Why do you need to start wearing underwear designed for sports and workouts? Comfort would be the main selling point according to manufacturers.
However, fitness experts would say that wearing the right underwear is the first step towards building positive habits.
Comfortable underwear makes you feel more at ease as you work out. There’s less odor, less chafing, more support, and you get less distracted by those small inconveniences.
With fitness being such a big part of some of our current lives, there’s little excuse to skip workouts anymore just because your clothes don’t feel good or you can’t stand sweating too much.
With the right underwear, you can continue to strive for body improvement and maintain a positive attitude toward fitness and health.
Don’t have the time read the entire review? Here’s a quick look at our top choices for the best men’s underwear for working out:
- Best Overall Choice: DEVOPS Men’s Performance Cool Dry Mesh Underwear
- Runner-Up Option: Men’s Under Armour Tech 6″
- Best Value for the Money: Adidas Performance Climalite Boxer Brief Underwear
- Most Budget-Friendly: Jockey Men’s Sports Brief Underwear
- Best High-End Sports Brief: Tommy John 360 Sport Brief
- Best Fitting Underwear for Men: Baleaf Men’s Active Sport Boxer Brief Underwear
- Best Compression Shorts Option: Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts Pack
Best Men’s Underwear for Working Out Reviews
1. Best Overall Choice: DEVOPS Men’s Performance Cool Dry Mesh Underwear
The DEVOPS Men’s Performance Cool Dry Mesh Underwear is your best option if you’re looking for workout wear that’s comfortable, durable, and a good value for your money.
It’s ideal for any activity, including indoor workouts, hiking, running, and water sports. You will appreciate these if your top priorities are comfort, ease of use, and reliable compression support.
This product is manufactured using a blend of polyester (89%) and spandex (11%). This provides four-way stretchability, a snug fit, and the right amount of support in a breathable, moisture-sensing pair of workout underwear.
The tagless design means more comfort while wearing. Meanwhile, the snug fit guarantees that it won’t ride up during workouts. Its breathable mesh fabric provides much-needed airflow down below for a cooling effect even during intense activities, whether at the gym or at work.
If aesthetics is also a priority for you, this product does not disappoint. It is well-designed and available in subdued colors—nothing too bright or gaudy.
This product is machine washable. Because it’s made from quick-drying materials, after washing, you simply hang it to dry and it’ll be ready again for use within hours.
The flatlock seams ensure that this product is highly durable and can withstand high-intensity use. Finally, with its price point, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.
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2. Runner-Up Option: Men’s Under Armour Tech 6″
Under Armour went all out with this line of men’s sports underwear. The Men’s Under Armour Tech 6″ offer these boxer briefs in sizes ranging from XS to 5XL.
Why? Because size shouldn’t be an impediment when you want to work out and because everyone should feel comfortable while exercising.
Or maybe because Under Armour already makes these for NFL linemen so it might as well make them available to all?
There’s some color variety too if that’s your thing. The material is polyester (90%) and Spandex (10%). It’s pretty much a classic combination for workout underwear.
It provides good support, durability, enough flexibility, and the fabric can be spun for moisture-wicking properties that offer breathability and odor control.
Under Armour also uses antibacterial treatments on their fabrics to deal with bacteria before they get a chance to fester. This makes the underwear more hygienic and less likely to develop odors, even during and after high-intensity workouts.
The waistband has a nice feel and a non-hanging tag which could otherwise cause chafing or irritation. Last but not least, the underwear is constructed in what’s called a 4-way stretch construction.
This design ensures flexibility in every direction, making these boxer briefs suitable for any type of sport or workout, with the exception of anything that involves a pool.
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3. Best Value for the Money: Adidas Performance Climalite Boxer Brief Underwear
You can find the Adidas Performance Climalite Boxer Brief Underwear in packs of two. There are a lot of color varieties, which is nice if you care about these things.
But, the color of your workout underwear shouldn’t affect your workout in any way, physical or psychological, except maybe if you don’t wear anything over it.
When it comes to sizing, Adidas offers a decent range of 28 to 42 waist. The material of choice is a combination of 91% polyester and 9% Spandex. This will give you good elasticity and decent support in the crotch area.
The boxer briefs are breathable and deal effectively with moisture. This makes them ideal for high-intensity sports and workouts. Comfort is ensured by the non-chafing stitching and the double-lined pouch.
The medium leg Adidas Climalite boxer briefs extend far enough down the thighs that they should prevent chafing in any type of workout.
Another nice feature is the tagless waistband – the Adidas letters and logos are big enough that you don’t need tags to tell people what you’re wearing. Without them, there’s nothing at the back that would chafe, scratch, or irritate you during a workout.
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4. Most Budget-Friendly: Jockey Men’s Sports Brief Underwear
The Jockey Men’s Sports Underwear is available in sizes S through XXL. There’s some nice color variety too, in addition to a few cool patterns to choose from, should aesthetics happen to be just as important to you as quality and comfort.
With the 80% polyester and 20% Spandex fabric, elasticity is clearly not an issue. These long-leg boxer briefs are very flexible and one could call them ideal for CrossFit training.
Also leg day, spin bikes, and any other forms of physical exercises which work your core and lower body intensely.
Officially marketed as mid-rise boxer briefs, they’re quite comfortable. The longer sleeves offer good thigh coverage, almost down to the knees. This will eliminate the possibility of chafing even if worn over very long workout sessions.
The extra coverage is also good for temperature and odor control. With more of your body covered by the briefs, the underwear actually regulates temperature and keeps your private parts and thighs from overheating.
A highly important benefit, especially since the Jockey Men’s Sports Underwear is designed for maximum flexibility and not necessarily high-end breathability.
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5. Best High-End Sports Brief: Tommy John 360 Sport Brief
The Tommy John 360 Sport Brief is designed to fit and move with you, no matter how intense your workouts. The 360 degree stretch fabric moves through your entire range of motion, preventing riding up or wedgie.
The Stay-Put waistband doesn’t roll, pinch, or bunch, and they are anti-microbial and anti-odor. These are high performance men’s underwear for high performance lifestyles.
The Tommy John 360 Sport Briefs are made of polyester and spandex, with 360 degrees of stretch to move with your body. They won’t bunch or ride up, no matter how extreme your workout. The fabric is anti-microbial and anti-odor, to keep you fresh all day.
They have a Stay-Put waistband that won’t roll or pinch, for security and comfort. The contour pouch provides the right amount of support, and the horizontal fly gives you quick access when nature calls.
They are easy to care for: simply machine wash cold and tumble dry low.
The Tommy John 360 Sport Brief comes in black, turbulence grey, and dress blues. They are backed by Tommy John’s “Best Pair” guarantee that refunds or replaces the product if you aren’t happy with it for any reason.
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6. Best Fitting Underwear for Men: Baleaf Men’s Active Sport Boxer Brief Underwear
The Baleaf Men’s Active Sport Boxer Brief Underwear are quite affordable especially if purchased in packs of two or more. They have a high-fit rating according to actual users and a very comfortable feel.
Baleaf went with the long leg design to cover more of the thighs and secure anti-chafing protection no matter how hard you work out or how thick your thighs are. To further reduce chafing, smooth flat seams are used to hold everything together.
The combination of polyester and Spandex is ideal for workouts. The material is moisture-wicking, breathable, comfortable, and highly flexible thanks to the 9:1 ratio of polyester to Spandex.
What’s also cool is that Baleaf opted for an open-fly design. This further improves the ventilation while also making the boxer briefs extra practical.
The material is quick-drying and soft and can be worn for both outdoor and indoor workouts in any type of weather.
From top to bottom, the Baleaf boxer briefs will feel snug but not tight, not even at the waistline.
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7. Best Compression Shorts Option: Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts Pack
These compression shorts are suitable for all seasons and all activities, with a fit that is secure and comfortable, without rubbing or pinching.
They are moisture-wicking, with two-way air circulation and four-way stretch fabric that moves with you, keeping you secure and comfortable throughout your whole range of motion.
If you are a man that prefers a snug, supportive fit, these are a great choice in compression shorts.
The Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts Pack are made of polyester and spandex, with flat seams and a four-way stretch that fits like a second skin. They are soft and lightweight, with two way air circulation for great breathability and quick drying.
They are suitable for all seasons and all activities and are offered at a reasonable price.
The Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts Pack come in a three pack with black, grey, and red colors. It’s important to use Neleus’ sizing chart for determining your size, rather than your usual size or Amazon’s size chart.
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Buyer’s Guide
Types of Men’s Workout Underwear
There are three types of men’s underwear that you can find for everyday wear and for when you’re working out.
Each design has its pros and cons, with one design in particular being unsuitable for workouts even though it may be considered the ideal choice for most everything else.
Briefs
Traditional briefs would provide the most support for your privates. They offer great freedom of motion. Also, because they’re smaller and cover less of your body, they’re less prone to malfunctions.
The appearance is clearly not for everyone. They may also be more popular with foreign men than American men. But their functionality is undeniable.
Boxers
Boxers are not for everyone. While some men may prefer to leave their family jewels unencumbered, others do not. When it comes to workout underwear, there’s no debate on this subject.
You need support in order to have a comfortable workout, prevent wardrobe malfunctions, and letting your sweat get on the equipment. Yes, boxers offer the best ventilation in theory but not necessarily in practice.
It’s like saying that you’ll have the best ventilation at home if you open the windows. That’s not to say that you can put vents over your open windows or utilize technology equipment like climate control.
If you have to go with boxers, what you really want are boxerjocks. A boxerjock is like a 2-1 boxer and jock strap.
Boxer Briefs
Boxer briefs are also comfortable, maybe not as comfortable as briefs, but they are still not too restrictive. They provide adequate support for your genitals, unlike boxers.
While many consider briefs to be more comfortable overall, boxer briefs win the comfort debate when it comes to workouts.
Their design and extra coverage (down the thighs) will help you avoid chafing when running, riding a bike, doing CrossFit training, and so on.
Materials
The materials used for workout underwear are beyond important. They’re responsible for comfort, breathability, durability, flexibility, hygiene, odor control, and so on.
So how can you pick the right material for you? It will often depend on how your body reacts to certain materials. Workout underwear for men is often made from polyester, nylon, and/or combinations of those materials with spandex (for the extra flexibility).
As for the right ratio, it’s hard to tell which one is the best. It may depend on either how you feel or on what sport or type of workout you’re doing. How flexible do you need to feel? How much support do you need in that area?
Or you can do the smart thing and actually test out the underwear yourself. Just buy from somewhere with a generous return policy.
It’s important to understand that no matter what, you should never opt for cotton underwear for your workout sessions.
Just because some manufacturer may offer a sweet deal on underwear and labels it “for workouts” doesn’t make it so. If you see cotton just keep on looking.
Odor Control
You can’t have a good workout without also working up a good sweat. That and feeling the burn is how you know you’re doing things right and pushing your body to achieve great results.
Athletic or workout underwear is usually breathable but obviously not all of them are created equal.
If you want to avoid embarrassing moments, you should look into odor control technology. Many manufacturers use powerful antimicrobial agents on the fabrics in order to create a hygienic environment for your privates.
While breathable underwear does a decent job at handling moisture, antimicrobial treatments are quickly becoming the industry standard.
For the simple reason that they can kill bacteria on contact and prevent it from multiplying in the first place, as opposed to just delaying the inevitable.
Wear and Tear Resistance
Men’s workout underwear is designed to stretch. You shouldn’t have to worry about the fabric tearing after a long workout or after a few washing machine cycles.
They’re far more likely to deteriorate if you overheat them in the dryer, which can really mess up the elastics over time.
That being said, there’s one thing that can make a huge difference in durability: the stitching.
Double and triple stitching is the way to go. Having quality seams helps keep everything together for a long time, while also providing better support.
The Fit
How is workout underwear supposed to fit? Snug would be one way to put it. But, there’s a fine line between feeling snug and feeling constrained.
When the underwear feels binding, you can expect to feel pinching or general discomfort, especially when you’re running or doing leg exercises.
You should also consider how long or short the underwear should be. In the case of boxer briefs, they can cover just a few inches of your thighs or go down close to your knees. The longer the underwear, the lower the risk of chafing.
And, it’s also less likely that they won’t ride up when you’re using your legs in high-intensity exercises. But all of that may come at the cost of breathability.
Final Thoughts on the Best Men’s Underwear for Working Out
It’s hard to look past the DEVOPS Men’s Performance Cool Dry Mesh Underwear and find something more efficient to wear during workouts. This is suitable for various activities, such as indoor exercise, hiking, running, and water sports.
The flat seams, the materials used, the added ventilation, these are all features that add comfort, durability, and versatility for men of all sizes.
If you’re looking for more articles about sport underwears, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 5 Best Women’s Underwear for Working Out
- 5 Best Women’s Underwear for Running
- 5 Best Men’s Underwear for Running
