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We worked our buns off to find the best boxer briefs out there: over the past 4 years, we've tested 24 of the top options side-by-side. Our experts tailored our selection to feature a range of materials, features, and price points. We wore these boxers daily, working in them, exercising in them, and putting them through a battery of objective tests. We evaluated and ranked each pair on comfort, breathability, quality of construction, and odor control. Even though underwear might seem like a straightforward purchase, our analysis uncovers nuanced differences in material construction, design and shape, and long-term performance. Our comprehensive review offers expert advice to help you choose the perfect set of daily briefs.
Editor's Note: We updated our boxer briefs review on May 5, 2024, to ensure our lineup was current and to include information on how we tested these skivvies.
The SmartWool Merino 150 are simply a first-class pair of boxers. Merino wool as a fabric is tough to beat. It's soft, durable, and naturally antimicrobial, which helps keep odors down, making these a great option for traveling or camping. Even though natural wool undies tend to be thicker than their cotton or synthetic counterparts, their natural wicking ability keeps them from feeling hot or swampy. Combined with 13% spandex, the thick cut also holds its shape and integrity longer than other fabrics. We love the fit of these boxers: the legs aren't too long, nor do they bunch up. We've owned this same pair since we started this product category, and they're still going strong.
We have minimal gripes about the SmartWool boxer briefs. One to note is that they're a little bulkier than other pairs, like the Tommy John Second Skin. Also, the SmartWool waistband is broad and thick, and although it doesn't ride up, it is more noticeable against the waistline of your pants. The bulkiness can add up, especially when layering for winter activities. Additionally, the fly is a little small for our liking. Despite being the most expensive in our lineup, if you're looking for the best of the best, these are the ones.
The Smartwool Merino 150 boxer brief continues to rise to the top of the pile. Even though they're expensive, these Merino-blended bottoms are so comfortable and so well made.
Hip seams noticeable under thinner pants and shorts
We continue to be impressed with the performance of the affordable Columbia Performance Cotton Stretch. They initially seemed like a run-of-the-mill, price-point pair of boxer briefs. However, the cotton-poly blend works well to balance the moderate odor control of cotton with the improved wicking capabilities of polyester, and the spandex adds a nice bit of stretch. For an otherwise simple pair of boxers, this blend helps mitigate the post-run stink. These reasonably priced boxers have held up surprisingly well to years of wear, further supporting our belief in their value.
As a more standard pair, we think a few aspects of these boxers could use improvement. For instance, the seat has two seams that tend to show through thinner-cut pants and shorts, and a more thoughtful seam placement could prevent this issue. Also, polyester is one of the weaker choices for odor-fighting fabrics, and adding an antimicrobial treatment – like that found on more premium pairs, like the ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh – would really help. But for daily wear, the Columbia Performance boxers are an excellent choice, especially considering the cost per pair.
We were surprised by how well the Columbia Performance boxer brief has held up, and how well they continue to perform day-in and day-out.
Sometimes, you want to take the 2024 Ferrari GTS out for a spin. Most days, however, you'll probably take the '96 Dodge Neon to work. The Gildan Regular Leg is the Dodge Neon of boxer briefs. Sure, it's not the fanciest piece of Italian engineering, but as a daily driver, it's hard to beat, especially considering its solid performance at a rock-bottom price point. The natural, 100% cotton weave helps manage body odor, and the thinner-cut fabric doesn't generate too much friction under your pants, which helps them stay put on your legs.
The cut of the Gildan boxer briefs is a bit dated – especially considering the designs of many others we tested – with an oddly high waist for most modern cuts of underwear and pants. If we wore them at our typical level on our hips, there was extra fabric in the crotch bunched up regularly. A slightly more refined pair like the Columbia Performance boxers certainly improves upon comfort. Still, it's hard to beat the price of the Gildan boxer briefs for an everyday pair, especially considering its overall performance among some competitors that cost ten times as much.
The Gildan briefs offer an exceptional price point per pair of underwear, but that savings does have some associated drawbacks.
ExOfficio has once again knocked it out of the park with the Give-n-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh. We love these boxers for outdoor pursuits and exercise because the fabric is very lightweight, breathable, and stretchy. The newest update to these boxers features a three-dimensional crotch to give the wearer more room and support. The fabric is also thin and sleek enough that they didn't tend to ride up, even when running.
We love these boxers for outdoor pursuits and travel, but we also wish the fabric didn't pill up as fast as it does. Though this issue doesn't tend to affect performance, the boxers take on a worn look quicker than some other premium pairs we tested. We acknowledge that there is a trade-off for synthetic, quick-drying fabrics over all-natural, odor-resistant ones – like the SmartWool Merino 150 briefs. But even with an anti-odor treatment, this ExOfficio doesn't do the best job with odor control. Nevertheless, we love these undies for activity and continue to favor them more than most other pairs.
The ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport 2.0 was the breeziest pair of boxer briefs we tested. They're constructed of a very thin nylon, spandex blend, which feels pleasantly airy.
If you're looking for a more traditional pair of underwear but still want something that looks good and feels a bit luxurious, we recommend the Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey boxer briefs. They are a cotton-modal blend, and the blended fabric draws upon the moderate odor-resistance of cotton while incorporating the wicking property of modal – a fabric made from tree cellulose. These boxers feel like a softer version of your typical pair of cotton underwear, but they wick away sweat much more efficiently. Although the cut of these boxer briefs is a bit more substantial than other comparable options, this should help improve the longevity of these relatively expensive briefs.
Our testers loved the Mack Weldon boxer briefs, but there's always room for improvement. Modal isn't a great fabric for extended wear – like long days of airline travel – as it tends to collect odors more than natural fibers. While these boxers are our top choice for overall comfort, reducing the number of seams would help cut down on potential chafe points. While the seam quality is top-notch, we noticed that if we wore tighter-fitting pants, the leg hem was visible. This isn't a deal breaker by any means, but depending on our wardrobe choices, we may opt for a thinner pair like Saxx Vibe.
The Mack Weldon 18 Hour Jersey Boxer Brief is comfy yet svelte. They're a nice mix of support and comfort, and we continued to reach for them again and again at the top of the clean laundry pile.
One doesn't often get to use the word “innovation” when talking about a staple product like men's underwear, but the Saxx Vibe brings something new to the table. The Ballpark Pouch adds two webs of soft mesh between the crotch and legs, keeping things centered and separate. This prevents chafing and adds a whole lot of support when compared to conventional boxer briefs. One tester used these almost exclusively for weeks after a vasectomy, as they provided as much support as a jock strap during the healing phase. The viscose fabric – a fiber made from bamboo cellulose – is also wicking and comfortable against the skin.
If you prefer looser-fitting underwear – styles closer to boxers than briefs – then the Vibe is probably not the best fit for you. It has a very supported feel, which might not be for everyone, particularly those accustomed to tucking their anatomy to one side. Despite being great for wicking away moisture, viscose is more similar to a synthetic fiber than a natural material. As such, the odor control of these boxers is lacking. As an alternative, even the recycled polyester blend of the Saxx DropTemp Cooling Mesh represents a marked improvement in terms of odor control. We'd highly recommend either of these pairs of boxers for active individuals who desire extra support from their underwear.
The SAXX Vibe boxer briefs were our favorite for running and other active pursuits.
Credit: Ethan Newman
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Side-by-side testing is our bread-and-butter, and real-world testing allows us to dissect the nuanced differences in these boxers.
Credit: Ethan Newman
How We Test Boxer Briefs
Before testing, we scoured the market for a wide range of underwear, representing a solid selection of prices, designs, and materials. We then independently purchased today's top products and evaluated them side-by-side to find the supreme pair of skivvies. We field-tested them in our normal day-to-day, during high-output activities like running, and packed them for our travels. Each pair was sent through the washer and dryer many times to see how well they hold up to extended wear and tear, considering our condensed testing window. From sitting on the couch to running down the trail, wearing them in freezing temperatures and through triple-degree heat, we've spent months wearing these boxers, an experience that backs up our objective tests.
Our boxer briefs testing is divided into four rating metrics:
Comfort (40% of total score weighting)
Breathability (25% weighting)
Construction Quality (20% weighting)
Odor Control (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
As a jack of all trades, Ethan Newman never knows what he might get into next, and he needs his clothes to be ready to adapt to any situation. He's been reviewing daily wear and travel underwear for four years and has tested more than two dozen pairs side-by-side. Ethan balances work as a rock climbing guide and owner-operator of several vacation rentals. So, on any given day, he may need to go climbing, get dirty and fix something, or appear as a working professional in either realm. This need for versatility taught Ethan to carefully select his clothing purchases – down to his boxers – and he brings this keen eye to every product he tests.
Taking our undies out for a test drive. Running in these boxers was a great way to judge breathability, and note if there were any points of chafing or rubbing.
We made sure to test our underwear with repeated cycles of wearing, washing, and drying. Make sure to always check the manufacturer's care instructions to get the most longevity out of your clothing.
The Tommy John Second Skin boxer briefs were some of the comfiest we tested.
Analysis and Test Results
We always rigorously test any product we review, including boxer briefs. We design replicable, laboratory-style tests and measurements for an objective perspective on how these products compare to one another. We then back that up with in-depth field testing, drawing on our personal experience to help dissect the nuanced differences in product performance. We evaluated these boxer briefs in the aspects that can make or break a pair of briefs: comfort, breathability, construction quality, and odor control.
Value
For a purchase even as basic as boxer briefs, you still want to know that you're getting the most bang for your buck. The balance of price versus value is a fine line: not every top-end item is worth the price, and not every affordable product is worthy of investment. When we assess products, we always consider how well they perform relative to their competitors first-and-foremost, and then consider the price as a secondary factor to judge overall value. But we also recognize that boxers often are an economy-of-scale purchase, so we do place a bit more weight on price per pair than we would when comparing other gear.
It's also important to consider how you want to wear these boxers: are they your everyday grab? If that's the case, there is no better buy than the Columbia Performance Cotton undies, considering their balance of comfort, breathability, and unbeatable value per pair. If you're shopping on a particularly tight budget, the Gildan boxers cost nearly one-third that of the Columbia boxers, but you will sacrifice a fair amount of performance in lieu of savings. Or perhaps you only want to have a few pairs of boxers in rotation – say, during an extended trip where you want to pack light. In that case, we highly recommend picking up a few pairs of the ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh boxers, a high-quality pair of briefs that are built to last.
Despite some pilling right off the bat, we have pairs of ExOfficio Sport Mesh boxers that have lasted years and outlasted many adventures.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Comfort
We can't think of any good reason to choose less comfortable underwear over more comfortable underwear, and we're guessing you feel the same way. Boxers cover a sensitive place on the body. Smoother fabrics and seams, wide and soft waistbands, and a thoughtfully designed fit all contribute to a more comfortable pair of skivvies. We considered how comfortable a pair is throughout the day, during activities like regular exercise, and throughout a reasonable lifespan for this type of clothing. We also assessed how well they fit under different types of pants – under thicker work pants versus lightweight fitness shorts, for example.
The Mack Weldon 18-Hour boxers are the most comfortable pair we have tested to date. They're well made, and although the fabric is a robust cotton blend, it doesn't bunch up or get hot under either work trousers or running shorts. The interior is extra soft next-to-skin, and they are pleasant to wear even when it's hot out. The waistband is thin yet comfortable, the sleek fabric layers easily, and despite the heavier cut of the fabric, the legs never rode up on us.
We appreciate underwear with thinner leg hems that help prevent them from riding up under pants, like those on the Tommy John Second Skin.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Other standouts for comfort include the SmartWool Merino 150 and the Tommy John Second Skin boxers. We love Merino wool for its soft touch and natural wicking ability, but the cellulose-based fabric of the Tommy John briefs comes close. Although this plays an important role in the breathability metric, fabrics that can wick away sweat and help avoid the dreaded “swamp seat” are objectively more comfortable than pairs that lack this ability. Along these lines, we love the ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 – they are one of the thinnest pairs we've ever tested, and wearing them almost felt like we were wearing nothing. But we were also happily surprised by more affordable options, like the all-cotton Fruit of the Loom Eversoft CoolZone and the polyester-spandex blend of the Adidas Performance boxers
Turning the Fruit of the Loom CoolZone inside out highlights the synthetic fly, a nice feature on an otherwise simple pair of boxers.
Credit: Ethan Newman
The Saxx Vibe and DropTemp boxers take an unconventional approach to comfort. Their patented Ballpark pouch separates the crotch from the legs with a thin mesh web. While we initially found the feeling peculiar – especially if you're used to “riding side saddle” – we eventually came to really enjoy the feel and support of the unique Saxx design.
The width of a waistband can make a huge difference in both comfort and how well the boxer briefs move with you.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Breathability
Our lead tester often works outside on 100 °F-plus days, so you can imagine that breathability is important. Judging boxers on their breathability is not only important for a general sense of hygiene, but is paramount in selecting a pair of boxers for exercising or outdoor activities, like backpacking. The boxers we tested present a wide range of breathability, which largely comes down to the fabric choice and thickness. The better a pair of boxer briefs kept us cool and dry – as opposed to swampy and sweaty – the better each product scored in this metric.
Natural and synthetic fibers can both be breathable, but each has upsides and downsides. Cotton is breathable until saturated since it is capable of absorbing up to 28 times its weight in water. Synthetics tend to do a better job of wicking moisture away from the skin, drawing on the weave and texture to wick moisture between the fabric via capillary action. Natural wools, like Merino, absorb moisture into the fabric and use your body heat to evaporate. Wool can be incredibly breathable, but the fiber itself is thicker than cotton or synthetics, so undies made of Merino wool tend to feel much thicker than their counterparts.
The ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport 2.0 are great for higher temperatures, and when you want to feel like you're wearing as little as possible.
Credit: Ethan Newman
The ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 is the most breathable underwear we tested. The texture of the nylon blend lifts sweat away from the skin, so they never felt sticky, even when we were working under the hard summer sun of the Desert Southwest. If you want a pair of briefs for training indoors or outdoors, we strongly recommend the ExOfficio undies. However, the Columbia Performance boxers also did surprisingly well in this category. The cotton pulls the moisture away from the skin, and the polyester pulls the moisture away from the cotton, allowing it to evaporate more easily.
The Columbia Performance Cotton Stretch drawers are surprisingly sporty, and don't ride up thanks to well-made hems.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Cellulose-blended bottoms like the Tommy John Second Skin and Saxx Vibe also did quite well, likely because both of these boxers are particularly thin-cut. We were surprised, however, by just how well natural-fiber pairs like the SmartWool Merino 150 and Icebreaker Anatomica Boxer breathe, considering the thick cut of these Merino-blended boxer briefs.
The Anatomica Boxers are quite breathable, even on a hot day, considering their primarily Merino wool construction.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Construction Quality
We wanted a way to quantify all the little details that make a pair of underwear nice to wear, and the ways that they remain nice to wear day-in and day-out. This metric first assesses construction quality by closely examining the stitching and material. We then run these boxers through repeated wearing and washing cycles to draw conclusions on how they might develop over time within the confines of our in-depth but relatively limited testing cycle.
The folks at SmartWool know what they're doing, and it shows, as the SmartWool Merino 150 easily tops the charts in this metric. Even after years of regular use, the stitching is clean and unfrayed, the waistband is as snappy as ever, and the wool has hardly pilled up in any noticeable way. The Mack Weldon boxers have also held up well to repeated washing and drying cycles, with regular exercise and manual labor in between. Similarly, the REI Everyday Boxer Brief appears all but bombproof, standing up to our overly aggressive abrasion testing.
Despite other issues with breathability and odor control, the REI Everyday Boxers are a comfortable, bomber pair of boxers.
Credit: Justin Simoni
The ExOfficio Give-n-Go 2.0 Sport also impressed us with its potential for longevity. The fabric has the tendency to pill up quickly, which makes it look more worn than it actually is. We've tested a few different pairs of these bottoms, and they have outlasted many other boxer briefs in our underwear drawer. We recognize that these models do cost a fair bit more than some of the other options. But they will also likely last a fair bit longer, as good materials and craftsmanship tend to equate to construction quality.
Sloppy stitching on pairs like the Fruit of the Loom Eversoft CoolZone can lead to additional chafe points.
Credit: Ethan Newman
On the other side of the price spectrum, many of the budget options showed wear after only a few machine washes, with runs in the fabric and the ends of the seams starting to fray. The notable exceptions are the Columbia Performance boxers and the New Balance boxers, which, for their other faults, present an excellent option for a well-made, affordable pair of boxer briefs.
Some pairs, like the Amazon Essentials, had stitches fray after just a few washes.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Odor Control
One should never dread undressing after a long day for fear of a rising stench from below.
We evaluated the odor retention of our underwear selection by going for an extended run on a hot, sunny day and then assessing the odor retention after some targeted sweating. Additionally, we kept notes on how they faired after daily use, examining them right before washing. Some fabrics and fibers deal with odor better than others, and even if our testing wasn't always pleasant, it was informative.
Again, the SmartWool Merino 150 rises to the top of the proverbial laundry pile. Wool has a naturally occurring coating called lanolin, which is antimicrobial and thus helps to prevent body odor from building up. Although synthetics dry the fastest of the common fabrics, wool tends to dry faster than cotton. Most cotton-based drawers offer mediocre performance in this metric. The exceptions here are the Lucky Brand Stretch and Amazon Essentials Tag-Free. Their 100% cotton construction utilizes the moderate odor-fighting properties of cotton, which is still a benefit of this all-natural fiber.
Oftentimes line drying garments can help improve longevity of a pair of boxers, but you do have to be conscious of sun-bleaching.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Synthetic fabrics tend to hold odor more than natural fibers, so unless they have some sort of odor-fighting additive in the weave, they tend to hold onto body odor between washes. This is because fabrics like polyester are oleophilic, meaning they can bind with the oils from our skin, which is why they tend to hold on to body odor, even through washes. Even when they do feature odor-resistant antimicrobial linings, it's been our experience that these treatments tend to wear off after a while, especially with machine washings. That's why you'll see some more price point options, like the Hanes Ultimate, opt for a synthetic-cotton blend as an affordable alternative to pricier antimicrobial treatments.
Line Dry for Longevity
It's no surprise that the high heat of a dryer is hard on clothing. But it is especially tough on antimicrobial treatments. Even if a pair of boxers is listed as dryer-friendly, we recommend line drying to get the most performance out of your new boxers for as long as possible.
A few pairs of premium briefs – the Saxx Vibe, Tommy John Second Skin, and Mack Weldon shorts – represent a sort of a middle ground for odor control. They are made with a fabric blend that includes either viscose or modal, which might be considered semi-synthetic fabrics. Both come from the cellulose of a woody plant (bamboo and beech trees, respectively) and are then put through a complex chemical and industrial process to spin it into fiber. These fabrics tend to be slightly less oleophilic than classic synthetics like polyester or nylon – thus less stinky – but aren't nearly as good at warding off odor as natural fibers.
Regular washing is key to controlling odors, but some pairs seem to hold onto stink worse than others. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any correlation between stinkier pairs and the fabric blend, either.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Conclusion
Our team of testers put every pair of underwear through the wringer to find the best boxer briefs on the market. We sought out options made from quality materials to highlight boxers that represent a solid value. We considered comfort, breathability, construction quality, and odor control to provide the most accurate first-hand information you can find without purchasing all of these pairs yourself. We hope you found this comprehensive review helpful and informative so you can easily find the best pair of skivvies to add to your drawer collection.
