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

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.

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.

Under Armour’s boxer jock easily earns its spot as one of the best designed underwear. Style-wise, the abstract pattern is slick and sporty. We noticed the lack of side and back seams made a real difference—nothing dug in, rubbed, or rode up. Performance-wise, the elastic waistband stays put, and doesn’t fold mid-workout. The 6-inch inseam gives that perfect mid-thigh coverage and the compression-like fit keeps me locked in without constricting my movement. I used this during spin class, and the ventilation zones kicked right in where I needed them–around the inner thigh and back. It kept me super cool even as the rest of my body was working up a sweat.

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.