What are the differences between boxer briefs and boxers? Which one should you choose for your next purchase? Learn more about what’s trending in mens underwear today.
What is a Boxer?
Boxers have been around for centuries. Even men in ancient Rome wore some form of briefs similar to a boxer. The name comes from the way the garment drapes over the body, like pajamas or robes (or boxing gear). While there is no elastic involved, boxers are held up by your waistband and fly front so they fit snuggly to your body. They are also typically longer and drape down the leg opening, which helps keep your legs covered throughout the day.
Many men initially opt for boxers because they are less constricting than other types of underwear, primarily briefs. They do not hug the waist or legs as tightly as briefs, instead resting just above the hips and below the navel. They usually have a longer, baggier leg that doesn’t hug the thigh or calf tightly like briefs or trunks. Boxer brief styles are often available in boxers, and boxer style bikinis may even offer short lengths of coverage for both your legs.
What is a Brief?
Briefs are designed to be worn snugly against the body, with a shorter leg for tight hugging fit. They come in many different lengths, ranging from hipster cuts that sit at your hips to bikinis and thongs that offer extremely minimal coverage. The waistband of briefs is typically smaller than boxers, closer to the body, and sometimes even forms an “H” shape to hold the garment against you tightly. Briefs are made of stretchy fabrics that hugs your hips and waist closely to give you a sexy look.
The style is typically worn by young men because it’s snug body fit offers more support than boxers, especially for young athletes that are playing football, baseball, basketball, etc. The snug hold is also used by bodybuilders and muscle men who want a very tight fit to highlight their muscles while they are posing for bodybuilding competitions or photo shoots. They can even be seen on male strippers as part of their exotic performance routine.
Difference between Boxers and Briefs
Functionality:
Briefs are designed to be worn snugly against the body. Boxers have longer, baggier leg and they rest just above the hips and below the navel. They usually have a longer, baggier leg that doesn’t hug the thigh or calf tightly like briefs or trunks. Boxer brief styles are often available in boxers, and boxer style bikinis may even offer short lengths of coverage for both your legs.
Ease of movement:
Briefs are designed to stay in place. They are snug against the body and often have an elastic waistband that will hug you tightly all day long. Boxers are not as easy move around in, and may feel restricting if worn all day.
If you like having a little more room to move around, boxers might be the right choice for you. You can wear them throughout the day without any discomfort, as they have a looser fit than briefs. However, if you are an active person and have movements that require you to stretch, briefs will be a better choice since boxers tend to slide around and may bunch up in uncomfortable ways.
Apperance:
Briefs are designed to be worn tight, and as such they often have a slimmer fit. The leg bands can vary in width depending on the style of brief you get, but because briefs hug your body tightly they are not very loose fitting. Boxers however can be worn at a number of different lengths so you have more flexibility in how they sit on your legs. They also have a looser fit than briefs, and many boxers are designed with a loose waistband to make them even more comfortable.
Briefs will show the outline of your package much more clearly because there isn’t as much fabric covering it up like with boxers. As such, briefs can help make your bulge more pronounced and are great to wear when wearing tight clothes that would otherwise show off the shape of your package. However, this can also be a downside if you are trying to avoid being noticed by other people. Boxers will cover up everything nicely so it is less likely that anyone will know how well endowed you might be.
When Do You Wear a Boxer vs When Do You Wear a Brief?
People usually wear boxers or briefs depending on the style of their underwear. To make things even more complicated, some men wear both styles, and there are also a few combinations in between that can be worn as well. But generally speaking, those who prefer boxers typically don’t like to feel constricted or confined. They like the casual and comfy feel of boxer shorts, which is why boxers are so popular for lounging around in. On the other hand, briefs tend to be more popular for guys who are looking for underwear that fits their body well and stays comfortable throughout the day, even when moving around a lot. Briefs are also what most young guys start out with because they are simple and easy to put on.
Conclusion
If you are still on the fence about whether to wear briefs or boxers, it may be worth considering what your day-to-day life is like. Briefs provide more support for men who need extra help keeping their privates in place. Boxer shorts can also offer this benefit with a little more breathing room and less restriction of movement, making them ideal for sports enthusiasts. You should also consider how much coverage each style offers when deciding between these two options because that will influence your decision as well. So which one do you think would work best?
