# Are boxer briefs and briefs bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295 "2014-12-04T05:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/1 "2014-12-04T05:39:12Z")
I wear boxers all the time now. However i use to wear briefs when i was young and obviously when i switched to boxers, i wondered why in the world did I ever wear briefs in the first place. I do still like wearing boxers as im comfortable with it. I don’t like briefs b/c its just way too tight. I also read its not good for down there. However, are boxer briefs similar? I never won boxer briefs before but it seems to be right in the middle of boxers and briefs. But do they ever feel tight? I know boxers are the best in terms of more air for guys but are boxer briefs like briefs in that they aren’t good for down there? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/2 "2014-12-04T15:00:48Z")
FWIW, I can’t stand boxers. They give no support. My father wore boxers and so did I–until I discovered briefs, which I have worn ever since. I had three kids with no problems, BTW. But my two sons wear boxers. Your choice. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/3 "2014-12-04T15:12:05Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > I also read its not good for down there. You read what, where? I have never seen the existence of actual scientific evidence making any distinction one way or the other. I suspect anyone who claims otherwise is trying to sell you something (in this case, boxers). FWIW, my citations are my tightie whities and my six children. (Presuming “not good for down there” has something to do with fertility, as opposed to being pure ambiguous absolute woo.) ETA: wear whatever makes you comfortable. “Boxer briefs” are like briefs in how they support (or constrict, depending on your preferences) The Boys. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/4 "2014-12-04T17:20:32Z")
It’s widely thought, although it may be woo, that briefs can impact fertility in SOME men due to temperature issues. These same men are also told to stay out of hot tubs prior to sex. Does that mean they are ‘bad’ for you? Depends on your POV I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/5 "2014-12-04T19:49:04Z")
I guess socks will be next. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/6 "2014-12-04T19:50:08Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > FWIW, I can’t stand boxers. They give no support. Swing low, sweet chariots. (Boxer wearer here.) ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/7 "2014-12-04T20:19:12Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > I don’t like briefs b/c its just way too tight. I also read its not good for down there. However, are boxer briefs similar? I never won boxer briefs before but it seems to be right in the middle of boxers and briefs. But do they ever feel tight? They are right in the middle. I wear boxer briefs. BBs are more tight than boxers but less tight than briefs. For me briefs are too tight and boxers bunch up. BBs are tight enough and there is still room for some moving around and they do not bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/8 "2014-12-04T22:15:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I guess socks will be next. Actually, socks were first. Cite: In days of old When knights were bold and condoms weren’t invented… ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/9 "2014-12-04T22:26:03Z")
If your briefs were too tight, maybe you were just wearing the wrong size. And FWIW, I sometimes used to wear men’s BBs when I went bicycling-- this was a long time ago; I don’t bike anymore, because the leg bands from women’s underwear can get tight around your legs, or give you wedgies when you get sweaty. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/10 "2014-12-05T01:52:07Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > If your briefs were too tight, maybe you were just wearing the wrong size. > > And FWIW, I sometimes used to wear men’s BBs when I went bicycling-- this was a long time ago; I don’t bike anymore, because the leg bands from women’s underwear can get tight around your legs, or give you wedgies when you get sweaty. Which is why cyclists don’t wear underwear. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/11 "2014-12-05T03:14:10Z")
I still don’t understand why the OP needs two simultaneous and similar threads on underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-boxer-briefs-and-briefs-bad-for-you/706295/12 "2014-12-05T10:01:31Z")
There’s one obvious advantage to wearing briefs or boxer-briefs. You never have to have your slacks altered because you “walk on the left or right”.