Best Men's Hiking Underwear

Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 9/10
• Comfort: 7/10
• Stays in Place: 9/10

Bottom Line

These boxer briefs are hands down the best on the market. Made from a combination of merino wool and nylon, Smartwool has designed a brief made to last. Constructed with 87% merino wool and 13% nylon is why this brief is our number one pick.

Construction begins with a nylon core and merino wool wrapped around it. The Merino 150 features flat-lock seams and quick-drying technology because chaffing is not a benefit of hiking. The merino wool is comfortable against your skin, and the boxer fits snug, yet relaxed.

Serious hikers will appreciate the odor-resistant nature of merino wool. When you’re on a long hike and can’t change your underwear daily, this is a positive.

We recommend the Smartwool Merino 150 brief for hikers looking for a product that will withstand the rigors of a grand adventure. The quality fabric and sleek design will make you forget you’re wearing underwear.

Caring for your merino briefs is simple. Wash in the delicate cycle and tumble dry on low.

Specs

• Materials: 87% Merino Wool 13% Nylon
• Dimensions: 6in. Inseam
• Weight: 3.2 oz.
• Price: $35.00

IceBreaker Anatomica Boxer Briefs

Ratings

• Quality: 8/10
• Comfort: 8/10
• Stays in Place: 7/10

Bottom Line

Icebreaker is a brand from New Zealand where merino wool is popular. Their development of the Icebreaker Anatomica boxer brief includes merino wool, nylon, and elastane. This fabric combination leaves you with a soft and pleasant brief on the skin, yet has the stretch you need.

This brief ranks high on our list due to the numerous similarities with the Smartwool merino brief. The Icebreaker offers core-spun merino, which means the core is nylon. Using a core- spun design leaves you with a higher level of durability.

Of course, these briefs have all the added benefits of merino wool. They are moisture-wicking, soft to the touch, and breathable. Concerning the design, the Icebreaker Anatomica delivers flat- lock seams, an open fly, comfortable waistband, and snug fit.

We recommend the Icebreaker Anatomica boxer brief to anyone who enjoys long hikes in the great outdoors.

Specs

• Materials: 83% Merino Wool, 12% Nylon, 5% Elastane
• Dimensions: 4.5 in. Inseam
• Weight: 2.9 oz.
• Price Range: $33.75 – $45.00

ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Boxer Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 8/10
• Comfort: 9/10
• Stays in Place: 8/10

Bottom Line

The ExOfficio Give-N-Go sport mesh boxer brief is the choice for people who enjoy a summer hike. These boxer briefs made with 92% nylon, are moisture-wicking and quick drying. Hikers will not experience that uncomfortable feeling associated with a sweaty personal area.

Serious and novice hikers will benefit significantly from the construction of the ExOfficio boxer brief. They have added length, making the boxer extend further down the thigh. This extra fabric keeps them in just the right place, preventing chafing.

The designers at ExOfficio have also used an ultralight mesh fabric making these briefs breathable and stretchy. A bonus is the AEGIS Microbe Shield applied to every pair. This antimicrobial shield stops unwanted odors in their tracks, and continues working with repeated washings.

If you love hiking in the late spring and summer, these are the briefs for you. Not only will they keep all the right parts cool, but no odor-causing bacteria will also cause you problems. They are machine washable and will air dry in around an hour.

Specs

• Materials: 92% Nylon, 8% Lycra Spandex
• Dimensions: 3,6,or 9 in. Inseam
• Price: $30.00

Arc’teryx Phase SL Boxers

Ratings

• Quality: 9/10
• Comfort: 8/10
• Stays in Place: 7/10

Bottom Line

Hikers looking for a garment that will stand up to sweat should consider the Arc’teryx Phase SL Boxers. Due to the 100% polyester construction of these briefs, they are masters at moisture wicking. The polyester material allows moisture to distribute evenly on all surfaces.

Polyester is a synthetic material that can keep these boxer briefs feeling extra soft. They are breathable and best of all, is the freedom of movement. The Arc’teryz Phase SL boxer brief gives hikers the ability to climb rocks, run trails, and move in any way they need to.

The construction of these briefs only ranks them higher on our list. They have an elastic waistband, which keeps them in the right place. The flat-lock seam keeps you comfortable for long periods and no extra friction.

Arc’teryx Phase SL is a boxer brief that is microbial. While it is microbial, this is not a boxer brief that is good for multi-day trips. All in all, these briefs are a great investment and good for hikers that enjoy a fun day trip.

Specs

• Materials: 100% Polyester
• Dimensions: 11x9x3 in. 2.3 oz.
• Price: $45.00

Duckworth Vapor Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 9
• Comfort: 8
• Stays in Place: 9

Bottom Line

Duckworth Vapor Briefs are our premium pick for many reasons. The price for these briefs is on point for active men looking for a few good pairs. They are also a product made in the USA. The Duckworth company only uses merino wool sourced in America, and specifically, in Montana.

These briefs offer hikers a loose, relaxed fit. The loose fit gives you excellent breathability, and people who have bought these briefs are raving about how true to size they are. We also love the soft feel against your skin that Duckworth achieves in the making of these briefs.

Duckworth has also included three important designs in the construction of their brief. First, they have the ever-important open fly. Then the flat-lock seams are going to keep you comfortable and prevent chafing. Lastly, these briefs have a brushed elastic waistband that is comfortable and keeps everything in place.

Hikers who enjoy a day trip from time to time will love these briefs. They are comfortable on the body and easy keepers. Duckworth recommends you wash them in a cold, gentle cycle and hang too dry.

Specs

• Materials: 50% Recycled polyester, 38% Merino wool, 12% modal
• Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 1in. Weight 2.4oz.
• Price: $40.00

Outdoor Research Echo Boxer Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 8/10
• Comfort: 7/10
• Stays in Place: 5/10

Bottom Line

Outdoor Research Echo Boxer brief earns our reward for the best bang for your buck. Coming in at around such a low price, you would expect them to be of lower quality. You couldn’t be more wrong.

The Outdoor Research Echo boxer brief is an affordable option for hikers who may not spend their entire year on the trails. It is 100% polyester, a synthetic fabric, and it’s lightweight and breathes well.

Odors are always a consideration when hiking. The Outdoor Echo brief is not as odor-resistant as the previous briefs discussed. An overnight hiking trip is no problem. You can wash them, and they will dry in as little as 45 minutes. Once you’re home, you can wash and dry them with like colors.

As far as construction, the Outdoor Echo boxer brief has an open fly and flat-lock seams. The downside is that the legs tend to roll up and their waistband design is more narrow. Overall, these briefs are a good investment, but not for the serious hiker.

Specs

• Materials: 100% Polyester
• Dimensions: 6.4 in Inseam Weight 2.2 oz.
• Price: $24.00

Saxx Vibe Boxer Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 7/10
• Comfort: 8/10
• Stays in Place: 7/10

Bottom Line

The Saxx Vibe boxer brief is for men who want stylish yet functional underwear. They are a bold choice, but one well worth it.

Everyday use is possible with the Vibe boxer brief. They are great for layering and use form-fitting. Saxx uses 3D technology to construct their Vibe boxer briefs. This technology allows for a snug fit and less movement of the fabric as you move.

The semi-synthetic fabric, viscose, stands up to the sweatiest adventures. It is moisture-wicking, which we found keeps the important areas dry. The downside is the Vibe boxer brief doesn’t have an open fly, but one could say the ergonomic fit and mesh panels more than makes up for that.

Flat out seams prevent any irritation and the anti-roll waistband will give you no issues. They are easy to care for with just a machine wash and tumble dry.

The Saxx Vibe brief is good for everyday use but may not be for everyone. Customers have noted they take some time to get used too

Specs

• Materials: 95% Viscose 5% spandex
• Dimensions: 1.18 x 1.18 x 4.72 inches; 3.53 Ounces
• Price: $25.00

Patagonia Sender

Ratings

• Quality: 4
• Comfort: 7
• Stays in Place: 6

Bottom Line

Patagonia Sender boxer briefs are a good option for casual hikers and are made from recycled nylon and spandex. They have optimal elasticity but the nylon component can leave you less than satisfied.

Using a synthetic fabric like nylon gives the Patagonia Sender makes these a favorite in regards to breathability. Nylon allows moisture wicking to happen and allows air to move in the right places.

We should mention that Patagonia Sender boxer briefs are constructed with flat-lock seam and have no open fly. Patagonia’s designers have focused on making a boxer brief that will not chafe or allow your thighs to begin sticking.

The Patagonia Sender boxer brief has an anti-roll waistband and leg holes. These boxer briefs are not for everyone. We recommend them for all single-day adventures.

Specs

• Materials: 79% recycled nylon 21% spandex
• Dimensions: 6in. Inseam
• Price: $30.00

Marmot Performance Boxer Brief

Ratings

• Quality: 7/10
• Comfort: 4/10
• Stays in Place: 5/10

Bottom Line

Marmot Performance boxer briefs are a low-cost option for the avid hiker. Built for durability, Marmot uses 100% polyester. Designed to be moisture-wicking and breathable is why Marmot recommends these for hikers of all types of terrain.

Hikers exploring in all climates will experience Marmot Performance boxer briefs benefits. Marmot has developed and uses technologies that fight cold, hot, wind, and water. These boxer briefs incorporate these technologies and are ultra-light for easy packing and comfort.

Marmot uses an anti-microbial technology in the construction, but we found it doesn’t hold up as well as we would like.

Specs

• Materials:100% Polyester
• Dimensions: 6in. Inseam Weight 3oz.
• Price: $17.00

Minus 33 Acadian Boxer

Ratings

• Quality: 4/10
• Comfort: 6/10
• Stays in Place: 5/10

Bottom Line

The Minus 33 Acadian boxer is a popular choice for hikers. They offer extreme comfort with the thinner design used. These boxers are great for year-round use.

When you put these on, you immediately notice how soft they feel against your skin. The wool is super – fine and offers hikers a breathable, moisture-wicking boxer brief. They do have a fly and flat-lock seams for added comfort.

While the Minus 33 Acadian boxer is a good choice for everyday hikers, it lacks in durability. Our research has shown that within a few washes, holes develop around the seams. We would like to have seen better durability for the price.

Specs

• Materials: 100% wool
• Dimensions:11.8 x 6.5 x 2 inches Weight 6.38 Ounces
• Price: $40.00