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UNBBrandon

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David-Beckham-Bodywear-Campaign-Soring-2014-Tom_lorenzo-Site-1My goal here at UNB is to try to awaken the notion that straight men should care about their underwear as much as every undie-fanatic out there. I do so because it’s important to me that all men see the options they have, while simultaneously educating them about how underwear is now, more than ever, being crafted specifically for men of all different shapes and sizes.

The biggest reason I’ve chosen to write for an underwear blog isn’t the fact that I love everything about men’s designer undies, it’s because I am a straight man who happens to love everything about men’s designer underwear. Sure, just because I am straight and I love underwear doesn’t make me unique, but given the overtly (at best) and in-your-face (at worst) homo-centrism that seems to have attached itself to the entire industry, my position as a straight guy navigating the insides of an industry dominated by homosexuality does give me a unique perspective.

Ultimately, the system likely won’t be changed, so it is my job to help my fellow straight brethren look past all of the aspects that make the industry so much more palatable to gay men. But in order to do that I decided to list some of the biggest reasons the industry favors one sexuality over the other, so without further ado, here are my Top 3 reasons it’s so much easier for gay men to be into the world’s best underwear.

1. That whole sexuality thing… If we’re going to start anywhere, it might as well be what I see as the genesis of all of the remaining issues on this list. Let’s face it, gay men and boys are attracted to (gasp) other men, so naturally an advertisement of picture of a fitness model in a pair of briefs or even boxer briefs registers perfectly with them. A straight man is attracted to women in their underwear. I don’t know too many men who get excited or want to see more of a Victoria’s Secret model wearing a pair of briefs with a contour pouch. Thus, the difference in sexuality makes it much easier for a man to be more inquisitive about a pair of underwear he sees on an attractive other man.  And perhaps most important in creating this underwear-gap between the two “sexualities” is when the younger a boy recognizes he’s gay, the earlier the love of–or at least the recognition of men’s underwear may end up playing in his life.

2. Sexual objectification doesn’t go both ways… Men aren’t seen as sex symbols in the U.S. due to a lot of institutional factors, and because of this there is simply no desire in Straight America to see a men’s version of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. Worse yet, most women feel peer pressure to outwardly be disgusted by anything to do with a penis unless a penis or something to do with one (like…underwear) is being made fun of.

The fact is, men are the sex who “objectifies” in this country regardless of their orientation, straight men objectify women, and gay men objectify men. Once you think about it this way, not only is it easy to see why gay men have it so much easier to get exposed to the best underwear, it also becomes crystal clear why it is nearly impossible to market men’s underwear to straight men.

3. Underwear ads are only getting gayer… One of the biggest issues keeping straight men away from underwear while at the same time bringing more gay men to it, is the increasingly homo-erotic nature of men’s underwear advertisements. Now I plan to write a follow up piece on this topic because it’s rather large, but let me stick to the basics.

It’s a hell of a lot easier for a gay man to see a male model with tanned abs, sitting spread-eagle shooting the looker a bedroom gaze wearing a designer’s latest and think, “I have to have those” than it would ever be to even the most “metro-sexual” of straight men. Worse yet, overtly homo-erotic advertisements actually serve to further one of the biggest misconceptions about men’s underwear itself, which is that the underwear you choose to wear somehow dictates your sexuality to everyone else. While gay guys may love a bunch of simulated sex and naked video modeling on AndrewChristian.com, it’s only going to drive a straight guy away from amazing well-designed underwear.

There are several additional reasons why the world of outstanding undies is more suited to gay men rather than straight guys, but these are my top three. Fellow straight guys, what did I leave out? Gay guys, do you think I have a point?

Let me know on Twitter (@UNBBrandon) emailing me at brandon@underwearnewsbriefs.com, or sending me a message on Tumblr (thefirstthingon.tumblr.com)!

 

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I live in the brutally hot Midwest, so in my quest to get back into the underwear game I immediately started searching out thong options from my favorite designers. I ventured to Andrew Christian and found one of the most interesting looking thongs I have ever seen. There were cutouts in the front and a cutout in the back. While everything was held together by half of a jockstrap style waistband in the back. Of course, I am talking about the Almost Naked Infinity Thong from Andrew Christian. I was hooked on the look, but unfortunately AC’s website had already sold out of my XL size. I was down on my luck until I remembered AC stocks an online store through Amazon! I checked there and boom! Plenty of XLs still available so I picked it and another couple pairs up.

Obviously, the look of this thong’s design is eye-catching and that, and maybe the hot pink color drew me in at first. I was really concerned from its design alone that it may not really work for me. I was apprehensive about the aggressive and almost feminine “cutouts” in the front of the thong and I was unsure how comfortable the rear string or strap would be given its look. I couldn’t judge this book by its color so I was thrilled when it arrived and tried it on first. After a little maneuvering it looked about how it did in the picture, and I was pleasantly surprised at how it fit.

The front is sturdy because the straps that form the cutout are made of a sturdy elastic covered in Andrew Christians soft rayon fabric. The quality of construction provides a tighter than usual fit. The cutouts are purely for visual appeal, because the overall construction of the front provides you with the same fit as just about any one of the brand’s brief. Which is consistent with their previous Almost Naked line thongs. The back of the thong is less thong and more “Brazilian bikini” with the fabric that rests on and between your cheeks mimicking the lower portion of a bikini. The only difference and one that gives this more of a thong look generally is the huge cutout in the back. The cutout along with the waistband I mentioned earlier makes the rear also require some “adjustments” before you get it in the most comfortable of places.

Once you get it adjusted, you shouldn’t have too many issues from there–at least I didn’t. The cutouts that make this thong what it is also really assist in keeping you cool, which is invaluable in the hot summers here. The fit does take some getting used to. Which is a result of the design more than anything else, but these are a real eye-catcher, so try not to spend too much time standing in front of a mirror in them. The pouch is ample and soft and the rayon hugs you in comfort.

As far as where, or how you can wear this–I am confident that this is a thong that can be worn for just about any occasion, save maybe a rigorous workout. Unfortunately it was so popular that it sold out quickly on AndrewChristian.com, but I think if you act quickly you can still find most sizes on Amazon.com.

If you’re looking for something sexy to spice things up in the bedroom, surprise your current love interest, or even give yourself a boost of sexual confidence before heading to work, you should check this thong out.

Pros:

  • Good Looking/Sexy
  • Adventurous
  • Fun design

Cons:

  • Not the easiest to keep in place.
  • May not fit everyone’s definition of everyday wear.

Ratings:

  • Daily Fit: 8
  • Sizing: 9
  • Construction/Materials: 10
  • Styling: 10
  • Daily Performance: 7
  • Overall: 9

You man can find this pair at the Andrew Christian site, if not check out a few of the other styles. Note post contains and affiliate sales link

1399731545-55286300After being away from the world of men’s underwear for so long and wanting to get back into it in the worst way, I knew I needed to score some of the most up-to-date pairs. Andrew Christian has always been one of my favorites, if not my favorite brand, mainly because I am a bigger guy. Once I discovered their “Anatomically Correct” pouch designs I was instantly hooked (and all other well-endowed guys need to try AC). So it was a no brainer then, to log onto AndrewChristian.com to see what was new.

Flashing in front of me was the “Twerk” Brief, complete with glossy pictures of chiseled male models standing in both the red and black colors. A video so blatantly homo-erotic that I didn’t even think before clicking past it and seeing what sizes were available. Let me start with the name of these, the “Twerk” brief–clearly a play on the famous ass-shaking dance move made famous by YouTube and that Miley Cyrus made infamous overnight–I am not a fan. Twerking was cool back when it didn’t have a name and it could be seen in every Nelly music video ever made–but alas it actually works (sort of) for this pair of briefs.

Why you ask? Well since Twerking typically involves big butts, this brief is built for guys with bubble or power butts. This “accommodation” for those of us with bigger booties is accomplished by a more severe “drop” in the seat of these briefs along with somewhat of a barely noticeable pleating of material at the apex of the leg opening, which stretches accommodatingly once they get pulled on over a bubble butt.

The result is quite frankly one of the most comfortable pairs of underwear I have ever owned, and that’s saying something considering my collection is pushing 200 pairs. The brief utilizes 93% rayon which is a fabric made from bamboo fibers and its just about the softest fabric you can put in underwear. The “Anatomically Correct” pouch lets your goods hang the way they were meant to, and the room in the pouch of these particular briefs is pushing “Trophy Boy” territory and for guys like me, that’s just one more reason I love these briefs. The sizing of these is also very generous which is fairly typical of all of the rayon briefs Andrew Christian offers. I wear a 36 in jeans which means I am technically about a 40″ waist, but the XL (34-36) fits me fine. If your pant size is the lower number in Andrew Christian’s range, you are going to want to size down in this particular brief.

As far as looks go, Andrew Christian the designer knows what he is doing when it comes to Limited Edition underwear. The color scheme of a uniformed light blue background underneath red lettering on a white waistband offers a modern take on retro. I love the color combination of the shade of blue and bright red in the piping the frame the pouch. XLs were sold out in both colors just a day after the brief was released, but using the sneaky tip you’ll only get from me. I found them on Amazon in XL in Red, though upon further research there are some AC online distributors that still have full-size runs on both colors of this LE Twerk Brief.

I’ve worn the brief two or three times since I bought them-a full day’s wear each time, and I honestly could be happy with an underwear drawer full of them. I suppose the only downside to this brief is that they are truly meant for guys with bigger behinds. So if you’ve got a flat butt and still want these, you may have to size down once, if not twice to get your desired fit. But be careful doing this as you may sacrifice comfort up front for not having extra material in the seat. If you ARE athletically built, or just have good big-butt genetics, don’t wait to pick these up, you will be glad you did.

Pros:

  • Incredibly comfortable, especially for guys with bubble butts like mine
  • The pouch is ample despite it being a brief focused on rear-end accommodation
  • Looks great

Cons:

  • If you don’t have a bubble butt, you may just have to pass on these.

Ratings:

  • Daily Fit: 10
  • Sizing : 8
  • Construction/Materials: 10
  • Styling: 10
  • Daily Performance: 10
  • Overall: 9.5

Find these and more at the Andrew Christian Site.

 

 

141772I guess I had better preface this review by saying it’s been a while since I’ve been able to write about mens underwear for UNB. It’s been even longer since I have had any new underwear to review, and in many ways I am starting fresh. There has been a lot going on in my life that has kept me away from the underwear industry and worse, writing about underwear. But after a long time on the sidelines and a bit more stability in my life, I am finally ready to get back into the swing of things here on UNB.

I figured the easiest way to blog about underwear is to actually give myself a specific pair to write about, so I hit up the Memorial Day Sale that just wrapped up at Freshpair.com and came away with a pair of underwear I’ve had my eye on for months. I am talking about the Doreanse “Warrior Thong,” which is still available at Freshpair.com and a few other online retailers. A few things attracted me to this thong from the get-go. First, I had heard good things about the brand, specifically that their thongs are worth a try, but secondly and far more prominently I was really drawn in by the look. The cut was masculine without looking too much like some thongs that can be easily mistaken for a jockstrap.

While I wouldn’t call myself thong-obsessed (I prefer briefs 8 times out of 10 for daily wear), I do like the support thongs offer (when they fit right) and if I can find those thongs and g-strings that add just the right amount of flair without being too flashy I will usually pull the credit card out for them. I work a desk job that happens to require me to move around quite a bit, so this thong got a very full day’s worth of work in. I probably got up from my desk 15-20 times today, including a trip to the car wash and Chipotle (yum) for lunch, the only thing I did not do today was work out as I am getting over a brief cold. Needless to say, this thong went through a tough day’s worth of activity and performed flawlessly. I never once had to go to the bathroom to “re-adjust” or never once felt any discomfort with this thong. Most thong-guys would tell you that the best thongs are the ones you can wear all day and forget that you’re wearing underwear at all, and the Warrior Thong fits firmly in that category.

Once you pull this thong on, the first thing you’ll notice is the quality, but that wasn’t the case when I was pulling it out of the packaging. Attached to the pouch and the back “string/thong” material is about an inch worth of ribbed cotton (think “wife beater” tank top) which aside from the stitching that holds it to the waistband has little structure. I was worried that this would roll up and get uncomfortable, but if you get the right size, and get this thong on the correct way, it won’t move. Somewhat ironically, I figured out that these strips of ribbed cotton I was worried about may actually be what may have kept me from passing on this thong altogether. Why? Well if you were to take it away, you would be left with just another run-of-the-mill thong that looks like a jock (think CK Body Thong), which is a style I tend to stay away from.

Aside from the masculine, “Warrior” look this thong gives its wearer, there cannot be enough said about the thong’s most redeeming quality. Its comfort. Holy smokes this thing is comfortable! I attribute the comfort to two things: 1.) The bulk of the thong is made of a 45/45 modal/cotton blend, which for my 200-some pair collection is the most comfortable fabric blend out there. 2.) Getting the right size, which is crucial to every thong’s success on a guy. I am in the process of losing weight, but even when I am at my best, attainable weight I am still in a size 36 pant (I’m currently 6’4″ 240 with an athletic build). I bought this thong in XL which fits a 37-38″ waist, according to the Doreanse size chart. Some of the online reviews on Freshpair.com said this runs small, which is why I decided to go to the size bigger than my pant size. I was initially nervous that it would be too big, because athletically cut thongs tend to run big, but the XL fits wonderfully on me and since I am somewhat well endowed, even if the L fit my waist, the pouch would be too cramped. So when you go get this thong, make sure you order one size up from your pant size and you’ll still get the support you require.

I say  when because there is no reason for you not to buy this thong. I am so confident that you will love this thong that I would say that it’s the perfect thong for the guy who’s been kicking around the idea of buying his first one. Or, if you’re more of an Aficianado of the style like me, you can’t go wrong with this pair and the diversity the Warrior Thong’s style will bring your thong collection. I say when because even when it isn’t on sale it’s only $15 at Freshpair.com and right now it is on sale for $11.25!!! though, it is backordered. All that means is that you’ll have to wait an extra week or two to get it delivered, and that this review is spot-on!

Like the underwear industry and UNB, I could not stay away from this thong – and boy am I glad I finally got it and I am even more happy that I could share this review of it as my first post back here at UNB.

Pros:

  • Out-of-this-world comfort, coming from the modal/cotton blend
  • Masculine, but fashion conscious look
  • You could wear this thong 24/7

Cons:

  • Only 3 color combinations available, just two on freshpair.com
  • That I can’t say enough good things about this thong…

Ratings

  • Daily Fit – 10
  • Sizing – 7 (but I provided a good rule of thumb)
  • Construction/Materials – 10
  • Styling – 9
  • Daily Performance – 10
  • Overall – 9

Picture from Freshpair.com

unb-mainWe all make New Years Resolutions, and one of the most common resolutions is to lose weight, or “live healthier.” For me, it has unfortunately become an annual thing. From January to May or early June I really work hard on losing weight and eating right, and as summer gets going I find it easier to eat lighter and be active. But once football season rolls around, the sun doesn’t rise as early and I always fall into the same trap. I succumb to the temptations of bar food and snacks and I stop working out as my clothing gets heavier and masks my physique. After Christmas, the number on the scale is back to where I never wanted it be again when I began the process in January.

I know I am not alone in such a struggle, but if you’re like me when it comes to underwear, I buy the most underwear when I am feeling the best about my body. For me, that happens to be in the summer, when I almost always need to go down a pant size (but won’t because I know I’ll just give into temptation in the Fall), I am tan and look more like a professional athlete than the desk-jockey I am. But if you are like me and give into temptation and start eating poorly as Winter approaches, those sexy briefs that made you look like Apollo in July start to make you feel like Chris Farley in the Chippendale’s sketch.

I don’t think I’d be going out on a limb to say that for a lot of us underwear aficionados, nothing can make you start feeling poorly about yourself than when a pair of underwear you love goes from sexy to unflattering in the matter of just a couple of months. The best remedy to avoid this feeling is obvious–continue to eat and workout like you’re always preparing for Summer. But it’s January, and we are all diligently watching our calories, and working out when we can (right?!). Our bodies, softened from the last two months of seemingly constant temptation, don’t look the greatest in some of our favorite pairs. So what can we do that offers a temporary fix to this temporary (right?!) problem?

The underwear savants here at UNB have long advised our readers to diversify their underwear drawers, so if you struggle to maintain that summer body as you go into the late Fall and Winter months, you need to think about getting some pairs you know you’ll always look your best in, no matter how trim you are. Follow these three tricks to keep yourself looking great and feeling good on your way to that body you’ll have in a few months.

Trick #1: Bigger Can Be Better 

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If your like me and your love handles tend to re-appear as you near Christmas,  it may be a good idea to stow away a few pairs in your favorite brands and styles that happen to be a size larger than your normal underwear. XL and L are sizes that are almost always available when the big underwear brands go on sale or clearance on sites like Freshpair.com or MensUnderwearStore.com, so this trick isn’t going to hurt your wallet. And if you’re a Small normally, while you may not find clearance-priced Mediums, those websites always have substantial sales going on. Finally, pay attention to how your favorite brands run for sizing. Big, American labels like 2(X)ist and Calvin Klein run fairly big, which affords you to stay in your favorite styles while only changing size.

Trick #2: Know that There is no “Cut” Above the Rest…

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Cut and Fit. These are the two factors that can turn a good looking pair of underwear into a not-so-good looking pair of underwear once you’ve got them on. If you’re like me and prefer more athletically cut, bikini or hip briefs but have been known to put on some weight towards the end of the year, they can get tight in certain areas and loose in others. This is the “cut” affecting the “fit” and this is where the importance of diversity in your underwear drawer really comes in. So if you’ve put on a few extra pounds but maybe Trick #1 is not necessary, a great way to feel better about your appearance in your skivvies is to stock several “cuts” of underwear.

Trick #3: Dial Down the Skimpiness 

Not feeling great in these?                      Try these instead.

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No matter what your preference when it comes to your go-to underwear cuts and styles, when you’re carrying some “Winter Weight” you’re going to look (and feel) your best when every thing is covered or contained comfortably and stylishly. No guy carries their extra pounds in the same place as the next guy, but a trick I use in these winter months I call the, “Next-Less-Skimpy Rule.” It’s sort of the cumulative result of the first two tricks but shouldn’t necessitate you going out and buying more underwear.

Here’s how I apply the Next-Less-Skimpy Rule: If I get a pair on and its not fitting how I like it to fit, or it is entirely unflattering when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I drop them to the floor, fold them and pick a pair that provides the next-less-skimpy look and feel. Recently, I couldn’t get my butt all the way into a pair of skimpier Body Aware briefs. I folded them back up and put on a pair of CK hip briefs. I looked and felt a heck of a lot better in an instant.

 

brandon-cin2When you have as much underwear as I do, it is difficult to come up with the one pair that you’d place above all the others, but I think the underwear a man wears can really offer a window into who he is as a person. Of course, I have several favorites when it comes to underwear, but there is one that stands out to me every time I get them on.

My first pair of briefs were the long-since discontinued Neon Sport Brief from 2xist. Not too long after that collection sold out, 2xist started to venture away from their sport brief style altogether. But as they were phasing it out, C-IN2 added a sport brief to all of their new lines, and it looked strikingly similar to 2xist’s design (probably not a surprise as C-IN2 was founded by former 2xist founder Gregory Sovell) but it was a much better pair overall.

The reason I’m still falling in love with the C-IN2 Sport Brief is that it seems as if it were designed with my body type in mind. Being well-endowed, the most important thing to me about a pair of underwear is how well the pouch can contain my boys while offering them a good level of support. The pouch on the C-IN2 Sport Brief is deeply contoured as a result of the briefs design, which mimics the extremely high-cut leg openings of a jockstrap. Like most well-endowed guys, I’ve mostly defaulted to underwear brands that utilize an “Anatomical Pouch” but the reason I chose this pair over any of the dozens of pairs with an anatomical pouch is the quality in construction of these briefs. The cotton is incredibly soft, and it’s also thick, but breathable. The elastic used to frame the brief is incredibly sturdy, which provides support that no pair of anatomical briefs could dream of doing, but it also frames an athletic bubble butt like mine perfectly.

C-IN2 is a member of what I call the “Big Three” in designer underwear. They are here to stay and thankfully, so is their Sport Brief.

 

sizing

In our second brief talk Brandon and myself decided to tackle the sizing issues in men’s underwear. We all have been there when we bought a brand and its quite what the sizing guide said it was! Enjoy the talk

Tim: Sizing is probably the main issue in buying underwear today. We have always received comments from readers about how in consistent sizing is in men’s underwear. What has been your experience in buying underwear and finding the right size?

Brandon: Brandon: When it comes to buying designer underwear, the decked is stacked against you in terms of picking the right size for you, because most designer underwear shopping is done online, and thus you can’t try it on. My experiences in this regard have proven that there is a profound difference between American sizing, European or British sizing and the sizing coming from the Latin/Central/South American brands. American brands stick to waist size, but what that actually means is they stick close to American pant sizing. I’ve found that the bigger name an American brand is, their size chart is typically forgiving, and you should order whatever size that contains your jeans waist number, unless you like roomier fitting underwear, I guess. I have a 36″ waist according to American sizing so I am usually in the L or XL size. Once you hit 36 on any non-American brand though, you tend to have to buy the XL and pray it fits ok. For the most part I can fit into any foreign brand’s (that isn’t a household name like Armani) XL offerings. It can be frustrating, but the only way to figure it out is to “buy and try.”

I know we are working on revamping our sizing guide here in the next couple of weeks, and really UNB is the only site out there that remotely covers a majority of the brands. With that I hope we can provide the details men will need when thinking about buying X size from Y brand.

Brandon: I know you and I are bigger guys, and obviously that provides other challenges for us when it comes to sizing in men’s underwear. Knowing that there are plenty of brands that run really small (in comparison to American brands) do you think that might be a product of who they are made for, or is there an underlying filter there, like maybe certain brands want to prohibit men they perceive as out of shape from wearing their stuff?

Tim: This is a great question. Before I started the blog and I would often wonder this exact question. But after getting to know a lot of the brands around the world I have come to learn the different sizing around the world. Here are some great rules to follow when buying underwear from outside the US and note that these are generalizations and always check the size guides for each brand.

  • Asia – Typically run smallest, XL could be as small as 34 inch waist
  • South American – Typically runs smaller, XL could be as small as 36 waist
  • European – Usually runs smaller but XL could range from 36-38
  • Australian – Probably closely matches the US Market.  XL could be a 38 or larger

I focused on XL because i wanted to show how different the top end of the size range could be in each country can be. In the US for most brands it is listed anywhere from 38-42 inches. This just illustrates how sizes vary wildly over the world. But I can’t stress enough to read the size chart for every brand you buy. Granted they aren’t always accurate. We will be working on the UNB Size guide to redo it an add in more brands to help pick better underwear.

The second part of your question is are brands making underwear that maybe doing the “Abercrombie’ing” of underwear. I don’t think that many brands purposefully do this tactic. The sizing for most of the areas listed above are set to the size of guys in their population. As we have seen the backlash with Abercrombie I think the same would happen in the world of underwear. I can think of only a handful of brands that don’t offer XL underwear. This would shut out more athletic guys and beefy guys. More companies know that guys of all sizes want great undies.

Tim: Would you buy underwear from a company that would use the Abercrombe’ing of underwear? Even if you could fit in them and size wasn’t an issue? 

Brandon: I would never buy underwear from a company that wasn’t committed to making their products for everyone to wear. I struggle with body image (perhaps more since I got into men’s underwear) so when a particular brand’s XL doesn’t fit me, I know I get down on myself. Like you said, I don’t think we probably have to worry about any underwear brands doing this simply because they couldn’t afford to lose consistent customers with an industry that is completely saturated with new brands, and new designs from the old brands.

Brandon: We both agree that a brand trying to purposefully prohibit certain sized men from wearing their underwear is a bad idea, but isn’t their something to be said about brand superiority? I mean I know I feel “under-dressed” when I put on a pair of well-worn Calvin trunks to do yard work, or when I clean the house. I will even bypass certain pairs of underwear that have made it to the top of their piles in my drawer for a pair from a brand I view as far more superior. Do you have brands that you place “above” others even though we’re talking about high quality designer brands in general? 

Tim: Yeah I do the same thing. I have probably 400 pairs. I regularly pass over pairs at the top of the drawer when I see a pair that I love below it. Granted most of the pairs in the drawer cost over $20 a pair. We share the same love of pouch briefs and underwear with extra room up front. One of my favorite brands is Cocksox. Anytime I see a pair of Cocksox I regularly grab it rather then what’s on top. There are several other brands that I just grab. But usually these pairs never make it in the drawer. I keep them in a clothes basket and routinely wear the same pairs. Granted I have gained many pairs of underwear from doing UNB the last five years. There have been very few I don’t like. Most will garner a place in the underwear drawer and be worn again.

Tim: What to you puts a brand above others in your underwear drawer? What are the few factors that make you love a pair of underwear? 

Brandon: Well, I think it all boils down to whatever your favorites are, and to a lesser extent on how you sort your undies. I sort by brand, so I never really have brand conflict in terms of the “stacks” that I see. So usually it’s a specific pair that I might “reach” for when it isn’t no top, rather than the brand. I love the “Anatomically Correct” pouch from Andrew Christian and AC is easily my favorite brand, so when the undies at or near the tops of the other stacks aren’t too appealing on any given morning, I default to one of my two main AC stacks. When it comes to the factors that makes me love a specific pair over some of the others, I think I have to go with a combination of three elements. The comfort, the look, and then maybe the sentimental value. I will always default to a “trusty” pair of briefs when a brief I might not be feeling on any given day pops up to the top of its pile.

Brandon: Speaking of trusty pairs of underwear, in a collection of 400 pairs, I am sure you have plenty of those. How do you cycle through your underwear in an attempt to even out the wear cycles of all those pairs?

Tim: Funny you should ask, I’m about to go through all my undies. As you know this past year I have lost weight. I went from a 42-inch waist and now down to a 36 waist. So the cycling is a bit more difficult then with having all the same sizes. A lot of my favorites are way too big on me now. Which makes me upset that I can’t wear them. And it’s one of those things where you don’t want to get rid of your favorites. I have pairs from about 8 years ago, like my first pair of unico that I refuse to get rid of. They are basically worn out but what do you do with old underwear. One of the best suggestions I have ever heard was make a quilt out of them. it would be an awesome way to keep the undies. But I don’t sew! So I am in the process of organizing my drawers. A lot of the most recent pairs I have reviewed on UNB are in the main underwear drawer. They fit and feel great. I am also having to as you said in one of your articles “rediscover” underwear that now fits again. It’s like finding hidden treasure to me. i have a big bag of size large underwear I get to go back through. Then there times when i open one of my other four drawers of underwear and find pairs I haven’t worn in a while. I really need to organize them better. That is the biggest challenge to me and finding underwear. Right now the way I organize underwear is the top drawer is my favorites, the second drawer are ones I like but either the color is not my fav, the fit is just ok, or they are the second tier undies. The Third and fourth are pairs that are just ok. I have to figure out what to do with underwear that isn’t my favorite. I just feel wrong about throwing them away. Another think I like to do to cycle through undies is have a theme week. For instance I’ll do a jock week, a Green week, or something a long that lines. Just to mix things up. It would be interesting to hear what our readers to do rotate underwear.

We will have more of this chat soon. We also will have one from two other guys on the site about performing and underwear. If you have any questions feel free to reach both of us on twitter at @unbtim and @unbbrandon. Also you can always email us at info@underwearnewsbriefs.com

 

 

UNBBrandonSAILBrief

I was really excited to have the opportunity to review the 2xist SAIL  Sculpted Brief. It’s a pair I’ve had my eye on for some time (thanks, Tim!). The SAIL collection was introduced as part of 2xist’s Spring 2013 line and features what has become standard fare for the label: a brief, a trunk, and a tank top. The pair I am reviewing (that’s me in the photo above) is the “Lake Blue” color option from the line, which features several other colors combinations. The first two things I noticed when I got it out of the box was 1.) how soft the cotton was and 2.) that the cut of this brief is much more traditional than most of the images of them suggested.

After putting them on initially, I knew I’d be giving them a great review. The sizing and fit is exactly what you would expect from 2xist. My 36″ waist fit comfortably into the L (36-38) and as always I suggest that if you are in between sizes on the size chart (31, 35, 39) that you drop down a size. Once you get them on you really appreciate how soft this cotton is. 2xist calls it their “Soft-Fle(X)” cotton which is 95% cotton and 5% spandex. While this brief comes from a featured line, it really could be marketed as everyday underwear given how comfortable it is.

The key feature to this brief is the way it has been constructed. The brief features a large, logo waistband which is incredibly soft both on the inside and outside, while I am not a huge fan of humongous logos on my waistband I don’t take much of an issue with the “2(X)IST” that is plastered on the front of the waistband on these briefs. The prominent feature on these briefs in terms of how it fits, is put together and the overall styling has to be the much larger-than-average leg bindings which are tapered to visually enhance your man-parts. The leg bindings are the same soft cotton covering spandex that lay flat on your legs for a really comfortable fit. I am not sure how much they enhance the contour pouch in reality, especially if you’ve got bigger/muscular thigh muscles.

In terms of how they look, I was expecting them to look a bit different than they do once I got them on. The taper in the leg bindings seem to create the look that these are more of a “bikini” or modern cut brief, but in actuality they are very much a traditional cut brief, with quite a bit of fabric between the waistband and the highest point of the leg openings. While I prefer a more modern cut in briefs, the functionality of the tapered leg bindings certainly make them feel like a modern brief especially when sitting down.

Overall, the fit of the 2xist Sail brief is fantastic. They can be worn for just about any occasion, but I would say that the cotton is fairly thin so I won’t be using these briefs for any strenuous activities or workouts. I really like the look and while the contour pouch could be slightly larger for me, for most men there will be ample room.

These 2xist SAIL sculpted briefs retail for $24 but with several 25% off sales for major brands, you can typically find them for a much more reasonable $18.

If you have any questions about the SAIL Sculpted Brief, or general questions for me,  you can get a hold of me on Twitter, @UNBBrandon 

 

prld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros:

  • Soft, comfortable fit
  • Great styling
  • Innovative construction

Cons:

  • I really can’t find any 

Ratings:

  • Daily Fit – A
  • Sizing – A
  • Construction/Materials – A
  • Styling – A
  • Daily Performance – A
  • Overall – A

 

1ppu1310

The most recent pair I received for review was the PPÜ 1310 Brief, which is described as their “Men’s Low Rise Classic Brief with Contrasting Waistband and Trim.” It comes in three color options to the masses, but the review pair I received were the royal blue briefs with white trim. Upon hearing which brief I would be reviewing and getting them in my hands for the first time I was excited about trying them. I have recently dropped a bunch of weight and really have been fitting well into all of my smaller undies so I didn’t think I’d have any issues. My first impressions were that this is a traditional brief in terms of cut and design but the fact that it is 82.5% Nylon and 17.5% spandex gives it a modern look and feel.

I’ve only gotten one other pair of PPÜ undies before, from a fan who sent me their crazy jockstrap/brief which they call a “Modern Brief” and it fit fairly well, so I was a bit disappointed when I slipped these on. It wasn’t that the waist on these XLs (34-36) was too tight, but I think the problem stemmed from the brief’s construction. The rather large amount of spandex in this brief really provides an overall constrictive fit, and with my body shape, that’s not always the best marriage. I am athletically built and have always had quite the butt on me, and with all underwear, the roundness of my backside puts all of my underwear to the test, and these briefs couldn’t really handle my bubble butt like I was hoping they would. The stretch my butt was producing naturally pulled the already small pouch closer to my body, so I felt really cramped up front and since I am fairly well-endowed had to situate myself just right to get a comfortable fit. I only wore them a couple hours before I gave up, but I blame that entirely on the brief and me just not matching up.

Overall the construction is very well done, the brief is mostly nylon which in this brief is fairly breathable making them a good choice for summer wear. All of the contrasting trim-the waistband, the pouch frame and the leg openings feature really strong spandex, which provides a close fit. I think on an average to skinny sized male, these briefs would be an excellent choice to wear this summer. As I said, the pair I reviewed was royal blue with white piping, but the two other color options are summer ready. The first is coral with grey trim, and the other option is a mint blue with royal blue trim, I think both look really good.

These briefs certainly run small in comparison with other offerings from PPÜ and some other brands that are known to run small, so make sure you size up. I wish they had given me a better fit, but as I said if you are a smaller guy, or even someone with a medium build and maybe not packing too much up front, these would be an ideal summer brief. You can find these briefs at a variety of online retailers and they retail for $21.

If you have any questions about the PPÜ Brief #1310 you can get a hold me by sending me a message on Twitter, @UNBBrandon 

Pros:

  • Breathable for summer wear
  • Stylish
  • Supportive Fit

Cons:

  • Run small
  • Small Pouch

Ratings:

  • Daily Fit – B
  • Sizing – C
  • Construction/Materials – A
  • Styling – A
  • Daily Performance – B*
  • Overall – B

*with the right fit, these would hold up over the day fairly well

PPU Furnished this pair for review.

 

 

 

loveundies

In Part One of a two-part series, I’ll be going through some of the factors that makes an underwear lover manage their obsession, how to appreciate the underwear collection you may have amassed over time, and what prompts such action. In Part Two, “In With The New” I will examine some of the factors in the underwear world that contribute in feeding the insatiable desires of a men’s underwear addict and provide some guidelines and tips that have been helpful to me, in managing your obsession with the reality of your finances. 

-Part One- “Love What You Have” 

For the average male, it is probably close to inconceivable to think about owning over 160 pairs of underwear, and for straight men in particular owning that much underwear at one time just seems crazy. But for an underwear addict regardless of orientation, (I happen to be straight) your mind never thinks about the number of pairs you own, because you are constantly thinking about the next purchase. Unless you have an “in” within the underwear industry, you are mostly left paying asking price for your newest, favorite pair. On the rare exception, that is, if you are lucky (and driven) enough like I am, you can score free pairs by writing about and reviewing underwear,  (we are always looking for new talent – so if you like free undies and you like to write – get in touch with us) but for the pairs that you just have to have, you’re left paying full price, or shopping around the internet for sales.

When I got into underwear about 3.5 years ago my collection stood at just three pairs. Today, by my count, my collection is at 160 pairs.  Obviously in those 3.5 years I became an addict, obesssionist, whatever you want to call us underwear loving nerds, and with that comes the honest reality of the money it cost me to get here. Just doing some basic math, the average price for each piece of underwear in my collection is roughly $16, so that honest reality I was talking about shows me that I’ve spent over $2500 in 3.5 years, hundreds of dollars a year.

Of course, if you have a collection that numbers over 20 pairs of designer undies, let alone a collection as big or bigger than mine,  I am preaching to the choir. Men’s designer underwear is expensive and it is expensive for a variety of reasons, which I won’t get into here, but might venture into in a completely separate post later on. I also don’t need to tell you that even as big as that $2500 figure looks on paper (as you read it) you never think about the overall total you’ve spent, you are just thinking about your money in terms of your next purchase.

But life can throw the proverbial curve ball, which can require a shift in priorities when it comes to how you spend your discretionary income, and it did for me this past winter.

My wife was pregnant with our son, and while I knew that his arrival would mean my routine, 2-3 underwear purchases per month would need to take a big hit, I figured I could get by with one, maybe two purchases a month. Then my wife lost her job at 8 months pregnant.  In the four months since our son was born I haven’t made a single underwear purchase. My collection has only been added to by the underwear I get to review for UNB. As tough is this has been for me as an underwear addict, the silver linings to all of it has been quite rewarding.

Since I am no longer having new underwear delivered to my door constantly, I have really been able to enjoy the breadth and depth of the collection I have amassed. If you’re an addict like I am, and constantly growing your collection week in and week out, what you end up doing is neglecting all the great underwear you’ve already got. For instance, before my son was born I had over a hundred pairs of underwear that had been worn less than three times, and a large portion,  less than twice.

No matter how big your underwear stash is, its really imperative that you aren’t wearing certain pairs out, and to do that means you need to “wear through” your collection-meaning, alternate through your collection over the course of as many days as you can. There are so many benefits to doing this too.

For one, in the last couple months of my wife’s pregnancy and especially in the first two or three weeks after he was born, I packed on the pounds. With such a massive underwear collection, some of the pairs from brands that run small-including many of my favorites just wouldn’t fit me any more. The result? I’ve been working out 5 days a week in the morning doing strength/circuit training. I’ve lost a bunch of weight and inches off my waist and I fit into just about everything I own. It’s really been the biggest benefit of loving what I have.

Another huge benefit to enjoying what I have has been the benefit some of my favorite pairs have received. When I gained weight I just wanted to wear all my stretchy Andrew Christian underwear, and cycling the rayon through the wash every week or so is not ideal. Without the threat of new AC briefs to replace them, I’ve forced myself to explore all the other underwear in my collection that performed the same task-and now that I’ve lost weight, the conscious decision to hop around from different labels, styles, and cuts. I could probably go on about my own experiences with why I love taking the break from the thrill of having new pairs to wear each week and instead loving what I have, but it is probably better to make it simple.

Whether you’re like me and you are somewhat forced into the “Loving What You Have” concept, or you simply realize that consistently adding new pairs just creates a ton of barely worn, brand new underwear that languishes in your drawers, there are so many benefits to taking a break from the grind of feeling like you need to buy every designer’s newest offerings. Here are some tips as to why you should do it and the benefits of loving what you have.

  • Tip #1 – Make sure you have a succinct method of organization in your drawer – it has been my experience the best way to get the most out of your collection is to organize by style then brand. Better organization leads to seeing your entire collection, and also will help you follow Tip #2.
  • Tip #2 – Keep your underwear on constant rotation, allowing for only a few exceptions – (for those pairs you know won’t work with the outfit you plan on wearing, or they have an awkward fit, but you feel bad throwing/giving away). If you’ve followed Tip #1 every time you go to put them back in your drawer but the clean pairs on the bottom or the back (depending on how you like to organize your undie drawer) that way the pairs from that brand, in that style will always be those you haven’t worn in a while.
  • Tip #3 – Put a bit more thought into your selections on a daily basis – Maybe you are plan on wearing a tight fitting pair of dress pants or jeans, go to the thong or jock pile and give them a chance. Maybe you’re planning on an active day, go for the breathable fabrics in a brief or a trunk that will give you all day comfort. And if all else fails, and you can’t decide which pair to wear (if you’ve made it to this point you’ve succeeded) “dress your mood,” or follow the underwear social media days, like #jockstrapwednesday or #thongthursday. By putting a bit of thought into it each day, you’re guaranteed to remain content.
  • Tip #4 – Don’t be afraid to change when you get home from work – A surefire method I’ve used to make sure I’m wearing just about everything in my collection is to put a fresh pair of undies on after getting home from work. No matter your work setting, by the time you get home, no matter how great your underwear is, it just isn’t in the same great shape it was when you slid them on in the morning. Giving a call to the bullpen is a great way to change your mood, and go in an opposite direction of the underwear you just wore out during the day.

For an underwear addict like me (and many of you) of course it must be said that nothing is better than getting those new pairs in the mail or on your doorstep to open and do that initial first try-on. For me, I know I will be back in the game once my family is back on more firm footing–it is killing me not to be able to test out all the new styles from my favorite brands. Yet, with that said there is something noble about wearing what I’ve got. It is all underwear that at one time or another I simply couldn’t live without, and the only way to feel that way about those pairs again is to get them on.

So whether you are like me, and somewhat forced into “Loving What You’ve Got” or you are looking at your credit card statements each month thinking what you could do if you had spent just half of what you spent on underwear, making the decision won’t be easy to swallow at first, but once you realize that your drawer(s) 🙂 are already filled with the underwear you love, loving what you have becomes so much easier.

And of course, don’t forget to remember my tips!

Zylas 4034

 

I haven’t ever worn a pair of Zylas underwear before, so when I got the 4034 Brief in the mail, I was excited to try them out. Once I had them in my hands I had a mixed first impression. The brief is mostly made of Nylon, an underwear fabric that I haven’t had much luck with. While I am not a huge fan of the 70s inspired conglomeration of greens and vertical stripes, these briefs do have some style to them.

Another first reaction before I had before I got them on was the size of the waist, it looked too small to match the sizing chart for what a Zylas XL brief should be (34-36). Once I got them on, my initial impression seemed accurate, as the waist was a little snug.  You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that when it comes to men’s briefs, if the waist is snug, it’s likely going to be snug in all the wrong places too, but this turned out to be only partially true. I decided to wear them for a full work day to really put the brief through its paces. While I was nervous about how the brief would hold up, with its blend of nylon and spandex, these briefs stood the test of a busy day.

I did have an issue with sizing, when I peeled them off in the evening, I did have quite the “imprint” on my 36″ waist but over the course of the day, I wasn’t experiencing any discomfort around my waist. As with many Latin/South American brands, these weren’t made with U.S. sizing. While there are several brands that can get away with this, the XL at 34-36 is going to be too small if you’re wearing a 36 pant size. Quite honestly, I’d say if you’re wearing a 34 jean, you’ll want to go with the XL.

As I mentioned above, I haven’t been a huge fan of some of the nylon pairs in my collection, but the way this brief uses nylon I was pleasantly surprised. The fabric had vertical perforations throughout, making the briefs very breathable, so that helped score this brief some points.  As far as the look of this brief, I am of two minds. Green is one of, if not my favorite color, but it can be overdone and the penchant Zylas has for vertical stripes overall, could be re-thought. While I appreciate the attempt, I am not a fan of the 1970s fashion trend of purposefully clashing several shades of the same color together, but I think this brief could have really been tied together well if the waistband and the elastic leg openings were the same shade of green as one of the stripes in the brief, instead it’s a lighter lime which clashes with the neon green stripes that feature prominently.

The style of the brief is described as an “almost bikini” and there has been a bit of a pickup of this type of style across several different labels. When you wear this style it certainly feels a little more comfortable and less boxy than a traditional cut brief and that is good. If I had to make one complaint overall though, it would be that this style does not lend itself to the ample pouch that my anatomy requires. That is not to say I felt too crammed in these briefs, but this brief certainly does not feature a contour pouch, which is something I need.

Pros: 

  • Breathable Nylon – a novel concept!
  • Fashion-forward cut

Cons: 

  • Lacks a contour pouch
  • Sizing for me didn’t work

Ratings: 

  • Fit – C
  • Sizing – C
  • Construction/Materials – A
  • Styling – B
  • Daily Wear – C
  • Overall – C+

Zylas furnished this pair for review

victoria-david-beckham-underwear

Tim: Brands I don’t think are are intentionally omitting straight guys. They are going where the sales are currently. As they see the dollar shift, which is happening right now, you will see advertising to all types of consumers. Let’s say we have you as the marketing manager of a big underwear brand. How would you bring awareness and sell underwear to a broader audience? What would be important?

Brandon: In order to reach a broader audience you really need to focus on changing the purchasing habits of consumers. 7 out of 10 pairs made for men are bought by women? I think an ad campaign that shames the (largely straight) population with that fact and presenting a look at what they’re missing would be ideal. Obviously the cost of doing so would far outweigh the new revenue from the underwear, so long as the market remains the same. For straight men, availability is key. Andrew Christian signed a deal with Nordstrom. I talked to a retail sales person at the huge Nordstrom on Michigan Ave in Chicago last summer who said the biggest repeat customers who came back in to snap up more AC stuff seemed to clearly be straight. There are plenty of men out there that would benefit from the technology offered in the underwear of many of the top brands, but consumers don’t typically go looking for something they don’t know exists. Maybe I am leading into another question here, but the way I see it, gay men provide a humongous consumer base for designer underwear brands, as do straight guys who “care”, so it’s not too difficult to think these brands like the exclusivity their products bring.

Tim: I think you are spot on with this observation. Right now the purchasing is by gay guys and women. But more and more guys are buying underwear. Which is an awesome thing. I think that blogs like ours and brands need to show guys what is out there in the world of underwear. It is a big area of market growth or any company who can reach that consumer. In an ideal world I’d love to go out on the street and give guys great pairs of underwear and have them try them. Because the truth is in the pudding as they say. Once you wear great undies you can’t imagine going back to anything else. One issue with having straight guys buying undies is the stigma that guys have that because you wear something out of the ordinary (brief, jock or thong) they get joked or branded that they are gay. This I think is one big barrier for guys who want to try undies from going out and getting them. An example of this is I had a reader years ago email me and say he had to get rid of his thongs because his then girlfriend said they were “gay.” I was like WHAT?

Tim: What would it take to get the word out to straight guys about underwear? What draws you to a brand? What Brands have you tried because of their advertising? Have you dealt with the stigma of being called or labeled gay?

Brandon: Well, as you know, I have written extensively about this topic on UNB. I think getting the word out is going to have to be incidental, maybe it’s a friend who sees me in the locker room at a pool in a pair of briefs and gets inquisitive. I think to a certain extent straight guys like myself need to be less shy and start evangelizing a bit. I have taken baby steps in that regard but I think that straight guys should be more vocal, because the bottom line is plenty of straight men out there would acknowledge that they’d like to be wearing better underwear, but as I kind of hinted at with my last answer, they just don’t know where to start.

I am rarely drawn to “the brand” because I am always interested in the style/color/overall look of a pair of underwear before I consider the brand. If I like the look of a certain brief that’s what draws me to any given pair. While this might be hard to believe, I don’t think a single ad has drawn me to a brand. I’ve always tried new things based on the look or the description of the individual pair. I was drawn to CK and 2(x)ist because of their reputation. I was drawn to Andrew Christian because initially-when he wasn’t nearly as famous, he described the “Anatomically Correct” pouch as built for men who were well endowed. That was before any of the homo-erotic videos or poster-ads became the brand’s M.O. but I can tell you if I were thinking about my first pair of A.C. briefs today, I’d be more apprehensive as a straight guy.

Sure, I’ve dealt with it in very limited terms. My dad is hypercritical of me and what I wear, look like, etc. He’s caught glimpses of my underwear from time to time and has been sure to never reserve comment. “That’s kind of gay” he’ll say but does so with sort of a smile on his face, as if he acknowledges his own status of being behind-the-times in his Jockey brand boxer shorts. Other than that, I’ve never had to deal with it really. That said, I am always conscious of “being caught” in my underwear by my friends etc because of the fear of being judged in that same way.

Underwear labels clearly don’t shy away from sexing up/playing into the gay-factor with their ads. Does the prevalence of designer underwear labels and the chiseled male models in their ad campaigns play any role in the gay male’s body image? (I know I’ve shied away from certain lines because I’ve had to pause and think, yeah that looks great on this guy with a 31″ waist, but I am too fat to pull it off…)

 To be continued….

andrew christian almost naked sport brief 9199

As well-endowed men should know, support is of the utmost importance when it comes to finding the right pair of underwear. Iits critical for us to find underwear with pouches that are not only contoured but are constructed in a way that will support us no matter what conditions may be thrown our way during a given day. In an article I wrote a few months ago, I hinted at the fact that if well-endowed men want the support their anatomy requires, they might need to “open their minds”  — referring to their to realize that in many instances when it comes to the underwear their body needs,  often times the skimpier the cut, the better they (and their large packages) will be served.

While I didn’t elaborate then, I said I would in a future article and it remains true–if you’re well hung and want the best support any design can give you, you are going to need to broaden your horizons and take some risks, and before you make that leap it might help to understand what I am talking about.

As a well-endowed man, you might favor boxer briefs or their shorter cousins, trunks, for the coverage they give your large member. The problem with those two designs as well as with your traditional-cut briefs-even the ones with contoured pouches the support they offer is hindered by their construction. Specifically, their designs don’t allow well-hung men to…hang since on both trunks and boxer briefs the pouch is connected to fabric that extends past it (down the leg) and on a traditional brief, is connected to fabric that comes close to matching the length of the pouch. The result (on a contour pouch) is decent support that by mid-afternoon or earlier, gives way to that all too familiar feeling for us-having our members pressed against our bodies.

So what are the solutions?

Show Off Your Legs (And Your Ass If You’re Brave/Proud Enough)

If you are a “shower” type of guy, you will never get the optimum support for your large package in those boxer briefs or trunks, so progressively ditch them and replace them with briefs that feature contour pouches that have a bikini cut, (high cut leg openings–where the rise between the top of the leg opening and the top of the waistband is 3″ or less). This type of cut (as seen in the examples below) allow the pouch to be the lowest point of the fabric on the brief, allowing well-hung men to hang, while also giving them the support they require.

Revamp your underwear drawer with a collection of briefs built for your bulge. I swear by these:

  • Calvin Klein Hip Brief Universal Design featured in several different fabric/color options based on collection. Fit is true to size–if your pant size is an odd number (31″ 35″ or 39″) size down. 
  • 2(x)ist No-Show & Contoured (& Ultra-Contoured) Pouch Brief – Universal Design featured in several different color options based on collection. Fits true to size, order your pant/jean size. No need to size up.
  • Andrew Christian Almost Naked Brief / Sport Brief* – High cut leg openings and an “Anatomically Correct” Pouch which is perfect for well-hung men. Order your pant/jean size, only goes up to size 36 though.
  • C-IN2 Sport Brief – Universal Design featured in several different fabric/color options based on collection. Huge pouch, for hung men. Fits true to REAL waist size (I wear a 36 jean but my waist is 38″, so I wear an XL).

If you want even more support, it is out there but you’ll have to be O.K. having your ass exposed while wearing them. Of course I am talking about jockstraps and thongs that have been designed for men.

Since the jockstrap design has always equated to support, a somewhat recent flooding of the market with designer jockstraps made from an everyday wear perspective has allowed them to become an ideal choice for the well-endowed man. If you’ve got an above-average member, stick jockstraps that are made of rayon, the construction of which offers a natural pouch that will expand with your length and girth once you get them on. Andrew Christian is the foremost producer of this type of jock, Obviously For Men is another favorite. In addition to that style, look for jocks that feature double-ply cotton pouches that are also fairly deep – I like what C-IN2 and Diesel have done. Pick up one from each of those four designers and you and your endowment will thank me.

Oddly enough, I trust most men would wear a jockstrap as daily underwear before they’d think about doing the same with a thong made for men. Odd, because in all reality, a jockstrap leaves you much more exposed than a thong ever would, even though the thong’s design offers superior support. That said, if you are carrying around something that could be mistaken for a third leg in your pants, I can’t tell you how happy you would be with the support a well fitted thong can offer your impressive package. Of course, there are a few things to consider before venturing out to buy your first couple thongs.

I would always recommend that your first thong be one that is designed to look like a jockstrap, such as the CK Body Thong, or the 2(x)ist  or C-IN2 Y-back varieties. All three are relatively inexpensive options that will allow you to get used to the feel of wearing a thong and whether or not you could see yourself wearing other designs. Once you’ve decided that you’d like to try another design, be prepared to be shocked at how many options you have available to you. Take comfort in the fact that the size of your manhood limits you to only about a third of the market. Thongs, just like any other new underwear purchase are about figuring out what you like and don’t like. Since each brand varies so much in terms of design I am not going to waste your time making suggestions, other than to say, if you’re well-hung and don’t take the leap you are missing out, on what I think is one of the best designs for guys like you.

If you are hung, and you’ve just read this, what the hell are you waiting for? Start to revamp your drawer with the designs that will help you tame your trouser snake once and for all!

5160 (1)I hadn’t done any research into which pairs I’d be reviewing so when I got another pair of Clever briefs in the mail I was a little nervous because if you’ve worn the brand before then you know their sizes can be a little inconsistent with their own size chart. With that in mind I was a little nervous to step into the Clever Onix Classic Brief. My initial impression was fairly positive as the lightweight fabric seemed like it would be comfortable (it was) and I was also excited to have a full-cut brief to review, as 99% of the briefs in my drawer are of the bikini or sport-type cuts.

I decided to wear these for a full work day to give them the adequate treatment. Upon initially getting them on my body, I noticed a couple things. The first was that the fabric has a subtle diamond-plaid type pattern which I didn’t pick up on when they were in my hand. The other was a unique stitching design that differed quite a bit from my other Clever briefs. The briefs are made of 88% nylon and 12% spandex, and unlike other nylon designs out there right now this pair has amazing breathability. At the end of the day I was really pleased with how comfortable they were and though I changed into a jock for my evening workout, I could have easily kept these on and known they’d serve me well during a workout.

This pair was an XL (34-36)which is what I normally wear with Clever, except in the case of these briefs I could have used a large in everywhere except the pouch. As I eluded to earlier, I have a couple of pairs of Clever Briefs that happen to be the same size (XL) and one fits me close to perfectly and another one, again, same size that fits like it’s a Medium. I don’t know if the emergence of Clever in the American market has led to a trend to more American sizing, or I just happened to get one of the pairs that was on the larger end of the XL pile.

The brief is constructed with a Y-seam that runs down the area of the wearer’s “crack” which joins two diagonal seams that run to the base of the leg openings. If you’ve got a bubble butt like I do, this particular stitching is fantastic, as it allows the brief to adjust to the thickness of the wearer’s behind. The downfall of that seam though is always the pouch which on these briefs seems like it is its own piece. While I didn’t have too many problems with the pouch, it could have been roomier, and I think due to the nature of the seam work of the brief overall, the pouch is sort of awkward once you get them on.

What makes this brief special is that it does enough with its design and its look to not feel like “Classic” should be in the title at all. When you get them on, you can understand why they use the moniker-these are a full cut brief available in only black and white (my pair is white). However, the silvery logo’d waistband and the diamond plaid design in the nylon make these a “classic” brief I would be proud to be seen in by just about anyone.

Pros:

  • No-fuss design
  • Good styling accents
  • Comfortable Fit

Cons:

  • Pouch could be more contoured
  • Seams might be over-thought

Ratings:

  • Daily Fit – A
  • Sizing – B+
  • Construction – A
  • Styling – A
  • Daily Performance – A
  • Overall – A

Clever Furnished this pair for receive.

Underwear Essentials

Have you ever put on a pair of your briefs and thought, “I don’t think I could live without this pair”? I know I have, and hopefully what follows is a whole new phenomenon in the men’s underwear community, which we will be calling “Underwear Essentials”.

Inspired by various websites I’ve come across, like Hype Beast’s essentials page along with several other “pocket dump” and “everyday carry” blogs around the internet, I wanted to create a place for UNB bloggers (and hopefully some of our willing fans) to share which pairs they can’t live without, and explain why that’s the case. These posts are not just about the photo and a lame description of each pair, no. The true purpose of creating something new with “Underwear Essentials” is for our readers to gain an understanding of how each collection has developed over time. How certain brands, fabrics, designs, and/or their designers have shaped the preferences of the wearer. In other words, while the photo above is incredibly simplistic, containing all of the underwear I couldn’t live without-it is really a representation of what I have come to know and love about men’s underwear.

Brandon’s Essentials 

My underwear represents a way for me to express myself even if it’s only on an interpersonal level. Due to the size of my collection, everyday’s choice is something I look forward to from the time I turn the shower on. Any one of several factors can impact my decision each morning. The first question I always force myself to answer is, “what is my mood like?” From there, some of the usual questions come into play. Like, “what’s today’s weather going to do? Is it going to be sunny, hot or cold, overcast, rainy?” Primarily for me, the style I choose is guided by the day of the week and my mood, and lastly, the clothes I’ll be wearing.

Ever since I got my first couple of pairs in the mail about a year and a half ago, Andrew Christian has been my favorite underwear designer. I am in love with the Almost Naked and Nano Fit lines, his use of rayon fabric (made from bamboo fibers) provides an overall fit that compliments my long, 6-foot-4 athletically built frame. The Almost Naked Sport Brief (bottom two pairs in Column 1) is by far my favorite A.C. design and I love the Navy and Turquoise colors the best (I own just about every color option). The  Almost Naked Infinity Brief (bottom pair, column 1) and Air Sculpt Brief (Top Row, Far Left) also feature rayon which helps to create Andrew Christian’s patented “anatomically correct pouch” which is ideal for guys like me with bigger bulges. I also thought I’d include Andrew Christian’s Ace Air Jock Pro Brief w/Show It Technology (Top, Column 2) which is a hybrid cross of a brief and a jockstrap. It’s actually made of 90% cotton and features the “Show It Technology” pouch. I tend to wear them on Fridays a lot, maybe because I like showing off at the end of the week, who knows?

#JockstrapWednesday anyone? I almost always go with a jock on Hump Day, and I always wear them when working out. I love all of the Andrew Christian Jocks that feature rayon fabric and my current favorites are the lavender Slim Focus Jock, the Cool Flex Jock w/Show It and finally the Trophy Boy Jock (All In Column 3). As I mentioned briefly before I am somewhat generously endowed and I find the pouch on Andrew Christian jocks to be much more forgiving during workouts, and I love wearing them during the weekdays from time to time. It’s for those exact same reasons that I included  the Obviously For Men Chromatic Low Rise Jock (Bottom, Column 4) which I have in red and navy. It’s a great jock that really performs well, especially during workouts.

You can never go wrong with a pair of Calvin Klein briefs. While my love for Andrew Christian underwear is unwavering I must say that the ultimate essentials in my collection are the three CK Briefs pictured (CK Body Hip Brief, Micro X Hip Brief, and the Steel Collection Hip Brief). I have multiple colors in the Micro X and especially the Steel collection and I always default to one of those two briefs when I can’t make up my mind or am in a rush. I also threw in my favorite pair of Trunks, which was the design that led to my obsession, but tapered off quickly when I rediscovered briefs. It’s from a Limited Edition run CK put out a couple of years ago that I’ve made sure to take good care of. Nobody beats CK Underwear in terms of design, quality and overall comfort. If you don’t own any of these three briefs, (or a pair of their trunks) open a new tab to your favorite online underwear retailer right now and buy as many pairs in these collections as you can afford. The reasons you must is simple-unparalleled fit and construction, and they look great on everyone.

At the start of my underwear journey, I had a love-hate relationship with C-IN2. That is, I loved the majority of what they were offering with their “Pop Color” briefs but hated that a major American label’s brief had a design that just couldn’t contain my boys while remaining comfortable everywhere else. Enter the C-IN2 Sport Brief design about a year or so ago. Problem solved. The higher cut leg openings compliment my athletic shape and naturally provide a much bigger pouch which is so comfortable for my goods.

How do a thong, let alone several thongs make any man’s Underwear Essentials? As I found out over a year ago, you can’t answer that question without getting the courage to try one (or several). To me there really isn’t a better feeling than feeling like you’re wearing nothing while getting the best support any style of underwear can provide.  Aesthetically speaking I’ve steered clear of the athletic styles since I graduated from the ranks of “novice wearer,” but I love the new Nano Fit Thong from Andrew Christian (Top Right). My go-to thong is the Cover Male Thong (Yellow Thong) simply because it has the most traditional thong design available. Overall, my favorite thong brand is Gregg Homme and my favorite thong is the Pump Up Thong  (White and Red Thong). Gregg Homme uses a synthetic fabric called “Polyamide” which is almost like a very structured silk material. They use it in the Boytoy G-String which I could honestly wear every day, if I didn’t have so many other designs and pairs of underwear I love. If you are questioning what you’d wear one under, look no further than a suit or suit pants which fitted in the seat, or the increasingly popular, skinny and straight leg styles of men’s jeans. Yes, you can see pantylines on men and they are just as unattractive as they are on women.

These are the 19 pairs out of a collection that is nearly 10 times as big that I just don’t think I could live without. I can honestly say that my experiences with trial and error in the ever-expanding world of men’s designer underwear shaped this Essentials portion of my collection- a fact that is so true, it took me less than a minute to pick out the pairs you see here. The underwear you see in these pictures are the pairs I could live with for the rest of my life. In one way or another they give me everything I need out of a pair of underwear in any situation I’d find myself in.

Now think about your collection. What styles and designs can you not wait to wear again after the laundry is folded? Do your essentials match the utility your body requires in all the situations you find yourself in? Let us know by submitting a hi-res picture of your Underwear Essentials along with a description of your favorite pairs and how they have shaped you as an individual as well as your own personal understanding of men’s underwear.

Underwear Essentials 2

 

 

 

 

 

CM9692When the review package arrived from Tim, I was a bit excited because my life has recently changed dramatically (and for the better) with the birth of my first child. I haven’t had time to really think about underwear outside of browsing the new Spring offerings from my favorite brands. When I opened the package and out came the Candyman 9692 Brief also referred to as the “Zip Around Brief” (on Freshpair). My first reaction in a word, was “Wow!” The brief is definitely on the more risque side, and since my only other pair from this brand is the mostly basic,  Candyman Jockstrap 9656 I wasn’t prepared for something I’d consider out of my comfort zone. The 9692 Brief comes in White and Black and is available anywhere Candyman is sold online.

Since I knew I wouldn’t be able to get a full day’s wear out of these briefs, I decided to wear them from post-evening workout until my bed time on a night in which I’d be running around the house packing for a vacation to Florida. Given the overall construction of the brief (I will delve into specifics shortly) I was surprised how well it stood up over the 4-5 hours I had them on, while running up and down our stairs to pack. While generally this brief is probably better for “a night of fun” I would venture to guess that you could wear it all day, but as I’ll discuss shortly, you probably won’t want to.

As has been the case with Candyman so far, the 9692 Brief fits fairly true to size to perhaps just slightly larger (American Sizing). My pair was an XL (34-36) and they seem to fit my 36 inch waist comfortably. Since Candyman doesn’t have any gaps in their size chart (L=32-34, XL= 34-36) you may want to size down if you’ve got one of the matching waist measurements, e.g. If you’re a 34 inch waist, get a Large.

The brief itself is constructed with 96% Nylon and 4% spandex. The majority of the brief features what Candyman refers to as a “Modern Mesh” which given the materials used, are fairly elastic and move with you. Unlike most mesh briefs that are micromesh, the mesh pattern on these briefs is large, almost emulating a typical lace design. As if the mesh weren’t enough to put this in the “Erotic” category, twin zippers on both the front fly and covering the crack of the wearer’s butt on the rear send this into another dimension in terms of erotic underwear design. Both zippers are made up of a gold (on the black brief) or silver (on the white) leaf like textiles, and are fully functional. The zippers platform also gives the brief its structure, providing a surprisingly roomy pouch for your boys.

On the whole I like the brief for what it is, and I dislike the brief for what it isn’t. I like the attempt  I see with this brief from Candyman. The designed with this brief wanted to adequately marry their fairly standard fare of highly erotic pieces with their less standard, but still readily available practical pieces. It is a goal that I think the designer achieved with the 9692 Brief, which is what makes the pair likable for what it is. There really seems to be a “catch” to this success though, and that is even though they found a way to make a sexy and somewhat practical product, the brief has too many elements that make it unwearable as daily wear, and I just simply can’t get over that. While I stated that this brief had a “surprisingly roomy” pouch, that doesn’t mean I was satisfied. Given the design itself, I knew the pouch was going to be cramped and it still is, it was just less cramped than I expected it to be once I got it on.

Personally this is an extremely difficult review for me to write. While I definitely am an adventurous underwear fanatic (no problem wearing skimpy thongs, briefs, etc) this particular pair is hard to really compare to any of the other “risque” underwear for a couple of reasons. The first is that my mind has a hard time getting over underwear with large sturdy zippers as a part of their design because I typically associate designs with those elements as conducive to an erotic BDSM lifestyle with which I know nor feel nothing. The second issue is perhaps more relevant to the review itself-which is the fact that until now, there really isn’t a pair of underwear I own that I can’t wear all day, including all of the more risque styles in my drawer. I want a brief to be wearable and this one isn’t for daily wear purposes at least.

Overall, while I personally wouldn’t buy the Candyman 9692 Brief for myself, that does not mean it isn’t a good or even great pair of underwear.

Pros: 

  • The color options. I love gold on black and silver on white. 
  • Nice marriage of overtly erotic design, combined with solid construction of a basic look (the brief design).

Cons: 

  • Zippers in both front and back can get awkwardly placed while sitting or walking. 
  • Overall design isn’t quite as inclusive (to a broader customer base) as the “marriage” I talk about above might want it to be.

Ratings (1-10 Scale, 10 is Best):

Daily Fit – 6

Sizing – 9

Construction/Materials – 10

Styling – 9

Daily Performance – 4

Overall – 7.6 out of 10

Candyman furnished this pair for review.

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As you know by now, I have an affinity for thongs, and when I discovered Andrew Christian’s newest thong design, I knew I had to have it and review it. The Andrew Christian NanoFit Thong  is made from 95% Rayon (bamboo fiber) and 5% spandex. It features a traditional male thong design and currently comes in two colors, Burgundy and Teal (I bought both).

I am a huge Andrew Christian fanatic, it is the brand that features most prominently in my expanding collection of what is approaching 200 pairs. I am a particular fan of the NanoFit line which offers slimmer, sexier, more athletic looking lines than any of the other collections. An XL (34-36″) fits my 37″ waist comfortably, but I would stay away from sizing down as A.) this is a thong, so there is naturally less material and B.) unless you’re at the “bottom” number (34″ in the case of size XL) you should think about getting these true to your size.

The amount of Rayon in the NanoFit designs are one of the elements that set it apart from Andrew Christian’s Almost Naked line. The NanoFit line will hug your body ever so slightly more than a pair of underwear from the Almost Naked line, which keeps that soft fabric close to you all day. On this NanoFit Thong, the front pouch, which resembles any common jockstrap will both fit and cover your goods in comfortable fashion. Additionally, there is a “triangle” of rayon fabric at the back, which obviously provides the differentiation between it and a jockstrap. Like all Andrew Christian waistbands, the waistband on this thong is fairly comfortable, but on the burgundy thong, I found that the waistband fit slightly tighter than with the teal, but both laid nicely (flat) against the skin.

The construction of this thong is probably the most important part of this review to pay attention to. This thong is a bit of a re-re-think for the designer. Thong enthusiasts were happy in 2012 when “A.C.” introduced us to the Almost Naked Thong, but it was a departure from Andrew Christian’s original, “Show-It” thong design, with the leg seams creating a bigger rise from the waistband. The result was a thong that is really comfortable, but does not maintain its shape throughout the day, as the leg openings roll up with only a few steps.  This thong replicates the original construction by attaching the leg openings to the waistband itself but makes two key departures from the original “Show-It” version. The most important in my mind being a reduction of material that makes up the back of the thong (both prior designs featured a wider V shape which made the thong seem like it was trying to decide if it wanted to be a half-boyshort or a thong) and the other change that makes it the second thong to feature the Anatomically Correct Pouch. Overall the construction is very solid and it’s the best thong from Andrew Christian to date. Is it, or should it be the final chapter in terms of thong design? No, but I would like to see A.C. use this construction as a template for all future thongs.

If I have any hangup with this thong it is in the “looks” department, but this is a very subjective category. I own just about every thong design out there, provided I can get my endowment and bubble butt into them and as my thong collection has expanded I’ve developed the preference for my thongs to look like thongs, and not jockstraps per se. However I am more than willing to make an exception with this one. The colors, with the shiny silver waistband that has come to embody the NanoFit line, and the contrasts of the Teal and Neon Green and Light Blue and Burgundy that make up the bulk of this thong, make it one of the best thongs you can buy. You’ll be happy with the way it differentiates itself from other thongs that have a similar design, and to me that helps this thong make the grade.

As far as daily wear is concerned, I don’t have to say much other than that I could wear this thong all day every day, if I didn’t like the variety my collection offers me. The fabric is incredibly soft, which encompasses the entire “string” so you literally like you feel like you aren’t wearing underwear at all, and certainly not a thong-which to most men is what they are looking/hoping for.

This Andrew Christian NanoFit Thong is one of the best out there right now, and as a guy who is not afraid to talk about my love for the thong, you need to go try this out. It would be a great first thong, but it will likely be met with more appreciation from guys who are already into thongs. You can get yours at AndrewChristianShop.com for $17.93

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Excellent Construction
  • Great for all-day wear

Cons:

  • Looks fairly average

Ratings

Fit – 5

Materials – 5

Put Together (Construction) – 4.5

Look – 4 

Daily Wear – 5

Overall – 4.7

Note: this review was done before our revision.

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I’ve always been interested in trying what the market has to offer when it comes to  “Anatomical” or “Natural” pouches. Thus, I’ve come to one of the perhaps lesser known brands is John Sievers, who seem to want to make their name on what they term their “Natural Pouch” design. So I bought the John Sievers Cotton Natural Pouch Brief (in “Orchid”) from InternationalJock.com and wanted to review it for your consumption.

This particular brief is made of 95% cotton and 5% Lycra and features a logo waistband. For the most part it is a comfortable pair of briefs that run fairly true to size. My pair was a Large which is labeled for size 36-38 waists and fit my 37-38″ waist  comfortably. It is important to note that this brand “jumps numbers” on its size chart and if you are one of the odd numbers out (31, 35, 39) I would recommend sizing up.

As I said these briefs fit my waist well, and the cotton is certainly high quality which provides a nice, non-stretch fit throughout the day. In terms of overall fit, these briefs fit like most low-rise bikini cut briefs do. They are made to fit low on the hips with high cut leg openings and full coverage in the rear. The “Natural Pouch” fits how you would expect it to, but for men who are more well endowed (as I am), the cotton pouch isn’t as big as I would like it to be and that caused some various sitting-to-standing problems during the day.

Construction wise, this brief is fairly sound. The “Natural Pouch” is created by additional material held together by an additional seam or stitch that falls just behind your package, but the cotton does create a less mold-able pouch compared to its Rayon or Modal counterparts. The Color Vibe Brief from Andrew Christian is another cotton brief that features a natural pouch and gets this design right as the pouch is larger, as an acknowledgment of cotton’s limitations. That is not to say that this pouch isn’t comfortable, I wore them for an entire day with hardly any discomfort.

The style or look of this particular pair is honestly what attracted me to them. This brief comes in at least seven colors from standard blacks and grays to this Orchid color. Aside from the color, I like the fact that this is designed much like a traditional y-front, with the contrast white piping. Outside American Apparel, you don’t see many designers sticking to the traditional version of this design. It’s nice to see a hybrid of a traditional looking brief with a new design (a contour or natural pouch) aspect.

I would recommend this particular brief to everyone, but particularly men who like anatomical or natural pouches. Additionally, this brief given its use of cotton would be especially good for those men who enjoy how such pouches let them hang, but don’t necessarily have the endowment to fill those pouches out. While I probably won’t buy another pair, I will certainly come back to this brief when I want a change of pace.

Pros:

  • Good Fit
  • Solid Construction
  • Stylish

Cons

  • “Natural” Pouch could be slightly larger

Ratings

  • Fit – 4.5
  • Materials – 5
  • Construction – 4.5
  • Style – 5
  • Daily Wear – 4.5
  • Overall – 4.7

Find this pair at International Jock

9656_2__1_1

I was really excited to hear that I was going to be able to review this jockstrap. I had been eyeing it for some time and while Candyman in general, doesn’t suit my style I am a bit of a “Red White & Blue” fan which made this particular jock desirable.

The jockstrap I am reviewing is the 9656  from Candyman and size XL (34″-36″). When it comes to fit, this jock fits plenty large for its size chart waist description. I have a 37″ waist (might have gotten to 38 after the Holidays) and the XL fit me more than comfortably. The jock is made of 93% polyester and 7% spandex.

I decided to wear them all day and for a 2 mile run after work just to test how they held up as athletic wear. Not to my surprise, the unique design-which attracted me to the jock in the first place made for comfortable wear in both the daily and workout settings. The uniqueness in the design of course, is that the support straps that make jockstraps what they are, happen to be the exact same width and material as the waistband of the jock. The added width of the support straps made for very comfortable wear, but because it was the same construction as the waistband, problems with over-elasticity became apparent towards the end of my run.

Like most underwear this jock’s waistband stretches with you throughout the day but doesn’t ever lose its hold. Theoretically this should be the case with the support straps of this jock, since they are identical to the waist band. However, the construction of the jock overall is probably the culprit of the over-stretch during my run (I can’t imagine how stretched they’d get during circuit training-which is my preferred work out method). It’s clear that Candyman was going for all-day comfort and wearability instead of functionality when it comes to construction and design of this jockstrap. That’s OK in theory, but I think I speak for most jock wearers when I say we’d expect a daily-wear jock to function properly at the gym as well. That’s not to say this jock isn’t serviceable in that respect, it’s just not great.

On the positive side, the pouch is long and the cut is very well-suited for men with athletic frames (me). While the pouch could have been slightly deeper or more contoured, my boys never felt cramped or squished. Another good aspect of this jockstrap is its style. The idea to incorporate waistband support straps makes the jock look somewhat neat and the two-toned color design of the pouch is a nice touch. While it certainly isn’t the most stylish jockstrap out there, it is far from boring, which earns it positive marks.

Despite the drawback of its functionality as a jockstrap for intended jockstrap use, such as the gym or the street/sidewalk, I would still recommend you give this one a try simply because it is incredibly comfortable despite its drawbacks, especially for daily wear. I would recommend that if you are the size in the middle of the size chart (e.g. you have a 35″ waist and XL is 34″-36″) that you size down, regardless of your measurement as I’d guess these run about an inch and a half large.
Check them out! You can find them wherever Candyman is sold.

Pros:

  • Very comfortable
  • Stylish but understated design

Cons:

  • Poor athletic functionality 
  • Sizing might be a hassle

Ratings:

  • Fit – 4
  • Materials – 5
  • Construction – 3
  • Look – 4.5
  • Daily Wear – 5
  • Overall – 4.3

Candyman furnished this pair for review.

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When it comes to underwear, most well-endowed men feel slighted and disadvantaged by the choices they think they must settle on, and for the most part this is the product of the same concept that the majority of men, regardless of their penis size: They just don’t know enough about the options available to them in 2013.

I was like most of these well endowed men, wearing boxers and boxer briefs that were one to two sizes too big in the waist so my bulge wouldn’t cause the legs to fit too tightly (I am not going to even mention basic briefs and our problems with those). But once I discovered the innovation of a trunk with a contoured pouch, my quest for finding underwear that fit me and my endowment comfortably began to take shape.

There are few articles out there relating to us well-endowed portion of the population, and the most prominent one currently available offers good advice, but I don’t think it goes far enough. So I have decided to come up with the best advice I can think of, based on my three-plus years of searching for the kind of underwear meant for guys like us, using pictures from my own collection as well as brand suggestions to help you get into the right pairs.

Tip #1 – It’s The Pouch, Stupid…

If you’re well endowed, the largest problem you experience with run-of-the-mill brands is they aren’t designed to put your equipment anywhere. Just as a handgun needs a holster to be carried safely, we “showers” need a place to carry our dangerous weapon. This means, the only underwear you should be buying feature a pouch that is visible to the naked eye before you put your hands on them.

Sure, some “experts” would suggest making sure the size is right on any pair of underwear with a contoured pouch, but I view this as advice that discounts your ability to think. Just know this, if you are hung, you better be damn sure the underwear you’re looking at has a pouch before you look at whether or not they have your size.

Your Best Options and My Favorite Pouch

It’s 2013, and just about every designer offers at least a few designs that feature a contoured pouch but not all of them are great for men with larger packages, so if all else fails, consider the following designs from prominent labels in men’s underwear which I myself routinely employ:

2(x)ist TOUCH Ultra Contour Briefs or Trunks (Or any other “Ultra Contour” piece they offer), on 2xist.com some older designs are still available that feature even better pouches.

Andrew Christian Almost Naked, NanoFit, Color Vibe, Air Sculpt, Cool Flex, & Trophy Boy

C-IN2 Profile Briefs, Sport Briefs, Street Jocks or the Personal Fit Factor Shower Brief

Calvin Klein Steel Collection, Body Collection, X Collections

John Sievers All Collections

N2N Bodywear Peformance X, Air, & Freedom Collections

Obviously For Men All Collections

My underwear collection is over 150 pairs deep, and while I have my favorite pouch, I like many more than just one. My favorite pouch is the Andrew Christian “Anatomically Correct Pouch” which is featured most prominently in the label’s “Almost Naked” line. The Anatomically Correct Pouch is formed by two seams that will allow all of your endowment to fall into place  and hang naturally. To me, this is the best pouch for us well-hung guys, but obviously it is far from your only option.

Tip #2 – Expect but Accept “Sticker Shock”

All of the underwear best suited to the needs of men who are packing heat has one thing in common, they aren’t cheap. To create the best pouch for well-hung gentlemen, like the Anatomically Correct Pouch from Andrew Christian or brands that only feature this sort of pouch (John Sievers, Obviously For Men) you need human innovation as well as fabrics that are meant to stretch comfortably without stretching out, and those things are expensive.

You can expect to pay similar prices to the Calvin Kleins and Armanis of the world, not because of name brand recognition, but because of the use of Rayon and Modal fabrics. Briefs, Boxer Briefs and Trunks will run you anywhere from 16-30 depending on design and brand. More important than your expectation of seeing those prices is your acceptance that this is what you must pay to cloth your larger than average package on a daily basis.

But before we move on to the next big tip, let me give you two inside tips to get the best prices and value from your new, properly fitting undies:

1. Wait for sales. The best place to shop for men’s underwear is online. You can buy Calvin Klein Underwear at 25% off nearly year round online, and the biggest underwear websites (Freshpair, MensUnderwearStore) have routine sales on all their brands and clearance sales year-round.

2. Wash Separately, In Cold Water, and DO NOT DRY*.Unless you’re 12 and still can’t wipe properly, there should be no reason to wash your designer underwear in hot water. *Do not dry on anything higher than “medium” heat if you must dry at all. If you’ve got a normal 8-12 pair arsenal of Rayon/Modal underwear with the pouch made for men like us, know this: That fabric dries quickly when the underwear is laid out neatly, because the fabric is thin, constant wash-dry cycles shorten the lifespan of the fabric and the seams that attach it to the waistband. If you do this right, those $24 Obviously trunks will last you twice as long as the ill-fitting Hanes you wear now and thus you’ll have at worst spent about the same amount of money.

Tip #3 – Educate Yourself about Design, then Open Your Mind (Hint: I’ll help w/both)

Your education has been started with Tip #1. So, by now you unequivocally know that you shouldn’t be wearing any underwear that does not come specially designed in one of several ways to hold and support your large equipment comfortably. And of course the pouch is and always will remain the most important feature of any pair of underwear for men who are well-endowed. But a contoured or specially made pouch isn’t the only design element in men’s underwear that can be beneficial to those of us who require that extra room. It layman’s terms, not all pouches, are made with us in mind, are created equal. To get the best pouch for your boys, it may require you to open your mind about what underwear designs you need to try, I had to and did.

With very few exceptions (certain brands), if you’re well-endowed and searching for underwear that will give your boys the most room and do so in the most comfortable fashion, you need to be buying briefs, and once you’ve totally opened your mind, the skimpier they are, the more comfortable your package will be. Instead of wasting lines convincing you why you’ll appreciate the switch, I’d rather explain why briefs (and even skimpier options) are best for those of us well hung individuals.

Think about the appearance of the letter “U” both in lower and upper case, then think about what the pouch portion of a brief looks like. The larger the “u” or “U” shapes get, the larger the pouch becomes, and for well endowed men, we are best served by the biggest U possible. In underwear design this is achieved almost solely by the “cut” of the brief, chiefly the distance between the top of the leg opening and the top of the waistband. The larger the distance, the smaller the ‘u’ shape of the pouch, conversely, the smaller the distance, the larger the U. Here are two examples of this design concept from the same brand, 2xist: Example 1, Example 2. Now I could go on and on about this concept and how important it is for well-endowed men to remember when underwear shopping, but I won’t, I think you get it. I will only say that if you have accepted the concept, you may have your mind opened to trying jockstraps as something you can wear for a day’s length, and gasp, maybe even trying a thong! But because design concepts change a bit for jocks and thongs, I’ll devote a smaller article to those later.

Tip #4 – Lastly, Embrace Your “Gift” and Start Having a Sense of Humor about it.

You’ve made it! Congrats! So now that you know that A.) You don’t have to suffer through the rest of your life wearing underwear made for the 98%, and B.) you know enough to successfully explore your options, it’s time to embrace your “gift” and enjoy your new underwear. I am over three years removed from these discoveries, and throughout that time, I’ve learned to have a sense of humor about “my gift” if for no other reason than my underwear forced it upon me.

Most of the underwear that is either made for men with large packages or at least accommodates them, are going to end up showing your goods off. I remember when I got my first pair of Andrew Christian briefs in the mail and tried them on, and all I could do was laugh at my reflection in the mirror. And while I will contend to the death that at least I remain humble about the size of my package, as do most of us in the “well-endowed crowd” (pardon the silly rhyme), far too often, such ‘required humility’ is what is holding us back from wearing the underwear that is best suited to our needs.

So use this guide, and go get yourself some better fitting underwear. Your body will thank you!

NOTE: If you enjoyed this read more in our Endowed Series

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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.

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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.

A common theme among the array of topics I have written about centers around the notion that too often, men pay far too little attention to the piece of clothing that stays on them the longest in any given day. Whether it is because we are afraid of change, or how a certain cut of underwear is portrayed in society. Even if we are just too busy to care enough to stop and think about our underwear, men far too often take the route of apathy, rather than getting out of their Old Navy printed boxer shorts.

It’s 2012 and that means it’s time to grow up and grow out of the sophomoric underwear you have in your top drawer. You’re a man aren’t you? You’ve got anatomy that needs support without being crushed, and thus should never be hanging freely in boxer shorts that are-when you really pause to think about them, almost pointless. You’ve got options, not only in terms of the underwear available to you, but in the places you have to shop for it. In case you have reservations or are still in denial, I’ve laid out a few things you should think about as you begin to re-think the most important pair of clothing you wear every day.

Leave The Reservations At The Door

If you are wearing boxers and are tired of how they fit and bunch up in your jeans, you may have to think about wearing briefs. Yes, there are some “stigmas” surrounding briefs, but get over them. Few people see you in your underwear, and your underwear is about you and no one else (well unless you want it to be).

Acknowledge Your Existing Problem

This is very important. If you wear run-of-the-mill cotton boxers you probably have a couple of common problems. The first would be “bunching” and the need to “tuck them down” the leg of your pants. Second, “peek through” can be a problem for some men (it was me) which always requires quick, and a not-so-subtle “adjustment.” Finally by the end of the day, the legs of your boxer shorts are down on the front of your legs, but have been wedged up your crack in the back.

If you have evolved to boxer-briefs or back to briefs, but not from “value brands” your most common problem is likely “ride-up” (boxer briefs) and general cotton stretching throughout daily wear (both). Additionally the flat front (both) doesn’t actually “support” you, it “presses” your package closer to your body, but in order to get this fake support, you have to size down, likely meaning the waistband is too small, and if you buy the right size for your front, the back is incredibly saggy, it’s a vicious cycle.

Stop Denying The Obvious & Ignore The B.S.

You are a man, and between your legs lay the key to future generations in your name. You should stop denying that like any of your other friends your “boys” need support. Guess what? If you wear boxers they are getting none, and if you wear value-brand briefs or boxer briefs, they are getting cramped, not supported.

It’s 2012, and for nearly a decade designers of quality men’s underwear have figured out that underwear made for men, have the qualities that support your boys, without crushing them, and making you uncomfortable and self-conscious at the same time. And ignore the b.s. about “tight underwear” affecting fertility, in two months I become a father, and I have been wearing briefs for three years straight. Guess what? Tight underwear probably does increase the likelihood of temporary infertility, you know why? Because it is tight! And underwear should never be tight.

Think About Your Body & Style Before You Shop

Are you tall, short, average? Are you heavier set, athletically built, or skinny? Are you well endowed, average, or small? (I will be back with an “Underwear Guide” that will direct you to the appropriate styles/fits/brands based on all the answers to those questions in a post still to come).

How about your style? Are you a t-shirt and jeans guy for the most part? Do you wear a suit to work, but wear sweats when you get home? Are you a bit of both, but also clean up well? Are you what some might say “fashion forward” (in everything else but your underwear-obviously)?

Proceed With Caution

You are finally leaving the “Land of Terribly Ill-Fitting Underwear” and I don’t want you to look back. But after you’ve agreed to give your boys the support they deserve, and answered some of the questions about yourself, you may not want to jump into the deep end with a pair of pink bikini briefs.

If you are a boxer or boxer brief wearer that is still “iffy” about trying briefs, I understand. I was you at one point-you should buy 3-4 pairs of Trunks-the perfected version of the boxer brief. Make sure they have a pouch with either a built in contoured shape, or a pouch that “gives” to your boys once you get them on. If you are feeling adventurous, play with colors, but there are plenty of trunks out there in your typical standby colors.

If you are a brief guy already, you may also want to try some trunks. You have a bit of a leg up on those guys who are coming to the game from “Boxerland.” Just about every designer brief made today features the type of pouch I have described above.

And Shop Smart…

I know that shopping for men’s underwear, especially designer underwear can be a challenge in stores. Thankfully, there are dozens of websites that not only have dozens of brands and styles to choose from, almost all of them (the best ones) offer free shipping. And always shop the “Sale” section. Typically, these sites don’t like having to do clearance, so as the next season’s undies come in, they put last season’s underwear on sale. I try to never pay full price for underwear.

Never submit a payment for a pair that has not been reviewed. Go to buzzillions.com and you can search for reviews on just about any pair you might be thinking about buying. Underwear reviews because by the product’s nature, they have to be honest. And if you’ve thought about your body and style, then you’ll be able to place yourself in the underwear or not, based on the reviews you read.

But Never Settle

If you’ve made the decision to update your underwear drawer you need to understand that you are experiencing something of a re-birth. In order to get on a level playing field with the “experts” like the contributors to this website, you will need to crawl before you walk.

Start with a few pairs of different brands in a cut you like. Think about what you like and don’t like about each pair, so when you purchase your next three pairs, you can try to find underwear that gives you only what you like and little of what you don’t. Two or three purchases later, you have enough underwear for two weeks worth of wear, and about half will be close to perfect for you, and the other half will still be so much better than the crap you used to wear.

Just don’t blame me if your refusal to settle sparks a bit of an addiction.

I always get excited to review underwear and I was even more excited when I heard I’d be getting to review the Cocksox CX03 Waistband Brief. If you know me by now, I am not shy with the underwear I wear. However, I get concerned about certain brands and how I perceive they might fit me and Cocksox was one of those brands. For that reason I am glad to have my first pair from the brand and  just may have to explore what else Cocksox has to offer.

The pair of briefs I received in the mail was size L (36-38) and the pair fit my 36” waist very well.  They are made from 92% “Supplex” (Cocksox’s choice microfiber) and 8% Lycra elastane.  These really are a “bikini” cut rather than a more traditional brief and while you get pretty much 100% rear coverage the side of your bum is more exposed than with similar cuts from other brands.

I put them through a day’s worth of wear and they held up pretty well. I am a fan of briefs with a built in pouch, and Cocksox seems to have been in that market for quite some time.  Their pouch really does bring you “out and up” and as someone who is already subconscious about the size of my bulge, wearing these to work was a bit of a decision, but I decided to throw caution to the wind, as it were.

I am getting pretty good at “judging books by their cover” when it comes to shopping online and looking at pictures, and I must say the one issue I thought I would have with these. While the pouch is shaped to “lift” my anatomy doesn’t really “do” that easily so the pouch at times would become uncomfortable and cramped. It wasn’t so bad that I wanted them off, (I wore them until bed time) but they didn’t have the comfort I was hoping for, either.

Style-wise these briefs hit the right notes. I think a bikini cut is naturally more stylish than a basic style, and the neon green definitely stands out. I also appreciate that Cocksox has gotten away from their niche a bit, and ventured the world of the logo waistband. My wife’s reaction was “whoa” when I got them on—though she is an impossible read when it comes to the underwear I wear.

In the end, the Cocksox CX03 Waistband Brief is a really decent brief and I was pleasantly surprised and how well they fit overall. Though the contour of the bulge could be a bit bigger, or more forgiving, I think my main issue is that it is something I just am not used to with any other pair I own. I’d say if you’re a fan of the brand’s thong or original brief, you should give these a try. Be careful though, one thing is for sure with these briefs, which doesn’t stray from the brand’s overall design concept, you may need to be a bit less-than modest to wear these on a daily basis.

Pros:

  • Good Fit
  • Super supportive
  • Breathable
  • Stylish

Cons:

  • Unforgiving pouch
  • Not for the bashful

Ratings

  • Fit – 5
  • Materials – 4
  • Construction – 4
  • Look – 5
  • Daily Wear – 3
  • Overall *Out of 5* – 4

Cocksox furnished these for review. You can find them on the Cocksox website.

There is no question that men’s underwear market is experiencing something of a renaissance lately. It seems like more brands are entering the fray, and the “giants” are reacting by providing more options, more designs, and more colors. It is 2012, and it could not be any easier to get the pair or pairs of underwear that best fit you, satisfy your style preferences, and maybe even make you feel good. The problem is, a huge majority of men out there simply don’t know this and the reasons really are not that numerous so they can, and should be easily solved.

The most prominent reason most men are unaware of all of the options available to them when it comes to underwear is really the root of the problem. Most men hate to shop, especially for clothing, and the reason is that even when they know what they are looking for it is not easy to find. Department stores and other retail chains (with few exceptions) do not organize their retail around this baked-in apathy. Take jeans for example. If a man needs a new pair of jeans and wants a nice pair from a department store, all he likely cares about is the size, and maybe the shade of blue. Yet he’s got to sift through all these other options: button fly or zipper fly? Boot cut. Straight leg, Relaxed, or Skinny fit? Pocket stitching or plain pocket? If the same guy needs to refresh his underwear drawer similar problems exist, but he first has to walk about a quarter mile to the “men’s furnishings” section, and when he gets there, he’s met with what? Ugly display stands with underwear in boxes, all of which are not sorted by color or style.

It seems that every time I check out the men’s underwear section at my local Nordstrom, it looks the same as it did two weeks earlier, and I don’t just mean that anecdotally either. I actually mean, it looks exactly, the same. The problem is two-fold, one is more baked-in than the other and that is most men are notwilling to pay $24 for one pair of underwear. But I am convinced the reason there is never anyone looking at men’s underwear in Nordstrom (or any retailer for that matter) is that they can’t see the product.

It’s a matter of fact, that when men actually can see a lineup of colorful briefs or trunks hanging on a hanger on a rack, or neatly folded for all eyes to see, the will shop, and they will buy. The reason I know this is that in the same Nordstrom underwear section, those colorful Diesel briefs and trunks, and the same styles from Calvin Klein that are displayed on hangers are always picked over, while the same types of underwear languishing in their boxes, continue to be stuffed into the gargantuan wooden stands.

Think about it this way. In any department store, you don’t see many pieces of clothing tucked away into boxes where you can’t see them, do you? Ever checked out the women’s underwear section? There isn’t one pair of underwear in a box. Why is that? You have to go back to the apathy of the male shopper first. Women tend to care more about their underwear then men, yet all it takes is one glance at human anatomy to figure out that this should at least be even, if not flipped. Remember those Diesel briefs and trunks that were on the hangers that sold out so quickly?  The hangers did something for the underwear that a box can never do. The contoured pouch, shaped like a man is shaped, gets noticed, and the guy who’s wearing his multi-pack boxers, briefs, or boxer briefs thinks, “I bet these fit better” and makes the purchase. Meanwhile, all the underwear in the boxes in that stand, which is just feet away, possess the same contoured pouch the ones on the hanger do, but how is Mr. Ill-fitting Underwear supposed to know that by looking at a 2D black and white picture on a box?

The small change of moving underwear to hangers and display tables means exposure of brands and styles to men who might not have known even existed in the first place. My wife didn’t know jocks were being made with “everyday wear” designs until she went into and men’s underwear boutique with me. Since underwear for men comes with ridiculous cultural connotations what better way to expose the public to the options that are out there, than to let the public actually see what is available to men. 

 While such a change should be applauded, department stores should not stop there. Why does the men’s underwear section need to be in the same location as cuff links, umbrellas, and ties? Why can’t it be by the pants or the workout clothes? You know, the things that you put on right after you put your underwear on? I don’t know many men who put their ties on, or situate some cuff links right after they get their boxer briefs on. However, even if you get the underwear displayed properly in a department store, most men don’t go to department stores to buy their underwear. Location is just as important to growing sales.

Think back to the guy buying some jeans. What if, on his way to the counter to buy them, he and the sales person pass a round table with some form fitting briefs displayed neatly? The salesperson says, “I don’t know what your preferences are, but these underwear are designed specifically with the cut of the jeans you are buying in mind.” Obviously the sales person won’t convince every customer, but they only need to convince a couple men per week and the store’s underwear sales go up.

I firmly believe that the guy that picks up his first pair of underwear with a contour pouch from a department store is going to feel the same way I did when my wife brought home the pair that started my obsession. Online retailers will be the likely beneficiaries if he really gets into them, but the guy has to know that they’re available to him. And as far as I can tell, despite large increases in men’s underwear sales, a simple re-evaluation of how their products are being displayed by retailers is an opportunity worth pursuing.