The Best Moisture-Wicking Underwear for Men, Tested by Editors

As the most iconic underwear brand, Calvin Klein briefs do the best job of keeping our family jewels cool and comfortable. I’ve tested every major moisture-wicking underwear, but CK’s boxer briefs reign supreme for its supportive fit and quick-drying fabric that keeps me feeling fresh for hours, even on a hot summer day. The microfiber fabric is super soft, and has a silky-smooth touch, and keeps its shape after countless washes.

Since the polyester-elastane blend is made with a wicking finish, I’ve worn them for treadmill sprints at the gym and clocked miles in them during the New York Marathon—and not once did I deal with swamp crotch. Instead, I stayed surprisingly dry and fresh. It also helps that the material is infused with stretch, so I can bend, lunge, and sprawl out on the couch for lazy weekends. And with one of the most recognizable logo waistbands, it’s probably the only underwear that I don’t mind peeking out of the top of my pants.

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Lululemon’s got the secret sauce when it comes to making skivvies for the gym. These are produced with a buttery-soft modal blend that’s naturally breathable and lightweight, so it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. Also, the fabric is excellent at pulling moisture away from your body, so it dries faster than standard cotton and keeps you from marinating in sweat. Another notable feature is the ergonomically shaped pouch, which is super spacious for the family jewels. Because it’s blended with elastane, we found it has enough stretch to move through burpees, high kicks, and mountain climbers.

In fact, our Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan was so impressed by its flexibility, he picked up six pairs. He credits them for their ability to handle deep squats and deadlifts. They’ve also become his go-to for Barry’s sweat-dripping, bootcamp classes—thanks to the barely-there feel and second-skin fit that won’t bunch under his slim chinos. This underwear dries in record time, meaning you can finish your session, cool down, and still feel fresh enough to grab coffee without needing a change.

Mack Weldon’s boxer brief measures up to the hype, and I’ve kept it in rotation for its airy fabric and solid support. I’ve worn this under shorts during the dog days of summer and found that it never turned into a swampy mess. Made with polyester, polyamide, and elastane, this pair offers plenty of durability, long-lasting softness, and stretch. In the last year, I haven’t seen it pill, lose shape, or ride up as I’m on the move. And whether I’m going for my morning routine run or running errands, I stay relatively dry and fresh for the rest of the day.

To double down on breathability, the mesh zones on the back panel have built-in vents for extra airflow so things don’t get too heated. The athletic cut is dialed in: snug on my thighs without suffocating them. In other words, they’re a perfect fit for guys with beefy quads. Plus, the flyless pouch keeps your precious jewels secure and supported without that cramped or squished feeling.

Many skivvies made with synthetic blends aren’t very comfortable. Not so much with Mack Weldon as it’s the kind you can wear for a long travel day, head straight to the gym, and still feel fresh without needing to change.

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Hanes is the gold standard when it comes to reliable, affordable underwear and the Moves Performance brief is no exception. Crafted from nylon and spandex jersey, it feels featherlight, and dries in a flash. I’ve used this for sprints, and squats, and found it kept me dry. Take note: it’s a bit snug around the thighs, so I’ve had to adjust it a couple of times during my workout. Still, the 6-inch inseam provides solid coverage, and ensures everything feels locked in and supported.

For extra comfort, this pair infuses X-Temp cooling tech, a proprietary blend of nylon and spandex, in the crotch area that kept me staying fresh from warm-up to cool-down. And even though this has next-gen tech, it still looks like a classic pair: clean, timeless, and no-frills, making it feel just as trusty as your favorite Hanes, only way more advanced.

Adidas’ underwear is the perfect mashup settled between a compression short and normal brief. Yes, it’s cut close, and snug around the waist, thighs and pouch to keep your crotch area supported. But it’s infused with spandex for stretch, so you can work, or workout in it with ease.

The performance mesh fabric feels like an AC for your lower half. I did find that it has some stitching around the thigh area, but overall the mesh boxer brief feels super smooth, and I almost forgot I was wearing it after a few hours. Our testers found out that the mesh pouch offers the right amount of lift and space to keep your goods comfortably in place and ventilated. Also, the fit is universally flattering, which can’t be said about every other option on this list. Whether you’re lean, stocky, or somewhere in between, these hug in all the right places and never ride up—so you’re not stuck adjusting all day.

It doesn’t feel like some specialty workout brief you only reach for before leg day. It feels like the kind of boxer brief you could wear any day of the week and totally forget it’s doing double duty.

Underwear that can pull double duty, wicking away moisture while lending ball support is a winner. Take Shinesty’s best-selling pair. It’s made with a patented MicroModal-elastane fabric, which the brand says is three times more comfortable than cotton, and I agree. I wore this against 100% cotton underwear from Fruit of the Loom, and found that it’s way cozier right out the pack. Plus, it gets rid of ball sweat much better than old school boxer briefs.

What really sets this underwear apart from the competition is its ball hammock pouch. It offers more breathing room than any pouch found in other boxer briefs so your family jewels don’t get crushed. It also has a flattering front profile and has kept me feeling comfortable for hours, whether I’m wearing it with joggers or jeans. The only downside is the steep price tag for one pair, but it’s justified by its comfort, durability and performance features. Plus I like the broad color selection with over 40 styles.

Instead of using traditional stitching, Uniqlo’s Airism has a seamless design that contours the natural curves of your body, especially around the hips and crotch. We found it’s not snug up top and loose everywhere else; it’s engineered to stay close and feel like a second skin, minimizing bulk, sag, or ride-up.

While it’s still super breathable, the nylon-spandex blend is a bit thinner than other options on the list, so it’s not the most comfortable. But if you want a truly sweat-wicking boxer brief for the dog days of summer, this is your guy. On top of that, it’s the most affordable pick, making it easier to stock up on a few pairs and avoid less laundry.

How Do Moisture-Wicking Fabrics Work?

Moisture-wicking underwear is designed with synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and spandex to handle wetness better than traditional materials. These fabrics have tiny spaces in knit or mesh that allow moisture to move through, evaporating quickly. So, when you sweat wearing moisture-wicking underwear, it moves to the outer layer, avoiding fabric saturation and skin dampness.

Synthetic materials are better at moisture-wicking as they not only pull sweat moisture away from the skin, but they also dry quickly and don’t hold onto moisture. These fabrics are ideal in exercise clothes, as they can keep you more dry and comfortable during workouts than traditional materials.

Cotton, on the other hand, while it can absorb sweat and moisture from the skin, it is more likely to hold onto the moisture and not dry as quickly, leaving the sweat in prolonged contact with the skin. Although, some cotton fabrics may be specially treated to make them moisture wicking.