Men's Underwear Guy - Reviews, News and Opinions on Men's Underwear

Undergear Big Rib Bodysuit Review

2008-05-06T21:55:51Z

Underwear Guy Review: Undergear Big Rib Bodysuit
Designer/Manufacturer: Undergear
Website: www.undergear.com
Price: $19.99

For this review I'm covering a slightly more unusual underwear item in the form of the classic Undergear Big Rib Bodysuit. This may be one of Undergear's longest-running products next to the bootlegger brief. This is a unique item produced exclusively by Undergear although you can find other men's bodysuits or leotards produced by NDS Wear, California Muscle and BodyAware among others. Often used in dance, gymnastics, or general workouts, leotard/bodysuits typically consist of a tank or full-shirt top that includes a brief or thong bottom designed as a single piece to keep the top in place through all sorts of active movement. Usually these garments are made out of nylon/spandex combinations but in the case of this version from Undergear 100% cotton is used throughout. Earning its name, the cotton fabric has a very large rib weave that is spaced out by about 1/4" between each rib. The cotton material is thin but not transparent and has a medium amount of stretch although that's thanks to the rib so the stretch runs on the horizontal direction but only minimally on the vertical. Color options are basic with the usual white, gray and black available for purchase. I've found through several Undergear purchases that their in-house designs often run larger than normal so I ordered this bodysuit in a size small and it fit well. I think sizing for a bodysuit is a bit more tricky to make global recommendations on since it's not just waist sizing but also overall torso dimensions but I'll go out on a limb and say size down for a better fit. You'll find the logo and size tags are attached side by side at the top of the back and measure 1" wide by 1" tall for the size tag and 7/8" tall by 2 3/16" wide for the Undergear logo tag.

Something I haven't mentioned yet is the back of this bodysuit which is styled as a thong. The back includes the leg-bands which are very wide at 1" although there is overlap as they converge into the strap in back which results in a width about 1 1/4" wide. Although I'm not sure the back strap was as comfortable as possible I did like the look of the wide leg-bands coming around the back and around the legs which created a sturdy and masculine look. The front includes a basic seamed pouch which provides decent room but not a lot of shaping. I wasn't particularly in love with the finishing of the seam of the pouch which was very visible and left a noticeable fabric "nub" on the outside. Single-layer fabric in the front pouch wouldn't have been ideal for performance so there is a somewhat unusual solution created via a fabric "flap" on the inside that doubles the material thickness from the base of the pouch up to 4 1/2". This solution isn't a bad idea but I think the design/manufacturing could have been better as the flap is sewn up on the sides but left loose on the top. The fabric flap doesn't stay in place as well as it could and has a tendency to fold down while putting the bodysuit on or moving around.

The Grades:

Fit:	B-	Although I haven't worn many bodysuits I know that there could have been a better design built around the pouch. I also feel the thong back could probably have been worked out to be a little more minimal in material thickness so I'm going to go with a decent if not stellar score on fit.	Pouch Fit

Design:	B	The design of this bodysuit is basic with the two biggest visual contributions coming from the ribbing of the fabric and the wide reinforced edges of the legs and top. For the overall design score I'm going to go with a "B" which seems to fit the level of detailing provided in the garment.
Material:	C+/B-	I know the name is "Big Rib" but I wasn't a fan of this fabric. I think the ribbing could have been maintained but with a more comfortable, stretchable and thicker fabric. The 100% cotton weave is basic and functional but not in-line with a more top-tier cotton from C-In2 or 2Xist for example.
Construction:	A	Quality of construction on this item was very good with clean and straight stitching throughout and good finishing on the cut edges of the material.
Overall Grade:	C+/B-	Often you get what you pay for and at $20 this isn't a major investment. Nevertheless, I think I would rather spend a little more money and in return get a more "designed" underwear item.
Would I buy another pair? No, I think this makes for an interesting trial but I would check out the alternate brands available if I were looking for another bodysuit.

Wear Recommendations:


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

Where To Buy:

As an Undergear-branded garment the only place to order is from Undergear.com: Product Page.

Photos:

Artificial Flavor Tie Dye Low Rise Brief Review

2008-05-04T09:14:08Z

Underwear Guy Review: Artificial Flavor Tie Dye Low Rise Brief
Designer/Manufacturer: Artificial Flavor
Website: www.aflavor.com
Price: $27.50

Artificial Flavor has released several new designs as well as refreshes of their past collections for 2008 and this week I thought I'd give the new Tie Dye brief a try. I reviewed the corporal brief a while back which was a mostly positive review so I expected a similar level of design and performance from the tie dye brief. Available in a mixed color pattern of orange/brown or green/brown the look is definitely as titled: tie dye. Each brief is unique with a random pattern of splotchy color applied all over the 50% cotton 50% polyester fabric. Artificial flavor underwear runs true-to-size with the medium cut working out well for a standard 32-33" waist. The waistband is a fairly basic production as a 1 1/4" woven element in dark brown with bright yellow logos repeated all the way around. The tag on the back of the waistband on the inside is a cleanly printed silky nylon material that measures 2 1/8" wide by 1 1/4" tall. The back of this low rise brief is full coverage and the sides are fairly narrow at 1 3/4" tall not including the waistband. The leg-bands are a real fit/comfort issue for myself as I found them to be much too tight and allowed for very little stretch. The front pouch is not particularly comfortable either with a snug design to begin with that is compounded by the stiff fabric. There isn't too much shaping via the basic pouch design which is a simple cut seam at the base and everything feels very constricting. The front is dual-layer material which helps keep things modest for every-day wear.

The Grades:

Fit:	C-	The waistband might fit ok but everything else is really hampered by the stiff fabric and poorly designed pouch. If you like tight underwear in the pouch or have particularly skinny legs this might work for you but I don't recommend this for comfort or fit for most guys.	Pouch Fit

Design:	B	The tie-dye color options are definitely a fun alternative to solids or patterns and the bold logos on the brown waistband stand out nicely. The rest of the brief is fairly standard design so the major selling point is going to be the color over anything else.
Material:	B+	This material lacks any spandex for stretch and I think it really hampered the fit of the brief. On its own regardless of the cut, the fabric is smooth and soft to the touch so a positive score if one considers this material by itself.
Construction:	B	For the most part the construction of this brief is good if not stellar with clean cuts on the fabric and straight stitching. I noticed some issues on the join between the fabric and the waistband that weren't finished as cleanly as they could be so I'm lowering the score a bit for that.
Overall Grade:	C-	If you can't wear underwear comfortably then it doesn't matter how fun the color is so I have to go with a low score. I also feel like at this price point expectations should be high and unfortunately this product delivers far below that bar.
Would I buy another pair? No, the design is fairly basic beyond the fun colors and the fit really tanked it for me.

Wear Recommendations:


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

Where To Buy:

There are not too many places you can order this brief but you can always go direct to AFlavor.com: Product Page, or online at Skiviez.com: Product Page, or via phone or in-store purchases at Underu4men.com.

Photos:

AussieBum Lightning Trunk Review

2008-05-03T17:57:14Z

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:

Mansilk Silk Knit Thong Review

2008-05-04T09:14:53Z

Underwear Guy Review: Mansilk Silk Knit Thong
Designer/Manufacturer: Mansilk by Mary Green
Website: www.mansilk.com
Price: $15.00

Mary Green's line of men's silk underwear has been a mostly quiet business with virtually no advertising or marketing campaigns to speak of. Despite the low profile of the brand the various thongs, bikinis, briefs and boxer-briefs sold under the Mansilk label are readily available via a broad selection of online stores. The key market differentiator for Mansilk underwear is its use of silk materials for the various undergarments. Available in a broad variety of colors the silk knit material that makes up this thong is soft, stretchable and smooth to the touch making it wearable in a variety of situations. This thong has been on the market for many years and follows a very classic cut available in no less than 10 different colors including the white version shown here. The white of this thong is actually slightly off-white and appears closer to a light cream color in-person. Designed as a traditional thong the elastic waistband is fully-covered, measures 3/4" tall and fits true-to-size with the medium working out well for myself. The thong back strap is 3/4" wide at its most narrow point which includes the 3/8" covered elastic bands that run all the way around the front as well. On the inside-back of the thong strap you will find the Mansilk logo tag which measures 1 3/4" wide by 3/4" tall and is accompanied to the right by a care/size tag combination which measures approximately 1" wide by 5/8" tall.

The sides of this thong are minimal and shorten to just 1/2" not including the waistband. The front pouch is thankfully dual-layer silk knit since single layer would be nearly see-through and not very durable. The front includes a center seam and is designed with an average size pouch. Those of you who prefer extra room up-front probably should skip this thong as the silk knit is not generously stretchable so you won't get any extra room from the material. The pouch on this thong is a decent design but not particularly effective at lifting or defining your shape. One thing I did like was just the right amount of length given to the strap so that the pouch is kept snug rather than too loose to create unsightly "gaps" on the sides. Considering that this is silk you will want to keep in mind that your outlines will be easily visible due to the thinness of the fabric.

The Grades:

Fit:	B+	The overall fit is good with a relatively unobtrusive strap design and a comfortable waistband. The pouch is not as nicely defining as the Sport Brief cut from Mansilk but it does the job of giving you room up front.	Pouch Fit

Design:	B+	This is a very basic thong design without too many "extras" in the visuals department but the broad variety of colors is welcome and the clean lines are functional.
Material:	A	The silk of this thong is knit in a way that allows for stretch and breatheability which is welcome for an underwear item. The material is soft to the touch but also surprisingly strong when stretched out.
Construction:	A	Mansilk items are usually manufactured well and this thong seemed to uphold those standards with clean seams and notably clean cuts on the fabric edges.
Overall Grade:	B+	This is a simple garment but the cut works well and the silk material is a nice change of pace from synthetic and cotton blends.
Would I buy another pair? Yes, I would consider another thong from the Mansilk line particularly with the broad variety of colors available to choose from.

Wear Recommendations:


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

Where To Buy:

This Mansilk Thong is available direct from the Mary Green website ManSilk.com: Product Page. There are several other online retailers offering the silk knit thong including: FreshPair.com: Product Page, MensUnderwearStore.com: Product Page, HisRoom.com: Product Page, FigLeaves.com: Product Page and BareNecessities.com: Product Page.

Photos:

Reader Comments and Questions 6th Edition

2008-04-27T23:20:20Z

Reader Comments and Questions 6th Edition
What underwear to wear in the heat of summer...trunks that fit great but don't break the bank and some readers share what's in their underwear drawers.

Well, clearly I didn't get to my next Reader edition until now unlike what I had hoped for which was to publish last weekend. On the upside I was able to get quite a few reviews out which I'm happy for and they were positive ones as well!

There's so much new underwear to review and try out that I've recently gotten in-hand including the CK Active Tech hip brief and CK Micro Modal brief, Clever Dragon print foil boxer brief, Life Underwear bikinis, Artificial Flavor tie dye briefs, AussieBum Flash boxer brief, Undergear Thong (different from the Contour version) and the Jameswinston S-Brief. I will keep working away at the reviews to get you the latest hits and misses for men's underwear this season.

This Reader Edition had a lot of links and images to track down as well as a lot of additional research to find the best recommendations for Drew's question about what briefs would be good for the heat of summer so I hope you find the information useful. After the "heat" question I've answered Tony's request for advice regarding trunks that are affordable and finally some long overdue spotlight on reader's underwear drawer photo submissions.

If you've written in and haven't seen a response yet-keep reading. I'll work on answering more questions ASAP!

Thanks for reading!

Underwear Guy

Reader Drew has been feeling the heat and he was interested in some warm-weather brief options:

Hello,

I need a recommendation for underwear. I live and work in Florida...it gets very hot down here. I recently started wearing briefs (2xist Varsity) and love them. As it gets hotter though it seems like these may not be good for hot weather. I work in hot attics and on roofs all day...so it’s hot. What underwear do you recommend for this? I used to wear boxers but when you sweat and move a lot they ride up. Is there a nice breathing brief out there I can try?

Thanks, Drew

Hello Drew,

Thanks for writing with your question. The season is finally changing where I live as well and as warmer temperatures arrive it’s a good idea to have some different underwear options that help keep things cool and comfortable. I have often read conflicting advice on fabrics e.g. cotton vs. new-age synthetics and my opinion is that the effectiveness of the material has a lot more to do with overall weight and type of weave rather than the specific source fiber. For example cotton can be great with the right amount of stretch but if it’s a low quality cotton you’ll be much happier with a synthetic and the reverse can be true as well. Although briefer styles like sport briefs and bikinis can be beneficial since there’s less material to trap heat, I’m going to limit what I recommend here to briefs since that seems to be your preferred style.

Top Recommendations
Mesh fabrics are often a good choice when it comes to allowing for as much cooling as possible while still providing support and coverage. C-In2 Underwear offers a couple of good options in mesh including the Kinetic Mesh brief which is a light cotton mesh that is stretchable but supportive and available in some nice, masculine colors including the newly released olive and blue. The other mesh option from C-In2 is the Bamboo line which uses a very lightweight and airy material and is great for warmer weather. I have tried both of these lines in brief cuts and can recommend them for fit, comfort, construction and even package enhancement although I realize that’s more of a side benefit than your primary concern. Right now to the best of my knowledge 2Xist does’t seem to be offering a good mesh fabric option within their collections so unfortunately I don’t have any good recommendations for the other big-name in designer men’s underwear in a brief cut.


C-In2 Bamboo Mesh Racer Brief Price: $19.50 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: InternationalJock.com: Product Page Skiviez.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page MensunderwearStore.com: Product Page	C-In2 Cotton Kinetic Mesh Brief Price: $13.50 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: MalestromOnline.com: Product Page InternationalJock.com: Product Page Skiviez.com: Product Page

Calvin Klein has recently released 2 new mesh lines of underwear that are specially designed for active wear and warm temperatures so they seem like very good options for your situation. I reviewed the new Calvin Klein Tech Active Mesh jock recently and yesterday I just bought the brief version. I was surprised that the pouch of the brief is a lot more shaping and supportive than the jockstrap both of which fit true-to-size. The Tech Active line is made from a synthetic mesh material which is designed to help absorb moisture and improve airflow. The Tech Cool brief is the same cut as the Tech Active but in a cotton mesh fabric which is also good for keeping things cool.


Calvin Klein Tech Active Hip Brief Price: $22.00 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: CKU.com: Product Page BareNecessities.com: Product Page FigLeaves.com: Product Page InternationalJock.com: Product Page Skiviez.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page MensunderwearStore.com: Product Page	Calvin Klein Tech Cool Hip Brief Price: $22.00 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: CKU.com: Product Page Macys.com: Product Page BareNecessities.com: Product Page FigLeaves.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page

Other Cool Mesh Performance Underwear Options
Some other mesh options that would be worth trying out include options from Play Underwear, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Baskit.

Play Underwear has produced a line of cotton mini-mesh underwear and offers a brief cut in red, blue and gray colors for a reasonable $21 per pair. If you’re looking for a fuller-cut brief this may the style you are looking for.

DKNY has discontinued the Sport line but it's worth checking out as it offers a stretch cotton front pouch and then a stretch polyester mesh fabric for the sides and back. I have some other DKNY underwear from the newer releases and I’ve enjoyed the overall fit and quality so I would assume this sport version would be equally as good. Luckily there are still many online retailers selling this brief.

After several years of being somewhat dormant, Baskit Underwear is making a comeback and they just released a new series of collections including a mesh pouch brief and a full mesh brief made of 100% cotton. These are so new I haven’t had a chance to try them out but my past Baskit purchases were generally true to size and well-made.


Play Mini Mesh Brief Price: $21.00 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: Intimo.com: Product Page InternationalJock.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page	DKNY Sport Mesh Brief Price: $19.50 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: (Based on other similar DKNY items I would say the pouch is not necessarily extra-roomy but it does have more room than 2Xist or C-In2 underwear.) Where To Buy: BareNecessities.com: Product Page FigLeaves.com: Product Page HisRoom.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page MensunderwearStore.com: Product Page	Baskit Cool Mesh Brief Price: $18.50 Sizing: Unknown at this time Pouch Fit: Unknown at this time Where To Buy: Skiviez.com: Product Page

Baskit Cool Mesh Pouch Brief
Price: $18.00
Sizing:
Unknown at this time
Pouch Fit:
Unknown at this time

Where To Buy:
InternationalJock.com: Product Page
Skiviez.com: Product Page

Micro Modal Recommendations
Besides cotton and bamboo mesh fabrics another material that performs very well for heat is Micro Modal which is available in various styles from a select number of labels. Micro Modal is a more expensive material but it is stronger than cotton, feels extremely smooth and is still breathes well. Calvin Klein sells a Micro Modal brief in black or white colors for a reasonable $20. I have the bikini brief and just purchased the brief from this line and one aspect on sizing I should note is that I found (at least for myself) that a full size down resulted in a better fit. The material and waistband are both very stretchy which allowed for a lot of comfort even when going down a size. 2xist offers an entire line of micro modal underwear called Luxe which I think is worth a check. Unfortunately C-In2 has discontinued their micro modal line called Posh but you can still find some online websites that are selling remaining inventories.


Calvin Klein Micro Modal Brief Price: $20.00 Sizing: 1 size down recommended Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: CKU.com: Product Page BareNecessities.com: Product Page HisRoom.com: Product Page TopDrawers.com: Product Page	2Xist Luxe No Show Brief Price: $22.00 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: (Assumption based on other similar 2Xist items.) Where To Buy: InternationalJock.com: Product Page FreshPair.com: Product Page MensunderwearStore.com: Product Page

Conclusion
There's clearly a lot of options currently available for cooling down in the summer. The great thing is that all these choices are fashionable and reasonably priced. I noticed that color is no longer lacking in even the performance ranges of men's underwear with the CK Tech lines offering red and blue colors as well as the C-In2, Play and Baskit briefs available in all sorts of colors from subdued blue to bright orange. Clearly we'll find summer can still be "cool" for fashion and function.

Tony wrote in for some tips for good trunks that don't break the bank:

Hey what’s up?

I’m looking for a recommendation on a good pair of boxer brief and/or trunk cut underwear. The main thing I am looking for is a material mix that does not end up being stretched out by the end of the day. My 100% cotton pairs end up being like regular boxers by the end of the day because they get all stretched out around my thighs. Recently I picked up some made by ‘PLAY’ and they are by far my favorite pair. What are the other comparable ones in the market? It would be nice to find some in the $10-$15 range rather than $20+. Please share your expertise.

Thanks

Hello Tony, thanks for the question. There’s absolutely no problem finding plenty of good boxer briefs and trunks on the market but what can definitely be a challenge is finding ones in the price range of $10-$15. With the US dollar continuing to have less purchasing power, imported goods including exotic fibers have become increasingly expensive. It probably doesn’t help that designer men’s underwear has been on an upwards pricing trend as well with the average high-end brief now tipping the $20+ range. Assuming we take list price and not opportunistic sales into account here are some recommendations for trunks that wear well but don't require a lot of money.

The American Eagle boxer brief is a solid option made from a stretch cotton with some great color options and a good fit. These are priced at a very reasonable 2 for $20 online and in American Eagle Stores. Click here for the original review where I found them to be an excellent all-day wear trunk that was fashionable and comfortable.

When looking for an affordable underwear choice the go-to brand is frequently Life Underwear by Jockey and they happen to offer a couple of good options including the fashionable Euro Trunk (originally reviewed here) and the Sculptured Pouch collection (review here) both of which are under $15 per pair. I should note that I found the microfiber version of the Sculptured Pouch collection better than the cotton version because the waistband was smooth. With the cotton sculptured pouch the waistband is quite rough on the inside and I didn't like it as much for all-day wear. Jockey Underwear can be hit or miss but I liked the sport brief from the seamless waistband collection (review here) and I think the boxer-brief version would also be a decent choice for you as well.


American Eagle Low Rise Trunk Price: 2 for $20.00 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: AE.com: Product Page	Life Underwear Sculptured Pouch Trunk Price: Under $10 per pair Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: Wal-Mart Stores	Jockey Price: 2 for $19.50 Sizing: True To Size Pouch Fit: Where To Buy: Jockey.com: Product Page JCPenny.com: Product Page BareNecessities.com: Product Page

Readers share what's in their drawers:

A while ago I ran an article titled: A Peek Inside My Underwear...Drawers where I detailed some of my underwear collection via a few photos of my underwear drawers. Since then some readers have sent in their photos as well and I thought it was long overdue I share them here. Longtime reader William was kind enough to send his photos in which he said his underwear was "arranged mostly according to colors and type: briefs and boxers. " It looks as though William has a nice collection of very organized underwear including quite a few briefs from Report, C-In2 and Mundo Unico among others. Thanks for sharing William and happy underwear shopping!

AC from the BrfLines Blog and Website was kind enough to share a peek into his underwear drawer as well and explained a little more about his collection:

I try to match the color of my underwear with the shirt I'm wearing that day. Thus, rather than organize by brand like you have, I have them stacked by color. some of the colors that I don't have a lot of (like yellow) I include in color groups that they most closely fit in. I have all kinds of brands. Off the top of my head I have CK, 2xist, Jockey, C-In2, Diesel, Emporio Armani, A|X, Ben Sherman, Lonsdale, Bjorn Borg, Pierre Cardin, Eyelit, Zara, Sloggi, Hom, Mey, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Ginch Gonch, Punto Blanco, and I'm sure others I've forgotten! I hope you like the pic!

Thanks AC for sharing, you have quite a broad collection including many of the more exotic brands from Europe, way to go! Your organization by color is a nice way to keep things easy to pick out as well.

Undergear Contour Thong Review

2008-04-23T22:25:34Z

Underwear Guy Review: Undergear Contour Thong
Designer/Manufacturer: Undergear
Website: www.undergear.com
Price: $9.99

Undergear's website and catalogs cycle through a broad range of styles and brands every season. From big names like C-In2 to smaller niche lines like N-Fini, every month offers a new array of cuts, designs and colors. One Undergear constant that has not changed much over the years is the Contour line of underwear. This Undergear in-house line consists of a variety of boxer briefs, squarecuts, bikini briefs, briefs and thongs manufactured in an array of colors and prints. The Contour line has always been priced within a more affordable range and this thong is no exception coming in at just under $10. There are several color options to choose from including dark tones like olive green and bright colors like my purchase: raspberry. The raspberry color is very bright and almost neon in hue so if you like highly saturated colors you can go with this featured color or the bright orange version called "sun". I actually purchased the heather color version of this thong as well but that was my first order in a size medium which proved significantly oversized and unwearable so I had to order a new thong in small which was a much better fit. The surface feel of this thong is very soft and allows for a surprising amount of stretch despite being a 100% cotton blend. Considering that even the small size thong has plenty of waist-room I can't imagine anyone not being able to size down at least one full size to find a better overall fit.

The waistband is fully covered elastic and measures 1/2" tall with an Undergear logo tag attached at the interior-back. That logo tag measures 1 1/4" wide by 7/8" tall and the size/content tag to the right measures 1" wide by 1" tall. I would have liked a little more efficient tag design to reduce the attachments in the back (especially for a thong) but at least the pair of tags were not irritating from a comfort experience. The strap in back is a classic thong cut with the waistband attachment width measuring approximately 5" across and the narrowest part of the strap measuring 5/8". Narrow elastic is sewn into the leg and strap edges of the thong resulting in a reinforced edge of about 1/4" all around from the back strap, to the leg sides and down the sides of the front pouch. The front pouch is a slightly narrower design with a fit that is just a bit on the snug side but it's good if you like a closer fit. I did have some issues with the pouch creating some gaps around the sides-although this does happen sometimes with a thong cut. I found the pouch did a good job of creating definition and lift while not feeling constricting and the double-layer of material was appreciated for creating a sense of durability and quality thanks to the thicker material in front.

The Grades:

Fit:	A-	Overall I was happy with the fit of this thong. Once you size down you'll find the waist is secure enough to keep the sides from falling down and the back strap is comfortable enough for extended periods of wearing. Although not advertised strictly as an enhancer underwear item I think you will find some nice package lift provided by the Contour design pouch.	Pouch Fit

Design:	B+/A-	There's nothing too revolutionary about the design of this thong but the wide array of colors is nice for those of us who like choices and the cut of the narrow waist with the pouch front makes for a nice design.
Material:	A	I really liked this 100% cotton blend since it provided a significant amount of stretch even without any spandex added.
Construction:	A	Construction on this thong was solid with clean seams, straight stitching and no loose threads.
Overall Grade:	A-	For the affordable price of $10 I think you'll find this a very wearable and versatile thong to add to your underwear drawer.
Would I buy another pair? If I am looking for another thong to buy I would definitely consider the Undergear Contour thong as an option.

Where To Buy:

As an Undergear-branded garment the only place to order is from Undergear.com: Product Page.

Wear Recommendations:


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

Photos:

Jameswinston Co. Petit Bikini Brief Review

2008-04-22T18:05:11Z

Underwear Guy Review: Jameswinston Co. Petit Bikini Brief
Designer/Manufacturer: Jamesinston Co.
Website: www.jameswinston.uk.com
Price: $25.00 (approximate cost based on exchange rate)

There has been a lot of underwear blog coverage of Jameswinston Co. underwear lately due in no small part to a clever and effective marketing campaign. Fun advertising imagery and sexy new cuts have been added to the previously released boxer brief and trunk styles and I thought it would be interesting to try out the new products. For a little background, Jameswinston Co. is a fairly recent newcomer to the men's underwear market with their first product introduction in late 2006. The first Jameswinston products were trunk-style hipsters which I liked at the time but wasn't motivated to purchase. The following product release that got my attention was the Neon range (look for a review soon) which was a briefer trunk in bright colors with a form-fitting design and some nice accent details. Fast-forward to the last few weeks and we've seen the introduction of the new Petit Brief (bikini brief) and S-Brief (squarecut style brief) which bring some nice variety to the Jameswinston Co. lineup beyond the hipster styles. I ordered the new Petit brief direct from the Jameswinston Co. online store shortly after they were launched. For those of you wondering about the timeframe when ordering from the UK, I was surprised that my order was delivered within 7 days so you should find that it won't take much longer to order internationally than a US-based store.

other colors available

There are actually two material variants for the Petit brief including a soft and stretchy 94% cotton and 6% elastane blend and a ribbed version which is 92% cotton and 8% elastane. Both cuts are the same although your color options are different depending on the material choice. The palette of colors are currently a very nice range of dark, saturated natural tones including the "Caspian" blue-green and "Tzar" dark red (ribbed) featured here. I like both fabric blends as they are equally breathable and nicely flexible but I think I give a slight edge to the non-rib material for its slightly softer-touch finish. I found the fit of these bikini briefs to be true-to-size with the mediums working out well (in both blends) for myself.

The fabric content and wash/care tag is nicely small and unobtrusive at 3/4" wide by 1" tall and is made from a smooth synthetic fabric that doesn't scratch or irritate. Since this is a bikini brief cut, the waistband is logically minimal with a covered elastic band that measures about 1/4" tall. You'll note in the detail photos the contrast color stitching which is a nice subtle design touch. It can be tricky to add design elements to a bikini brief that is meant to be a classic, modern style but I think the small woven patches added to the front and back were an excellent addition that provides a little visual element without over-riding the modern simplicity. On the back you'll find a small Jameswinston Co. text badge that measures just shy of 2" wide and 3/8" tall and on the front you'll find a small 5/8" round, rugged "J" logo badge.

Something I think is a nice design for men's underwear is a slight v-shape to the front and for some reason this isn't incorporated into very many designs. Thankfully the Petit brief has a v-shape angle that is not too extreme but helps the front to be low-rise while allowing the sides to rise to a comfortable angle and rest more naturally on your hips. The sides of the brief narrow to 1 1/4" which provides freedom of movement while still providing good tension to keep the full-coverage back and front pouch properly fitted to your body. The front pouch on these bikinis is very nicely designed with a good combination of lift and shaping that provides an enhanced outline while still being very comfortable for all-day wear. The front is dual-layer material which keeps things from becoming overly revealing and you can optionally position your member more up-front within the pouch which is called the "ProFIL Panel PLUS™". (Updated info thanks to Brian James who clarified that the front is not a pocket design although you can theoretically do so if interested).

The Grades:

Fit:	A	Bikinis are frequently a style offered by cheaper department store brands with little though put into fit or function. This is not the case with these Jameswinston Petit briefs where all the possible areas of fit have been nicely thought-out with the full-coverage back combined with the comfortable and effective pouch lead to a very versatile and wearable undergarment.	Pouch Fit

Design:	A+	I'm really pleased with the product design features which include the nice array of masculine colors, contrast stitching, subtle yet eye-catching logo badges, dual-layer front and v-shape waist.
Material:	A	As stated in the review there are two different fabric blends available with a slight edge given to the non-rib version but both are comfortable with plenty of stretch and a nice soft finish.
Construction:	A	The construction quality on my briefs was good with clean seams and even cuts on the pattern shapes.
Overall Grade:	A	At this higher price point I expect some excellent product innovation, design and fit and luckily these bikini briefs delivered very nicely on all points.
Would I buy another pair? Yes, I would definitely consider the other colors in the line given the wearability of the cut.

Wear Recommendations:


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

Where To Buy:

Right now the Petit briefs are available exclusively through the Jameswinston Co. website at: Jameswinston.uk.com: Product Page.

Photos: