Apr 26, 2017 BY Luke Rees
For over 150 days I have been conducting a sports underwear review. I have tested 31 pairs, by 14 brands over 8 criteria. Although I have tested boxers, long shorts and briefs, this article is a detailed review of the best boxer shorts for active men.
I tested all underpants over at least five days of wear and five washes. This included squats, lunges, star jumps, at least one run of around 8 km and a walk of at least 2 km. I scored each pair out of five for ruckage and bunching, support, restriction, initial comfort, all day comfort, active comfort, sweatiness and signs of wear.
I awarded up to five bonus points based on factors such as innovation, natural fibres and eco-friendly policies. Overall this gave each pair of underpants a score out of 45 from, with the highest score being the best undies. By dividing the score by the price I got ‘Points per £ spent’ which also indicates value for money.
There is detail about how I have tested the undies, and the motivations behind the test, in this article about the best underpants for sport and adventure. It includes a full table of results for all criteria ranking the undies tested from best to worst.
To be classified as boxer shorts the undies needed to have legs that are less than 6 inches long. Over this they fall in the long boxer category.
During the sports underwear review I tested 19 pairs of boxer shorts – more than any other style of underpant – and three of the overall top four came from this category. So in order of the top ranking first these are the best boxer shorts for active men:
Total Score: 40 Price: £29 Points per £ spent: 1.4
Materials: 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex
With a supportive fit and all-around moisture-wicking performance, Kinetic is built for high-output activities like marathon training sessions or blistering hot backcountry runs. Made from stretch micromesh fabric for quick-drying performance and support.
The Saxx Kinetic Boxer ranked top of this sports underwear review making them the best boxer shorts for active men. They are amazingly comfy, offer great moisture wicking, no restriction of movement, good support and they stay in place no matter what you do.
What made them really stand out it the innovative ball pouch that cups your gear, keeping your balls away from your legs. It stops sweaty balls and adds really specific support, so although they feel less supportive than some other underpants, there is extra support where you need it.
In my opinion the pouch is an underpant game changer, but the Kinetic Boxer is much more than this innovation. They are exceptionally comfortable for everything from snowboarding to slobbing around and working to walking all day. Simply the best boxer shorts I have ever worn.
Website: www.saxxunderwear.com/ca/kinetic-boxer-4271.html
Total Score: 39 Price: £15 Points per £ spent: 2.6
Materials: 92% Chinlon, 8% Urethane & Liner 95% Bamboo, 5% Elastane
Bawbags Cool De Sacs are premium boxer shorts with our very own Technical Wicking Active Technology. This special quick drying fabric with a bamboo baw pouch keeps ‘em tidy whatever you get up to!
A portion of proceeds from every pair of Bawbags sold goes to support cancer charities. Remember, 98% of testicular cancer cases are curable if caught early enough, so check yer baws!
Very soft and comfy, I love the bamboo inner. The Cool De Sacs were comfortable running and wick sweat away very well. They are quick drying – I got caught in a storm and soaked to the skin, but the undies were dry within 20 minutes.
When I first tried them for this sports underwear review, I could feel a seam on the inner legs, but this did not impact comfort or activities. These are great everyday active pants that look good with loads of funky designs.
Each pair donates to a charity for testicular cancer plus they use renewable materials so better for the environment. They are low cost so offer great value for money and overall the best boxer shorts by a British brand.
Website: www.bawbags.com/mens/boxers/cool-de-sacs.html
Total Score: 39 Price: £20 Points per £ spent: 2.0
Materials: 88% polyamide, 12% elastane
Don’t just play the game, change it. These second-skin, hydro-pro Performance Shorts will help you do just that by moving with you instead of against you. This simple design features flat seams to prevent abrasion plus wicking material to keep you cool and comfortable. Get a leg up on the competition!
The Hydro Pro is made from a lovely soft material that is cool to touch and is designed to wick away moisture leaving you dry no matter how hard you exercise. They feel seamless and are supportive without being tight –you don’t even notice you are wearing them.
There is absolutely no ruckage or bunching as the legs stay firmly in place, and the undies move with you in a really nice way. The Hydro Pro are the best boxer shorts for exercise, but are also one of the top in this sports underwear review for everyday wear.
Website: www.bjornborg.com/uk/1p-shorts-bb-seasonal-solids-1
Total Score: 39 Price: £35 Points per £ spent: 1.1
Materials: 95% Merino, 5% Elastane
Don’t be the black sheep when it comes to any-weather comfort. Warmth, moisture control, temperature regulation, anti-microbial performance — they all happen naturally with these moisture-wicking merino wool boxer briefs. Wool is that damn good.
Saxx follow up the best boxer shorts for active men with the top ranking merino wool pants. As a natural fibre these Merino pants feel warm and soft to touch making them idea for cold weather.
The patented ball pouch is very comfortable, they have good wicking, offer no restriction of movement feeling snug but not tight. They stay in place really well as you move and were great when I wore them snowboarding. They are one of the best boxer shorts for winter sports.
Website: www.saxxunderwear.com/ca/blacksheep-boxer-fly-26.html
Total Score: 38 Price: £25 Points per £ spent: 1.5
Materials: 90% polyester, 10% elastane. Mesh Details 89% Polyamide, 11% Elastane
Don’t just play the game, change it. The second-skin, hydro-pro Performance Shorts will help you do just that by moving with you instead of against you. This updated design features mesh inserts at front and in between legs, plus flat seams, prevent chafing so you can put your best foot forward.
These were the top ranked boxer to score 5/5 for support. This meant that initially they felt a little tight, making them slightly less comfortable, but you don’t notice this when active. The extra support means they are the best in this sports underwear review for higher impact activities.
The wicking material is very soft and cooling. There are no seams to rub making them the perfect exercise pants. Although compared to the Bjorn Borg long boxers there was very slight ruckage so they dropped a point, although this had no effect when exercising.
Website: www.bjornborg.com/uk/1p-shorts-bb-noos-solids
Total Score: 37 Price: £15 Points per £ spent: 2.5
Materials: 95% viscose/5% spandex
These best-selling boxer briefs are slim-fitting for smooth layering and come in a fresh line-up of original prints and patterns every season. Breathable viscose fabric sits close to the body to wick moisture, and has a super soft hand for all-day comfort.
With a third entry into the top six for Saxx, it is safe to say I am a big fan of their ball pouch. The Vibe are aimed as an everyday boxer, but I found they are excellent for general adventures. However the material is not as good at wicking moisture as other undies so the Vibe are not as good for sweaty activities.
With very soft material they are super comfortable, plus the Vibe come in a large range of styles. My choice for the best boxer shorts as everyday pants even if you are fairly active.
Website: www.saxxunderwear.com/ca/vibe-boxer-modern-fit-41537.html
Total Score: 37 Price: £18 Points per £ spent: 2.1
Materials: 92% Polyamine, 8% Elastane
The men’s Runderwear support boxer is designed to give you maximum support with the highest level of comfort that you need from. Get support where you need it most with using Runderwear’s seamless technology. The fabric is engineered to wick moisture from the skin, helping reduce any irritation. Chafe-free, guaranteed.
The Runderwear material feels lovely against the skin, and the seamless design means there is no chance of chaffage. They wick sweat away exceptionally well and provide good support without feeling tight. Without doubt the best boxer shorts for running in this sports underwear review.
The legs are short on these boxers and when first put on I could feel the rubber where they gripped my thighs. It felt a bit weird and seemed like they may cause a problem, but it works exceptionally well at stopping ruckage and bunching and was surprisingly comfy for all-day wear and exceptional while jogging.
Website: www.runderwear.co.uk/collections/mens/products/mens-runderwear-boxer
Total Score: 36 Price: £13 Points per £ spent: 2.8
Materials: 92% Polyamide 8% Elastane
A sporty, masculine range of underwear, suitable for everyday activities and sports. The innovative combination of materials provides perfect wearing comfort. Jockey launch seasonal colours, such as those below, twice a year and have black, grey, white and navy in stock all year round.
These are very comfortable underwear. Not only does the material wick sweat away very well, but a cooling mesh helps with temperature control. At first they felt slightly tight around my junk, but this was good during exercise as supportive without being restrictive.
Having scored the highest ‘Points per pound spent’ for any boxers, it makes these Jockey undies the best boxer shorts for active men in terms of value. So if you want great pants that don’t cost a fortune then pick these from this sports underwear review.
Website: www.jockey.co.uk/collections/boxer-trunks/products/jockey-sport-boxer-trunk
Total Score: 35 Price: £14 Points per £ spent: 2.5
Materials: 87% Polyester and 13% Spandex
Soft moisture-wicking fabric and an odor-resistant treatment make our men’s NB DRY Performance Underwear 2-Pack a game-changer. Not only do they help keep you comfortable and dry, they also help eliminate distractions with a snug (but not too snug) fit, just right, no-ride 6” length and wide waistband.
And to make them easy to layer under your favorite gear, we designed these men’s underwear with smooth, stretchy fabric and no side seams.
These are made from a very soft material that keeps you dry. They provide lots of support, which meant at the beginning of this sports underwear review they felt slightly tight. But once wearing them you don’t notice.
At first I could also feel seams running under the legs, but during exercise and all day wear I didn’t notice them. These are one of the best boxer shorts for active men and they would be perfect for intense sports, visits to the gym and sweaty adventures.
Website: http://www.newbalance.com/pd/fresh-6in-boxer-brief-2pack/NB1005.html
Total Score: 34 Price: £25 Points per £ spent: 1.4
Materials: 94% Nylon / 6% Lycra® Spandex
500 miles of trail. 7 days. One pair of underwear. (Ok, maybe two.)The new Sport Mesh boxer brief pairs ergonomic fit with ultralight mesh for active performance. Whether you’re cycling through Patagonia, trekking in Thailand, or trail running in your home range, the Sport Mesh will keep you cool, fresh, and comfortable.
The Exofficio underpants are epically comfortable – one of my favourites in this sports underwear review. When you get sweaty they keep you dry, and in my opinion the lightweight design means they are the best boxer shorts for adventures in hot weather and travelling in the tropics.
The only thing letting them down is after having been worn just five times there was lots of bobbling making them look old. Although they are still just as comfortable to wear, and perform just as well, they showed the most wear and tear of any synthetic material in this test.
Website: www.exofficio.com/mens-underwear/give-n-go-sport-mesh-6-boxer-brief/
Total Score: 32 Price: £30 Points per £ spent: 1.1
Materials: 98% merino wool, 2% elastane
If you spend a lot of time outdoors during winter months, our Mikael Merino Shorts are a must-have. You might be thinking that wool shorts sound odd, but hear us out: The fabric helps regulate body temperature; it’s made of fine, soft fibers; and it contains lanolin, which reduces body odor (so you could technically wear these a few days in a row).
These are really comfortable, with probably the softest merino of any of the undies in this test. But they lose a point due to an annoying label that tickles. As always with merino it is breathable, feels warm on the skin and wicks sweat – although not quite as well as synthetic materials.
Merino also does not hold odour and even after I wore them snowboarding for two days they still did not smell. So they are one of the best boxer shorts for winter activities, and also expeditions where you can’t take too many changes of undies.
Website: www.bjornborg.com/can_en/mikael-shorts
Total Score: 32 Price: £35 Points per £ spent: 0.9
Materials: 57% Merino, 43% Polypropylene
HH®Warm comfortable boxer features:
These are not that comfortable because they are a little too small and tight in every dimension, something I was aware of when sat around working or relaxing. Although I noticed it less when active, it is still something to consider – but if you get a size larger than normal you’ll probably be OK.
However, they kept me warm when in the mountains this winter and dry with great wicking. The mix of natural merino with synthetic seems to give the best of both worlds, and if they sort out the fit these could be one of the best boxer shorts for active men.
Website: www.hellyhansen.com//mens/accessories/hh-warm-boxer
Total Score: 30 Price: £35 Points per £ spent: 0.9
Materials: 86% Wool, 12% Nylon, 2% LYCRA®
Combining the classic design of our best-selling Anatomica Boxers with an all-new and ultra-comfortable ribbed fabric, the Anatomica Rib Boxers offer the support and comfort you need for active pursuits and everyday life.
The Anatomica features of 180gm rib corespun fabric, which uses nylon fibers wrapped in soft, breathable merino wool for durability and strength that retains next-to-skin softness. We also included a touch of Lycra® for active stretch.
Flatlock seams eliminate chafing, and the contoured pouch provides essential support any and every day. Corespun fabric for enhanced durability, rib fabric with LYCRA content for stretch and mobility, closed contour pouch, flatlock seams prevent chafing
These are very comfortable boxers shorts. However, at first the material did not feel as soft as other merino underpants, but that improved after the first wash.
Great for all day wear and are only really let down by lack of support for your crown jewels. This is not a problem when hiking or doing less intense activities, but not ideal for vigourous high impact sport. Ironically in this sports underwear review these were one of the best boxer shorts for lazing around and not being active.
Website: www.icebreaker.com/en/mens/anatomica-rib-boxers/
Total Score: 30 Price: £35 Points per £ spent: 0.9
Materials: 83% Merino wool, 12% Nylon, 5% LYCRA®
Our classic, go-to boxer brief built with a super-soft, stretchy and highly durable merino wool blend, and outfitted with the support and comfort you need for both daily life and weekend adventures, the Anatomica Boxers are the underwear you’ve been searching for.
With an exclusive Icebreaker fit that makes them the most comfortable pair in your underwear drawer, the Anatomica Boxers also feature our corespun fabric, merino wool fibers wrapped around a nylon core, for increased durability and strength while retaining next-to-skin softness.
Flatlock seams eliminate chafing when you’re on the move, and the contoured pouch offers additional support. Updated with improved fit, closed contour pouch, flatlock seams prevent chafing, corespun fabric for added durability.
As with the other icebreaker boxers at first the Merino was not as soft, however this was only until they had been washed. These are very comfy underpants with a relaxed feel that does not offer very much support.
But they wick moisture away really well and are excellent underpants for moderate activities and everyday wear. Along with the other Icebreaker undies, I think they are one of the best boxer shorts for slobbing around in.
Website: www.icebreaker.com/en/mens/anatomica-boxers/
Total Score: 27 Price: £13 Points per £ spent: 2.2
Materials: 95% cotton, 5% elastane
Bawbags Originals are deluxe cotton boxer shorts featuring our custom fit for optimal baw comfort. Since 2007 our Originals have been keeping the nation’s nuts tidy and a portion of proceeds from every pair sold goes to support cancer charities too. Remember, 98% of testicular cancer cases are curable if caught early enough, so check yer baws!
Love the funky designs, good cancer charity work and fun attitude. But these boxers are high quality standard underwear, rather than boxer shorts for active men. So they were a little out of their league in this sports underwear review, but are excellent normal underwear.
The cotton material is not as soft as others, and when first worn I could feel the legs. Although neither of these things bothered me for general wear – for which they are excellent – it was more noticeable when running, particularly as moisture didn’t wick away leaving me with damp uncomfortable pants.
Website: www.bawbags.com/mens/boxers/originals.html
Total Score: 27 Price: £22 Points per £ spent: 1.2
Materials: 100% Superfine Merino
EDZ merino wool base layers are made from 100% superfine merino wool that is soft next to the skin and comfortable to wear.
As the only 100% merino boxers, EDZ offer something a little different. The actual pants are very nice to wear, but they are let down slightly by the waistband which felt a little cheap compared to the rest of the material.
They provide good support during exercise and wick moisture away from the body really well. However, I found I got slight ruckage on the legs. On the whole they are comfortable for a day of activities or a day in the office, but compared to some of the others are not the best boxer shorts for more intense sports.
Website: www.edzlayering.com/product/boxer-shorts-denim
Total Score: 21 Price: £20 Points per £ spent: 1.1
Materials: 95% Modal, 5% Elastane
Manufactured from Beech Tree pulp, SueMe® Tree Trunks are super soft, comfortable, fast drying and naturally antibacterial. Made with a 210g knit to balance fit and comfort with durability. 5% Lycra adds support and helps retain shape and fit, day after day, wash after wash.
Seams are placed out of the way of rubbing or chaffing points. The care label is printed using water based inks. A mixture of flat and overlock stitching for comfort and longevity combined with a knitted elasticated waistband with a soft brushed back make SueMe® Tree Trunks incredibly comfortable.
The SueMe® slogan is knitted in a contrasting colour into the waistband. Easy to machine or hand wash and packaged in a box manufactured from recycled board which is printed using vegetable inks. The box also contains 3 beech tree seeds as part of our offset yourself program.
Considering they are made from trees they are very soft and very comfortable. Although the waistband is not as good quality as rest of materials which is a let down. They are quick drying, but are too loose for strenuous activities. I found that running and even walking leads to them become rucked up and bunched requiring regular adjustment.
These are good pants for non active days and perfect for slobbing around the house. Although they are a long way from the best boxer shorts for active men, they still score more than twice as much as the control pants. Plus they are very eco-friendly which is a huge bonus.
Website: www.sueme.com/sueme-sportswear/mens-underwear/mens-tree-trunk-assorted
Total Score: 21 Price: £25 Points per £ spent: 0.8
Materials: 95% cotton, 5% elastane
Dress to get undressed in colorful soft cotton underwear from Helly Hansen.
Another boxer short that is more like high quality ordinary pants, so slightly out of their depth in this sports underwear review. On this plus side, they are made from an exceptionally soft cotton which feels lovely, although I could feel the seams on the inner thigh.
On the down side, when exercising they do not wick sweat away and there was a some ruckage, and by the end of my run they were starting the chafe. These are good everyday underpants but a long way off the best boxer shorts for active men.
Website: www.hellyhansen.com/mens/accessories/cotton-boxer
Total Score: 19 Price: £16 Points per £ spent: 1.2
Materials: 94% Cotton, 6% Elastane
With this sloggi basic short you experience freedom of movement, a great fit and a soft feeling on your skin. Elegant under a suit or casual at home with a shirt or a tanktop – this short is a basic, which will give you pleasure for a long time.
In this sport underwear review these were the only pants I didn’t like. But they are not really designed for sport and adventure. Having said that they still scored ten higher than the control pants, meaning they are good underwear.
At first the main issue was the material that is not as soft as others and there was an itchy label (not just the part that is supposed to come off). I could also feel the elastic around my thighs and the waistband was slightly uncomfortable.
When exercising they rucked and bunched a lot, they also got wet from sweat and were chaffing quite early in the run. Even during the walking test I had to adjust them and they started to chafe slightly. Having said all of that they were still significantly better than the control pants.
Website: www.triumph.com/sloggi-men-basic/
Interestingly no one underpant stood out as the best for everything. Many of those at the top ranked as good as each other, but often had different strengths suited to different types of activities.
To conclude this sports underwear review, the best boxer shorts for active men are – unsurprisingly – those that are designed for sport. They are significantly more comfortable than normal underwear, not just when active but for everyday life. So it’s well worth investing in active undies.
I hope you found this sports underwear review useful. If none of the best boxer shorts for active men fit your needs, then check out our articles about the best long boxers and best briefs. If you are interested in how this test was conducted check out the full active underwear review data and methodology.
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One response to “Sports underwear review: Best boxer shorts for active men”
Quite useful review blog it is.. I appreciate it!
Chalfin Boxer Shorts should also be tried. They are comfortable and the material used by them is of very good quality