Lingerie Tips For Men

Lingerie. Individual, personal and different for everyone. Our hope is to assist you in having the ultimate lingerie shopping experience!

Throughout this document, we have provided links to the best sellers in each category. This way you will know what other men are buying.

Underwear Styles

A lot of change has been occurring in the men's underwear market. No longer is men's underwear bought in 3-packs at the local discount store. Men now have many design choices to choose from. Here is a short summary of some of the new designs now available in men's underwear.

Bikini

The men's bikini style is cut lower than a low-rise brief. The top elastic sits approximately 4" below the waistline - below the navel. It still provides full rear coverage. The leg has a high cut design and the front never has a working fly.

Brief

This is a your traditional men's underpant. It has a full rise, meaning it covers the body from the waist to the top of the thigh. Also has a working fly.

Boxer

The traditional boxer is a full rise, full cut short with a 3" inseam. It loosely covers the body from the waist to just above mid thigh. It always has a working front fly.

Boxer Brief

The new boxer brief has the styling of the traditional biker pants, but cut a little shorter on the thigh length. It gets its name because its design took the best of both the brief and the boxer. It's fitted like a brief, but cut longer in the leg like a boxer. If it has a front fly, it will be in the design of a brief fly.

Full Cut Boxer

A fuller cut throughout the garment - including leg openings. Many times there will be a U-shaped panel between the legs to reduce binding and increase wearing comfort. Traditionally has a fly front.

Low-Rise Brief

With the new low cut pants on the market, this style has become very popular. The waistband rests on the hip approximately 3" below the waist. It still has side fabric, and the legs are traditional brief legs (not high cut). It may or may not have a front fly.

Mid-Rise Brief

This is a lower sitting brief. The waistband sits approximately 2" below the waistline, just at or above the navel. Other than that, it has all the styling of a traditional brief including a working front fly.

String Bikini

This style is the lowest cut and least coverage of the men's underwear styles (thong and jock strap excluded). It sits approximately 4" below the waistline and has no side panels. The leg openings go all the way up to the elastic waistband, which is a "string" style band, connecting front and back panels. Full seat coverage but without a working fly.

Tapered Boxer

A slimmer cut boxer to show off a man's physique. Tapered legs offer a trim fit. Side vents offer comfort and leg freedom. May or may not have a fly front.

Thong/Jock Strap

This style has an elastic waistband and a front cup. The front cup panel is kept in place by a tape, which goes through the legs and attaches in the center back on the waistband. This is a style used in athletics for more support, or when minimal coverage is desired.

This quandary has sparked a national debate in recent years. A young woman posed this question in a 1992 MTV interview to then candidate Bill Clinton (FYI, he's a brief man). Who could have imagined the heated national debate it ignited about which form of underwear is better?

While cotton briefs still outsell boxers by a large margin, boxers are gaining in popularity. Why? It's actually due to two facts: women have made it known they prefer them, and men are now wearing boxers as a type of loungewear.

Whether a boxer or a brief wearer, a man's underwear choice is generally uncompromising. And, when asked about the other sides' pros and cons, he has a general lack of knowledge or experience to draw from. This debate could clearly use some clarity. Therefore, here is a list to review of the positives and negatives with each style's design.

Boxers - Pro:

1. Comes in a wide array of colors and patterns.
2. The front fly is much easier to use.
3. Easier to take off (women agree).
4. Crotch temperature stays cooler thus encouraging higher sperm count.
5. Women prefer them on their man.
6. Considered socially acceptable loungewear.
7. Can camouflage a man's physique.

Boxers - Con:

1. When wearer becomes excited, it shows.
2. The legs are open along the bottom.
3. Provides almost no support.
4. Bunches up when worn inside pants.
5. Thick waistband can cause irritation.
6. Their looseness can cause them to ride up above the waist.

Briefs - Pro:

1. Prevents "dangling".
2. Won't bunch up when worn under pants.
3. Legs have elastic.
4. Provides support.
5. Stays where you put them - no ride up.
6. Looks best on a guy in great shape.
7. The choice of European men.

Boxers - Con:

1. Can be the cause of reduced sperm count.
2. Overlapping fly is impossible to use.
3. When the elastic band deteriorates, the whole brief looks tacky.
4. Only comes in white and a few colors.
5. Traditionally worn by nerds.
6. Can become out of shape and "bag" in all the wrong places.

So, there you have it; the baggy boxer versus the "tighty whities." It should be noted that a new men's underwear design is fast climbing the charts in popularity. It has the potential of putting an end to this underwear divide. It's the boxer/brief. And, the word from the women's camp is that it's fast becoming their new favorite. If you haven't already, you probably need to go buy a pair and take it for a test drive.

Athletic Supporters

Since the invention of the first jockstrap over 125 years ago, a wide variety of protective underwear for men has been developed. Choosing a garment that is right for you depends upon the sports you're playing and how much protection you want.

An athletic supporter lifts, supports and cradles the testes/scrotum against the body. This prevents strain on delicate cords and muscles during periods of action. When shock or strain occur to these cords and muscles, the effects may be carried throughout the whole body, causing major distress.

The supporter pouch also confines the genitals, tending to hold them out of harm's way from external contact. That, alone, is reason enough for wearing a jockstrap. The pain of such a blow is only too well known. (The only recovery from a painful blow to the groin is time ... S-L-O-W, agonizing time!)

Some guys risk it and never wear a cup or jock. A well-conditioned athlete might absorb and withstand a considerable amount of shock and strain with no undue effects. Most wouldn't think of going out onto the field without wearing one - this is an area of the body, which is not easily conditioned. Most men are subject to the possibility of painful strain or injury even during mild activity if the body is not accustomed to the particular exercise.

Hard cups are highly recommended for both football and baseball. Supporters with a narrow waistband are best for running and swimming. Many athletes choose to wear more than one pair of underwear at the same time to provide their needed support. For example he might wear a pair of compression shorts under a hard cup and strap, a jockstrap over a pair of briefs or a soft cup slipped into a regular jock. It really depends on how much protection and support you want, and what you are comfortable wearing.

Jockstrap Fit

A good supporter must function almost as an integral part of your body for effectiveness and comfort. When choosing a jockstrap, look for a medium-tension pouch that is soft and roomy to allow for comfortable suspension. Leg straps should be tight enough to prevent rolling or twisting. The waistband should fit the contours of your body for natural, pleasant support.

When sports involve body contact or moving objects, a supporter with a high-impact cup (box) insert is usually required and recommended for maximum protection. Some athletes wear a regular supporter or compression shorts under their cup jock.

At what age should you start wearing a jockstrap? A boy involved in any sport having the potential to cause injury to the testicles or penis should be protected - regardless of age.

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