Underwear Guy Review: AussieBum Lightning Trunk
Designer/Manufacturer: AussieBum 
Website: www.aussiebum.com
Price: $30.00 (plus import and currency exchange fees)

AussieBum underwear continues to innovate within the men's underwear market with new designs, materials and patterns on a regular basis. One of the latest releases by AussieBum is the new Lightning trunk made from 87% micro modal and 13% spandex printed in a bold and somewhat wild plaid pattern available in pink (as shown in this review), 2 versions of blue and black. The printing of the micro modal material does add a small amount of stiffness to the surface making it not quite as soft as bare fabric but after a couple of wash cycles this effect is negligible. Next to the bold print the waistband is probably the most noticeable design element with a giant 2 1/2" tall woven metallic silver band with AussieBum logos repeated all the way around. The interior of the waistband is texturized microfiber for softness which helps considering how large an element it is for this trunk. The elastic of the waistband is quite strong and not as stretchable as you might find in other underwear. As a design element I think the waistband is an interesting innovation which makes for a striking graphic canvas but for wearability I find it falls a little close to compromising comfort over style. I won't go so far as to say the waistband is uncomfortable but if you combine its overall size and general strength of elasticity I would say it's not a functional element that will please everyone. The size of these trunks is true-to-size with the mediums working out OK for the stated 32"-33" waist measurement. I would advise that this waistband element will not be particularly flattering for anyone with even minor body fat on their sides or front since the strength of the elastic and sheer size will create the dreaded "muffin-top" look pretty quickly. The interior-back of the waistband includes an oversized AussieBum logo tag sewn flat and measuring a very generous 4 1/4" wide by 2 1/2" tall. Again, I'm a little divided on the design elements here with the logo tag feeling overwhelming as a visual part of this trunk. I can see how some might find it a neat changeup from the typical tag design but for myself it just simply seems enormous and feels over-blown given that it doesn't help fit or function in any way.

The legs of this trunk are a bit longer than the usual AussieBum style extending 6 1/2" on the sides including the 3/4" black contrast bindings but not including the waistband. The leg-bands on this trunk are relatively accommodating but they do have their limits due to the reinforced stitching accomplished with a contrast silver thread. I wouldn't say the leg bands were too tight but for my slightly larger than average legs there was enough tension created that I was aware of them while wearing the trunk throughout the day. The pouch also has black contrast material making up the piping reinforcements on the sides that measure 3/8" wide. The pouch itself is average size with double-layer material to help keep things in-place. The pouch front provides better than average lift and shaping while maintaining a good amount of comfort for all-day wear.

The Grades:

Fit:	C+/B-	I might almost recommend you size up for a more comfortable wearing experience but I think my concerns on the fit of this trunk are in more subtle and not so subtle areas unregulated by the overall size. The leg bands are a minor issue that I think will be OK for most guys but I don't feel like going with an A+ on that element. The element of greater debate is the waistband which is a love it or hate it concept in my opinion. I think I prefer more regular-sized waistbands so I might be closer to the hate it category but I want to keep my mind open for the benefit of those out there that like it. The pouch counts on the positive side for a good design that fits well.	Pouch Fit
Design:	A	I'm separating my fit concerns over the waistband from the design aspects which I think are innovative and visually appealing. The printed color selections are striking and relatively unique on the market right now and the contrast piping and leg bands add a nice level of visual strengths to the design.
Material:	A	Micro modal is quickly becoming the go-to fabric for high-quality underwear and for this trunk the combination with spandex makes for a very stretchable, strong and wearable material.
Construction:	A+	AussieBum earns excellent marks for construction with superbly sewn seams on the waistband, extra-sharp cuts on the fabric edges and no loose threads.
Overall Grade:	B-	This is an interesting addition to the AussieBum underwear lineup but I'm not necessarily a huge fan. I think this is a solid trunk that works for most all-day wearing conditions but make sure you are really compatible with the design elements that make up this garment.
Would I buy another pair? I bought the blue version of this trunk but I probably won't buy any more beyond that. I don't see myself wanting to wear these on a frequent basis.

Wear Recommendations:

All-day Wear	Loungewear	Athletic	Sleepwear	Office Wear	Special Occasion	Bedroom Wear

Where To Buy:

AussieBum tends to keep most of their lines exclusive to their website with purchases only available online at their website: Product Page. UnderU4Men also sells these trunks and accepts phone orders within the US.

Photos: