My main goal when I started UNB was to show all guys, great underwear is for everyone. Regardless of age, body size, sexual orientation or anything. I kept the coverage in the middle of the road and it gained us quite a few straight followers over the years. We even gained quite a few straight writers.

Fetishwear used to be just for the leather bar. It was guys in leather standing around with cigars in a drinking beer. Now that’s not the case. There are more kinds of fetishwear outside of leather. There is spandex (singlets), satin, lace, rubber, leather-inspired and of course leather.

As you see fetishwear is defined by the guy. It’s now as diverse as our readers. It’s really great to see guys embracing their fun side. Like regular underwear, you should feel sexy and awesome in anything you want to wear. If it makes you feel great and sexy wear it! Have fun in it and own it.

I have discovered one big thing by doing the blog. Straight guys regular underwear could be considered fetishwear. They want to wear that thong or bikinis and have it lead to fun with their partner. And some of them really can’t do it right now. They get looked at like it’s strange or not manly. The way underwear is viewed by a lot of the mainstream people.

In covering fetishwear we will cover everything. I know some of you won’t be into it but remember there are others who are and love it. We will cover all mentioned above and more. If there is something you want to see us cover just say so! We will look into and present it to you guys!

Photo by Ignacio Rivera Jr.

Since we don’t do Swimwear Sunday in the fall/winter months, I thought this was appropriate to run on a Sunday. The first question is why did we create the swim brief challenge? And why is this so important to us at UNB?

Why did we create the Swim Brief Challenge?

I have always been a proponent of wearing swim briefs. I have worn them since my late teens and to the present. I don’t have the swimmers body but to hell with what people think. In my younger days, I was more bolder and didn’t care what anyone thought. I have been on the beach with only me in them. I know people prob pointed and laughed when I wasn’t looking but I didn’t care.

Flash forward to UNB and I was talking to a friend who wears them all the time. He asked me, “Why don’t you really challenge guys to wear swim briefs?” He meant to create a challenge and have guys take it. That very first year we really pushed it. We did many posts and really went all out. Years since then we have taken a more low key method of promoting. But we still run it a few times throughout the summer.

In the last two years, we have added the Swim Thong challenge. More guys have skipped from the shorts to the thong. This was something I didn’t see coming. But in the last two year, the swim thongs have taken off with gay and straight guys. It’s great to see the popularity of the style.

Why is this important?

Over the years talking to both gay and straight. They have always wanted to wear swim briefs anywhere they wanted to go. That includes public beaches, family trips, cruises and more. Society, in general, doesn’t accept men in anything that shows a bulge on a guy. If it does then “OMG the children!!!”

We want more acceptance and not have the swim brief be a fodder for insults and jokes. It’s not easy to do in this day an age. There is still a dichotomy in general. There are those of us who love gear and those who don’t. I hope we can get more of the general public to either not care or encourage guys to wear them.

This is how this feature came about and why we do it every year. If you guys take or have taken it to let us know we inspired you to step out of the swimwear box and enjoy yourself for a day or several years!

This week I’m going to write a series of posts on the inner workings of UNB. Some stories you may or may not have heard. I hope
you all enjoy them and get to know why I have done things over the years.

We have done our own shoots since 2010/2011. I always felt we needed to do shoots. The early shoots had more real guys. They were not classified or had ever worked as models. But we got negative feed back from some in the industry and readers. I wanted ‘real guys” and that was my vision for the earlier shoots.

The Early Shoots

These we kinda struggled on. Having never done shoots it was a little bit of getting thrown in the deep end. We had too many pairs in the begging. In one shoot we had 70+ pairs. It was a pure nightmare. The shoot went for hours. After that shoot I said never again. And so far we have kept to that.

We had a lot of models just drop out or no show. We had several shoots that almost weren’t. The 2012 and 2013 holiday shoots almost didn’t happen. Models fell out the night before and that day. We had Matt who got on his phone and found some great guys. It got to the point instead of booking 2-3 models I would book a minimum of 6 in hopes 2 would show up.

One thing I learned quickly is you have to be organized before the shoot. The first really didn’t have a shoot list. It was here is Brand A then Brand B and so on. Now I create a document that lists all and the shoot order. So there is no question on what the guys will wear or what we will shoot.

The Current Shoots

The current shoots are a dream to do and manage. Taylor Campbell, our photog we use, can get the most amazing shots. He will take some and go ok done.The first time I was worried we didn’t get the shot. After seeing the pics I was like “Damn he got several shots.” So now when he says he got it, we move on. I trust him with pics we need.

Our current group of models is amazing. Andrew, Martin, Jacob, Chandler have been the core of the guys. They are always dependable. They aren’t in every shoot because I like to rotate guys in major shoots. I don’t want you guys to go “oh it’s Andrew and Martin again, seen it.” I want you to go “Oh Andrew and Martin are BACK!”

One thing I want to up our game on is video. I am the videographer and run the shoot. It’s a bit much for me to do all myself. I need to branch out and get someone to do the video for me. Some videos have been amazing and others I get the footage and go “Dear God, what the hell is this.” I can say this because I took the video. I have a few ideas for the future.

The Future Shoots

One thing I want in future shoots is more autonomy. More doing our own thing and taking it back to our roots. In previous shoots from 2013ish on we have brands pay to be in the shoot. This time we are going to allow brands in for free but we will pick what we want to shoot. So just because a brand submits it doesn’t mean we show everything we received.

I was planning a few shoots in my mind. Now note these are planned and not set in stone. But there are a few shoots I want to do:

• Real guy shoot – that has a very body positive message
• Thong shoot – thongs are very popular among all guys.
• Swim Thong Shoot – a real shoot of guys on the beach in thongs
• Superhero shoot – this has been long in the works no details just know I’m going to make this happen
• Work out wear shoot – Set in a gym and locker room

Video is big in the future. I want to do a true behind the scenes with talking to the guys and showing fun moments of the shoot. I also want to create our own short length videos as well. But video is a whole nother beast.

These are my insights into the world of UNB photos and videos past, present and future.

I had big plans to work on UNB this weekend. I have a to-do list of about 20 things to accomplish. But, passing a kidney stone followed by throwing out my back (the same day I pass the stone). Made this weekend pretty much a lay in bed and watch Netflix. This past week I felt like it was time fo some new gear. Some are going to be reviewed on UNB and some are just for me.

One thing I love is singlets. One brand I have wanted to try and may get another is Gruff Pup. He has some of the best singlets. I got two. One for me and one for a new reviewer. The two we got were the Impulse singlet and Combat singlet (with a cut out). I’m trying the camo, and a cutout singlet is new for me, I figured why not!

Next up are some clearance suits from Sluggers. I love their swimwear and they had a massive clearance sale where you get a pair of swim for $14.99 US. I got two pairs. So i”m super excited about them. Now i need a place to wear them!

Last in the group is the Skinzwear thong we profiled last week for Thong Thursday. It’s a swim thong for 20 bucks. I ordered one to give it a try. I haven’t had a swim thong in many years. Scruffy Gear blog has encouraged me as well as Bikinisnthongs. This will be a review but I don’t think I’ll have an actual swim review more of an overview.

I have the singlets the rest I”m waiting for more to come in the mail. I hope to have a few new Andrew Christian pairs as well. Stay tuned. I”m taking it easy until the back is better, It’s way better but not great!!

This Edipous Micro Bikini was furnished for review by the brand. The opinions expressed are that of the reviewer.

Rating: 8/10 (Average of the Rating Below)

• Daily Fit: 7/10
• Sizing 9/10
• Styling: 9/10
• Performance 10/10

Pros:
• LOVE THE POUCH- Quite possibly the best pouch on ANY pair of underwear I have ever worn. Supportive, roomy, and conforms to whatever you bring to the table. Large or small the fabric and construction gives enough yet holds your good secure. Simply Outstanding.
• Breathable! Never once do I get a sweating or moist feel wearing these. For a non-cotton brief, these feel so light and refreshing.
• Waste band- Like most of its construction, very forgiving and not “cutting” into your waist. Stretchy yet not squeezing to the point it becomes a high-rise brief. Not Bad at all Edipous!

Cons:

• Bikini Back- Well by now most of our readers may know, I am a thong guy or a boxer brief guy on occasion. While this is the first brief I have owned, it has confirmed my suspicion that most briefs for me quickly become a thong with extra fabric. Maybe it’s my butt construction, but slowly and surely these briefs ride up between my cheeks and low and behold its essentially a thong, a less comfortable thong.
• Does this pouch come on an Edipous thong? I hope…investigation to follow…

UNB Shawn Recommendations

All and all, it is a bikini brief and it’s got to be one of the more comfortable ones out there, but I am thong guy what can I say? The brief hints at a sexiness, but to me is not at pleasing to the eye or as functional for that matter than a well-designed thong. If I want to tone down the sexiness, boxer briefs are functional and don’t ride up my cheeks, briefs well does neither for me. Happy Shopping UNB readers. Find your style and OWN IT!

BRAND: EDIPOUS Micro Bikini
COLORS: Blue,
FABRIC: 77.60% Polyamide and 22.40% Spandex
SIZES: Small  – XL
COST: $19.25

Underwear has been my first love since I can remember. Wearing amazing underwear is now a given every day. However, there is another love I have and that’s spandex gear. It started with bike shorts and moved to runners and then to singets. I would wear these to the gym to work out and even wore them out to do errands once.

Spandex gear is making a comeback in the fitness world. Runners are becoming popular with guys who run, work out and do cross it. Before when you wore these pairs you could be considered “less manly.” That stigma is going for the most part. Now we face gyms that allow spandex for women but not men.

We aren’t talking about the super sexy gear out there. The ones made to show off the bulge has mesh cut outs or super skimpy cut. You know what we are talking about, it’s fetishwear.  We do have some who would wear these to the gym and not care what anyone thinks. More power to you, if you do!

Guys are being told that they can’t wear these to the gym. These are guys who are not blatantly showing off a bulge. They feel comfortable with the extra support and range of motion of the runners. I have talked to many guys about how they hate wearing baggy shorts on leg days and doing squats. The runners aid their work out and they feel great wearing it.

Some of these have built-in support and that allows you to wear these without underwear. However, you can wear undies under them. A lot of guys are wearing thongs to not show underwear lines while others are wearing jocks for a little extra support. It all depends on what the guy feels most comfortable in and wearing.

If you wear these, I say keep on rocking them. As I begin my working out I do plan on wearing runners as well! They may be considered “sexy and not gym appropriate” but we say otherwise.

We all love underwear but we have our pet peeves that drive us crazy about underwear. From tags to ill-fitting pouches. Here are you guys top factors that drive you crazy. They have been pretty much standard but at times things annoy you guys more than other times. I took a day break in the schedule for a much needed vacation.

We asked you 17 items in the previous reader surveys that annoyed you guys. Before this survey, it was a write-in question. After 3 years of data, we narrowed it down to these items. However, if guys could always write something in.

1. Sizing Issues – this was no surprise. Sizing is one of the biggest issues we have had at UNB. The problems arise from sizing that runs small to brands with inconsistent sizing. It sucks when you get the perfect underwear, put it on, only to discover it’s’ too small/big.
2. Labels/Tags – This one rotates in and out of the top spot. I have several pairs that I avoid wearing simply for the tag. One pair, in particular, I can’t take the tag off!. If it’s a great pair you can wear them inside out. But if it’s printed it may not look the same. More brands are starting to use the tagless tech in their undies.
3. Pouch too small – Our endowed series has always been a big draw for guys. The pouch not being supportive and too small always ruins an experience. It’s not just for the bigger guys. There are brands that do run small in the pouch department.
4. Pricing – Underwear is expensive! Especially great underwear.
5. Store selection – This is for more in store rather than online. Or that’s my assumption. Department stores rarely carry a lot of the pairs we cover. They have several big brands but rarely branch out. Not to mention that they aren’t carrying many thongs.

These are the most annoying things about undies to you guys! Check out the rest of the list above.

Underwear is made for all. That is the philosophy here on UNB. Speaking as the big guy side, 6’4″ and over 275, I think I could be considered a big guy. Yes, I’m working on getting more healthy but I’m never going to have abs. It’s not a goal I have or for that fact ever had. I do want to get to around 225 or under and stay there.

I often hear on social media when we post a bigger guy in underwear, “OMG you shouldn’t be wearing that.” I have even gotten similar messages on “dating apps.” It’s like we shame bigger guys for wanting to be sexy. I personally thing beefy guys look amazing in singlets and swim briefs. I still wear them but it depends on where I am. I shouldn’t let it get to me and just rock them where ever I want, but society frowns on bigger guys.

My underwear I still rock my bikinis, string bikinis, briefs and more. I wear whatever I want too. I don’t listen to guys who post on dating apps about my underwear of choice. Also, I’m not really on those apps anymore. I want more out of a date than a fun time. I want to make a connection.

Here is a list of things bigger guys should not even think twice about wearing:

• Bikini Briefs
• String bikinis
• Thongs
• jocks
• spandex
• singlets
• swim briefs
• swim thongs

Next just because a guy is bigger waist doesn’t mean he’s out of shape. Look at @sixfootfiveguy on Twitter. He’s a tall beefy guy but not out of shape. He posted on twitter (I think) that he wanted something in XXL. I responded that its unlikely the brand only goes to Large.

The next thing we need to tackle is having pairs in our size. Many brands go only up to a 36 inch waist. Anything higher and you’re out of luck. Luckily there are a few good brands making larger sizes.