Boxers That Don't Ride Up: What Causes It and What to Buy

Side view of a man in black mid-thigh bamboo boxer briefs

You adjust them on the stairs. Again at your desk. Again before the meeting. Riding up is the most common complaint about men's underwear, and it has four causes. All four can be fixed at the point of buying.

In short

Buy a leg that reaches mid-thigh, in a fabric with some elastane that keeps its shape when damp, in your true size.

Why boxers ride up

  1. The leg is too short. A short leg sits on the widest part of the thigh and has nothing below it to hold on to. Every step pushes it upward. This is why trunks ride up more than boxer briefs.
  2. The fabric loses its shape. Cotton relaxes as it warms up and takes on moisture, so a pair that fitted at 8am is loose by noon. Loose fabric travels.
  3. The size is wrong. Too small, and the seat pulls the leg upward. Too big, and there is spare fabric to bunch.
  4. The pair is worn out. Elastic fibres tire. If a pair that used to stay put has started to ride up, it has reached the end of its life.

What to look for

  • A mid-thigh leg. Long enough to sit below the widest part of the thigh.
  • Elastane in the blend. A small amount lets the fabric stretch when you move and spring back afterwards.
  • A fabric that stays dry. Damp fabric sags. A fibre that moves moisture away keeps its hold.
  • A waistband that lies flat. A waistband that rolls lets the whole pair shift. A flat one anchors it.
  • Your measured size. Measure your waist and check the size chart. Do not guess from your trouser size.
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Getting more from the pairs you own

Check the size first. Retire any pair where the fabric has thinned or the waistband has gone slack. Wash at 30°C and air dry. The tumble dryer and fabric softener both shorten the life of stretch fibres, which is where the hold comes from.

Finding your size

Our waist sizes: S 26 to 28 in, M 30 to 32 in, L 34 to 36 in, XL 38 to 40 in, XXL 42 to 44 in. The Boxer Brief is cut close to the body, so if you are between sizes, go one size up unless you prefer a tighter fit.

The Boxer Brief in black, a men's bamboo boxer brief with a mid-thigh leg and flat waistband
What we make

The Boxer Brief

Cut to mid-thigh from 96% bamboo viscose with 4% elastane. The legs stay where you put them and the waistband lies flat. An ergonomic pouch with anti-chafe panels does the rest.

Wear your first pair for 30 days. If it isn't the best boxer you own, we refund it and you keep it.

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£17 each · £15 each in the 3-Pack · £13 each in the 7-Pack · Free UK delivery

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