The Kavalier

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Reviewing My Underwear Collection | Mack Weldon, Jockey, Pair of Thieves & More!

Hey gents, today we’re going to go over my entire underwear collection. I have amassed many different styles, brands, and models over the years and if you haven’t invested in premium underwear, then I think you’re really doing yourself a disservice. Investing in underwear as a base layer that can keep you cool or warm wherever you live and radiates out in your entire wardrobe is really underrated. 

I’ve done many different underwear videos on the channel of different brands and models, but I wanted to take a step back and say, “what have I learned after amassing so many different types of brands, models, and styles?” and help you make a better, more informed decision. 

I started out early, buying from major brands like Express, Calvin Klein, H&M, and even Tommy Hilfiger. But as I grew older, I moved towards the direct-consumer brands and I found that the product was better at the same prices. I also found several more interesting and comfortable models as I went. 

I just did a video where I talked about how much I liked briefs overall, but my evolution has gone from liking tighty-whities as a kid into boxers into boxer briefs and now, I’m definitely a briefs guy. The way that I rotate my collection is that, as I wash them, I’m making sure that each of these is getting worn at least once or twice a month. Therefore, I always judge how excited I am by a particular model by judging the comfort as I wear them throughout the day. 

Aside from the style, if you’re looking for boxer briefs, briefs, and etc., you’re also going to look at the fly. Does it have a fly? What style does it have? Some of my underwear does not have a fly. Others have a “Y” fly. Personally, I have never found the “Y” fly to be preferable in any way because it doesn’t seem to have a great design. 

My Ribbedtee underwear doesn’t have a fly. However, because it has little waistband, the Ribbedtee G3 Boxer Briefs have great access. They use 86% CoolNylon, 14% Spandex, and have a 4-way stretch interlock. For $30, I think this is a great deal.  

Then, there is the vertical fly which is pretty much the standard everywhere. However, I’ve really come to love the horizontal fly styles, which I have in my Bonobos underwear. I would check out something like that if you’re interested. 


Bonobos Underwear: 

  • The Bonobos underwear trunks priced at $34. Materials include 50% Acrylic, 44% Cotton, and 6% Spandex. They’re made of moisture-wicking fabric and have very breathable panels. Their horizontal fly also gives more comfortable access for some people who don’t like the V fly. 

Another example of an H fly type of underwear would be the Tommy Johns that I have. I get a lot of questions about these and quite frankly, I’m not impressed with how these have held up in the wash. After 20-25 washes, the modal has sagged a lot. However, I might give these another try.

Tommy John Boxer Briefs

  • The Tommy John boxer briefs are priced at $34 with 90% Non-Pilling Micro Modal and 10% Spandex. Some notable features include their stay-put waistband that doesn’t roll or pinch against the skin as well as their contour pouch to nestle the boys. 


Opposed to Tommy John boxer briefs, a brand that held up fairly well that also used micro modal was Meundies. They use great fabric, especially if you’re coming from just using cotton.

Meundies

  • Priced at $24 (but it’s $16 if you get their monthly subscription service), you’re getting a pair of boxer briefs that are 3X softer than cotton, have durable flatlock stitching, are ethically sourced, and use low-impact dyes. 

However, where the real gold is is in the polyamide. Polyamide is the primary material for the AIRKNITx line--which is my favorite line--and the way Mack Weldon does it here with their knit is a very breathable, almost mesh-like fabric. The polyamide is very great for moisture-wicking, really great for keeping you cool and comfortable, and it’s also very breathable.

Mack Weldon AIRKNITx

  • Prices for the Mack Weldon AIRKNITx line range from $24-$28. This collection is made up of 50% polyamide, 33% polyester, and 17% elastane. 

This brings me to a commonly asked question: how much are you going to spend on a great pair of underwear? You can definitely buy Hanes packs in bulk and that’s going to be anywhere from $5-$10. But the equilibrium price for premium underwear is anywhere from $15-$20. This is because Pair of Thieves is generally regarded as one of the best pairs of premium budget underwear. 

Pair of Thieves

Pair of Thieves takes the polyamide material and does it in a similar way to AIRKNITx, but at around $20. It has a vertical fly and it has some cool colors. I like their brand, but you can definitely tell that they cut out a little bit of the material to get it to a lower price point. I think this is a really good entry pair for those looking to get into premium underwear for the first time.

Pair of Thieves

  • $22 for a pack ($60 for a 3-pack). Materials are 85% polyamide and 15% spandex. They’re quick-drying, flat-stitched, moisture-wicking, and have a 4-way stretch access fly.

There’s also great tech in the silver tech material that Mack Weldon provides. Silver tech is all about reducing the odor and bacteria associated with all of the sweat that occurs down below. Another great silver tech that I have is from Organic Basics. Organic Basics uses all organic cotton and they do have models where they weave the silver into there, so you can see a slight difference in color between standard cotton underwear and silver tech underwear.

Organic Basics

  • These are the boxers I will wear if I know that I’m about to have a very long flight. They’re $44 for a 2-pack and they come in from Turkey. It’s made up of 93% Supima US-grown cotton and 7% elastane. They’ve been developed over two years and they have a waistband that won’t roll along with a close fit through the leg and waist. 

Most of the ones I’ve already mentioned are in the lines of travel underwear and I have a couple of pairs of ExOfficio that fit this guideline. The underwear I have from them is the pairs that you can wash in the sink while you’re traveling for convenience. They’re also very lightweight and comfortable for travel. I see their brand a lot at airports, but I don’t think I’ll be going back to buy another pair anytime soon, just because they don’t have anything outstanding in any particular way.

ExOfficio

  • These are give-n-go sports mesh 3” boxer briefs priced at $28 per pair. They’re 92% nylon and 8% lycra spandex. Along with that, they’re very breathable, they have a smooth waistband, and they have an antimicrobial fabric that reduces odor in the fabric. 

The other brand that does polyamide and this really nice material mix is All Citizens. I have a pair of their boxers and some of the features include an H fly, a great blend of materials, a durable nature against washes, and extreme comfort, just like the AIRKNITx collection. 

All Citizens

  • The All Citizens are a cheaper underwear option, going for $15 a pair. However, they have various subscription packages available for buyers. They’re a microfiber and mesh combination made up of 90% polyester and 10% spandex. It has a signature breathe zone, 360-degree stretch, ease-of-movement, and a thick, no-roll waistband. 

As we’re talking about alternate materials and underwear, I would also recommend checking out wool underwear. I really like my pairs from Wool and Prince. They’re 100% wool, but they’re merino wool which makes all the difference. It’s very lightweight, very soft, and it has all the features of performance fabrics. Now, I do not wear these if the temperature is above 70 degrees outside, but I find the Wool and Prince underwear to hold up well against washes and have a great feel to them.

Wool and Prince

  • The Wool and Prince boxer briefs are a little more expensive at $42 a pair mainly because it’s made up of merino wool. The material composition is 75% merino wool, 21% nylon, and 4% spandex. They’re a snug fit and have the design of performance briefs, but with more delicate material.

I’d also take a look a the hemp boxer, especially from Wama. They get softer as you wash them, but I find that the alternate materials are very interesting for their performance aspects. 

Wama

  • Wama makes hemp boxer briefs designed for functionality and wear. They are 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton, and 3% spandex. They’re priced at $24 a pair. Notable features include UV protection at a high rate of UPF 50+. They use the world’s strongest fiber and they’re also naturally anti-bacterial.

Cariloha is an underwear brand that uses bamboo and I have some of their athletic socks which are pretty nice. They’ve sagged quite a bit as I’ve washed them over time, so they don’t hold their shape as well as some of the other materials. However, I find them to be pretty comfortable. I have been reading more on bamboo viscose and the production of this material. It’s not as sustainable as I thought, but I’m still diving into this new type of material and exploring its assets. 

Cariloha

  • Bamboo boxer briefs that cost $22 per pair. They’re made up of 95% viscose from bamboo and 5% spandex. They’re renewable, ultra-soft, and keep you a few degrees cooler than cotton.

If you’re really looking for sustainability, then Organic Basics is where you want to go. Then, there’s the MVP of my entire collection which is Tani. I know Tani is very expensive, around $45 per pair. Their Swiss cotton is what makes Tani my favorite brand. I don’t know what it is about this brand, but it’s so soft, luxurious, comfortable and I’m really into it. Tani is very expensive, but Tani also lasts a long time and when I wear it, I feel better throughout the day and I feel like I can accomplish more. 

Tani

  • They’re SwissTouch Cotton Boxer Briefs that cost $45 per pair. Material composition is 92% Swiss cotton and 8% lycra. This is the only men’s underwear made from Swiss cotton and it retains shape and softness through repeated washing.

Now, my biggest video on my Kavalier channel is about pouch underwear so I don’t want to skip them. I do want to talk about Separatec. I did a video where I talked about these and talked about the design of the penis hole and how I couldn’t get my entire package into the entire penis hole. Well, I was incorrect about that assumption. They do make a model where they have a separate hole for your penis and for your testicles, but the model I have is not that. My model is made just for the penis and overall, it’s not great. I’ve never been into the Separatec. Everytime it comes up, I want to skip. However, I do like their material. Separatec uses a supima cotton blend. If I could get these without the pouch, then I think these would be one of my favorite pairs of underwear in my whole collection. 

Separatec.

  • These colorful cotton boxer briefs go for around $15.33 per pair. Their material composition is 96% supima cotton and 4% spandex. Notable features include their patented dual pouch technology, easy off tag, and additional crouch panel.

Now, Sheath is probably one of the more robust underwear brands. I’ve owned more Sheath underwear than all the other brands. I like the Sheath design and I really like their material. After looking through all the types of pouch underwear, the reason why pouch underwear is $20-$30, sometimes even $40, is that they use really premium materials. Their pouch design may be great, but it’s all about the performance material.

That’s why I like Sheath’s stuff in my rotation because I like the performance materials that they use. Looking at the different models, they have models that have a small pouch. They have models that have a pouch and a penis hole. Personally, I like their 4.1 model which has a fly on the front, a pouch for the testes, and a penis hole. It brings together everything in this well-made, soft boxer brief.

Sheath

  • Priced between $24 to $27, this brand is a strong competitor for one of my favorites. They are 92% modal and 8% elastane. They have many different models you can choose from with varying features. Plus, their material is some of the best made for underwear.

I recommended 2Undr in my other big underwear video because I really like their material composition. I think they have a great design, I like their vertical fly, and they have this perforated butt, so you’ll have a lot of air-flow, a lot of comfort in the material.

They also have what I think is one of the best pouch designs in all of the pouch underwear. Their pouch is designed so that it catches all the goods once you put it on. Overall, 2Undr has some of the best materials and best pouches that I’ve seen.

2Undr

  • Their boxer briefs are $20 and they’re designed in Vancouver. The material composition is 65% bamboo, 30% cotton, and 5% elastane. They have a patented Joey Pouch and no drip tip.

Saxx has a very similar design compared to 2Undr’s. They have a ballpark pouch, so when you’re putting on your underwear, you’re getting everything sorted. It does take a little bit of adjustment, but Saxx underwear wash as well as some of the other models. 

Saxx

  • These are ultra boxer briefs sold for $32 a pair. They’re made up of 95% moisture-wicking viscose fabric and 5% spandex. They have a great super-soft fit with a fly and their pouch design catches all the goods.

Obviously underwear is a brand that I do not like. Anytime it comes up, I skip it in my rotation. It’s just not comfortable. Now, aussieBum is one of my favorite pairs of underwear. The pair I own technically does not use a pouch, but it is a trunk style and they have a pouch design. 

Obviously

  • These are $32 a pair. They use 100% micro-modal and are mainly for guys with smaller thighs and give more room for your buttocks. Personally, I have never really liked these.

aussieBum

  • They use a classic original brief for $15.75 per pair. The material composition is made up of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. They use a functional fly for easy access, have leg binding for comfort and access, and hold a mid-rise fit.

The other two brands I talked about in my pouch underwear video were MyPakage (now BN3TH) and Stance. MyPakage has rebranded to BN3TH, but they still use MyPakage technology in the BN3TH underwear. Their pouch design is built so that it catches everything in the front and they have a soft, buttery material that is washed well.

Stance has their butter cloth, but the reason I find it to be too soft is that they do have a great fly design just like the others, but it didn’t wash that well over time so my own Stance underwear started to fall out of rotation.

BN3TH (Formelrly MyPackage)

  • BN3TH is a hero knit boxer brief made up of 91% polyester and 9% spandex. They’re slim-fit, but they have no fly. To compensate, they have MyPakage pouch tech and have a seamless pucker panel. These are priced at $38.

Stance

  • Stance is a boxer brief that costs $28 and is made up of 100% cotton. They have a supportive modern fit, have dual pouch construction, and an elastic Core-flex waistband.

So, in conclusion, if you want premium underwear, go for it. I think that it’s worth it to buy a few really nice pairs. The underwear lasts a long time: a lot of the underwear I have in my collection today, especially my Mack Weldon’s, have been around for years. 

If I were to rebuild my entire collection, it would be Mack Weldon’s AIRKNITx, I would definitely pick up Tani, and I really like All Citizens. I would also throw in some of the alternative material brands--so I would get something like Wool and Prince or Wama. And my honorable mention would be the RibbedTee G3 cool nylon spandex boxer briefs. 

As for pouch underwear, I like the Sheath but I would pick up more of the 2Undr and BN3TH as my pouch underwear pickups; and lastly, Tani would be my luxury pick. They’re not the best for exercise, but overall, daily comfort is where I think they’re the strongest. 

I didn’t talk much about Jockey or Calvin Klein. I have pairs from them and it was thanks to a purchase from Calvin Klein that got me into this world of nicer underwear. The traditional players make nice stuff, but a lot of traditional brands license out their name so that underwear is made under their name.

Now, if you go with a company like Mack Weldon which purely focuses on making the best basics for men, then I think you’re getting a much better product and your money goes further. That’s why most of my collection are those brands.

There you have it, gents. This video has been a long time in the making and I hope that I covered it in a way that helps you navigate the world of underwear. If I missed some brands that should be included, maybe I’ll do a supplement video like my sneaker video but overall, underwear is the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off each day and so it’s worth investing in that stuff.


Hope this helps you find the best, most comfortable underwear out there, and trying out new brands! I also want you to try out briefs again but here’s the full on Why Real Men Wear Briefs.