Men’s underwear - Material guide
Choosing the right type of fabric for your boxer shorts matters – which is the best?
Not many men will take time to consider the material that makes their boxer shorts or briefs. They know the colour and style they want, that’s good enough for them.
But an increasing number of men are becoming aware of the material that makes their underwear. They want a material that’s comfortable no matter what they are doing.
You may have never given it a though but the choosing the right fabric matters.
Choosing the right boxers or briefs is more about the fabric than the style. Is traditional cotton still the king over newer materials like modal and bamboo?
Material matters
The type of fabric used to make male underwear has shown to have an effect on the male health, particular fertility with polyester being the most detrimental. [1]
Polyester fabrics are rarely seen in commercially available male underwear brands and when it is used makes up a very small percentage, such as the logo or the wash tag.
What types of fabrics are used to make men’s boxer shorts
Most men’s underwear is made up of either cotton, bamboo or modal. These three materials are natural, unlike polyester, and have the ideal physical properties for men’s boxer shorts, briefs or trunks.
Cotton material used for men’s underwear
Cotton is the classic choice and all brands of men’s boxer shorts offer cotton because of its all-round ability to provide a quality finish. It’s also a traditional fabric of choice for making men’s luxury underwear.
The benefits of using cotton for underwear
The main benefit of cotton is that as a natural fibre its great for those with sensitive skin and this hypogenic property is ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Cotton can hold its shape well and as a result can be best to offer various designs and styles. For instance, jockstraps are more likely to be made of cotton because it can offer a sturdier fit and hold than bamboo or modal.
The disadvantages of cotton for men’s underwear
The main disadvantage of using cotton for underwear are the ability for it to hold on to moisture. Whilst this might seem like a good thing, for boxer shorts and briefs, this is not.
Since cotton stays wet for longer, cotton boxers are not ideal for those who are highly active. They heat and moisture make for a bad combination and result in poor personal hygiene.
Cotton can lose it shape, making it less durable compare to other natural fibres.
Modal fabric for men’s underwear
Modal is a natural bio-based fabric, like cotton, made from spinning beech tree cellulose.
The fantastic properties of the material brings many benefits and make it ideal for men’s boxers shorts –particularly for those who are highly active.
Benefits of modal material for men’s underwear
Modal feels like cotton; however, the similarities end there. Modal expels moisture (known scientifically as moisture wicking), dries quicker (than cotton and bamboo), holds its shape well. Modal is chosen for its high durability.
Modal has far superior properties; it's more durable and dry’s fast – two properties which are ideal for any type of clothing.
Disadvantages of modal fabric for male underwear
There doesn’t appear to be any disadvantages to using modal fabric for men’s underwear. The only disadvantage is more from a supply stand point – the availability of modal can be more subject to supply and demand constraints than cotton or bamboo.
Bamboo fabric for men’s underwear
Another naturally derived fabric, from the bamboo plant, with great qualities ideal for a range of clothing, men’s underwear made from bamboo.
Benefits of bamboo material for men’s underwear
Super soft, highly breathable are the main advantages of bamboo fabric used to make underwear.
The cooling effect of the material means that odours become less of an issue and for this reason many choose bamboo along with its anti-bacterial properties.[2]
For the eco-conscious consumers, bamboo is highly suitable with low environmental impact.[3]
Disadvantages of bamboo fabric for men’s underwear
The main disadvantage to bamboo fabrics is the process of piling in which small bobbles appear on parts of the material after washing. This affects the look of clothing and they no longer maintaining that quality look and feel that that once did. For those who are eco conscious when buying their clothes, some bamboo material manufactures use toxic chemicals during the processing which negates the eco friendly credentials.
Levage recommends: Modal.
Modal fabric for men’s underwear is the obvious choice and wins every time regardless of what style of underwear.
Recommendations of material choice based on style and activity levels
Despite modal being the superior choice of fabric for men’s underwear (especially luxury men’s boxer shorts and briefs) cotton and bamboo are really good choices. Some shops and website may not have the modal as a choice or they could be out of stock.
How to select the best material for your boxer shorts
If you’re still usure and need help deciding which fabric is best for your boxer shorts or briefs, use the following table:
| Style | Activity level / purpose | Material to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Trunks/boxer shorts | Low activity, general | Cotton |
| Trunks/boxer shorts | High activity (eg. gym) | Bamboo / Modal |
| Briefs | To feel held in place | Cotton |
| Briefs | High activity levels | Bamboo / Modal |
| Any style | Sensitive skin | Cotton |
The verdict form Levage – choose modal
We recommend modal, because no matter what your day brings this fabric delivers. It's more durable than the others and has a higher quality feel. Boxer shorts made from modal are the clear choice.
How to wash boxer shorts made from bamboo and modal
The ideal way to clean and maintain bamboo and modal material is to hand wash at 30 degrees centigrade of lower, preferably colder.
For bamboo this is more important due to its structure and that fact that it is prone to piling. If you choose to machine wash, a gentle cycle is recommended. The aim is to avoid excessive friction of the fabrics that destroys their structure. With bamboo you should wash inside out to reduce the effects of the material piling – the formation of small bubbles on the surface.
Avoid the use of fabric softeners as these affect the fibres with repeated use – the material is natural soft anyway.
Whether you wash the fabrics in machine or by hand the most important thing to remember is to dry items flat as this will help maintain the shape.
Too much effort for your boxer shorts? Not really, if you’ve bought luxury ones then it’s worth maintaining them with good care.
How NOT to wash modal and bamboo fabric underwear
- Using too much detergent / strong detergent
- Using a tumble dryer
- High temperature washing
FAQs
Some questions other Levage customers have asked:
Are boxer shorts made from bamboo and modal better for men who are active?
Yes, because of the fabric properties, they make underwear breathable. The softness makes them ideal for those who suffer from chaffing during physical activity. Modal has more advantages over bamboo, Levage recommend modal.
How to choose which material is best for my boxer shorts?
It all depends on how active you are and what you will be wearing them for. Cotton material is traditionally stronger and feels more supportive. Choose Bamboo and modal fabrics for times when you know you’ll be active.
Why do men still buy cotton boxer shorts and briefs if bamboo and modal are better?
In some ways cotton boxer shorts are still popular and sought after because they can be sturdier. They provide more support because of the thicker material compare to bamboo and modal.
Luxury men’s underwear made from organic cotton is still in demand because some consumers like to consider the health and environmental implications.
Does Levage offer different material choices?
Yes, Levage offer cotton, bamboo and modal fabrics in their men’s underwear. Not all collections will offer items that are available in all three choices. Some items may only be available on cotton, whilst others bamboo etc.
References:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8886260/