# Underpants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 17, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842 "2006-07-17T13:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/1 "2006-07-17T13:03:08Z")
I grew up wearing tighty whities, because that’s what my mom bought me, and I was unaware of other options. As an adolescent, I experimented with many styles, as well as “commando”, before settling into a decade-long run in boxers - my cousin had fertility issues, which his doctor attributed (at least in part) to wearing TWs. I wasn’t then married, but I’m always thinkin’ ahead. That’s just me. But, there are certain disadvantages to boxers, as any man who wears them will attest. Not the least of which is the lack of support - if you’re not careful, you run the risk of tripping on your balls, or getting them caught in the dresser drawer, or (god forbid) snagging them on the errant rusty nail. But after all the years with free range testicles (so to speak), I’m having trouble strapping them back into TWs, even though fertility is no longer a concern (I had myself [sterilized](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337289) last year). Tighty whities are just too… tight. But the boxers have got to go (I think), and going commando just doesn’t seem as cool and sexy now that I’m 36 as it was when I was 26 (you’ll just have to take my word on that). Whatever. I’ve found a sort of compromise, though. These things are like a cross between boxers and briefs. Like cotton boxerbriefshorts. Comfy. But are there other options out there I’m unaware of? ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/2 "2006-07-17T13:06:39Z")
Well, there’s always [these](http://www.abcunderwear.com/mensthongs.html). ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/3 "2006-07-17T13:27:32Z")
I’ve grown quite fond of boxer briefs myself. I’ve done the tighty whiteys, the boxers, and even (at the behest of the missus and with a certain trepidation) semi-thongs (a little like that mildly disconcerting link **swampbear** posted, only without the less pee-hole and more nylon). I don’t mind boxers but they have only a certain lifespan before the material becomes fatigued enough to start riding up with disturbing ease. TWs are fine in a general sense. Boxer briefs though I rather like beacause they’re snug and fit partway down the leg such that they don’t ride up nearly as easily even after the material becomes fatigued. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/4 "2006-07-17T13:31:03Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Well, there’s always [these](http://www.abcunderwear.com/mensthongs.html). Meh. Been there, done that. It’s been about 10 years since I could pull that off. Thanks for the vote of confidence, though. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/5 "2006-07-17T13:32:23Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > I’ve grown quite fond of boxer briefs myself. I’ve done the tighty whiteys, the boxers, and even (at the behest of the missus and with a certain trepidation) semi-thongs (a little like that mildly disconcerting link **swampbear** posted, only without the less pee-hole and more nylon). I don’t mind boxers but they have only a certain lifespan before the material becomes fatigued enough to start riding up with disturbing ease. TWs are fine in a general sense. Boxer briefs though I rather like beacause they’re snug and fit partway down the leg such that they don’t ride up nearly as easily even after the material becomes fatigued. Stephen Colbert called that “Indian Underpants” (creepin’ up the trail). ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/6 "2006-07-17T13:38:40Z")
Maybe you should ask [Scylla](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=362755) for advice! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/7 "2006-07-17T13:43:57Z")
I live in the South. Boxers are a **must** , in Summer. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/8 "2006-07-17T13:46:59Z")
> [@Dottygumdrop](#): > > Maybe you should ask [Scylla](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=362755) for advice! 😃 No man-thong for me, mate. It’d be like _Who let the dogs out?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/9 "2006-07-17T13:52:14Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I live in the South. > Boxers are a **must** , in Summer. I dunno, **Bosda**. I lived in the south for about a year and a half, and I recall _chafing_ was an issue. Of course, I was working for a small package delivery company at the time and running around a lot, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/10 "2006-07-17T14:00:12Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > I dunno, **Bosda**. I lived in the south for about a year and a half, and I recall _chafing_ was an issue. Of course, I was working for a small package delivery company at the time and running around a lot, but still. When I get on my bicycle, & sweat soaks the sewn hem of a pair of Briefs, the ones near the groin, it cuts into me like a bandsaw. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/11 "2006-07-17T14:03:07Z")
Boxer Briefs for the win. Like you I grew up on TWs and discovered the amazing world of opportunity when it came to underwear. Commando was my choice for a while, then boxers but I never liked boxers. They bunched and didn’t give my boys a home, so boxer briefs are nice because they stop the chafing and they don’t tend to bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/12 "2006-07-17T14:12:08Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > I was working for **a small package delivery company** Given the subject matter of this thread, this perhaps wasn’t the most flattering turn of phrase you could have used. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/13 "2006-07-17T14:18:37Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > Given the subject matter of this thread, this perhaps wasn’t the most flattering turn of phrase you could have used. 😃 Indeed I must have mis-spoke. I _actually_ worked for a **large, girthy package** delivery company. ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/14 "2006-07-17T14:20:16Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > But are there other options out there I’m unaware of? It’s not for everyone, but you might take a look at the men’s long brief at [Wintersilks.com](http://Wintersilks.com) Tabby ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/15 "2006-07-17T14:27:11Z")
> [@Tabula Rasa](#): > > It’s not for everyone, but you might take a look at the men’s long brief at [Wintersilks.com](http://Wintersilks.com) > > Tabby Those are pretty much like the boxerbriefs I wear. Though the ones at [Wintersilks.com](http://Wintersilks.com) are longer. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/16 "2006-07-17T15:01:03Z")
Another voice singing the praises of boxerbriefs. Fit, support without binding…why didn’t they invent these things decades ago? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/17 "2006-07-17T15:11:55Z")
Ah Winston!! Thank God you’re still alive. Now then whatcha gonna do about the BYST? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/18 "2006-07-17T16:08:34Z")
If you’re looking for something a little different, how about [manties](http://www.manties.com)? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/19 "2006-07-17T16:17:12Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > If you’re looking for something a little different, how about [manties](http://www.manties.com)? 😃 Lovely. Manties, a murse, and a merkin – essential gear for the experimental metrosexual. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842/20 "2006-07-17T18:01:16Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Well, there’s always [these](http://www.abcunderwear.com/mensthongs.html). But only if you post a pic… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underpants/364842.md?page=2)