I had that problem until I found a really good solution: running shorts. These are gym shorts that have a liner (much like a men’s bathing suit). There are a couple things to note:
There seems to be two kind of these shorts. One with stiff inflexible fabric, and one with a woven fabric which has a give. Get the woven as it gives a much wider range of motion and freedom while at the gym.
Pockets are all over the place on these type of shorts. Some have regular pockets you can place your hands in. Some have small pockets inside of the shorts or on the back of the shorts big enough for a key. If those needs are relevant, check out the shorts first.
You don’t wear underwear with these. It’d be redundant and probably uncomfortable. The tight liner keeps you and your friends in place.
He should have paid attention in HS gym class. That is when they force you to do things like wear a jock and take a shower. Things that seem so obvious to most people until you encounter someone who didn’t get the message.
Just like a woman wears a jog-bra to keep things from flapping around when they exercise, guys need something to keep the beans and franks in place when they are jumping around. That is what a jock does. To protect the nuts you need a cup, is much like a jock with a hard shell. Never liked to wear a jock myself, briefs did the job just fine. I can’t imagine exercising in boxers but plenty of guys do.
If you don’t need the protection of a cup, don’t bother with a jock strap. Compression shorts or running shorts with a built in brief work much better for running/biking/rowing.
I never wear underwear when I work out- I always wear running shorts. They have an inner liner which keeps everything contained and out of the way of any dangerous weight equipment. This is the case whether I’m running or just using the machines.
Thanks for all the tips everyone. He is feeling very silly right now for not thinking of a jock strap, but as he said, I haven’t worn one of those since I was 10 (that was almost 30 years ago). He has to work today so I took some measurements and I’ll get him a pair of compression shorts before I meet him at the gym tonight.
Another vote for compression shorts. I do a lot of running, so I don’t have the “sitting on things” issue, but I’ve found that running briefs do a great job of keeping everything “in place”, as it were.
Thirding compression shorts. In my case, I wear them to keep my thighs from rubbing together on the treadmill or bike, but they also keep the boys firmly in place. Way comfier than a jock strap, in my opinion. Brands probably don’t matter, but I’m a fan of Under Armour.
Not all boxer briefs are created equal. Target’s C9 line of athletic wear includes athletic style boxer briefs that have a tighter “cup” than normal boxer briefs from Hanes, etc.
We got him a pair of Under Armor compression shorts. I was surprised at the price. Under $30 at Olympia. Glad we went there instead of Dick’s. The same brand was 2-3x as expensive at Dick’s. But, Olympia was having a winter clearance so that might have been why.
He LOVES them. He said they feel awesome. They are wicking too, which he really likes. He forgot to try the rower today but he said the bike was way more comfortable and he even noticed a difference on the treadmill.
Thank you all for the input. He’s very glad he didn’t have to go the jock strap route.
forgot to say - as we were leaving the mall, he leans in to me and whispers, “am I supposed to wear these under or over the boxers?”
