# Why are boxers and briefs made from different stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161 "2003-12-15T18:44:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/1 "2003-12-15T18:44:12Z")
Briefs and all the wacky hybrids are made from a soft cotton, similar to what t-shirts are made. While boxers, in my experience, are made of some other weave of cotton that is hard to describe (slicker/rougher) but is noticeably different. (I’m ignoring silk here.) What’s up with this? Seems like the requirements for both would be similar, they use different materials. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/2 "2003-12-15T18:51:00Z")
I think because boxers are meant to hang freely, where briefs are made to fit snugly against your junk, hence a more clingy material. BTW, you can get “Boxer Briefs”. They’re a longer shorts-style cut, but made from the usual briefs material (complete with the stupid penis flap at the front). Very comfy! That’s all I wear anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/3 "2003-12-15T22:13:24Z")
Most of the inexpensive boxers I’ve bought (like at Target or Walmart) are made of cotton linen – the same stuff bedsheets are made from. You can also get flannel boxers, which are nice and comfy in cold weather, but can also get sweaty… and that can become unflattering, or even unpleasant. I switched to Boxer Briefs, too, when they became widely available. Best of both worlds. And **ladybug** think’s they’re cute. (If I wear white boxer briefs and a white t-shirt to bed, she says it looks like astronaut undies…) ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/4 "2003-12-15T23:47:52Z")
I prefer the material used in the plain white Polo boxers that I buy at Macy’s. Don’t know what it is, though. **NoGoodNamesLeft** , why is the penis flap stupid?? ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/5 "2003-12-16T00:20:38Z")
Briefs have to stretch and cup your bits. Boxers just cover. AFAIK, the penis flap is stupid because it’s easier to tug your undies down a bit and go over the top than contort your penis through a widdle flap of cloth. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/6 "2003-12-16T02:49:28Z")
I agree-- I’ve always had the impression that the briefs-style penis-flap was designed by someone without the parts has never been used to pee through. How’s that supposed to work? You stick your whole hand in there, around the corner, grasp firmly, and pull? I wore briefs my whole childhood and just tugged 'em down, and it was a real revelation when a switched to boxers, continued to tug 'em down for a while out of habit, and then suddenly realized that they were engineered so that you could actually turn that opening to a practical advantage. Who’d have thunk it? I imagine that trying to use the flap on a pair of briefs day after day would eventually result in a trip to the emergency room with an embarassing injury of some sort. I think Bob Dylan wrote a song about it: > [@](#): > > And I was standin’ on the side of the road > Rain fallin’ on my shoes > Heading out for the East Coast > Lord knows I’ve paid some dues gettin’ through, > Tangled up in blue. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/7 "2003-12-16T05:58:29Z")
I remember as a little kid feeling a great sense of accomplishment when I finally mastered that flap. The thrill has abated, but I still use it. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/8 "2003-12-16T06:34:38Z")
> [@](#): > > **rjk** : I remember as a little kid feeling a great sense of accomplishment when I finally master […] abated, but I still use it. YMMV I _know_ you did that on purpose, you wag. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/9 "2003-12-16T15:59:23Z")
You people realize that most briefs are KNIT while most boxers are WOVEN? Knitting makes for a slightly stretchier, supportive fabric, while weaving results in a smoother and lighter fabric. Because of the different techniques, different types of threads will be used, likely with different blends of cotton and other materials, but the cheif difference is in the knitting versus weaving, not the particular thread types. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/10 "2003-12-16T16:11:21Z")
That doesn’t really answer the “why” part of the OP though. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/11 "2003-12-16T16:40:48Z")
Because a dog made out of paper would turn all mushy in the rain (and never make a good swimmer) while a legal deposition would be far too messy to submit to the court if it were made out of dog parts (even it they’re short-haired since it is too hard to read on brown or brindle and too much white is a breed disqualifier). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/12 "2003-12-16T16:48:31Z")
> [@](#): > > That doesn’t really answer the “why” part of the OP though. But that _has_ been pretty much answered. Briefs are designed to hold everything close (pretty much of a necesssity for a lot of activities that require much movement inside pants, to reduce chafing) while boxers are intended to reduce chafing in less active situations by simply providing a “boundary layer” between the pants and the skin, much as a woman’s slip is intended to prevent dresses from clinging too much. The type of material is dictated by the economics of manufacturing with the cotton/poly 65%/35% blend being cheaper to produce than pure cotton when the tension that pure cotton can provide is not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/13 "2003-12-16T18:34:17Z")
**tomndebb** , That’s great, did you make that up? I had to read it twice before it sunk in. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/14 "2003-12-16T18:42:32Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s great, did you make that up? Which answer? ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/15 "2003-12-16T18:59:20Z")
boxer briefs are also great in the latter stages of pregnancy to help avoid heat rash. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/16 "2003-12-16T21:14:18Z")
Most men don’t have that problem! ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/17 "2003-12-16T21:14:18Z")
Most men don’t have that problem! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-boxers-and-briefs-made-from-different-stuff/219161/18 "2003-12-16T22:32:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jake4 \* > **NoGoodNamesLeft** , why is the penis flap stupid?? He’s not saying the flap is stupid. He’s dissing his dong.