it very sensational…in a good way, and a very nice feel for a pouch. I felt supported while still given breathing room to hang, and it definitely added a little SOMETHING to the front of my pants, but without the pants on, it kind of turns into a peek-a-boo pouch. Because the front pouch panel is not connected on the sides, when I’m wearing it, my genitals were pushing out the pouch panel so much that I was getting the male version of “side-boob”. In my opinion, the outer panel would do better to be attached from the bottom and sides, leaving the TOP open, so if there is a peek-a-boo panel, it’s a slightly more alluring sight”

Although I think the front pouch is not great for “show”, I completely recommend this for daily wear, it felt great all day, and it added a little spring to my step.

 

PROS

  • Beautiful fabric
  • Great “display” features
  • Comfortable
  • Durable

 

CONS

  • Not the most appealing front construction
  • A little hard to put on

Ratings

  • FIT 5
  • MATERIAL 5
    CONSTRUCTION 2
  • LOOK 2
  • DAILY WEAR 5
  • OVERALL 3.8

 

Joe Snyder Furnished this pair for review

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We bring you another great picture from Andres-Ramirez. He has a great eye and an incredible creative flair! This is his model Ciudad Real. He is 21 years old, is 1.78 and weighs 78 kg. And Andres-Ramirez says “Promises and aims high to be one of the best models of Spain.” He is also wearing Joe Snyder

NUK FRONT II

This review is of the Nukleus Water Series Mekong Micro bikini. This brand of underwear initially attracted my attention due to their company’s emphasis on environmental protection.  They use a new fabric called Lenzing Viscose, which is made sustainably from wood, and they recycle all the by-products of production, minimizing their impact on the environment.  Colors available include Navy blue, royal blue, red, black and yellow.  I am sucker for bright colors, so I got a three-pack of yellow ones, for $16.50 including shipping. Their sizing tends to follow European sizing, so I bought one size up (medium) and tried them out. First impressions were:  “damn, they make me look hung” and they also fit my more than ample butt—-which can be a challenge to fit sometimes.

I wore the Nukleus all through the day at work, which has me getting up and down often, as well as sitting in several meetings. After work, I went to the gym for a weight-lifting workout with my trainer. I was very impressed with the comfort of this pair—at times it felt like I was hardly wearing underwear while still giving me the support I expect from a bikini. Even through a tough leg workout at the gym, they still maintained their shape, did not ride up with wear, and still made me look hot when changing in the locker room. The lenzing material is naturally sweat wicking, and in this case, actually helped keep me dry during the workout.

I was really impressed on how the cut of Nukleus appeared to augment the size of my plumbing. Andrew Christian may have his nearly naked briefs, but Nukleus figured this out several years prior, and at slightly more than $5 each, you can’t beat the price. Keeping me comfortable while working out and looking good in the locker room afterwards were unexpected bonuses as well. Many brands claim to be “sweat wicking” which usually means you end up with wet and soggy underwear after the workout. Nukleus’ claim to keep you dry actually was the truth.

The main disadvantage of buying Nukleus is the lack of a US seller.  They can only be purchased over the internet from Malaysia, and the lag time for delivery can be as much as 3 weeks. Also, I purchased another three-pack after my initial review, and ever though I ordered the same size, they were significantly smaller than first ones I bought, despite being labeled “medium”. Not sure if that indicates a problem with their quality control or if it was a one-time fluke.  Given my initial impression of their product, it’s not enough to scare me away from buying more. The overall comfort, shape, body enhancing cut and sweat wicking of the material helped make this become one of my new favorite pair of underwear.

Pros:

  • Price ~$5 each
  • Body enhancing shape
  • Sweat wicking
  • Bright colors available

Cons:

  • Delay in delivery
  • European sizing
  • Possible quality control issues

Ratings

Fit

4

Materials

5

Construction

5

Look

5

Daily Wear

5

OVERALL

5

*OUT of 5*

You can find this pair at UnderwearConcept.com and three-packs are available for $16.50 at their site.

Note: UNB-LJ is a new reviewer who is based in the US and travels the world and always picks up new undies where ever he goes. He’s going to share some reviews of those pairs and how he finds great undies all over the world.

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As an”expert” I am always thrilled to find articles in prominent men’s magazines that discuss the ever growing trend of bringing more men into designer underwear. So when I read in a recent edition of GQ about the “Return of Tighty Whities” I was glad to see men’s designer underwear getting some mainstream exposure. On the flip side though, as someone who is ever present in the world of men’s designer underwear. I already knew this, and in fact what is only recent news to GQ readers has been going on for a couple years now; briefs are back, and they are back in a big way.

So what are the reasons for this trend “back” to the brief?

I think this “return” of the brief can largely be attributed to what I think is one of the best fashion trends in history, which is the concept of men wearing pants that fit them. Of course I am referring to our departure away from relaxed fit, boot cut jeans and slacks and our evolution back to straight legged, “slim fit” slacks and “skinny jeans.” As this trend achieved mainstream, market-wide saturation, we “18-35ers” quickly had a problem on our hands. As our “work khakis” and “going out jeans” started to comfortably grip our thighs, wearing boxer shorts became an absolute nightmare. Trying to keep them smooth as you slid into your well-fitting pants was a hassle most of us grew sick of.  And while our first inclination was to go to boxer briefs, they stretched out within a half hour, and their high rise left a good two inches of the waistband area exposed by our new, lower-rise pants.

Of course, the only option we had left were briefs, the underwear we’d grown to make fun of.  But as the market became saturated with the new trend in men’s pants, more men began to gravitate back to briefs more out of necessity rather than desire. Thankfully though, the most prominent names in men’s underwear design quickly recognized that men weren’t coming back to briefs by choice, so they immediately began re-designing the brief we once knew into something we’d be more comfortable wearing. And what they created was something that should have come a long time ago.

If you placed briefs from the country’s top ten underwear designers on a table today, you will notice two things. First, you’ll notice that the front of the brief actually has a shape, and as it moves to the low-rise waistband, you’ll also notice leg openings meant to contour to your body. These two simple design changes have done wonders for “The Brief” over the course of the last three years. Not only are they made specifically to fit comfortably under your skinny jeans, they are made with the contours and movement of your body in mind making them conceptually, the opposite of what we always thought the brief was about.

Essentially, we can see that “The Return of The Brief” to prominence was one that was dictated by an outside actor-in an emerging fashion trend, rather than some spontaneous, nostalgic desire to return to tighty whities. But I don’t think the emergence of a modern take on “ye ol’ standby” is entirely born out of necessity. I think the brief’s return to prominence can just as largely be attributed to the positive reaction of those trying the new take on the old classic.

Prior to the “necessity factor” and the response from underwear designers to turn begrudging acceptance into something resembling desire for briefs that followed, there wasn’t an underwear design available that does what this modern brief does. It took these new briefs (and to a lesser extent, “trunks”) to get men into underwear that was contoured specifically for their anatomy which offered support they had never gotten in their boxer shorts and boxer briefs. As more and more men make the switch to briefs, the more they realize how underwear is supposed to fit. Such a positive is only trumped by the fact that more and more women seem to be purchasing them for their men. And as someone who made the switch in 2009, I can tell you that my wife prefers me in a brief than even my smallest trunks.

While you can argue that the brief never went away, the concept of the brief went dormant for all of us once we hit adolescence. And as our generation (as well as some of our fathers’) moved decidedly into boxers and boxer briefs, the brief was conceptually-in terms of design, in hibernation. But, as recessions are prone to do, the 2007-08 recession brought us a new take on an old fashion trend, and that required all of us to rethink the underwear we had grown to accept as standard fare. It produced the return of the brief from hibernation, and with a new, modern take with our anatomy and bodies in mind, the brief has returned to dominance.

Today you can buy a brief in any cut and any color in a variety of different “cuts.” As the brief continues to increase in popularity, more designers enter the market offering up their own interpretations on the modern brief. And if you’re unconvinced that the brief has truly come full circle, go to the designer underwear section of your local department store and compare the amount of briefs you have to choose from to the amount of boxer shorts available to you.

The brief is back and I can promise you that you don’t have a good excuse not pick up a couple of pairs and see why they’ve re-emerged as the best underwear for men.

modus vivendi dyer line 04Just released! New Modus Vivendi lines Dyer and Fisherman, part of their Retro Greece collection for 2013. Brand new stunningly sexy designs which we are sure you will love, plus some of your favourites back in stock! Highlights from the Dyer line include the new retro style, sleeveless vest and the unique “converter” tanktop and body! From the Fisherman line the latex fetish additions and the outstanding latex jockstrap and body.

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This was a brief that I wanted as soon as Tim sent me the Clever Spring ’13 catalog. Clever was another brand that I hadn’t previously owned, so I was anxious to receive this, wear and review it.

The brief I am reviewing is the Desire Latin Brief. The “Latin Brief” is a name given to Clever’s most popular brief design, and because the company is based out of Central America. The  “Latin Brief” seems to be aptly applied. While Clever has a reputation for size fluctuation based on design, this XL pair (36-38) fits my 37″ waist fairly well, but they certainly don’t run big.

These briefs are made from 92% sheer nylon and 8% spandex. The cut of these briefs is somewhere between a traditional “boxy” cut and a bikini cut, not super high-rise but certainly not uniform either. The pouch is fairly contoured but not majorly so, and I prefer a larger contoured pouch generally.

These briefs are much more comfortable than I thought they might be. The sheer nylon is very wearable and the logo waistband sits nicely on the waist without any pinching or binding. Additionally, the elastic outlining the brief is very sturdy and “frames” the wearer in flattering ways, which I appreciate.

Style-wise these briefs are certainly out there. These come in two colors, black and white and I would say they are about 98% sheer with only a horizontal pattern among the nylon to “distract.” If you want to equate sexiness with style then these knock it out of the park. I tend to grade on how the cut of the brief looks on me when they are worn, not just the visual aesthetics, though I like the contrasting gold waistband with the black nylon, and I also like the silver waistband on the white version. I wish they had offered this in the color scheme of another pair in the collection of a nautical blue with a gold waistband

On the whole I think Clever really does well with the Desire Latin Brief, and I look forward to exploring more of their collection.

Pros:

  • Good Fit
  • Supportive
  • Breathable
  • Sexy

Cons:

  • Not for the everyday gentleman
  • Only two color options

Ratings

  • Fit – 4
  • Materials – 5
  • Construction – 5
  • Look – 5
  • Daily Wear – 4
  • Overall – 4.5

Clever furnished this pair for review.