Most men train in whatever they put on that morning. It works until the session gets long, the day gets warm, or you go straight from the gym back to a desk. Then the underwear becomes the thing you notice.
Fitted, mid-thigh and moisture-wicking, with a pouch that supports without squeezing. Avoid cotton for anything that makes you sweat.
What training asks of underwear
- Support. Enough to keep everything in place through a squat, a sprint or a row, without compressing.
- Chafing protection. Repeated movement rubs the inner thigh. A leg that reaches mid-thigh and stays there prevents it.
- Moisture control. Fabric that holds sweat gets heavy and cold between sets.
- Freshness. Odour is bacterial, and damp fabric gives bacteria somewhere to grow. A fabric that dries quickly stays fresher.
- Stretch and recovery. The fabric has to move with you and return to shape afterwards.
The fabrics, compared
| Fabric | In the gym | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Absorbs sweat and holds it | Stays damp for the rest of the day |
| Polyester and nylon | Dry fastest, built for sport | Feel like sportswear under normal clothes and tend to hold odour over time |
| Bamboo viscose | Wicks moisture up to four times faster than cotton | Feels like everyday underwear and carries up to 70% less bacteria |
Do you need compression shorts?
Sometimes. For long runs, heavy leg days or contact sport, purpose-made compression shorts do a specific job and are worth owning. For most gym sessions, a well-cut boxer brief in the right fabric is enough, and you do not have to change again afterwards.
One pair for the whole day
The practical test is the day that has everything in it: the commute, the desk, the session at six, dinner after. Underwear that only works for one of those means carrying a spare. A fabric that dries quickly and a cut that stays put will do all four.
The Boxer Brief
96% bamboo viscose with 4% elastane, cut mid-thigh, with an ergonomic pouch, anti-chafe panels and a flat anti-roll waistband. Black or white, S to XXL.
The 30-Day Sweat Test covers your first pair. Train in it, commute in it, wash it weekly. If it isn't the best boxer you own, we refund it and you keep it.
Shop The Boxer Brief£17 each · £15 each in the 3-Pack · £13 each in the 7-Pack · Free UK delivery
Keep readingBoxers that don't ride up · The best underwear for hot weather · Bamboo vs cotton underwear
