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We gab incessantly about clothes, but the one thing we wear most often is also the least visible. When we talk about essentials, the best underwear for men belongs in the conversation. Because the fact is, if you’re not paying attention to the skivvies you put on, you’re not giving your nether regions the respect it deserves.
Sweat, stench, chafing, pinching—these are the dire consequences of taking a laissez-faire approach. Whether you prefer boxer briefs or boxer shorts, it’s required that they are comfortable, which means made from quality fabric that’s soft and breathable against the skin. (They should also offer you sufficient support without a shred of discomfort, because no one has time for bunching or chafing.) And that’s before we even get to how they look on you. In short: Flattering. They’ve gotta be flattering.
To help you refresh your drawers, we assembled a panel of GQ staffers to test an arms-full of underwear based on fabric, fit, and function. (You can read more about our testing process here.) Below you’ll find our picks for the best men’s underwear for every taste and body type. Oh, and if you’re interested in pledging your allegiance to one label and one label only, be sure to peruse our guide to the best underwear brands for men.
Material: 43% cotton, 43% modal, 14% spandex | Sizes: XS-5X | Inseam: 5" | Fly: Non-functional | Colors and Patterns: Available in 8 colorways
Kim Kardashian might not be the first person you associate with men’s underwear (that honor would probably go to one Jeremy Allen White), but ignore her burgeoning pedigree in the space at your own peril. Last year, the Skims mogul debuted her first collection of undies specifically designed for guys, enlisting a who’s who of megawatt names to hawk ‘em. The R&D paid off—and the exposed abs probably helped, too.
Across our testers, the Skims Cotton Boxer Briefs were first in fit, support, and overall looks—and scored equally high on quality, too. As far as support goes, GQ Sports Writer Matthew Roberson was effusive in his praise, calling them nothing short of “F***ING PERFECT”. (Caps his own!) Alex Wedel, Senior Manager of Global Audience Development, said they felt blessedly secure in the pouch, and even offered his butt a little bit of a lift. They are not “secretly shapewear”, as Wedel suspected, but for the woefully tuchus-deprived among us, there’s few higher compliments.
Our testers’ only complaint? Breathability. Skims’ inaugural boxer briefs weren’t exactly stifling, but the competition outperformed them in that capacity—and that capacity alone. Ridiculously high marks for a relatively new entrant, but hey, did you really expect anything less?
Skims' 5" boxer briefs. Tested by Matthew Roberson, reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex | Sizes: S-XL | Inseam: 4" | Fly: Functional; side | Colors and Patterns: Varies
Calvin Klein’s genre-defining boxer briefs tend to dominate our rankings for good reason: when the brand introduced them in the early ‘80s, they made designer underwear a thing, ushering in the era of the celebrity campaign in the process. Forty-odd years after their debut, the brand’s megawatt briefs still set the standard—and they look just as great on Average Joes in need of a jolt of everyday confidence.
According to our testers, CK’s cotton-stretch underwear is as good-looking as it is comfortable. The fabric comes imbued with just the right amount of stretch, solid support in the pouch, and more breathability than its counterpart from Skims, a major win for the old guard. They’re not prone to chafing or riding up, a welcome boon for GQ’s notable-but-anonymous low-rise devotees.
Even testers unconvinced by the boxers’ comfort and fit were quick to concede their value, especially when you buy them in bulk. Full-price packs cost as little as $12 per pair, but you can often catch them on sale. Are there cheaper options on the market? Absolutely—heck, some of them are immediately below. But few offer as much bang for your buck, let alone the quiet satisfaction of shimmying into designer underwear from the designer that did it first.
Calvin Klein's cotton stretch briefs. Tested and Reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
Material: 89% polyester, 11% spandex | Sizes: S-3XL | Fly: Functional; side | Colors and Patterns: Gray
By The Editors of GQ
The rigor we’ve devoted to our testing might’ve clued you in to a little secret: we’re not entirely sure that the perfect undies exist. But there are options that consistently impressed us across a range of crucial factors. Exhibit A: Uniqlo’s AIRism boxer briefs. Our testers noted their support, breathability, and moisture-wicking abilities—all three of which make them solid gym buddies—but really emphasized their overall value.
According to them, Uniqlo’s famously breezy briefs weren’t the best in any given category, but at $15 a pop, the combination of properties they offered was too good not to mention. GQ’s skivvies braintrust liked the lightweight-but-smooth feel of the fabric, a matrix lesser brands struggle to approximate. They’re more expensive than Calvin Klein’s riff on the silhouette, but when you factor in the gym-ready benefits they start looking like a steal.
Uniqlo's AIRism boxer briefs. Tested by Avidan Grossman, reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
Material: 76% nylon, 24% elastane | Sizes: S-XXL | Inseam: 5" or 7" | Fly: Non-functional | Colors and Patterns: Available in 4 colorways
In a not-so-shocking development, Lululemon’s Built to Move boxers scored highest marks among GQ’s resident fitness buffs. According to that lovable crew (they’re “totally natural”, they swear), the brand’s signature boxers outperformed the competition by a healthy margin, providing reinforcements at every hard-earned PR. They supported our testers more ably than an eagle-eyed spotter; wicked away sweat while allowing crucial airflow; and protected against the inevitable odors associated with “slanging massive numbers” in the squat rack—without bunching, chafing, or riding up.
Unsurprisingly, they were also among the most breathable undies we tested, largely thanks to Lululemon’s proprietary Luxtreme fabric, a silky-but-dry miracle blend that conforms to the body like memory foam without constricting your range of motion. Two downsides: If we were designing them from scratch, we’d probably opt for a functional fly—and make ‘em twenty bucks cheapers.
Tested and Reviewed by GQ
Material: 95% Tencel lyocell, 5% elastane | Sizes: XS-3XL | Fly: Non-functional | Colors and Patterns: Available in 6 colorways
By The Editors of GQ
When the time comes to nix the 12-pack and upgrade your skivvies drawer, there’s only one brand for the job. That brand, according to our testers, is CDLP, the upstart Swedish label that emphasizes fit and fabric above all else—and charges accordingly for its expertise. These days, plenty of brands hawk undies adorned with billboard-sized logos or done up in gaudy colorways, but CDLP’s approach is a lot more subtle, and in our opinion, a lot more effective.
Out on a run wearing the brand’s house-speciality boxer briefs, Alex Wedel found them “super successful at keeping sweat at bay”—and even better at imbuing the quotidian routine of everyday life with a low-key dose of sex appeal. One thing to note: CDLP crafts almost all of its boxers from silk-like lyocell jersey, which feels decadent (and is plenty durable), but can run a little snug. Size up judiciously.
CDLP's boxer briefs. Tested by Alex Wedel, reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
Material: 100% cotton | Sizes: XS-3XL | Fly: Functional; open | Colors and Patterns: Available in 8 colorways
How do you do, fellow boxer short apologists? We see you, we hear you, and we have not forsaken you. That’s mostly thanks to the efforts of Sunspel, the generations-old British label responsible for some of the crispest, classiest skivvies on the planet. Sunspel’s tees are a favorite of a certain licensed-to-kill superspy, so, naturally, its underwear is charmingly old-school the whole way through, endowed with an inimitable sense of retro Hollywood flair. And just like the clothes of that era, its basics are made better—in this case, out of a long-staple cotton that’s light, smooth, and far more durable than most of the newfangled shlock.
GQ Commerce Writer Gerald Ortiz, an avowed boxer shorts-wearer, swears by Sunspel for one wonky detail: a back panel that’s actually cut and shaped. “Not only does it make for a better fit,” he maintains, “it means they don’t bunch at all.” And while some boxer shorts include a button fly, the majority of our testers preferred Sunspel’s open-fly alternative. They’re Ortiz’s favorite boxers “without question”, he says. “They don’t fit like a garbage bag, they’re very well made, super comfortable, and actually elegant.” They’re also multiple factors more expensive than the big-box store fare, but who says you need to replace your underwear drawer in one fell swoop?
Material: 100% cotton | Sizes: S-3XL | Fly: Functional; button-fly | Colors and Patterns: Available in 2 colorways
By The Editors of GQ
We tested plenty of mid-range skivvies, but generally speaking, expensive underwear is much better than the stuff you buy in bulk. “Generally speaking” being the operative words here, of course—and Uniqlo being the exception to the rule. The Japanese juggernaut’s boxer briefs earned top marks in our value category, and its impeccably crisp boxer shorts are poised to do the same.
Like its rainbow of straight-ahead socks, Uniqlo’s range of woven boxer shorts (which they insist on calling “trunks”), is a great value proposition; Ortiz swears by them on the days he isn’t wearing Sunspel’s version. The cotton fabric is soft, the fit is roomy, and the elastic waistband is noticeably pinch-free. Ortiz has been wearing them for years, and hasn’t noticed any of the telltale sagging that defines lesser versions after too many spins in the laundry machine. All that room does have a slight downside, though—when some of our testers wore them with slimmer pants, the extra fabric was prone to laying a little funny.
Uniqlo's woven trunks. Tested by Michael Nolledo, reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
Material: 100% cotton | Sizes: S-3XL | Fly: Functional; open | Colors and Patterns: Available in 2 colorways
When we say that expensive underwear tends to be better than its cheaper counterparts, Derek Rose’s ridiculously luxe boxer shorts are exactly what we’re talking about. The version our testers tried was cut from 100% cotton with an eerily silk-like feel—augmented by a downright regal sheen befitting the brand’s generations-long pedigree. Even the staunchest members of GQ’s “never boxer shorts” crowd walked away impressed, praising the extra top buttons and the second-to-none quality. (A word to Mr. Rose: our intrepid undies experts would love to see a couple of side seams for added comfort.)
At $70 a pop, would they buy a pair themselves? Well, that’s a slightly more complicated question—but if you don’t live on a writer’s salary, and refuse to compromise when it comes to your skivvies, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more worthy splurge.
By The Editors of GQ
Derek Rose's classic fit boxers. Tested by Michael Nolledo, reviewed by Gerald Ortiz
GQ Associate Commerce Director Michael Nolledo alternates between Mack Weldon’s 18-Hour Jersey Knit Boxer and 24/7 Woven Boxer, noting that he likes the latter for its traditional fit and tailored look. “They’re cut in a way where I have full range of motion throughout the day,” he says, adding that he’s a big fan of the “pleated fabric that runs the length of the waist”, which looks great and adds just the right stretch and comfort to the waistband.
UA Performance Cotton Boxerjock (3-Pack)
For an affordable pair of athletic underwear, consider Under Armour’s Boxerjock style. It’s a tried-and-true option with no side or back seams, and a wide and comfortable waistband. Nolledo, who cycles through the 6” and 9” lengths for HIIT and MetCon sessions, applauds the Boxerjocks for their moisture-wicking capabilities and supportive fit. “Between the waistband and bottom hems,” he says, “these will never roll up on you.”
Tommy John hasn’t been around as long as some of its counterparts, but in the time since we started our annual ranking of the underwear market, its name has surfaced again and again. More than one GQ staffer swears by the brand’s Second Skin briefs, which come equipped with a signature internal pouch and what Tommy John endearingly calls a “quick draw” fly. Our testers’ verdict: not bad! But also a smidge too expensive for a modal-spandex blend, no matter how exactingly designed.
Falke’s specially engineered socks are a mainstay of our hosiery coverage for a single, all-important reason: no matter where—or how hard—we’ve worn ‘em, they’ve managed to keep our feet cool, dry, and remarkably stench-free. So when it came time to test the brand’s aptly-named Climate Control boxer shorts, we had great expectations. According to our testers, they were near-unanimously great, thanks to a cotton-rayon blend that offers plenty of flexibility without compromising on the luxe factor. But at a staggering $50 a pair, consensus deemed them too pricey to anoint a winner—especially considering that CDLP’s, which nudged them for the top slot, cost $12 less.
Cotton Classics Knit Boxers (3-Pack)
If nothing comes between you and your Calvins—least of all your penchant for boxer shorts—the first name in designer skivvies has you covered in superlative fashion. CK’s knit boxers were a quick favorite among GQ’s testers, satisfying both the prodigiously-thighed among us and the fellas who’d sooner go commando than adorn their waistline with the name of any other brand. They’re not quite as sexy as Calvin’s paradigmatic boxer briefs (and the quality doesn’t really compare to Sunspel’s fancy-guy version), but as Bob Barker would remind you, the price is so right.
Personal style, as we’re wont to remind you, is just that: personal. Nowhere is that more true than your underwear, the first piece of clothing you put on in the morning, and the last piece you (or a lucky someone) removes at the end of the day. The right underwear for Jack isn’t the right underwear for Joe—especially if Jack swears by all-cotton boxer shorts, and Joe prefers silky, thigh-hugging trunks.
So with that in mind, we designed our months-long underwear-testing process to encompass as many preferences, body types, and lifestyles as possible. In doing so, we enlisted a who’s who of GQ staffers—including key members of our Recommends team—to subject the underwear in question to the rigors of daily life; we shimmied into them before work, squatted in them at the gym, and generally wore ‘em to pieces day in and day out until our laundry machines cried uncle.
And then, finally, we got our crack (heh) team of testers together in a room and asked them to assign each pair a score, evaluating its comfort, breathability, fit, quality, support, value—and, perhaps most importantly, overall style. Based on those evaluations, we ran the numbers, collated the anecdotal evidence, and emerged with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best underwear for men right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the cheap multipacks to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) solo buys. Whatever your preferences, whatever your lifestyle, there's bound to be a superlative pair of skivvies on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)
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