What’s the best underwear to prevent problems while hiking?

These wick well for me: -Arcteryx phase sl boxers (lightest) -Patagonia cap 2 (discontinued?) -exofficio For all my longer hikes I use the phase SL's…but it's been getting pretty gross smelling down there after a few days…may switch to the cap2 or exofficios …unless someone has a better suggestion im all ears.

Adidas Climacool boxer briefs

I normally wear these: https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/mens-the-original-9-boxerjock-boxer-briefs/pid1230365-025 – the extended inseam helps keep any chafing at bay and they breathe well due to the meshy crotch area.

Merino is the best for me. I use Ex Officio when I want something quick dry but I find merino does a better job of absorbing moisture. Unless you've got enough ventilation you're bound to have moisture so IMO it's better to have some thing that absorbs a bit.

Lately I've been going commando. It's been working just fine. In the summer I wear my salomon running shorts (inner removed). Fall and spring I wear my go-lite running tights with shorts over them and winter I wear patagonia cap 1 bottoms with marmot scree pants over them.

I always had this problem and the resulting chaffing. I recently switched to ExOfficio Men's Give-N-Go Sport Mesh 9-Inch Boxer Briefs and I've found them to be the best yet. I've used Ex Officio in the past, but what was unique about these was how well they stayed in place and how well they breathed. In this particular version, the mesh is very breathable and has a great next to skin feel. I liked them so much I bought several more pair and they've become my every day underwear.

This is an important topic for a number of reasons. ** It's important to wear underwear on a backpacking trip in case you accidentally xxxx soil yourself. If you go commando and do this you've just fouled your hiking shorts or nice merino leggings. With underwear you have a protective layer of safety which can be removed and cleaned with water in camp. Plus, any night time release of fluids will only foul your underwear and not your sleeping clothing like aforementioned nice merino leggings. ** For long backpacking trips, or even short ones, it's advisable to carry two pairs of underwear so one pair can be washed out in a creek and the clean one slapped on. If I pull a twenty day trip, on Day 10 I wash out my old pair and slap on the new—excellent! Makes me feel 20 years old for about 10 minutes. You guys ought to try silk briefs like what is sold by Wintersilks. They ventilate well although they do develop wear holes after a year or two. Very light and comfy. My current pairs are Jockey "pouch" briefs in microfiber like these— http://www.jockey.com/catalog/product/jockey-seamfree-boxer-brief

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Agreed on Merino. For multi-day trips I've found thin Merino boxers work best for me; my boxer of choice is the Ibex Woolies 1- they breathe very well, lightweight, dry quickly and the Merino cuts down significantly on funk/smell for multi-day trips. Mine are holding up very nicely, despite the seemingly fragile material- this includes several trips with 30+ mile days. I always carry a small tube of Sportslick regardless, bad chaffing can ruin or even end a trip. Sportslick also contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients- works good on feet too.

I like Ex Officio briefs. Some of the Champion C9's are good and much less expensive. The other issue is simple "maintenance." A sponge bath with a bandana or synthetic washcloth and a little Dr Bronners will make life better– head to toe. Some like premoistened wipes. Swapping and cleaning briefs will certainly help. A gallon ziplock can make a bath basin and washing machine too. A milk jug bottom section is handy as well. If you wash up, you can go commando in camp while the laundry dries too. You would think nothing of wearing your windshirt or fleece while drying a base layer top; no different for the bottoms.

I like merino boxer briefs in cold weather, but for warm weather I find commando works best for me.

I have been using merino shorts, and they generally work out well. But I'm getting older and it never occurred to me how easy it would be to wake up in a tepid pool of sewage until Tipi pointed it out. Is merino too delicate for a field cleansing ? Is silk the preferred material because it can be scrubbed ?

I agree the problem is relevant, but let's keep the discussion in the realm of polite, if you please. Fwiiw, yes, we usually carry two pairs of underwear when walking. On really long trips overseas (>1 month) we may carry 3 pairs. They get washed regularly – every couple of days at least. Cheers

Merino is the answer. Underarmour are not merino, and are bad in hot + humid conditions.

Another +1 for the Give-N-Go boxer briefs- super comfortable (the cut is different from most of the others I've tried and it helps). I wore them for the vast majority of my 1,100 miles on the PCT this summer and was way more lazy about changing/washing them than I'd ever admit to. They were comfortable, held up great, and never got particularly gross even with me never bothering to really rinse them.

I like the 6"length Sport Boxers. They take care of your business and you don't even know they are there. They dry fast and hold up well.

Will try the exofficio give and gos and the under armor boxerjocks…just ordered them…thank you all for the help. I appreciate it.

I always wear Nike compression shorts as underwear. I get zero chaffing and sweating is minimal. They dry very, very quickly. Only 2 oz. http://www.mec.ca/product/5030-925/nike-core-compression-6-shorts-2.0-mens/

It was a toss up on the ex-officios or the UA's as they both offer them in a 9" inseam. Someplace local had the UA's in stock and the ex-officios I would have had to order and wait on. Just a matter of what was available at the time.

I've done cotton underwear backpacking and been happy with the results. Specific conditions are warm/hot and dry (not humid) weather. And I don't sweat that much. Bad things happen to my junk when it's contacting synthetics for too long.

Commando for hiking and whatever for sleeping.

Haven't worn synthetics in many years. I only wear cotton with a tiny bit of spandex for stretch. You can all have the synthetics. I wear that and instant bladder infection. I do carry a night pair for sleeping in, so I can wash and dry them. And silk is no thank you…unless you like slippery underpants. Wool can also cause issues if you are allergic.

I prefer boxer SHORTS to boxer briefs. The former are cut loose and blousey, allowing great air circulation, while the latter are tight and constricting, no air circulation, and promotes excess sweating, stink, and chaffing. I have them in all manner of fabric from merino to synthetics and cotton. Anyone try hiking in a kilt? That might prove even better! Happy trails!

#ERROR!

Don’t know if they are lw or not, but that is an area I prefer not to skimp on… Under Armour