The 10 best places to shop for men's underwear

Tommy John has a great selection of fits, sizes, and materials, to appeal to most all body types and comfort preferences. 

Sizing info: S-XXL

You know that one pair of boxers you get a little bit excited to put on when it makes its way to the top of the pile in your underwear drawer? For me, it's Tommy John. 

The brand was founded in 2008 with the goal of updating undergarments with modern comfort elements, and they've absolutely done that. I've tried just about every noteworthy underwear brand you'd find in a Google search, and Tommy John surpasses them all.

The primary reason I like Tommy John so much is the amazing fit. Boxer briefs are my go-to underwear style, and Tommy John's has a slightly longer-than-average inseam length. This totally eliminates that awful feeling of riding up or chafing. There's plenty of room and support in all the right places. 

If you like trunks, briefs, or relaxed fit boxers, Tommy John has all of those too. You'll also find sport leggings, which are essentially full-length underwear.

In terms of materials, Tommy John has several types to offer. They include Cool Cotton, Air, Second Skin, and a newly-introduced Second Skin Micro Rib. Each material is designed to meet specific needs like cool comfort, softness, and breathability.

I've worn them all (with the exception of the Second Skin Micro Rib, which was recently released), and they're all exceptionally comfortable. Tommy John underwear is expensive, but they outlast cheaper pairs that go bad after a few wash and dry cycles.

What to buy:

Where would we all be without Hanes, really?

Sizing options: S-XXXL

Founded in 1900, Hanes, for all intents and purposes, pretty much invented modern underwear. Love or hate underwear, we'd have our work cut out for ourselves if we were to claim not to have some deep appreciation for this brand.

These days, Hanes offers every kind of boxer, brief, and boxer brief you could imagine with dozens of styles. You'll find everything from high-tech synthetic athletic to the good old-fashioned cotton the brand was built on.

This brand is timeless and it's not going anywhere soon. Plus, as some of the most affordable underwear you can buy, it's a good way to fill out your drawer when a five-pack is still cheaper than single pairs from the popular direct-to-consumer startups on our list.

You'll find pairs with FreshIQ odor-reducing technology and the new Total Support Pouch, which gives you some of the features of more moderns brands without the steep price tag.

What to buy:

Similar to garments worn by NASA, Olympic athletes, and US Special Forces, Mack Weldon Silver Underwear adds pure silver to its Supima cotton to provide strong odor protection.

Sizing options: S-XXL

Using a combination of Pima cotton, Silver XT2, and Lycra, the Mack Weldon Silver Boxer Briefs are made with some of the highest quality materials available.

While Supima cotton and lycra are commonly used in all types of clothes intended to be soft and comfortable, the inclusion of pure silver is rather important. Silver is naturally anti-microbial, so it helps rid garments of bacteria, including the types that cause odor. Learn about XT2 technology here. 

To put into perspective how useful silver can be, similar technology has been used in clothing for NASA astronauts, Olympic athletes, and US Special Forces.

Although astronauts probably have to wear their gear for much longer than you have to wear your underwear, you'll still get great use out of them in the real world. Whether you work super long days, you live a high-intensity athletic lifestyle, or you're on a camping or hunting trip where showers are few and far between, you'll get through it without stinking.

In addition to odor protection, the Silver Boxer Briefs are very comfortable thanks to a no-roll waistband, which is designed to prevent digging into the skin, and targeted mesh zones to keep high-heat areas nice and cool. 

I own far too many pairs of underwear to ever have to wear any pair for more than a day, but I love to grab a pair of my Silver Boxers when I know I'll be active for a long period of time.

What to buy: 

MeUndies specializes in fun, colorful, comfortable basics for everyone.

Sizing Options: S-4XL

If you're tired of boring tighty whities (or other basics underwear options), MeUndies is the easiest way to liven up your underwear draw. While you can buy items individually, the subscription model will allow you to save money and effortlessly build your collection of fun and colorful underwear.

For $16 a month, you'll get one pair of underwear. You get to choose your preferred underwear style, size, and design type. You can pick between Adventurous, which might include anything from dinosaurs to fun geometric patterns, Bold, which is includes bright colors, and Classic, which is a safe pick for colors like black, white, grey, and blue. And if you and your partner want to match, you can find the same patterns in colors in other styles for everyone.

Subscription holders will also get early access and discounts on other products, which is the best way to save on the MeUndies loungewear we love.

MeUndies isn't the most advanced when it comes to different material and fit choices, but the options that are available are super comfortable.

Read our full review on MeUndies here.

What to buy:

Saxx Underwear delivers top-not support below the belt and plenty of fun colors and patterns.

Sizing options: XS-XXL

While some underwear brands primarily focus on either comfort or fun patterns, Saxx Underwear manages to do both exceptionally well. 

The highlight of the brand's comfort technology is the BallPark Pouch, which adds support, limits chafing, reduces moisture, and prevents you from having to constantly readjust yourself. For most men, there's not much more you can ask for in underwear.

You'll find basic solid colors as well as cool patterns, bright colors, and themes. If you like to have fun with your underwear, you'll find plenty of options to fill your drawer with.

At $25 or more for a single pair, they're considerably more expensive than other brands, but the quality, comfort, and options make them well worth it.

Six guys from the Insider Reviews team tried out the brand. Read our full review on Saxx here.

What to buy:

With true waist sizes, you'll never get the wrong fit from Bonobos Underwear.

Sizing options: waist sizes 28-40

Most men's underwear comes in alpha sizes like small, medium, and large, which can force you to guess your size by following some obscure size chart.

Bonobos is known for its amazing pants, and they've put the same level of skill in detail into its underwear. Bonobos Underwear comes in waist sizes, from 28-inch to 40-inch waists. By using the same methodology that goes into finding the best fit in pants, you'll never have to worry about fitting into general underwear sizes.

Available as 5" inseam boxer briefs and 3" inseam trucks, each pair of Bonobos Underwear uses a stretch waistband that never restricts you and super soft anti-microbial, moisture-wicking fabric for maximum comfort. 

At $34 a pair, Bonobos Underwear is expensive, but there's usually a discount when you buy them in bulk.

What to buy:

Danish brand Organic Basics is the Everlane of boxers and briefs (though they make a lot more than that).

Sizing options: S-XXL

Made with 93% recycled nylon and 7% elastane, Organic Basics estimates that compared with traditional methods using virgin materials, production of its "SilverTech" style conserves some 21 gallons of water and prevents 4.2 pounds of CO2 and one ounce of waste from entering the atmosphere and earth. We can't quite confirm this, but take a virtual tour of the brand's factories and learn more about its practices.

As for the product itself, the brand only uses Class A and B fibers, which means that even though this stuff is recycled, it's every bit as soft as brand-spanking-new stuff, and a lot less weight on the world.

SilverTech, which we find to be Organic Basics' most interesting style, is in fact infused with silver, which is supposed to quell odor and bacteria buildup. In our experience, it helps a good bit, but maybe not quite as well as others we've tried. The real win here is the comfort that these skivvies offer, and since I've had them (over a year now), they've easily been my most-worn pairs. A more relaxed boxer brief, they hold everything more or less in place while sitting flush so I can wear them with just about any pair of pants.

Organic Basics offers a couple of fabrics beyond their SilverTech, and unlike that line, they're much more on the organic side: Tencel (a wood-pulp-based cellulose that's more breathable and less shrinkable and wrinkle-inclined than cotton), and organic cotton (spiked with 5% of elastane).

What to buy:

You already know Allbirds for its insanely popular wool sneakers, but did you know they make underwear too?

Allbirds, the popular wool footwear startup, recently released underwear that came as a total surprise, albeit a welcome one. The Allbirds Trino Boxer Briefs are made from a blend of eucalyptus tree material and merino wool, which delivers a lightweight, airy, and a soft-on-your-skin feel. They aren't the least bit itchy like a typical wool material, so you shouldn't have any discomfort unless you have a severe allergy to wool.

At $24, the Allbirds Trino Boxer Briefs are cheaper than every pair on our list except for the budget pick from Hanes. Although I really enjoyed wearing them, they weren't notable enough to dethrone our current best overall pick or cheap enough to replace our budget pick, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy them.

If you want more premium underwear than a standard budget 6-pack, but can't quite justify or afford to pay Tommy John prices, Allbirds is a good middle ground. They're also a great choice if sustainability plays a major part in the items you buy.

Read our full review on Allbirds underwear here.

What to buy:

If you're tired of hanging all over the place, All Citizens' Paradise Pouch Boxer Briefs will provide total support and comfort.

Sizing options: S-XXL; available in standard, athletic, and longer fits

There's a lot more than a person's waist size that goes into finding comfortable underwear, and All Citizens recognizes that. 

Perhaps named after its inclusivity, All Citizens has underwear for almost every size and shape. Although I'm not very tall, I went with the longer fit because I hate when my underwear ride up and I've come to like longer pairs from other brands. 

My first impression holding them in my hand was that they were substantially better quality than most other brands. They're pretty thick — but not to the point of being uncomfortable or hot. I could tell that they would be able to hold up well to countless washes and wears, and after several months, they've done exactly that.

All Citizens also takes support seriously with its Paradise Pocket. While all underwear brands are gradually becoming more concerned with support, All Citizens has arguably the most advanced system to keep your business in place. Most pouch designs are more or less two extra pieces of fabric, the Paradise Pocket is a comfortable compartment that keeps you from hanging all over the place.

At $18, they're a bit more affordable than other premium underwear — and there's no compromise in quality.

What to buy:

For every pair of Bombas underwear your buy, the brand will donate a pair to someone in need.

Sizing options: S-3XL

Bombas socks have been some of the best socks in the industry for some time now, and the newly introduced underwear live up to that same level of quality. 

Made from a blend of cotton and modal, the underwear are incredibly soft and smooth, giving them a comfortable next-to-skin feeling. The blend of materials also makes them durable for continuous wears and washes — which is super important considering how much I like wearing them.

There are very few seams on the underwear which means there are few points for discomfort like digging into your skin or bunching up. One of the most interesting features is the diagonal fly. It's much easier to access than other designs, but still remains secure.

Bombas offers Boxer Briefs, Trunks, and Briefs to accommodate all style preferences.

What to buy:

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The best way to test underwear is to simply wear them in your everyday life. There's a long list of brands making men's underwear brands and for the last 3.5 years, I have been actively testing boxer briefs. My testing has become so in-depth and sample units have become so abundant that I have not had to purchase underwear myself.

I've taken into consideration important factors like comfort, performance, inclusivity, and accuracy of sizes and fits, and durability with wears and washes, and price. While most underwear on this list is more expensive than a basic 6-pack, you can rest assured they meet a certain level of quality and longevity in your closet.