Here’s the best travel underwear you can find

Because I know you all just want to get into my pants again.

Underwear is a tricky beast; with so many protrusions and contours going every which way, it’s a wonder anyone has ever been able to form a two-dimensional fabric into such a demandingly three-dimensional garment…but then of course it should come as no surprise that so many options out there are so insufferably terrible, especially in the somewhat more elusive world of performance fabrics.

In fact the first incarnation of this article was merely a tirade about how everything out there was so awful, as I had spent literally a decade digging around all over the internet for travel underwear that was even remotely tolerable, and came up empty-handed every time. I have thrown out more pairs of underwear than I’d like to admit, but dammit, I’m finally able to offer some good advice so you don’t have to end up in the same stupid predicament.

What makes great travel underwear?

I recently wrote an extensive post on what makes the best men’s underwear in general, which is going to share a lot of the same design features with great travel underwear. A perfectly-fitting pair should surround you on all sides, and hold itself (and you) in place, so you don’t have to rearrange yourself every five minutes. If you’ve been having trouble finding good underwear, I’d recommend checking it out, as it goes into stupidly ridiculous detail on the subject; but the short version is that great travel underwear should have the following properties:

  • A 3D front panel
  • A high inseam
  • Good leg separation
  • Legs that stay in place
  • Stretchy, body-hugging fit
  • Wicking and quick-drying properties
  • Odor resistance
  • A thin inseam gusset, or no inseam gusset at all

I have become rather adamant about these features, as I can’t imagine anything else working nearly as well. To illustrate the dichotomy, here’s a comparison of the three-dimensional effect of a properly-shaped front panel, vs. a flatly nonsensical one:

3D panel vs flat panel
3D panel (left) vs flat panel (right)

A 3D front panel will hold you in place, comfortably, whereas a flat panel will eventually drop you into the leg chamber, where you’ll scratch uncomfortably with every step. No good. You want to be surrounded on all sides, immobilized like a delicately swaddled newborn child.

I lean toward synthetic fabrics, which are more likely to endure the severities of scratchy pant seams, and tend to hold their shape better. They also move more smoothly against pant fabrics, so they won’t get pulled out of place as easily as natural ones.

I’m also kind of a purist when it comes to the boxer brief. Regular boxer shorts require constant rearrangement, while briefs make you look like a dork. But a properly-designed, snugly-fitting boxer brief with a three-dimensional front panel (because you are three-dimensional in front) will not only stay in place, but will ensure you stay in place, all day long, no matter how many cartwheels and backflips you do.

As you’ve probably guessed, this article is geared toward the guys, though a few of the options below have a corresponding version for the ladies, so ignore the comments about fit, and just pay attention to the fabric. Let’s begin!

The Best Travel Underwear:

1) Uniqlo Airism

Uniqlo Airism vs Uniqlo Airism Low Rise
The regular Uniqlo AIrism (left), and the Low Rise version (right).

For quite some time, these were my absolute fave, and I literally threw out all my other underwear, travel-related or otherwise, as soon as I stocked up on enough of these. They’re extremely affordable at $10 each, especially in comparison to some of the other selections on this list, and they’ve held a place in the rotation in spite of some of the more expensive competition seen below. They’re extremely light, fast-drying, stretchy, and nicely contoured, with a 3D front pouch, legs that are just long enough, and a smooth surface that will never pill. Check out an in-depth review here.

Even better (in my opinion) than the original is the Low Rise version, which has an even more pronounced forward protrusion and closer side-to-side containment; in fact it does something I haven’t seen anywhere else, in which it forms sort of a pouch-within-a-pouch, thus creating sort of a smaller sub-chamber within the main front pouch in order to house the “main event,” so to speak. And despite the inclusion of an inseam gusset, which I tend to consider an inherent design flaw, I’ve never run into any trouble with it. I’ve since switched over from the original design to this one.

I would recommend going a size up in the Low Rise version (which eliminates the fact that it’s a low rise), but I think it’ll have a better fit overall, since the low rise was too low, and kept getting pulled downward on me in the regular size. I wish the legs were a good 4 inches longer, but oh well. Somehow they manage to stay in place fairly well on me.

Take a look at the entire Airism line here.

2) Mack Weldon Airknitx

Mack Weldon Airknitx Boxer Brief
Mack Weldon Airknitx

This is a recent addition to the Mack Weldon lineup, and it’s really, really great. It’s easily one of the softest, most pleasant synthetic fabrics I’ve ever found, nothing at all like the slick, plasticky-feeling alternatives in the performance underwear world. It’s also incredibly stretchy, so it stays in place, no matter what you do.

It even solves one of the problems I had with the original Mack Weldon, which is that it would ride up in back, but this one doesn’t do that, at least for me. And because the fabric is stretchier, the pouch in front can more easily accommodate different-sized guys who need more room. The somewhat-meshy fabric also allows for great breathability, for workouts, and hot days.

The only potential issue here is that it still has a gusset, which I find unnecessary, and can potentially cause problems for guys who are a little longer. But if you can handle the gusset, these are my top pick right now, by a strong margin. They’ve got a long-legged version too, although the stretch is so good that I don’t think you’ll need it.

Get it here.

3) Saxx Quest 2.0

Saxx Quest 2.0
The Saxx Quest 2.0

Innuendoes aside, Saxx has a great design, though I would say its supposed claim to fame isn’t the main selling point for me. They advertise their “ballpark pouch” system, in which the front pouch contents are securely housed within the chamber by a pair of mesh panels on either side, which basically guarantee you’ll never escape the front pouch and drift into the leg chamber. This is helpful, but after trying a few dozen brands over the years, I would say you can still manage this without them, as long as you get everything else right.

Luckily, Saxx did just that. It has a forward-fitting, 3D front pouch (which is quite roomy, by the way), long legs, a high inseam, and a wide range of fabrics and fit options. The Quest 2.0 is their travel-friendly option, with a slightly-meshy (but not see-through) fabric with great breathability, stretchiness, and moderate smoothness. It’s not super soft, but I don’t find it outright scratchy. I would recommend going a size down, though. They’re quite big.

Saxx has a million other options, from cotton to modal to merino to a fair number of other synthetic options as well, including compression fits, longer or shorter legs, and so on. I’ve tried their merino option as well, known as the Black Sheep, and although I do enjoy it, the fabric loosens up quite a bit, requiring a lot more rearranging (even if you go a size down, as I’ve suggested). The Quest 2.0 has a much more body-hugging fit, and better stretch recovery, and it fits the same way at the end of the day as it does at the beginning, so I’d stick with the Quest. I haven’t tried their other synthetic options yet, but I expect they’d work too.

Pick them up here.

4) Ex Officio Sport Mesh Boxer Brief

Ex Officio Sport Mesh Boxer Brief
Ex Officio Sport Mesh Boxer Brief

Notice how this one is called the “Sport” version. This is a good one. The regular version is atrocious.

Yeah, I said it. Everyone’s favorite travel underwear is atrociously terrible and should be abolished immediately. A flat front panel, and a deep rise? Are you flat in front? No? Do your legs move like a penguin? No? Well then why get underwear that works like that?!

Luckily for us all, Ex Officio has redeemed themselves with the Sport version. The front panel is finally 3D, and exquisitely so, with a forward-fitting design and extremely close side-to-side containment. In fact it’s the closest-fitting side-to-side front pouch fit of anything I’ve seen, and does an exceptionally good job of keeping everything in place, and preventing any front pouch contents from migrating into the leg chambers. The fabric is super stretchy, slightly meshy, fast drying, lightweight, and moderately soft. It does have pilling problems though, so it won’t look brand new for very long like some of the others (though I haven’t seen any actual holes open up, so I’m not too worried). It also comes in multiple leg lengths, which is helpful if you want an extra-long leg, so it stays in place more easily.

One problem: There’s a T-shaped seam intersection in back, where two different seams come together to form a rather large, and quite noticeable, bulge of fabric. It’s right down the center in back, meaning you can feel it enter the crevasse where it’s not supposed to go. This could be fixed quite easily, so I hope that happens at some point. In the meantime, I find myself rearranging the legs more often than others in order to solve this problem. If you get the long-leg version, it’ll do a better job of staying it place, but otherwise you might have to rearrange to compensate. Get the Uniqlo Low Rise (one or two whole sizes up) if you otherwise love these, but can’t solve that seam problem. The fit is extremely similar.

I received these as a test sample from Ex Officio, but aside from that seam in back, I’m quite happy with them. Check them out here.

5) Tommy John Air

Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Brief
The Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Brief

Easily the most expensive item on the list, but definitely quite good; if you’re familiar at all with Tommy John, the fit is almost the same as their other versions, with a 3D front pouch, long legs that stay in place, and fairly close side-to-side containment in the front pouch. It differs from some of the cotton or modal options with its higher inseam and thinner gusset, both of which I think are good moves; this keeps everything in the front pouch more effectively, despite the relatively snug fit of the pouch itself (which doesn’t protrude forward quite as aggressively as the Uniqlo Airism or the Ex Officio Sport). It also doesn’t lose its shape over the course of the day the way certain natural fabrics tend to do.

My only real problem with the design is how the fabric tends to pick up lint a lot more often than some of the alternatives listed here. It’s a bit soft and just a tiny bit fuzzy, so it holds onto dust and other floaty things more readily than some of the slicker, smoother options out there. There’s also a bit of friction against pant legs, so it can get pulled out of place a bit more easily than certain others. This means I end up rearranging it a bit more often, as it seems to ride up in back and the waistband seems to descend by itself sometimes…but this also depends on the pant fabric (and fit), so there’s bound to be a lot of variation there. Check out a dedicated review here.

I received these as a test sample, and aside from the friction of the fabric, I’ve been quite happy with them. Check them out here.

Update: Tommy John has introduced a more affordable synthetic boxer brief, known as the Go Anywhere, which is about half the price of the Air. I haven’t given that one a try, though.

Also, there’s a Canadian company by the name of Stanfield’s that uses a fabric pretty much identical to the Tommy John Air, but they remove the gusset. They sent me a test sample, and it’s really good. It doesn’t solve the problem of picking up lint (and the waistband is a bit scratchier), but I do like the fit better. Check it out here.

6) Oliver’s Boxer Brief

Oliver's Boxer Brief
The boxer brief from Oliver’s Apparel.

Perhaps lesser-known than some of the other brands listed here, but certainly deserving of attention, Oliver’s boxer brief has everything you could want; a 3D front pouch, long legs, and a quick-drying, meshy fabric, which feels a bit more substantial and natural than some of the slick, smooth alternatives listed here. If you want something that feels a bit less plasticky, but still offers synthetic performance, this one does it at least somewhat better than the others.

The fit is rather snug overall, so I would say that sizing up is better than sizing down, though it’s not significant enough that I’d automatically recommend it; just that if you’re on the fence, go with the larger size. It also has not-very-stretchy seams, which creates some stretchiness issues, especially in back. The two vertical seams along the V-shaped back panel don’t stretch very far (noticeably less than the fabric itself), so you can feel them pull downward when you move your legs around. I’ve mentioned this to them, so I hope they switch to a stretchier seam at some point, although going a size up is likely to help out quite a bit with this problem.

Check them out here.

7) Wool & Prince Boxer Briefs 2.0

Wool and Prince Boxer Brief 2.0
The Wool and Prince Boxer Brief 2.0

Sidenote: I helped design these. I spent years and years digging around for merino wool boxer briefs that could live up to my expectations, and I finally gave up and started bugging Wool & Prince to just make ’em for me.

We spent about two years on the design, putting everything into it that we had learned from dozens of brands. Merino is in a class of its own when it comes to travel-friendly fabric, and we wanted a design that could do it justice…and when the final version showed up in the mail, I put them on in the morning and literally didn’t rearrange them a single time by the time I went to bed. They are that good.

They look pretty simple on the surface, with a 3D front panel for proper containment, and that’s about it…but with a few invisible secrets that enhance the durability, and keep the legs from riding up, using a devilishly simple technique that no one’s ever thought of before!

I’ve been pretty excited with how everything came together and turned out, and I would really encourage you read the full review to learn more about the design decisions that went into this thing. It’s easily up at the top of my list of favorites out there, because we made it that way from the start.

After that, check ’em out here.

What about rayon? AKA bamboo, modal, or Tencel?

Though you’re not going to get the quick-drying performance of certain alternatives, bamboo, modal, and Tencel are going to feel downright lovely. They’re super soft, highly absorbent (more so than cotton), and just feel great. The only downside is that each of these fabrics tends to lose their shape over the course of a day or two, and they won’t dry out quickly, but if you’re traveling in mild weather and have easy access to washing machines, then you’ll be just fine. Even cotton works well enough if you’re traveling under these conditions. Tencel actually dries faster than other types of rayon, but it’s so absorbent that it can become oversaturated, after which it’ll take a while to dry out. A Tencel/polyester blend would therefore be amazing. Hint hint.

What about other merino?

As mentioned above, I gave up looking for decent merino wool options and approached Wool & Prince to build something together. That said, the test samples I had tried from Unbound Merino and Y Athletics were pretty solid, and beat some of the major brands, who use a flat front panel for whatever odd reason. Triple Aught Design has an option that looks pretty good as well, though I haven’t given those a try.

Well, that should do it for now. I hope you’re now as blissfully comfortable as you deserve to be. I know I am.

About SnarkyNomad

Eytan is a pretentious English major whose rant-laden sarcastic tirades occasionally include budget travel tips and other international nonsense. You can follow his every narcissistic word on Facebook or Twitter.

View all posts by SnarkyNomad

42 Comments on “Here’s the best travel underwear you can find”

      1. Cant see how to comment without replying to an existing one, though I have burst into print on this subject before. Its time to update and I was quite captivated by the style and claims of this Kickstarter product, not least because it is the first one I have seen with a UK producer (no postage or import duties!)
        https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/joeywears-the-only-underwear-your-boys-deserve?utm_content=campaigns_one_column12_cta&utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bck-11062017indemand

        I don’t have a testpilot budget and am rather well stocked with Airism thanks to the previous recommendation, but hope that someone can get round to evaluating this product.
        I am intrigued by the quick release method, and by the storage space for a banana and two plums.

        1. I generally think the separate-pouch idea isn’t all that necessary. If you make a regular pouch as well as you can, then it’ll work fine anyway, and it’ll be less work to put it on each time. But their regular version looks like it does everything correctly, so it’s probably good. The separate-pouch versions might be good for sports, where you’re moving around quite a bit, but not really a necessity, in my opinion.

  1. I am trying the Lululemon “No Boxer Boxer” in the “short” version. I like them as well, or better, than the Airism’s I purchased on your recommendation. Have you tried them?

    One criteria I add to your list is a subtlety in product logo identification. I don’t want my shorts to be a walking billboard for the manufacturer.

    Love your snarky attention to detail.

    1. I haven’t, but I might give it a try. And I agree on the giant logo problem. Why do I need Calvin Klein in my pants? He’s got his own damn pants.

  2. I bought some uniqlo Airism’s in Hong Kong during my last visit there. The Uniqlo store at Diamond Hill shopping centre is relatively calm (compared to the insane bustle at some of the island and closer to TST stores).

    I think mine just put me down for about 300 HKD for 5 (that’s about 60HKD/a piece, or 6USD roughly).

    And the kicker: I bought them on your recommendation :D And they haven’t disappointed me yet.

    1. That is absurdly cheap. Maybe I’ll stock up if I ever go there, although it’s not like they’re pricey over here either.

    1. I like articulated front panels more so than the flat ones. I do love the fabric though, with that nylon filament wrap-around thing they do. I’m working on a separate merino wool post, but I just have a hard time with flat front panels, so I’ve gone with the alternatives.

  3. “For quite some time, these were my absolute fave…”

    So, what’s your favorite now? I do love my airisms, but I’m not so sure about their ability to repel odor. What say you, knowledgable sir?

    1. I don’t go too crazy with wearing underwear multiple times; two days in a row is usually as far as I like to go, as I tend to sweat quite a bit. The Uniqlo Airism Low Rise is definitely up there at the top of the list for me still, although I do wish the legs were longer. If odor is a problem, I think the merino options are probably better. I’ve gotten samples from Y Athletics and Unbound Merino that I think are great, and they’ll be in an upcoming article about merino underwear once I get my hands on all the ones I want to try.

  4. I just saw the new mesh airism uniqlo underwear and straight away thought of you. Have you tried these bad boys yet?

    1. I tried them a while back, in the regular version (not the low rise), but they were also a long-legged version, and I think the long legs actually pulled the whole thing down instead of just keeping the legs from moving up. And I didn’t really feel like the fabric was much better anyway, so I stuck with the regular fabric this whole time. Seems like people like them, though, and the legs are now regular length, and there’s a low-rise version too.

  5. I got my husband Pair of Thieves unders, and he loved them so much I purchased a lot more (they’re online, but cheaper at Target if you can find them). To him, they have a slight edge over the Airisms.

    1. Those seem like they’d work fine. I’d prefer a 3D front panel, but if it’s stretchy enough, it can help out quite a bit.

  6. Hi, I just have a question regarding the uniqlo airsim boxers. In one of your earlier posts about fabrics/materials, polyester is supposed to be a breeding ground for bacteria and can smell pretty quick so just wondering how do these boxers stand on those terms considering that they are almost 100% polyester.

    1. For some reason the underwear doesn’t cause this problem for me, but the shirts do. No idea why. But I don’t go more than a day or two without a shower, especially in hot weather, so I don’t spend enough time in them to run into this problem. Also, shirts are a lot easier for other people to smell than underwear, so I think that’s why it’s more of a problem if it starts smelling.

  7. I bought the Ex Officio as above from REI this spring. The durability is crap, they are pilling after only two washings done on the hand wash cycle and hung out to dry. Not a contender.

    1. They use a delicate fabric, but so far they’ve only pilled, but haven’t fallen apart. Buying them at REI is a good way to ensure that if they do fall apart too soon, you can replace them. But I agree I’d like to see a variation that doesn’t do that as much.

  8. Thanks for all the great reviews you’ve done on underwear. Who’da thought there was so much to consider! :) Anyway, I was shopping around for some new travel skivies to replace my ExOfficio’s that are completely worn out. Based on your reviews, I took a chance on the Uniqlo Airism’s and just ordered 4 pair. I wanted to try low-rise and regular-rise in both the mesh and regular fabrics. I got a a little carried away on their website and also ordered a couple v-neck T’s and a couple polo shirts — all in their quick dry materials. They have awesome prices, so I really hope I love everything because I’ll start buying most of my clothes from this company. Not sure about pants though… I’ve found it almost impossible to find a pair of everyday-wear travel pants that I like as much as my Prana stretch Zion convertibles. Pretty expensive, but extremely nice! I own 2 pair and I live in them for work and play.

    1. They have a whole Zion “family” now, with the Brion pant and a couple others using the same fabric, so you can vary up the look if you want. I like the Brions because they look just like regular pants with jean-style pockets. You can find them on sale often enough and they’re great as a budget option compared to higher-end soft shell pants. I go climbing in them since I won’t mind if they get ruined, but they’re still fine.

      1. Cool! I’ll have to check out the Brion’s. Do you find them on sale direct from prAna or another source?

        All my new stuff from Uniqlo arrived yesterday. Everything fits perfectly and I love it all. The Airism boxer briefs are awesome so far. I really like them and they feel great. I’m starting a new workout regimine which includes getting back to running, so I’ll be really putting them to the test. :) Once I figure out which ones I like best (mesh/non-mesh, regular vs low rise), I’ll definitely be ordering more. I’m also going to order more shirts in their Dry Ex material. I could see myself totally replacing my wardrobe with stuff from Uniqlo and pants from prAna. :)

        1. Happy to help. For some of these brands like Prana that are available at all sorts of retailers, I just Google the product by name until I find someplace that has it on sale. Sooner or later it’ll come up.

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