From the microwave to the iPhone, easy air travel to massive underground tunnels, our lives are loaded with modern conveniences that we tend to take for granted.
One of the more overlooked advancements is moisture-wicking technology, a feature that we enjoy in our athletic shirts, socks, and most importantly, our underwear. As men, we know the harsh realities of moisture down below, and any type of undies that help us regulate the situation on autopilot is a true game-changer.
What is the secret behind these moisture-wicking capabilities, and what are the best materials to look for when purchasing underwear that stays dry in the toughest situations?
We’re taking a closer look at the magical mechanisms that wick away moisture and give you the ultimate comfort in the most important areas. Let’s get into it.
Why Moisture-Wicking Is Key
If you have any amount of experience with moisture-wicking materials, you’ll know firsthand how powerful this stuff can be.
Whether you’re in the middle of a devastating aerobic workout or crushing a project for work into the late hours of the night, you’re going to be sweating—that’s just how nature operates.
Moisture-wicking shirts, shorts, and undies can keep you cool as a cucumber as you push yourself to the limits of performance, giving you a competitive edge and making the experience far more enjoyable overall.
The human body has an average of about 2.5 million sweat glands, so it’s only a matter of time before we start feeling the pressure and start sweating. It can happen anywhere and anytime, which explains the widespread popularity of moisture-wicking materials.
It used to be that only the occasional workout t-shirt or pair of athleisure joggers had the ability to keep us cool and dry, but now that we’ve seen the light, the possibilities are endless. From polo shirts to undergarments and hats, moisture-proofing is everywhere.
Not only do these fabrics prevent sweat buildup and dry off quickly from the rain, but they also help to keep crucial areas free from bacteria and fungus. If you’ve ever encountered jock itch downstairs, you know what a literal pain that can be.
Some people sweat more, some less. Different situations and stressors trigger certain responses from the body, which can’t be fully explained.
What matters is that you have moisture-wicking technology on your side more often than not.
How Moisture-Wicking Works
It’s not hard to figure out why moisture-wicking material is awesome, but how the heck does it work?
The term “wicking” is used to describe a similar action you see when you light a candle. As the flame slowly burns, the wax is drawn up the wick (typically a piece of string) and allows it to melt evenly without making a mess everywhere.
In moisture-wicking material, water or sweat is pulled from the interior of the fabric to the exterior, where it evaporates more quickly and easily. When pushing yourself through a challenging workout, each bead of sweat from your body gets absorbed into your shirt and then transferred to the outermost layer of the material.
Shirts, socks, or athletic boxer briefs—the mechanism works pretty much the same from top to bottom, with minor differences based on the exact materials used.
Tiny molecular reactions force moisture in a one-way direction and prevent the saturation of the fabric in the blink of an eye. This is partially due to the structure of the fibers and also the result of chemical treatments performed during the manufacturing process.
If you read more deeply into the mechanics behind moisture-wicking tech, you may also come across the term “capillary action,” which once again refers to the movement of water from the inside to the outside of the fabric. You’ll find manufacturers with unique, proprietary methods of moisture management, but the overall approach remains the same most of the time.
The Best Materials To Buy
You now have a basic understanding of how moisture-wicking works, but not all materials are created equal, and you should know what fabrics will serve you best in each situation.
Let’s start by looking at a familiar material that is quite the opposite of moisture-wicking: cotton. Sure, you get to enjoy the lightweight breathability of cotton, but when any sweat or water is introduced to the scene, it gets absorbed with sponge-like quickness and starts to weigh you down at the worst possible moment.
The problem is that most men are so familiar with wearing cotton boxer briefs that they don’t know there is an infinitely better alternative well within reach!
Synthetic fabrics are the way to go when choosing boxer briefs, especially now that we have such a wide range of amazing synthetics available to us. Polyester, for example, is considered one of the more “hydrophobic” materials out there, which is why you see so many boxer briefs made of a poly blend with either cotton or spandex.
The main drawback of polyester is breathability—or lack thereof. Wearing polyester boxers briefs can really ramp up the greenhouse effect on your manly essentials, meaning that heat has trouble escaping. That’s a one-way ticket to serious discomfort!
You may be okay wearing a polyester t-shirt for a workout in an air-conditioned gym, but anything more than that, and you’re in trouble. By no means should you wear this material down low, unless you’ve lost a bet.
Then there’s rayon, which is on another level completely. Micromodal rayon, for example, is composed of treated tree cellulose and augmented chemically to create the ultimate moisture-wicking boxer briefs.
With thread counts between 300 and 400, micromodal is buttery smooth and feels great on even the most sensitive skin. It gives you everything you want in a pair of boxer briefs, including full breathability, low heat retention, and of course, moisture-wicking abilities.
Look for micromodal rayon when you make your next boxer brief purchase and see for yourself this incredible life hack you’ve been missing.
All-Around Excellent Underwear
Great moisture-wicking material is only part of the equation when selecting winning boxer briefs. You want your underwear to fit well and offer comfort in all the right places so that you avoid sweating and swampiness in the first place!
Remember, the construction of clothes is just as important as the stuff from which they are made. You can have the most elegant, silky material on the planet, but if those undies are riding up and causing you problems, you’re going to want to chuck them in the trash.
Ultra-modal fabric is essential, but a comfortable fit is what puts the best boxer briefs on a new level of quality. Run down the mental checklist in your head before buying your next set and ask yourself the key questions:
- Is the material truly moisture-wicking and antimicrobial?
- Is the fit conducive to comfort when relaxing and during exercise?
- Are the boxer briefs built to last with quality craftsmanship?
- Can I rely on the company in the long term to deliver top-notch products?
- Are there plenty of honest, positive customer reviews that support the product?
Answer these to the best of your ability, and you won’t regret your next purchase. Plus, with moisture-wicking capabilities, each pair of boxer briefs will last way longer and give you more value for your dollar, especially if you stick with a reliable brand.
Cool, dry, and constructed with care—that’s what you want from the ultimate boxer briefs.
Make It Easy For Yourself
There’s one harsh truth about moisture-wicking boxer briefs that nobody wants to talk about - once you experience them for an entire week of working, exercising, relaxing, and playing, you won’t want to ever return to your polyester or cotton undies again. You may consider it wasteful to toss all those existing undergarments into the dumpster, but it’s for the best!
You’ll also want to gradually expand your collection of boxer briefs once you find the winning combination of silkiness, stretch, and quick-drying capabilities.
The best way to make sure you always have fresh boxer briefs in your drawer is to subscribe to an underwear membership service that always delivers the goods on time. This way, you’ll never find yourself in that unfortunate situation where you have to revert to your old-fashioned undies.
Plus, moisture-wicking abilities work best when boxer briefs are still somewhat new, and you don’t want to keep a pair in your rotation for longer than six months at a time. A membership to your favorite underwear brand will make sure you always have the right gear at the right time.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an athlete, office manager, or master of leisure, you want to have boxer briefs with moisture-wicking abilities in your drawer. Follow these guidelines to pick the best pair and stick with them for the long haul!
