Written by Kevin Cortez
Updated March 1, 2024
There may be many styles of men’s underwear, but none offer the ideal balance of support and comfort quite like the boxer brief. Snug in the leg and supportive in all the right places, boxer briefs give you the best of both worlds.
Gone are the days of only cotton basics; many brands now make underwear using newer fabrics, blending materials like nylon for durability and moisture-wicking and super-soft micromodal fabric (a type of rayon) for all-day comfort.
To find the best boxer briefs, we put top-rated pairs to the test. The Adidas Men’s Sport Performance Boxer Briefs (available at Amazon for $24.32) was our top pick for its versatility, moisture-wicking ability, and comfortable fit.
For a premium upgrade, the Ex Officio Give-N-Go 2.0 (available at ExOfficio) offers a snug design, quick-drying and breathable mesh fabric, and odor-proofing that makes it great for travel.
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Best Overall
Adidas Men's Sport Performance Boxer Briefs
- Material: 91% polyester, 9% spandex
- Sizes: S to XL
- Colors: Available in three-packs in 21 colorways that mix single colors (white, black) and multicolored options including pink, blue, teal, and more
Of all the boxer briefs we tested, no pair was quite as versatile, comfortable, and durable as the Adidas Performance. For their value, airiness, and fit, Adidas Performance boxer briefs are worth every penny.
They were barely noticeable when worn, no matter the activity—something we can’t say across the board. Even on the most humid days, they didn’t bunch up while walking, the waistband stayed put, and they never rode up during workouts.
They’re made of a stretchy polyester/spandex material that wicks away moisture and clings to your legs without feeling too tight or too loose. While sitting in an office chair for work during testing, the fabric was highly breathable.
If there were any negatives with these boxer briefs, it’s that they could feel softer to the touch. Polyester isn’t the coziest material, but it is useful for wicking moisture—hence why it’s a favorite fabric for athletic apparel.
Pros
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Breathable
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No ride-up or chafing
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Great moisture-wicking
Cons
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No fly
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Could be softer
$24.32 from Amazon
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Best Upgrade
ExOfficio Men's Give-N-Go 2.0
- Material: 89% nylon, 11% elastane
- Sizes: S to 2XL
- Colors: Available in black, though a sport version of the same brief comes in five colors
The Ex Officio Give-N-Go 2.0 is pricier than your typical pair of boxer briefs, but if you’re willing to invest in incredibly soft, super durable, odor-free, and stay-put underwear, these are a premium pair that's worth the expense.
Similar to the Adidas Performance, these are made with a stretchy mesh fabric that’s highly breathable and great for everyday wear and exercise alike. However, the Ex Officio Give-N-Go 2.0 feels more pliable, tougher—they contain nylon instead of polyester—and have an awesome fit. They also have a traditional fly, and, thanks to their porous texture, even look texturally interesting.
These boxer briefs did an excellent job of repelling moisture build-up, and the fit stayed true after multiple wears during an international trip. Even while hiking up a mountain in Mexico, there were no issues with ride-up, chafing, or fit.
During our laundry tests at Reviewed’s lab in which we machine-washed and tumble-dried all the pairs (because that's what most people would do), we found that these shrank the least of any other boxer brief on this list, despite care instructions telling us to line-dry.
Pros
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Silky soft
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No ride-up
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Quick-drying and odor-proof
Cons
-
Slight excess fabric
Buy now at ExOfficio
Other Boxer Briefs We Tested
Saxx Hot Shot Boxer Brief
- Material: 85% polyester, 15% elastane
- Sizes: S to XXL
- Colors: Available in five solid colors—black, navy, blue, heather, and teal—and five patterns
The Saxx Hot Shot boxer briefs feature the company’s patented Ballpark Pouch design, a set of supportive micro-mesh panels that holds you in place and keeps you cool. These were the breeziest pairs of boxer briefs tested due to rows of perforated mesh stripes that run throughout the body.
Made of recycled polyester and elastane, the Hot Shots performed well on humid days in Florida. There were no issues with fit and sizing, with no annoying waistband rolling or tightness around the legs. The stitching and construction are solid, and they never had to be adjusted while in motion.
With minor shrinkage and tough fabric that ensures they won’t fade over time, these boxer briefs are your best bet for warmer days. However, these aren’t for working out because they’re not tight enough to stay put during a run or gym session. (Saxx has a Sports line with added compression for that.)
Saxx’s biggest setback is a monetary one—a single pair is nearly double the price of many multi-packs on this list.
Pros
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Terrific fit
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Awesome moisture-wicking
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Cooling and supportive
Cons
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Not fit for working out
Buy now at Saxx
Buy now at Amazon
$38.00 from Walmart
Pair of Thieves Super Fit Boxer Briefs 2 Pack
- Material: 85% polyamide, 15% spandex
- Sizes: S to 4XL
- Colors: Two-packs are available in 17 colorways including solids, patterns, and prints
These boxer briefs are a solid alternative to Saxx in terms of breathability, and they fit similarly but without the Saxx’s Ballpark Pouch design. Made of polyamide and spandex, they are perforated throughout—like a basketball jersey—helping air out your legs and crotch. Silky smooth to the touch and ultra-comfortable, these offer a great value pick for anyone wanting a set of reliable, comfortable boxer briefs that are great for all-day wear.
The biggest issues during testing related to sizing—the men's large fit well around the legs and hips, but they were a tad too loose around the groin. Those wanting extra support may have to size down. And although they’re excellent at wicking away moisture, they’re not the best for working out as they ride up during a run or gym workout.
Pros
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Great fit
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Comfortable
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Cool fabric
Cons
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Not very supportive
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Not great for workouts
$24.99 from Target
$24.99 from Walmart
Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Brief
- Material: 90% modal, 10% spandex (heather is 47% modal, 43% polyester, 10% spandex)
- Sizes: S to XXL
- Colors: Blue, black, gray, heather, white
Tommy John Second Skin boxer briefs are great for lounging around. They’re buttery soft, pliable, and snug in just the right places, thanks to their fabric blend of micro modal and spandex. They feature a horizontal fly, and we appreciated its contour pouch.
The material is slightly see-through when stretched, which helps with breathability and airiness, and the stitching and construction feel top-notch. When testing, they didn't need to be adjusted or yanked down, and the thick, sturdy waistband never rolled down onto itself. The Tommy Johns also impressed during lab testing, where they shrank by only 1% and didn’t show any signs of pilling or color fading.
The only cons holding this pair back from the top spot are its higher-than-many price and its comfort during exercise—despite being a synthetic, the material is not very moisture-wicking.
Pros
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Buttery soft
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Snug fit
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Pliable
Cons
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Not moisture-wicking
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Pills at seams
Buy now at Tommy John
Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey Boxer Brief
- Material: 47.5% cotton, 47.5% modal, 5% spandex
- Sizes: S to XXL
- Colors: Available in 11 colors—including white, black, blue, and two patterns
The style and fabric of Mack Weldon’s 18-hour boxer briefs are superb. They’re made of a blend of cotton, modal, and spandex, so they feel soft—but not smooth—against the skin with a bit of added stretch. The stitching and construction appear solid, as well.
The sizing and fit was an issue with these underwear. A large fit more like a medium and didn’t give much slack around the thighs. They felt tight to the point of being uncomfortable.
The waistband also rolled down, which can be a dealbreaker. If you’ve got thinner thighs and legs, you may have luck, but those with a thicker build should look elsewhere.
Pros
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Plush
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Good construction
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Variety of colors
Cons
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Annoying waistband
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Tight around legs
Buy now at Mack Weldon
MeUndies Classic Boxer Briefs
- Material: 92% modal, 8% elastane
- Sizes: S to 4XL
- Colors: Available in over 130 solid colors and prints
The MeUndies boxer briefs had a solid fit and style. And most notably, the brand offers over 130 different colors and prints to choose from for any wardrobe. However, we had concerns about construction and longevity—MeUndies showed pilling, as well as unraveled stitching, after a few washes at home. Although they’re silky soft, we doubt MeUndies’ boxer briefs will last in the long run.
Pros
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Smooth
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No-roll waistband
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Great fit
Cons
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Rides up leg
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Pills easily
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Poor stitching
Buy now at MeUndies
Jockey Classic Boxer Brief - 3 Pack
- Material: 100% cotton
- Sizes: Medium to 2XL
- Colors: Available in multi-packs of various colors
Of all of the 100% cotton boxer briefs tested, Jockey’s Classic boxer brief is by far the best—which, unfortunately, isn’t saying much.
Although cotton shrinks, that wasn’t a bad thing here. In fact, shrinking felt like a necessary step for Jockey’s boxer briefs to fit better. Before washing them, these were loose around the legs and felt more like boxers than boxer briefs, unsupportive in the crotch and just too relaxed. After washing, they were more snug around the legs, but still not as supportive as we’d like.
As no-frills, soft, and pliable cotton undies, the Jockey’s Classic boxer briefs are fine, but they’re nothing special.
Pros
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Easy fly
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Quality cotton
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Wide size range
Cons
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Wonky fit
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Slightly loose
Buy now at Amazon
$29.50 from Walmart
Champion Elite Men's X-Temp Boxer Briefs
- Material: 58% cotton, 37% polyester, 5% spandex
- Sizes: S to 2XL
- Colors: Available in a four-pack of black/red
The Champion Elite X-Temp boxer briefs weren’t comfortable at all. During active exercise, they constantly rode up. It took tugging these down a few inches while walking to make them even remotely wearable.
The fabric blend of polyester, cotton, and spandex helps them wick away moisture while on the move and offers some flexibility, but the amount of shrinking that occurred during our lab wash tests, alongside poor stitching, makes them feel like they’re built to be replaced after minimal use.
Pros
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Moisture-wicking
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Stretchy
Cons
-
Awful sizing
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Poor quality
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Shrinks
$16.29 from Amazon
Hanes Tagless Boxer Briefs
- Material: 75% cotton, 25% polyester
- Sizes: S to XXXL
- Colors: Available in multi-pack of various colors
These boxer briefs from Hanes are your run-of-the-mill cotton pair—they soaked up sweat without wicking it away, the cotton fabric is paper-thin and rough, and the fit is horrendous.
They looked enormous and cheap when taken out of the package. A few washes later, they didn’t feel softer or fit better. They shrank during our lab tests by nearly 9%. A glance at the stitching along the seams also shows fraying, looseness, and poor craftsmanship.
Pros
-
Available in bulk
Cons
-
Rough cotton
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Major shrinkage
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Poor quality
$21.96 from Amazon
$21.98 from Walmart
Fruit of the Loom Men's CoolZone Fly Assorted Boxer Briefs
- Material: 100% cotton (heathers are 90% cotton, 10% polyester)
- Sizes: S to XXL
- Colors: Available in multi-pack of various colors and patterns
Unsurprisingly, Fruit of the Loom is much like Hanes in the cotton boxer-briefs camp: cheaply made and uncomfortable.
The cotton on these is rough and feels poorly constructed. The fit is wonky—they’re too loose around the leg and crotch, even after shrinking over 10% during our wash tests. The fly has a mesh polyester window to help moisture control, but it was useless amid the absorbent cotton.
Pros
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Bulk buy
Cons
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Coarse cotton
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Bad construction
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Unsupportive
$21.33 from Amazon
$21.33 from Walmart
How We Test Men's Boxer Briefs
To find the best boxer briefs, we subjected top-rated and best-selling boxer briefs to objective and subjective testing to evaluate fit, quality, and comfort.
For our objective tests, each pair of boxer briefs was measured before three rounds of washing and drying. Our lab experts then took note of any visible defects concerning pilling, discoloration, and shrinkage. Each pair was then reevaluated after washing and drying them another seven times.
For our subjective tests, former Reviewed style staff writer Kevin Cortez wore each pair of boxer briefs at home, noting how they performed during his day-to-day routine of working at a desk, exercising for an hour, and being a couch potato at night. He also took note of how each pair held shape after three laundry cycles.
After identifying the top five boxer briefs, Kevin took them on a two-week-long trip to Mexico, during which he had no access to laundry, to make final decisions on ranking.
What You Should Know About Buying Boxer Briefs
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As its name suggests, boxer briefs are a combination of two styles of underwear: briefs and boxers. While briefs are short on the leg and snug around the thighs and crotch, boxers are relaxed throughout the leg and crotch like a pair of shorts. Boxer briefs combine these styles, with the snugness of briefs and the extended leg of boxers. When shopping for the best men’s boxer briefs, here are some things to consider.
Fit
With boxer briefs, look for a pair that’s comfortable and allows you to move freely while maintaining a snug fit around your legs and crotch. But don’t confuse snug with tight. Avoid boxer briefs that bunch up around your thighs or don’t feel breathable, which can cause chafing and bacteria build-up that leads to unpleasant odors. There should be enough fabric in the crotch area to feel supportive, not constricting—but not so much that it bunches up.
Sizing
When sizing for men’s boxer briefs, it’s useful to measure your waist in inches and compare that to sizing charts. Sizes vary across brands, so your normal pant size of, say, a medium, won’t always align with a medium-sized pair of boxer briefs. If you're between sizes, it may make sense to size up or down in accordance to your body type, going bigger to accommodate a larger waistline or smaller for a tighter fit around slim legs, for example.
Material
As for the best fabric for boxer briefs? Synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, or spandex are quick-drying, pliable, and sometimes odor-proof. Cotton, on the other hand, is often cheaper but more prone to shrink in the wash and isn’t the best when buying for comfort—the material can’t wick moisture as well as synthetics and can become soggy with sweat, leading to odor and chafing.
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Meet the tester
Kevin Cortez is the former Style Editor at Reviewed. Since 2013, he’s covered the worlds of streetwear, pop culture, hip-hop, gaming, cycling, and running. His words have been featured in The A.V. Club, Genius, EGM, Ambrosia For Heads, Vulture, Leafly, and Mass Appeal. Please bother him on Twitter.
See all of Kevin Cortez's reviews
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