Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsHigh Hopes Dashed
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 6, 2023
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "PERFECT" MEN'S UNDERWEAR. There are certain features that I want, and other features that I definitely do not want, in my underwear. There are approximately 3.76 million different options when it comes to buying underwear, so you would think that, among all those options you could find at least one that combined all of the features you want, with none that you don't, no matter which combination you are looking for.
NO SUCH LUCK.
I bought these particular ones because they came pretty close to what I wanted, were from a brand I trusted (one that I could actually pronounce), and didn't break the bank. When they arrived, I had high hopes: they were very well made, and the fabric felt soft and comfortable. The legs were just the right length; longer than briefs, and shorter than boxers. The waistband was a decent width, firmness, and stretchiness. The fly was the right size and in the right place (if you know what I mean). I tried a pair on (over some of my old ones, just in case) and they seemed like a pretty darn good compromise. OK, lets wash them and get on with our lives!
Then I started actually wearing them. After the first wash, the edging/trim around the leg openings felt much tighter. Plus, they seemed awfully thick, like they might rub too much if I get active. I needn't have worried about that - as the day wore on, they stretched out enough that they no longer felt tight at all. In fact, they were loose enough around the legs by the end of the day that they were bunching up as I moved.
But there is another problem that's more embarrassing to talk about. For exercise, I walk about 3.5 miles every day in the evening. It's currently winter, so I wear my normal day clothes (plus winter outerwear suitable for current conditions here in Michigan) - jeans, flannel shirt, and the day's selection of skivvies. The problem? These briefs don't fit into "nooks and crannies" quite like they should. They leave room for skin-to-skin contact, for sweat build-up, for CHAFING! The no-moisture-wicking-here fabric just exacerbates the situation. Now chafing is fine for a dish (google "chafing dish"), but not for your nether regions. So I don't think these are going to work out.
Now, I get to decide between the option of returning these to Amazon for a refund, giving them away, or enduring their sub-par performance for as long as they last, which, knowing my luck, will be the only superior aspect of how they perform. Rumor has it that returns like these to Amazon are destined for the landfill, which is not something I want to support as a best-I-can-be environmentalist. My bank account in no way, shape, or form resembles that of a certain Mr. Bezos, so giving them away is not really an option.
I think I may be stuck living with these until they're worn out enough to justify being replaced. (You should see the ones that these are replacing!) With my luck, that will probably be a long, discomfort-filled time.
