The most important thing to look for when shopping for underwear, other than fit, is the material. It determines how comfortable, breathable and moisture-wicking your boxers or briefs will be. In this guide, we explain the best materials for men’s underwear and the pros and cons for each. 

The Problem With Cheap Underwear

Underwear is one item of clothing where it pays to be more careful what you wear. A cheap pair of pants may not be so bad and you can make do with a lower quality shirt or sweater. But when it comes to underwear, you don't want to go cheap.  

Bad underwear can cause a lot of discomfort down there, and can even lead to skin irritation and rashes. It can also lead to a funky smell and even affect your fertility.

Good quality underwear…

• Allows your boys to breathe, which keeps your nether area cool (important for sperm production) and reduces sweating (which also reduces smells). 
• Wicks away sweat and moisture, leaving your sensitive areas nice and dry. This is not only important for comfort and odor reduction, it also keeps bacteria and fungi away. 
• Is gentle against your skin. Underwear that irritates and chafes at your skin is the devil. 

With this in mind, here are the best materials to look for when buying underwear.  

The Best Materials for Men’s Underwear

1. Cotton — Best for Everyday Wear

Cotton is the most common material used in underwear. It’s comfortable, breathable, moisture-wicking and affordable. Note, however, that the quality of cotton underwear varies widely. Some cheap cotton underwear can be rough and irritating to the skin. 

The biggest downside of cotton underwear is its tendency to hold onto moisture, which can cause odor and create a habitable environment for yeast, bacteria and fungi. So if you sweat a lot or are going for a workout, we wouldn’t recommend cotton underwear. 

2. Silk — Most Luxurious

Silk underwear is extra soft and feels amazing against your skin. It is especially suitable for men with sensitive skin. It doesn't irritate the skin at all. Being a natural fabric, silk is highly breathable and wicks sweat away. 

The two main downsides of silk underwear include its high price tag and delicate nature. It requires careful maintenance and is not suitable for sports activities.  

3. Wool — Best for Temperature Regulation

Merino wool is another material you’ll find in premium men’s underwear. Woolen underwear is extremely comfortable thanks to its soft texture, excellent breathability and moisture-wicking and its prized temperature-regulation capability. 

Wool clothing insulates you when it’s cold and keeps you cool when it’s hot. So with wool underwear, you don't have to worry about overheating, your balls shrinking with the cold or sweating. 

Wool is also naturally antibacterial. This not only reduces any funky smells from down there, it also reduces the risk of any nasty infections. 

Like silk, wool underwear is expensive and requires careful maintenance.  

4. Modal - Eco-friendly Alternative to Cotton

Modal is a type of fabric made from beech tree cellulose. It is semi-synthetic and sometimes considered an eco-friendly alternative to cotton (though it still requires chemicals to process the cellulose into fabric).

Modal fabric is breathable, absorbent, stretchy and long lasting. So it’s often used to make active underwear. 

On the downside, modal underwear requires more delicate care compared to cotton to ensure it retains its softness and form. It’s also a bit more expensive than cotton underwear.  

5. Bamboo - Cool & Breathable

Bamboo is another popular alternative to cotton. Bamboo fabric has become a common material in bedding like sheets and comforters thanks to its high breathability and cooling power. 

So it’s no surprise that bamboo underwear has also hit the market. It’s often marketed as an eco-friendly option. 

Note, however, that most of the bamboo underwear you’ll come across is semi-synthetic. It’s made from bamboo viscose or rayon. There is bamboo linen, which is a natural fabric. But it’s not as soft and hence not commonly used in underwear. 

6. Polyester Blend - Best Budget Option

Polyester, on its own, does not make for good underwear material. It’s not very breathable and can make you hot and sweaty. But it’s cheap and durable. 

If you want the affordability of polyester with fewer of its downsides, look for underwear made with polyester blends. This can be polyester and cotton, polyester and bamboo or other natural/semi-natural fabrics. 

Polyester blend underwear is cooler and more breathable while still being durable and affordable. 

7. Antimicrobial Underwear 

If you are really worried about smells, acne rashes and infections down there, consider buying antimicrobial underwear. It is made with treated fabric that kills odor and infection causing bacteria. 

Hercleon has a couple of great options you can buy: Kribi lounge underwear and the more active-friendly Kribi sport underwear.