As many of you know, I am an insatiable gear junkie whose standards can never be reached with anything short of exquisite perfection. You’d think the reason for my constant dissatisfaction would be my unreasonably high expectations, but the real problem that constantly shoves thorns into my sides is the failure of oh-so-many gear companies to achieve even tolerable mediocrity. And the most excruciating problem in this regard has been the inexorable search for the world’s best underwear.
You’d think that this sort of problem could be rather easily solved, as men have been wearing underwear of one sort or another for hundreds of thousands of years, but, sadly, humanity had yet to implement a widespread solution to this childishly simple challenge that was to my satisfaction.
I have already detailed the ridiculous ordeal that is the outdoor industry’s excuse for performance underwear, which is a ludicrous hamster wheel of $30 failures arriving one after another, which has sapped my vitality and broken my spirit in ways that would make mothers weep.
But no longer. The search is over, for I hath discovered The One. The Holy Grail of underthings, the El Dorado of unmentionables. The best men’s underwear in the universe.
For only $10.
Behold!
They are the Uniqlo Airism boxer brief, and I am ready to buy a dozen of them, rid myself of all other underwear in a fiery conflagration of spiteful disdain, and never bother with any other underwear ever again.
Be happy for me.
What the Uniqlo Airism gets right
I don’t see what’s so difficult about all this, but somehow everyone on the planet seems to fail miserably at a frequency of 100%. It’s incomprehensibly annoying. But this is what underwear needs to do:
- Boxer brief. It’s the most sensible combination of immobilization and socially acceptable appearance.
- Snug fit. Tight enough to stay in place, but forgiving enough that you forget it’s there.
- Silky smooth. A frictionless fabric would prevent a pair of pants from pulling your underwear around all day.
- Properly shaped front panel. We’re men, after all.
- Ordinary appearance. If I’m not on the advertising department payroll, then I’m not advertising for you.
- Comfy fabric. I generally prefer quick-drying synthetic fabrics because I enjoy traveling, but comfy and absorbent natural fabrics have their place too. Having both options would be ideal.
I could very well cut this short right here, and simply mention how the Uniqlo manages to hit all these points, but I’d prefer to go into crushingly boring technical detail, so I’ve decided to match the Uniqlo up against another so-called “best underwear ever” contender, whose praises are sung far and wide, but whose shortcomings are numerous and excruciating.
So here we are: The Uniqlo Airism vs. the Ex Officio boxer brief.
Let’s begin.
1) Fit
One of the major problems with the Ex Officio is that it does not come in a size small. It’s labelled small, but it’s just nonsense. It’s a full two sizes bigger than the Uniqlo, and still too loose anyway.
The Uniqlo also has another objectively correct feature which the Ex Officio does not: Accommodation for masculinity.
Notice the folded seam right along the center of the front panel:
This creates a contoured fabric pouch that…ahem…surrounds this region appropriately, thus eliminating the problems of lateral drift and skin-on-skin discomfort, and reducing the need to rearrange constantly.
The Ex Officio’s front panel, on the other hand, is entirely flat. Though it will naturally form something of a shaped front panel simply by stretching in whichever direction it needs to go, it can’t do this as well as something that includes a properly shaped front panel to begin with.
Fit is admittedly rather subjective, but these specific differences are just objectively superior. The folded front panel, combined with availability in more sizes, mean the Uniqlo will be far more likely to work for more people. It seems optimized for smaller guys, however, so that’s something to keep in mind.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Uniqlo is shorter (both in the legs, and in the rise) and has a wider waistband (by circumference) than a comparable size of Ex Officios. I don’t find these differences to be objectively good or bad, but they’re worth mentioning. Plenty of people will prefer the lengthier fit, and it would be nice if the Airism’s legs were maybe an inch longer.
2) Fabric
As mentioned, I’m split on whether the world’s most perfect underwear would use a quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabric, or a more natural and highly absorbent one, or a blend of the two. Since the available options are usually garbage in any case, I’ll take whatever I can get.
Both the Uniqlo Airism and Ex Officio are quick-drying, moisture-wicking underwear, designed for athletic pursuits, though they use different materials to achieve this:
- Uniqlo Airism: 86% polyester, 14% spandex (with minor variations for different colors)
- Ex Officio: 94% nylon, 6% spandex (with variations for heathered colors)
But it’s really the texture that’s different. Compare the waffle-like surface of the Ex Officio to the flat surface of the Uniqlo Airism:
Not only are the Ex Officios loose to begin with, but their incredibly textured surface produces a great deal of friction, meaning that a pair of pants will pull them in all sorts of different directions, requiring constant rearrangement to keep them in place.
While it’s true that the Ex Officio’s textured surface could potentially be more comfortable when damp (by reducing the percentage of fabric in direct contact with the skin), it’s the inside of the fabric that should be this way, while the outside should be slick and smooth. But even if you flip them inside out (EMS makes a boxer brief like this, but they use a horrific waistband and aren’t that great anyway), they’re still too loose to stay in place, even with the reduced friction.
By comparison, Uniqlo’s Airism literally feels like silk. It’s exquisitely smooth and frictionless, and can’t get pulled around by other layers at all. This doesn’t mean it requires no adjustment; just that the amount created by friction will be reduced to zero.
3) Waistband
Notice how the Ex Officio’s waistband looks like a strip of elastic, while the Uniqlo’s looks like soft fabric:
Not only is the Uniqlo’s waistband softer, but it’s also more pliable, making it far more forgiving. And, as mentioned, it’s also significantly wider (not top to bottom, but in terms of circumference) than the Ex Officio’s, which seems to have far too small of a waistband compared to how loose the rest of it is (though admittedly this was not much of a problem for me).
Again, fit is subjective, so I won’t spend too much time on this issue, but I found the Uniqlo’s waistband to be far more sensibly sized, and, when combined with the fact that it was more easily stretchy and felt less like a waist-sized rubber band, significantly more comfy as well.
4) Gusset
This is the one area in which I can see potential room for improvement. And I say potential, because it hasn’t been a huge problem for me so far.
The Uniqlo has an inseam gusset, which means it has two seams going between the legs rather than one. This is potentially terrible if designed improperly, since the forward seam starts encroaching upon areas that are highly sensitive, and the rear seam can start approaching awkward territory as well.
Inseam gussets work for guys that are fairly small when not “in use.” If you’re at full size all the time, you might run into trouble, so keep that in mind.
4) Style
This might be largely irrelevant to most people, and rather subjective, but I prefer the Uniqlo’s appearance, for the following reasons:
- No logo. I hate being a walking billboard for brands, and although Ex Officio’s waistband logo is subtle enough that I don’t mind, Uniqlo’s is completely nonexistent.
- More colors and patterns. Uniqlo has solids, stripes, dots, plaids, paisleys, and all sorts of other choices. Ex Officio has admittedly been doing well enough in this regard, but it doesn’t look like they’ve ever attempted the following:
- Subtlety. Again, it’s not like it’s a big deal, but I much prefer the fact that Uniqlo’s underwear looks like normal underwear. Most performance underwear is designed to be flashy, fluorescent body armor, with bright colors and racing stripes all over the place. I much prefer the quieter neutrality of boringly dark grey, which is offered not instead of, but in addition to, the snazzy ego-boosting crimson that Uniqlo also provides.
Again, it’s not that Ex Officio does poorly here, but Uniqlo’s underwear is utterly indistinguishable from normal underwear, which is practically unheard of in the world of high-tech clothing, and refreshingly welcome.
From the front:
And the back:
Again, it’s not a huge deal, but I adore the normalcy of the fabric texture, the seam placements, the lack of logo, and wide range of colors and patterns of the Uniqlo. It’s nearly impossible finding performance clothing that looks like ordinary clothing, so I’m just happy to see someone doing it.
5) Price
Finally! Someone came along to prove that high-tech gear doesn’t have to be obscenely expensive. It’s pretty much all made of polyester anyway, which is blended with cotton because it’s cheaper than cotton, and yet 100% polyester performance apparel is more expensive somehow? Lame!
The Uniqlo Airism is $10 to the Ex Officio’s $25.
There’s simply no reason high-tech gear needs to be expensive, and I’m glad I never have to pay ridiculous prices for fancy underwear ever again.
The Ex Officio isn’t that bad. I’ve seen others go up to $50 a pair, and they were barely mediocre anyway. I’m looking at you, Arcteryx.
And since this is a travel blog, let’s take a look at a few travel-specific characteristics while we’re at it:
6) Packability
There’s no contest here. The Uniqlo is hands-down superior.
By the way, that’s a Uniqlo in a large, and an Ex Officio in a small.
It might not matter to certain people, but for ultralight backpackers and carry-on only travel junkies, space is constantly at a premium. Not only is the Uniqlo smaller overall, but both its fabric and waistband are thinner, allowing it to fold down to a smaller packed size.
I wish I had a scale to compare the weight. Maybe someday.
7) Drying time
This was a tie. Despite the differences in fabric content and texture, they both dried quickly after a hand wash. Eight hours, indoors, on a cool day.
This is practically mandatory if you’re hoping to reap the benefits of minimalist travel, which requires frequent washing, often by hand. But it’s also quite useful in hot weather, so that moisture won’t accumulate until you’re soaked from head to toe.
So, is the Uniqlo Airism still the best?
Since writing this review a few years ago, I have indeed come across a few options that I prefer, but they’re all in the range of $30-50, meaning they’ll be out of reach for quite a few people. If that’s what you want, take a look at a list of the best men’s underwear I’ve found thus far (and a dedicated list of travel-specific options here). But if you want a really solid pick at a decent price, I think this is as good as it’s going to get.
Each and every detail, from the shaped front panel, to the snug fit, to the frictionless surface, to the (comparatively) dirt-cheap price, to the subtle appearance, to the quick-drying fabric, is exactly what I’ve been trying to find for a decade. If I had to change anything, I’d prefer a slightly softer, more pliable fabric, an extra inch in the legs, a higher inseam, and a more forward-protruding front panel. But even with that in mind, I still reach for these all the time. I’ve gone through dozens of different options from all sorts of brands, big and small, and all of them have left me dissatisfied, but these have remained a favorite since I first tried them.
So if that all sounds great, get ’em here. They’re seasonal, so they’re only available in the summertime, but check eBay in the winter, where they’re always available.
Well, I hope you’ve all enjoyed getting in my pants hearing my thoughts on this matter. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go burn the rest of my underwear in a cathartic bonfire.
Happy travels!
To all fellow Australian men that might be reading this; if you want to get a good pair of comfortable, quick-dring, well-designed boxer briefs locally at a good price then I would strongly recommend the Bonds ‘Microfibre Guyfront Trunk’.
http://www.bonds.com.au/microfibre-guyfront-trunk-mzaq1a-yn6.html
I came across these by accident at the local Bonds flagship store on the Gold Coast. I bought a number of different types of boxer briefs that the store attendant said would be good for travel, including the Coolmax briefs and the sports mesh long leg briefs, in addition the the microfibre briefs. After some testing I’ve found that the microfibre briefs are by far the most comfortable, sweat wicking, fast-drying briefs I have worn to date (except for my smartwool briefs).
The price is AU$24.95 RRP ea (or 3 pairs for $49 online).. not too expensive but also the same price as ordering the Airism briefs online. However, if you’re fortunate to live near a Bonds flagship store and go there when they’re on sale, you’ll get them for a good price. E.g. I got mine for just AU$8 a pair. My main regret is not buying more of them while I had the opportunity, as I knew from when I first came across them in the store that they’d be perfect for travelling and active wear.
I’m off to South America in May and will be going as lightweight as possible, so these will really be put to the test as I’ll be wearing them every few days and mostly hand washing too. Hopefully they’re up to the challenge! Nothing worse than uncomfortable socks or underwear while travelling and hiking about.
Hey,
This is great–I love the reviews on your site.
I’ve worn the old jockey briefs most of my life, but recently switched over to boxer briefs–way more comfortable! I usually go with cotton or cotton blend every day because they’re a lot cheaper and I can do laundry anytime at home. But for travel I’ve used Ex Officio and a couple pair of Travel Smith (all briefs). I liked the Ex Officios. They packed easily, washed out nicely and air dried in hours (as did the Travel Smith.) The fabric has held up very well over years of use, but the elastic of the waistband eventually has gone the way of all elastic waistbands and it’s time for new ones.
I recently ordered a pair of the Ex Officio boxer briefs for a trial. (They filled out my order for free shipping on Amazon.) They were very comfortable when I put them on, but a little looser in the thigh than I would have liked. Now, I’m 5′ 7″, 130 lbs. and 31-32 waist, depending on how much I eat and how much I run. I had gotten the medium (I wear medium in almost everything), but thought that I might order more in small.
I did run into a problem, though. On first wearing, the Ex Officios started to show pilling and abrasion where the fabric rubbed against the fly of my pants–not what I expected based on my previous experience with the brand. But, then I saw this review and thought, “That’s just what I’m looking for, anyway!” So, I have two questions given the size and wear considerations above: 1) How is the fit? If I want slight snugness in the thigh, should I go medium or small? 2) Which is going to stand up better to fabric abrasion over the long-haul, the Airist or Tencel?
By the way, those Travel Smith briefs are cut pretty tight–maybe comfortable if you’re horseback riding, but otherwise, not so much.
I would definitely get the small if you’re going with Ex Officio. I’m 5’10”, something like 150 lbs, and I still thought the small was too big. I don’t know how the medium didn’t drive you crazy. As for the wear and tear, I think that’s just the reality of the textured fabric. It’s not a smooth, flat surface, so the uneven protrusions of the textured mesh rub against other surfaces and cause more apparent damage. But it’s not “real” damage; it just kind of looks scratched up. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
The Airisms, however, show nothing of the sort. The fabric is totally smooth, so there’s practically no possibility of wearing them down. All the fabric on all the pairs I have looks absolutely flawless. The waistband, however, wore out quicker than I’d expect, but I actually got a size smaller from what was recommended (which I prefer), but that meant I was putting more pressure on the waistband than it was supposed to handle. But anyway, I went with a medium Airism, and it fits me nicely and snugly. I expect both the small and medium will fit you, but the small will probably do a better job of staying in place.
Well, I ordered both some Airism and Tencel boxer briefs as well as an Airism T-shirt to give them a try. I found both to be comfortable, and I did go with the small. I did my own wash/dry test with the Airisms, Tencels and Ex Officios. By far the quickest drying were the Airism. with Ex Officio next and the Tencel third, but not unreasonably so. All would beat my Haynes cotton blends by hours. After washing in the sink and wringing them out rolled in a towel, the Tencels were completely dry in about 4 hours of hanging (keep in mind the drier indoor air of winter, though); The Ex Officios had taken about 3 hours; the Airisms were dry in an hour. In fact, they might have felt just a little clammy, but I could have put them on right after taking them out of the towel!
The Airism T-shirt was the same–in the wash/dry category–but I also did a little BO sniff test. I compared the Airism, a cotton-poly blend, a Nike DryFit, and a silk-cotton blend t-shirt I got some time ago from Travel Smith. Without the (gross) details, my test involved multiple days wear (unwashed), lots of sweat, and hand wash/towel-air dry. As you’d probably expect the Airism dried very quickly, the DryFit in about an hour, the cotton-polyester in about 3-4 hours, and the silk-cotton in around 6 hours, although I must say that the last one was just a little heavier fabric.
The smell, on the other hand was a major issue. After one wearing I wasn’t about to put the Airism back on. The Nike DryFit was a little better, but still picked up BO. The cotton-poly, well maybe acceptable for a day or two, depending on what you eat and how much you sweat. However, The Travel Smith shirt NEVER picked up odors–not after 4 consecutive days; not after being sweat-soaked and air dried; not even after 5 more days in the laundry hamper! Three little things about that shirt, though. First, as I mentioned, is the drying time. Second, I think they are cut just too loose–and medium is the smallest size carried. Third, at $40 each, they are a little pricy for a t-shirt. Other than that, I’d buy a lot of them!
The Airism products this year say they have an anti-odor finish; that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be completely immune, but at least they’re claiming it has something, and hopefully it’s a little better than previous versions, since that has been kind of a problem in the past.
Well, I just got that t-shirt direct from Uniqlo less than 2 weeks ago. It’s definitely no better than any other polyester shirt I’ve had. If they’re adding something to it, it’s not done yet!
Oh well. Maybe they were just including that as a marketing statement, but the anti-odor treatment just isn’t that great. Patagonia makes a good one.
Long time reader, first time commenter. I recently took your advice and bought the regular Airism boxer briefs (and the Airism tees) and the new tencel version. As for feel, I can’t tell any difference. Suprisingly though, the tencel version does NOT dry as quickly as the original Airisms. The Airism tshirt is quite amazing I must add. The only negative for the tee and the unders – tags.
They did remove the Tencel boxer briefs from the site and have since reintroduced them, which occasionally means it’s a slightly different product, though it looks to be the same. It may have been due to minor variations like a difference in spin cycle thoroughness for each of our washing machines, and things like that. The Airism t-shirts and underwear also seem to have been updated with an anti-odor finish, which was one of the shortcomings of the older version of the t-shirt (for some reason I never had that problem with the underwear, but the t-shirt started smelling bad after a long, hot day of exertion). So now they’re allegedly even better than before.
Icebreaker FTW! seriously, these t shirts are the best at odor/dirt/sweat repulsion. They are quite expensive – though, if you watch their site and/or Amazon, you can grab them on sale. I’ve not found anything that works better.
As for boxer briefs – I still like the airisms best thus far, though they are super lightweight and I prefer something a bit thicker in the winter. Still, for traveling – it’s airism briefs, icebreaker tees & socks.
I got both the Airism and Tencel versions in the past 2 weeks. I still can’t believe us guys can not get more clothes made with tencel. My wife has a closet full and she had no idea.
Ha ha ha snarky nomad….. Clearly you have not tried the Hanky Panky original rise thong! There is truly a comfortable and cute pair of underwear which will stay in place and provide far more breathability than any boxer out there!! Also given the flexibility of the fabric… One’s essential member will not suffer from being squished but rather enjoy the freedom of soft fabric and being able to more than sufficiently breathe. There is also nearly an endless array of color and pattern options to choose from as well. Oh and let’s not forget, one may obtain these for $12-$13 as well :)
I can’t believe that someone here hasn’t discovered the boxer briefs from Duluth Trading company. They might be a little pricier, but they frequently go on sale. I haven’t put them through the rigorous testing you guys have done, but i’d be interested to hear your opinions.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mens-buck-naked-performance-boxer-briefs-76015.aspx
Cheers, John
I’m pretty sure those are identical to the Ex Officios. From what I can see, it’s the same fabric, and it looks like the exact same cut as well. I think they just buy from the same manufacturer, and each company just puts their own logo on it. There might be some slight difference somewhere that I can’t see from the photos, but I think I’d end up with the same problems as the Ex Officios. They’re just designed for gigantic people…
You may be right. But I had some ex officios in the past. And never really liked them. These from Duluth seem to fit better, but maybe just a newer version than what I had. But I’m 5’10”, 190 lbs. and the ‘large’ size fits me very comfortably.
I’ll email Duluth and let you know what they say.
Thanks, john
Have you tried the dry stretch boxer briefs by Uniqlo? I wonder how they compare with the airisms?
thanks,
Dave
Yes, and they’re fine, but the fabric is cotton/polyester, so there’s more friction against the pants, so they move around quite a bit more, whereas the Airism’s slick and smooth polyester prevents them from moving around all that much. Cotton or cotton/polyester fabrics can work when the legs are long and snug, but Uniqlo’s designs don’t do that, so I think the best option they make is the Airism. Different body types will affect this, so you might have a different experience, but I found that the Airism was the only one of theirs that stayed in place.
I bought 5 pair of the tencel Uniqlos based on your review, and as much as I really wanted to love them, they are going back to the back of the drawer. Here’s why:
-Whatever moisture wicking aspects they might have, for some reason, they retain the moisture! I’m downright swampy (gross!) by the end of a workday.
-They ride! By the end of the day (or night if I sleep in them), these have ridden way up to the point they look like normal briefs. Luckily, they are so thin that this isnt uncomfortable, just annoying.
-NOT FOR RUNNING. Oh God the bleeding and chafing. I went on a 6-7 mile run in these, and by the 3 mile point, I realized the mistake I had made. Unfortunately, By the time I turned around and made it back home, I could barely walk. Showertime after was downright torturous.
I wonder if they changed the design of these when you mentioned they were pulled for a while. I was very excited to try them (especially at that price!), but ultimately I cant bring myself to wear them anymore except for maybe just sleeping in.
I ended up agreeing with the fit issues you describe here. I’m not sure if there’s an actual difference in the fit, or just the fact that the fabric produces a little more friction, but somehow they end up moving around a lot more. I might have to back off of mentioning them for now. I expect different people will have different experiences regarding the fit, but they might be more problematic in general, rather than just for particular people…
Like you, I have tried and found problems with the Ex Officios and had to look elsewhere. But due to immediate need, my search led me to local stores to avoid shipping cost and I was pleasantly surprised. So I am just wondering if you have tried the C9 by Champion boxer briefs from target. They’re $23 for 2 pairs and I was quite satisfied with them. I am curious to try out this brand you have found and I am interested to know how the two compare. If you have tried them, please let me know which is better. Currently, I am in need of a white pair which Champion does not offer, so if these are near as good, it could be the just the solution I’ve been looking for.
Also, for intense running purposes, which would you recommend between the Tencel, Airism, or other versions offered by UNIQLO such as Supima?
I haven’t tried them personally, but they certainly look just fine. I like the longer legs, actually. The Uniqlo’s are long enough, but another inch or two would actually be better, which the C9 does.
For really intense exercise, I’d stick with polyester, so the Airism or the C9. Tencel could work for certain activities, but more like moderate intensity, like hiking, rather than constant-perspiration activities. Spume is just cotton, so I’d avoid that during any sort of workout, unless it’s a quick one.
As a runner, having done literally thousands of miles training and running distance races, marathons and even a few ultras, I would never wear boxer briefs for running! I’ve come to love the comfort and freedom you get from their fit during everyday activities. However, that fit actually works against you in a repetitive motion activity like running. Aside from cotton (which is terrible for exercise), fabric itself is not the real culprit in chaffing. The real problem is sweat, or rather the micro crystals of salt that form on you as it evaporates. They can turn your skin or the clothing against it into veritable sandpaper. The smooth polyester liner material of the briefs in running shorts, in addition to providing for propriety and modesty, actually protects the skin of your male parts from rubbing against the skin of your thighs. To really protect your skin where chaffing is the biggest problem–nipples, backs of the arms and arm pits, inner surface of the thighs–apply a product like Body Glide when you go for any major distance run. And wear well designed running gear, but definitely not boxer briefs!
Could not agree more. For running, I use body glide on the inner thighs and wear running shorts with a liner. Most running shorts also have a drawstring which makes them a really light option for swimming in a pinch. The other option, if you want something like a boxer brief, is to use compression shorts (with no underwear.) It keeps everything supported and stays tight on the thighs with no riding or chafing issues. But I could not imagine actually wearing compression shorts for anything other than actual running as they are really tight.
Yeah, I’ve worn running shorts for swimming on occasion. They dry in a flash and it makes one less thing to pack. A couple of caveats, though: take the right pair–some lighter ones are a bit clingy when wet; and, if you wear them in a pool or in the sea, rinse them well with fresh water–sea water and chlorine both seem to do a number on the elastic rather quickly. As for compression shorts, some cross country runners I’ve coached swear by them, say they prevent fatigue. I’ve always thought they were too hot except for winter running when I prefer full-length tights, anyway.
Just went back to the Uniqlo website and noticed there’s a long version now.