Topic

Is any wool underwear as cool as a mesh synthetic (Exofficial Give and Go)

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
Phong D BPL Member
PostedAug 30, 2024 at 11:06 am

I am thinking of giving wool a try for the antimicrobial properties.  If they are anything like wool socks I would expect it to stay cleaner than normal underwear.  I have never bought them because I hike in deserts alot…sometimes 90 degrees.  Can anyone compare them to something like an Exofficial Give and Go synthetic mesh underwear?

Thanks!

Mark Verber BPL Member
PostedAug 31, 2024 at 1:19 am

I have been pretty pleased with icebreaker antatomica 150gsm briefs. I get around 600 days of wear before they need to be replaced.  my give and go lasted a lot longer.

Phong D BPL Member
PostedAug 31, 2024 at 10:14 pm

Hey Mark, how do they compare in terms of getting hot with the mesh give and gos?

Could you see yourself hiking in warm weather with them?

 

Thanks.

JCH BPL Member
PostedSep 1, 2024 at 6:51 am

I tried the smartwool and icebreaker boxer briefs and was very unimpressed.  Too hot, dried slowly and showed signs of wear almost immediately.

I was a ExOfficio Give-n-Go fanatic until they changed the material and waistband.  Still have 12 pair that are going strong, and I hate to think about having to retire them someday.

These are not of the quality of the old GnG, but I like the 32 Degree boxer Briefs. They are close enough and much much cheaper, not to mention better IMO than the current GnG.

Mark Verber BPL Member
PostedSep 1, 2024 at 2:26 pm

When it’s 95F and I am pour sweat, nothing is particularly good.  I found the antatomica acceptable, but not as good as the GnG… but it’s fractional difference, not a factor of 2.  When I don’t need protect from abrasions the best option for me are Xoskin Compression Shorts with nothing over them.  Keep chafing at bay and is fairly air permeable

As to the anti-microbial… I noticed the merino being a bit better that synthetic when I wore the same pair multiple days in a row… but I stopped doing that. I wash them each night, squeeze out water with my towel, and then hang.  When above freezing, they have reliably dried overnight

 

Phong D BPL Member
PostedSep 5, 2024 at 10:43 pm

Huh okay.  I might stick with the GnG’s.  But it doesn’t say anywhere that it has any antimicrobial treatments.  Curious if anyone knows any synthetic underwears that do?

EDIT:

So the 32 degrees ones mentioned above say the do have anti microbial treatments.  I found this at costco for an even better deal.  You have to be careful with costco though, sometimes its not the exactly the same.  This one is labeled differently but I think it might be the same, based on properties, materials, and the 32 degree site only listing one kind of mesh underware.

https://www.costco.com/32-degrees-mens-comfort-mesh-boxer-brief-6-pack.product.4000259465.html

 

JCH BPL Member
PostedSep 6, 2024 at 6:34 am

@Phong D – Certainly not conclusive, but the photo(s) of the black pair on the costco site are the exact same as the photo of the black pair on Amazon.  That 6-pack at Costco is about the same cost as 1 pair of the GnG.  Worst case is you have 6 new pair of everyday shorts :)

I can vouch for the effectiveness of the 32 degree treatment…I have worn the same pair for 4 days on winter temperature trips (not by choice) with no issues at all.  Not sure that anything would hold off the stank during a hot sweaty trip.

Begin brand eulogy: ExOfficio decided some time ago to stop making everything except underwear.  About that time they changed the GnG significantly…new material, new waistband, no anti-microbial treatment. IOW they downgraded everything about the product while simultaneously increasing the price to $30/pair.  The ExOfficio that I knew and loved is gone.

Phong D BPL Member
PostedSep 7, 2024 at 10:43 pm

I know what you mean about ExOfficio!  The shirt I used on the PCT and other hike for years was the ExOfficio Air Strip.  It had great venting and even didn’t look bad.  Years ago I tried to find it again and couldn’t.  Their site was replaced by only underwear!

Zero Flight BPL Member
PostedSep 10, 2024 at 2:11 pm

I used to love ExOfficio undies but they changed something in the magic formula several years ago and I haven’t had good luck with them since.

For sweltering temps, I’ve really enjoyed Duluth Armachillo.   They’re a synthetic that really does feel cool (even if they’re not actually), almost a satin-y feeling but doesn’t stick like that and doesn’t rub the wrong way, they dry very fast, and are pretty light weight-wise.

For anything but sweltering, my go-to is Saxx Quest 2.0.  They’re a bit more substantial than the Duluth in every way so stand up to a lot of abuse, but still synthetic and dry quickly when I do a little washing up.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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