History of Men’s Underwear Options
The History of Men’s Underwear Options
Men’s underwear has come a long way from the loincloth and the codpiece. Today, men have plenty of options when it comes to protecting the family jewels. From practical comfort to pure fashion statement, skivvies choices abound.
Men’s Underwear Basics
Perfect for sleeping (or boxing back in your great-grandfather’s day), men’s boxer Shorts give users room to feel the cool air breeze. While they traditionally don’t provide much support, they are quite comfy.
Boxer shorts were originally developed in the 1920s by Everlast, a boxing company that wanted to switch from traditional sweat-inducing leather shorts to cotton-blend boxer shorts. Even with this progress, men's drawers still needed an upgrade.
Briefs, undies, jockey shorts. Love them or hate them, they’ve been around since 1935 by Cooper’s Inc. Great for hipster skinny jeans, men’s briefs provide easy access, full coverage, and less bunching. T
he minimal coverage accentuates the gams, among other things. If you are a minimalist at heart, maybe briefs are the pick for you.
Popularized in the 1990s, boxer briefs provide the best of both worlds. Supportive while providing full coverage and a more modern look, these bad boys hug in all of the right places.
Optimal for any shape and size, boxer briefs will keep you snug and secure. Modern boxer briefs have the added benefits of advanced fabrics for key properties such as moisture wicking, stretch and breathability.
Long johns, thermal underwear, mens leggings, are a choice for the outdoorsman or simply a dude freezing his nether regions off in the cold. Trapping heat and insulating the body against freezing conditions, long johns can be made from a variety of material blends.
Hailing from 17th century England, men’s long johns did not reach popularity until the 18th century when it came to sleeping options. Fun fact: they were supposedly named after an infamous knife fighter who enjoyed taking on adversaries in his underwear. You, too, can be a “long john”, but perhaps without the knife fighting.
Jockstraps
Men’s jockstraps were invented in the late 19th century for cyclists and overall sporty spices. The term “jock” is actually derived from “jock strap”, meaning a strap for athletes’ goods.
Giving full front coverage with room for a protective guard, jock straps are open in the back and have elastics waist and thigh bands. They can also be used as men’s lingerie because women can’t have all the fun in that market.
Performance Cooling Mesh Underwear
If you want breathable, comfortable briefs with a boost, men’s performance underwear is the choice for you. Thanks in part to the fitness craze, modern men's underwear has probably advanced more than modern men.
Advanced technical fabrics and materials make for an amazing base layer. We've come a long long way since the days of the leather codpiece.