Ultimate warm/hot weather underwear?

You might want to take a look at Ibex Woolies. Believe it or not, the heavier ones seem even better than the lighter ones, whatever the weather. The non-stink properties are surprising, and permanent. And they wear much better than Ibex gear usually does. Expensive, but you don't hAve to buy very many.

Thank you for the suggestion Richard.

I'm a fan of the Uniqlo Airism line. Great for both backpacking and everyday warm/hot weather use.

Thanks Brian, i've looked at those previously. I'm not interested in polyester unless it has a polygiene treatment, having had a chronic case of jock itch before. My experience is that polyester underwear without a really good antimicrobial treatment (like polygiene), can both facilitate and contribute to such issues.

Uniqlo use to make women's underwear with something like 60% nylon, 30% cupro (a type of rayon with some copper residue in same i believe, which makes it antimicrobial) and 10% spandex.

I bought my spouse a pair of these, and some tank tops made out of this fabric. It seems like really awesome fabric for hot weather stuff, and naturally has low stink, and great wicking and cooling properties (i've tested the tank top, not the underwear).

It would be great if Uniqlo made men's underwear out of this fabric. I bought an X large women's tank top to cut into and sew my own underwear, but i've gotten lazy/disinterested with the sewing machine lately. At this point, would prefer to just buy some.

Nice to learn of a new possible fabric that could work well for hot humid weather, but let's get something straight – ALL the synthetics stink. Some more, some less, but they all stink because bacteria grow readily on them. And all the treatments don't work, whether polygiene or silver or whatever – it's all marketing bunk to get consumers to shell out for new underwear with magic anti-stink properties. I had a friend who was on the board of the company that makes the silver treatment for textiles – it only works at high levels – much higher than that used by outdoor clothing companies. My wife and I tried tops and socks with that treatment – useless.

Every time in a group some people will say "look, my new synthetic shirt or whatever doesn't stink" – guess what? It does. Usually to high holy hell, but I don't mind, and unless they're a close friend who can take it, I don't want to burst their bubble of roses. My wife whispered in my ear after one such declaration: "OMG he reeks – is anyone going to tell him it doesn't work?" I volunteered her.

Merino does work – the fibers have natural anti-bacterial properties – but 1) it's way too hot for most people to wear in weather above 60F and 2) even merino will stink after days of use, it just won't stink as bad as synthetic or will take longer to stink. I have the Ibex briefs and L/s top, they're nice for winter and late fall/early spring.

So fight the good fight, and keep up the important search, but, before you think it doesn't stink, ask some strangers in a crowded train or elevator to give you an honest opinion after wearing for a few days.

Sure, all synthetics stink, but my experience indicates that there is a pretty noticeable difference between nylon and say polypropylene, and even some noticeable difference between nylon and polyester. Add a little hydrophillic fibers to nylon, and it becomes much more tolerable.

Polygiene works decently ime, but i've not had the chance to use it long term–i wore a shirt with polygiene treatment (OR Echo ls) for almost a week in Costa Rica sweating my butt off (wore that while active, and wore a linen shirt when just walking around and still sweating my butt off).

There are various types of silver treatments, and they're not all the same by any means. Polygiene is a bit unique as compared to some others because it puts large particles of it primarily on the outside of the fiber and the fibers are covered in same. It's fairly durable because it's embedded some in the dye, which in turn is strongly bonded to the fiber.

Many other silver treatments don't work as well because the silver is either only on a small percentage of the fibers, too small of particles/not enough surface area, embedded too deeply into the fiber, or comes off too easily.

Richard Nisely seems to think there is good, solid research backing up the use of silver as antimicrobial in clothing. More specifically he mentioned Natick military labs testing of it, if i remember correctly.

Do you know what silver tech your friend was involved with?

"Merino does work – the fibers have natural anti-bacterial properties"

From what i've "heard" (read), Merino is not particularly anti-bacterial at all, but rather promotes a well balanced growth of various micro-organisms which keep each other and the stink producing microbes, in particular, in check. For some reason, synthetics seem to promote only the growth of the stinky microbes.

Hence, technically speaking, Merino is not anti-bacterial at all, but more akin (metaphorically speaking) to the environment of a healthy gut where there is a good balance of probiotic organisms and more opportunistic/pathogenic organisms.

Hi,

Did anyone use Rohan's Ultra Silver Trunks? They look like most lightweight underwear available. Any recommendations for wicking props?
http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-base-layer-clothing-Ultra-Silver-Trunks?ocode=03443097
At 40 gram per pair they twice lighter than Exofficias…