Underwear Guy Review: Calvin Klein Body Thong Review
Designer/Manufacturer: Calvin Klein 
Website: www.cku.com
Price: $15.00

Today’s review is another entry in the men’s thong category, this time from classic underwear designer Calvin Klein. The Body line is one of CK’s longer-running series of underwear. It was the first CK product to introduce a pouch to specifically shape and lift and has proven to have a popular run, lasting several years. The original Body line was introduced in three basic colors: white, gray and black. Over time Calvin Klein added variety to the body lineup with a broad range of colors although I believe the thong has not been afforded that honor. The material of the Body line is a complex blend of 60% Cotton/27% Polyester/7% Nylon/6% Elastine. The blend is definitely comfortable although it’s not as soft or stretchable as the 365 line. I think this mix provides lasting durability and shaping since all my CK Body underwear has held up very well after many wash/wear cycles over the years. Update: Blog Reader Ed has tipped me that not all the Body line is this mix and in fact some of the thongs are 100% cotton. This is of course an interesting mystery since I also have other Body underwear that lists 100% cotton as well. Additionally the FreshPair.com as well as CKU.com sites list this thong as 100% cotton but BareNecessities.com and ABCUnderwear.com list it as the same mix that I have noted here with the same CK style code: U1061. The two are similar but not exactly the same in my opinion. I would say this review is relevant for both fabric contents as the 100% cotton performs similarly but be aware of possible differences for your purchase and check the fabric blend on the box and tag if you can. I think I would give a slight edge to the blended fabric overall. The waistband is a traditional elastic construction that is 1 ½” in height with the iconic Calvin Klein logo emboss-woven in a repeating pattern.

I’ve tried almost the entire range of Body underwear styles and have found the sizing mostly true-to-size although I have found the smalls comfortable which would be a size down from my normal mediums. I think it would be up to your preference if you want to try a tighter fit then you may consider a size down for yourself-keeping in mind that I fall on the lower end of the medium range of a 32”-34” waist. The thong in particularly has some extra length on the back strap that seemed to fit better in the smaller size. The strap is folded over fabric just shy of ½” and fairly thick with almost 4 layers of material sewn together. I think a little less material on the back strap might have been nicer but it’s very solidly constructed which helps durability. One thing that I would say is a bit anomalous is the style of back strap shown in the product photos on the box isn’t quite accurate to the real item in-hand that I have. There seems to be a lot more material in the top part of the thong as it tapers vertically in the box packaging artwork while my version is smaller with the triangle of material measuring 2 ½” at the top waist seam and extending down only about 2 ½” before turning in the strap. On the box I’d say the vertical measurement prior to turning into a strap looks more like 3 ½” (at least visually). It’s not a big deal at all but just something you may want to be aware of. The front pouch is double-layer material with a center seam and is fairly minimal on coverage but still seems good for a standard thong cut. The design of the Body line pouch deserves high marks with a comfortable fit that definitely creates a better than average shape that doesn’t seem artificial.

The Grades:

Fit:	A	I’ve always been happy with the fit of my CK Body underwear and this thong also works out well. As mentioned the back strap is a bit thick but not to a degree that causes any wearing problems.
Design:	B+/A-	The Body line is a good basic underwear choice although it won’t win any major awards for colors or prints. The overall pattern cut and pouch design has held up very well despite all the more flashy entries in the men’s underwear basics space. I would probably give the edge to the Cin-2 lineup for overall underwear basics but I haven’t tried their thong yet so that’s an entirely speculative opinion.
Material:	A	The very durable cotton blend of the Body line works very well and is comfortable for all-day wear across multiple activities.
Construction:	A+	Something Calvin Klein underwear almost always excels at is superb construction with perfectly cut material and very neatly sewn seams.
Overall Grade:	A	Excellent grades across the board with nothing to prevent me from giving a very positive “buy” recommendation if you are looking for a thong choice for men.
Would I buy another pair? Yes, I would buy another CK Body thong although I’d like to try a different color if there were more choices.

Where To Buy:
It’s hard to find a retail store that doesn’t sell the CK Body lineup including Macys: Product Page. There is a virtual army of online stores to purchase the CK body thong not the least of which is Calvin Klein direct at CKU.com: Product page, other online stores include: Skiviez.com: Product Page, International Jock: Product Page, MensUnderwearStore.com: Product Page, Audace.com: Product Page, and FreshPair.com: Product Page. TopDrawers.com: Product Page.

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