Best Boxer Briefs for Hiking

When setting up for a hike or backpacking trip, the first item to attach itself to you will be your Boxer. And because your underwear is a next-to-skin base layer, it needs to function well. It should be breathable, moisture-wicking, fast-drying, and — ideally — it should not feel damp or cold when wet.

Choosing the best men’s underwear for hiking that will prevent chafing while on the trail should be the first thing you think of when packing, and then you should never have to think about your private regions again!

It’s vital to keep your precious gems clean and dry by choosing the best men’s hiking underwear. Then no more chaffing, no more rubbing, and no more moldy stinky smells.

Best Boxer Briefs for Hiking

As with any technical clothing piece, deciding what is the right underwear depends mainly on where you will be hiking and in what season.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the best hiking underwear available out there, taking into account budget, style, and materials. Whether you are out camping for the weekend or setting out for a multi-day alpine trek, we have you covered.

The Icebreaker Anatomica Boxer Briefs are a quality pair of merino underwear. With flatlock seams, open fly, relatively snug fit, and comfortable waistband, these boxers are pretty much on par with our top pick, the Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Briefs.

They also use corespun merino (with a nylon core to increase durability). This helps increase durability, but even with a nylon core, merino boxers are still going to be more fragile than purely synthetic boxers.

Features

• Features corespun fabric with nylon and elastane for next to skin softness
• They use 85% merino wool and less synthetic material than the traditional outdoor standard

Smartwool makes some of the best baselayers for hiking, backpacking, and traveling. Their merino is comfortable against the skin; their fits are slim but relaxed, and — perhaps best of all — their garments are extremely durable for merino. And these Smartwool boxers are no exception.

These merino boxers use a slim fit that will be suitable for most but also allow some breathing room so that your special parts can catch some air when you’re working up a sweat on the trail. The airy fit is also ideal for multi-day backpacking trips where we might not have a fresh pair of underpants to chuck on each morning.

Even better, Smartwool uses flatlock seams throughout, which helps to minimize any chance of chaffing. They also use a merino-lined and wide waistband. This design means that the waistband won’t rub and irritate your lower back under your pack’s weight like the waistband on many boxers can.

Features

• Machine Wash
• Fully functional fly
• Merino-covered elastic waistband
• Flatlock seam construction designed to minimize chafing

The ExOfficio Give-n-Go Boxer Briefs are extremely popular amongst both hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. 

ExOfficio offers two options: a standard model and a “sport mesh” model. Our preference is for the latter. 

Both the standard and sports mesh models are from nylon with a small percentage of lycra spandex. However, the sports mesh has a more lightweight and breathable weave.

There are some sacrifices in durability if you opt for the sports mesh model. The fabric tends to pill a bit, whereas this doesn’t seem to be the case with the standard model. However, this doesn’t affect performance. Although more durable, the standard model is heavyweight and slow drying compared to the sports mesh.

Features

• Odor resistant
• Quick dry
• Stretch
• Breathable
• Lower rise
• Active fit

For that cotton-like feel with the athletic performance of modern sports clothing, look no further than bamboo. Yes, bamboo! Much like modern merino wool, bamboo fabric is naturally moisture-wicking and antibacterial.

These Eyushijia Bamboo Boxer Briefs are comprised of 95% bamboo and 5% spandex for a fit and feel you’d never expect. Some other great benefits to the bamboo fabric are hypoallergenic, UV-protecting, and relatively eco-friendly.

Excellent for hiking and daily use, these bamboo briefs are quite comfortable in any situation. Unique among the underwear on this list, these Eyushijia Bamboo Boxer Briefs get equipped with dual supportive pouches that separate your bits into their comfy cradles. That may sound odd if you’ve never tried it before, but user reviews agree that it’s a welcome design that provides surprising benefits.

Features

• Machine Wash
• Colors may vary, bright fashion colors.
• Comfortable soft waistband to eliminate pinching and binding
• Gentle machine wash in the cold to maintain maximum performance and recovery
• Softest, silkiest, and creamiest on your skin underwear ever made
• Body modal underwear trunks feature a body-defining fit.

Another budget-friendly option that will perform 98% and the top picks on our list, New Balance Boxer Briefs, is breathable, quick-drying, and unlikely to cause any unwanted chafing. Keep it basic and cheap by ordering an inexpensive multi-pack of this versatile underwear.

Features

• Made from 90% polyester and 10% spandex
• These briefs are tagless and breathable
• A lightweight 4-way stretch supports your every move
• A quick-wicking design and mesh gusset moves sweat away from your body which will keep you cool and dry
• These boxers feature an elastic waistband for added flex

While the Saxx Kinetic Boxer Briefs took our top performance pick award, we think most people will be happier with these Saxx Vibe Boxer Briefs. Why? Because most people aren’t high-performance athletes, even if they wish they were.

The Saxx Vibe is of more comfortable material than the Kinetic that is softer on the skin, and though it won’t stand up as well to the rigors of extreme outdoor athleticism, it will still fair very well on the trail for the average hiker.

Features

• The form-fitting boxer briefs are from super soft moisture-wicking fabric and designed with no fly, anti-roll waistband, and 5″ seam for a comfortable fit.
• This underwear has a three-D fit for complete ergonomic comfort and Flat Out Seams to prevent irritation.
• The easy-care boxers are machine wash and tumble dry for zero hassle.

Adidas Men’s Sport Performance Underwear contains 91% Polyester and 9% Spandex. It features a logo elastic, soft waistband, and double-lined mesh support pouch.

These Adidas briefs get designed to keep you cool, dry, and comfortable while walking. Adidas Boxer Brief is lightweight and comes with smooth non-chafing stitching.

Also, it offers a no-ride-up leg construction and breathable performance polyester fabric for superior moisture management under any climate.

If you want decent hiking boxers that don’t specialize in anything (but offer an upgrade from day-to-day boxers), these are an excellent choice. But if you’re seeking something more specialized and specific, these aren’t a great option.

Features

• Smooth for wearing with great comfort
• Material: 91% Polyester, 9% Spandex
• Sweat absorbing and keep fit
• Easy to wash and fast-drying material.

Another great option for affordability, this pack of three boxers is the least pricey on this list – and you get three of them! They come in 16 different color choices.

They’re also a great choice for versatility – they come in three different structure options: mesh with no fly, mesh with the fly, and solid with no fly.

Because these are more affordable, they are, of course, built with lesser quality. They aren’t Merino Wool. Instead, they’re made with polyamide and Spandex.

Even though they’re of slightly lesser quality, they still perform surprisingly well for the price point. They’re breathable, they’re fast-drying, and they have a roomy crotch. They have a snug fit, and the build is fairly good at stopping you from getting too sweaty.

Features

• Machine Wash
• Three Versions Available: Mesh-No Fly, Solid-No Fly, and Mesh-With Fly
• High technology fast-drying fabric is breathable and quickly dry to keep you cool and fresh
• Longer legs for full fitting support making a perfect choice for your favorite sports activity

Another great sweat-wicking underwear is the Under Armour HeatGear thigh-length boxer briefs. The inseams are strategically placed in areas that are not sensitive, and the panels encourage the ventilation of your gems. The anti-odor technology prevents odor and reduces smell while the moisture-wicking fabric dries your sweat fast.

The patented HeatGear fabric made of a stretch-mesh gusset provides good ventilation in your special region to prevent heat build-up while being tough enough to protect them and provide special Under Armour compression. In addition to backpacking and trekking, they are also amazing to use in playing sports.

Features

• Elastic closure
• Tough, lightweight HeatGear fabric, with all the performance benefits of UA Compression
• Stretch-mesh gusset & inseam panels deliver strategic ventilation
• The updated ergonomic design keeps seams off high abrasion areas & increases durability
• 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction

This famous design gets patented BallPark Pouch made of a fine mesh that provides lift and support. It allows free movement without restrictions, no matter what you’re doing. But it is a little smaller in the seat region and tends to ride up in the back while bending.

Made of Viscose and Spandex, the material is soft on your sensitive region, and the flat outseams of this moisture-wicking underwear keep you comfortable, sweat-free, and chafe-free. If you prefer that your boys have their own individual space/rooms and stay cool, the SAXX Underwear Men’s Ultra Brief Fly is the ideal choice!

Features

• It’s designed for easy movement; these men’s briefs keep you comfortable all day, every day.
• The men’s underwear briefs are from super soft, moisture-wicking fabric.
• This underwear has a three-D fit for complete ergonomic comfort and Flat Out Seams to prevent irritation. The men’s bikini briefs are machine wash and tumble dry for zero hassle.

These get crafted from something a little different: a silk-weight Plastic material that is 100% polyester material that draws the moisture from the skin and across the material’s surface for quicker drying. This pair of underpants are certainly not restrictive, increasing the amount of natural airflow that gets to your lower regions.

The extra-fast drying capacity of these underpants is their best feature, with a membranous material that disperses the moisture quicker, allowing you to have longer and more comfortable hikes. Phase Technology is breathable and gives the user greater freedom of movement.

Features

• Moisture-wicking Breathable
• Lightweight Quick-drying
• Mechanical stretch textile for unrestricted mobility
• Flatlock construction improves next-to-skin comfort. Stretchy fabric allows you to move more freely. Anatomical shaping for fit and comfort

Lucky Brand is specially designed for active men who want comfort, support, and flexibility. You shouldn’t have to worry about chafing and moisture making you uncomfortable while working out, running, playing sports, or simply at work.

Features

• Cool and dry: that is how you should feel, and with quick-drying
• Soft and comfortable
• Quality material that won’t fade
• Stylish designs, great colors, and pattern design prints so you can look and feel your best
• Reinforced pouch for extra support and cover stitching that won’t dig in

These boxer briefs are of mesh fly that provides ventilation and support right where you need it. With no-ride-up legs and strategically placed breathable mesh, our cooling boxer briefs will keep you cool and comfortable all day. Each pair features dual defense technology, designed to help keep you dry and fresh.

Fruit of the Loom Breathable Boxer features cotton mesh fabric that promotes airflow, preventing you from getting hot. Moisture-wicking technology distributes sweat away from the skin, keeping you dry throughout the day. These boxer briefs hit mid-thigh and have a contoured leg design to prevent ride-up

Features

• Machine wash warm, gentle cycle
• 5 Pack
• Soft, Fabric covered waistband
• Legs don’t ride up

Separatec is breathable and fast dry men’s sport boxer briefs feature superior abrasion resistance and high flexibility, providing you with the ultimate comfort, staying cool and dry all day long.

The briefs have an ‘Ezy-off tag,’ which is a nice touch. There’s nothing more annoying than having to cut off a tag with scissors, but you can never quite get it all off, so the remnants of the tag dig into your lower back all day. The tag comes all the way off with one quick peel.

Features

• You can choose either colorful or all black with a colored waistband
• The briefs feature a 6.5-inch leg and are 96% cotton and 4% spandex
• The fabric is ‘cotton stretch’, which is quite comfortable

The Runderwear Briefs are the classic-fitting favorite of many athletes who don’t like the extra material on the legs of boxer shorts but still require the same comfort and performance. Finishing higher on the leg, the Runderwear Briefs provide exceptional support and keep everything in place. This keeps you focused on achieving your best with minimal distractions.

The durable fabric has been engineered for its excellent moisture management properties, moving excess sweat away from the skin and drying quickly, so you stay comfortable and focused. Additionally, carefully placed micro-perforations give great breathability and work to keep your temperature regulated, so you stay cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.

Features

• Multi-award winning running underwear designed for ultimate comfort and performance
• Lightweight, breathable and moisture-wicking technical construction keeps you chafe-free
• Elasticated waistband and super-soft fabric provide comfortable support during exercise
• Made using 360° seamless technology with flatlock edging – no side seams or tags reduces irritation

Factors to Consider Before Buying Best men’s Boxer Briefs for Hiking

There are many different things to consider when buying a good quality pair of hiking underpants, mainly the material, the cut, design, and odor-resistant qualities, and how durable they are on longer hikes.

Materials

For the most part, there are two possible choices when it comes to materials for hiking underwear. The first is merino wool, a natural fiber. The second is synthetic fibers, primarily nylon or polyester.

In brief, though, both have great moisture-wicking properties, are quick-drying, and will keep you insulated when wet.

The upside of merino is that it is soft, naturally odor-resistant, and feels nicer against the skin when damp. The downside of merino is that it is expensive and less durable.

The upside of synthetics is that they are less expensive and more durable. But the downside is that they aren’t as soft as merino, and — although they dry slightly faster than merino — they don’t feel particularly nice against the skin when wet.

Design

When it comes to design, always choose underwear that has flatlock seams. This will help to prevent chaffing. If possible, you also want to avoid any seams in places that may rub under the pressure of your backpack. For example, a seam or label at the center-back of the waistband can sometimes be irritating if your backpack rubs on it.

Durability

Ideally, you want underwear that will be durable. But durability is an area you may need to consider a trade-off. Synthetics are likely to be more durable than merino wool, so you simply need to decide which factors are most important to you.

Odor-resistance

Merino wool is naturally odor-resistant, so if you opt for merino undies, that will benefit part and parcel.

Unfortunately, synthetics don’t offer the same perks. Some manufacturers treat synthetic fibers with an antimicrobial coating to increase odor-resistance, so that is something you may want to look out for. However, antimicrobial treatments don’t always live up to their promises, and they will fade after repeated washing anyway. So don’t let that be a big sway factor in your decision.

Final Thoughts

Boxer briefs more resemble shorts and usually cling snugly to the upper leg. You want to avoid having a boxer brief that is too tight to avoid sweat build-up; however, you also want boxers that aren’t too loose as they can snag and rub against your body, which may chafe over a long period, although this is rare. Feel free to share our post with your friends and family members and support us.

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