In the world of fashion, men are bombarded with significantly fewer choices than women so it’s not surprising that there’s a general consensus amongst men on what the best style of underwear is. Boxer briefs. Still, why are boxer briefs so popular? There are other men’s underwear types out there that do the job just as well.

It could be that boxer briefs are the perfect solution to the boxers vs briefs debate. They tick all the boxes for what makes a great pair of underwear for men. They’re breathable, full-coverage, and provide support without restricting the family jewels.

The benefits of boxer briefs don’t end there. Join me as I set off to find out, once and for all, why are boxer briefs so popular.

In order to unearth all the boxer briefs benefits, we need to go back to the beginning of men’s underwear. Well, almost all the way; technically loincloths were the foundation for garments that covered men’s privates, but are not quite relevant to today’s topic.

Let’s start with the classic men’s boxers. Boxer shorts hit the market a few years earlier, in the late 1920s. They were patented by Jacob Golomb, founder of the sports brand Everlast. Boxer shorts gained a lot of attention when they first came out but were later overshadowed by the popularity of the brief. The loose fit was simply not ideal for many men.  

The creation of the men’s brief was integral to the evolution of men’s underwear as we know it today. In 1935, an American underwear company called Cooper’s came out with the jockey y-front briefs. They were pretty much an immediate hit, with their snug fit and lack of excess fabric.

Now, the moment we’ve been waiting for! Boxer briefs showed up on the scene in 1992. The invention of boxer briefs is credited to Calvin Klein designer John Varvatos who came out with an ad campaign featuring Mark Wahlberg wearing nothing but boxer briefs. The explicit nature of the campaign, along with a design that created a happy middle between boxers and briefs, became wildly popular and sparked the boxer brief love that still seems to be burning today. 

However, the question still stands: why are boxer briefs so popular? 

Boxer briefs’ continuous domination of the underwear market proves how loved they are by men, but why? What qualities do boxer briefs have that make them so special, so favored by men to protect their most vulnerable parts? Is it just to look like Marky Mark? Let’s find out, once and for all!

1. THEY'RE BREATHABLE

Boxer-briefs are a hybrid between briefs and boxers which means they possess some of the airy quality of boxers! While boxer briefs are not nearly as breezy as boxers, they’re still loose enough to let your man bits breathe. If you’ve ever had to pose the question “Why do my balls smell?” then you’re definitely in the market for some breathable underwear! 

2. THEY KEEP EVERYTHING COVERED AND IN PLACE

Boxer briefs may be great at letting in airflow but they’re still snug enough to keep everything secure and in place. Briefs are known to be the master of keeping everything from dangling around but they can be a little too tight, not to mention, all that exposed thigh is just asking for some major chafing. Boxer briefs give you enough coverage to prevent any chub rub.

3. THEY COME IN VARIETY OF PATTERNS/ COLORS

Of course, a popular style of underwear like boxer briefs is being made by a huge amount of brands and companies. That means there are a million different styles to choose from, aka boxer briefs come in a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics. The days of the classic tighty whiteys are over and you can let the loudest, boldest prints decide what your underwear says about you. 

4. THEY'RE VERSATILE

The best part about boxer briefs is that all of the above qualities combined make a pretty versatile pair of underpants. Boxer briefs are snug enough to hide under some smart, form-fitting trousers but they’re also cozy enough to wear under sweats on a lazy day. Their form-fitting design that allows for a full range of movements also makes boxer briefs a great option for workout underwear. 

The great thing about boxer briefs being a hybrid of two vastly different types of underwear is that they’ve got that “best of both worlds” thing going for them. I’m willing to bet that’s the secret behind boxer briefs' popularity: they’re a Goldilocks-certified perfect middle! Truly, there’s little to find in the way of downsides to boxer briefs. 

The most common “con” of boxer briefs is that they’re prone to riding up, which, if you ask me, is more of an annoyance than a deterrent.

Yes, boxer briefs that don’t ride up are difficult to find but they’re no mythical beast! As with anything, when there are so many options on the market it’s guaranteed that they won’t all be a hit. WAMA’s hemp men’s boxer briefs are a great option. The sturdy hemp material ensures that everything will stay in place for the entirety of your busy days. On that note, let’s go over the details of what makes for the best pair of boxer briefs. 

We’ve established that boxer briefs are awesome, but they’re not all made equal. Finding the best boxer briefs depends on a few factors. Here are some things to look out for:

FABRIC

The fabric of your underwear is always super important. Polyester underwear (and other synthetic fabrics) is known to have adverse effects on the health of your genitals. Natural fabrics are always the best choice for anything that comes into contact with your privates. Hemp underwear, for example, is breathable, antibacterial, and super durable, unlike its synthetic counterparts. 

FIT

The most common cause for uncomfy undergarments is an incorrect fit. It’s easy to just grin and bear it when your undies are just a bit too tight or too loose but you should always ensure that your underwear fits you properly. How should underwear fit? In the case of boxer briefs specifically, the waistband should fit securely around your waist without any pinching. The leg openings should rest firmly against your thighs without any room to move up and down your leg. The front and back of the boxer briefs should cling close to your body without restricting your movement. 

FUNCTION

Boxer briefs are a versatile style of underwear so they can be used for pretty much any occasion or situation. That said, it’s important to consider your lifestyle when looking to buy new undies. Will you be using them strictly for working out, for casual use, or to wear under formal wear? These details can affect both the type of fabric and fit that you’re looking for. A more compressive fit will call for a strong fabric like hemp while a looser fit may be achieved with a light fabric like organic cotton. If you’re a winter sports guy, you may want to invest in some merino wool boxer briefs. Again, with so many choices out there, you need to account for all the things that would help your boxer briefs serve your unique needs the best!

Well, now that we’re familiar with all the benefits of boxer briefs, do they still reign supreme in the world of men’s underwear? The answer is still largely subjective and depends on how you prefer your booty and private bits to feel. There’s no denying that boxer briefs are the perfect middle between loosey-goosey and restrictive comfort. For that fact alone, I have a feeling their popularity will remain unscathed. 

Are you a boxer briefs guy? Or do you find them to be a little overrated? Share your thoughts in the comments.