Love is in the air...

With Valentine's day quickly approaching we will be launching a "Count to Valentines". Each day until Valentine's day I'll write a quick feature on a good Valentine's underwear gift and who it would be best for. So be sure to stop by everyday and check that out.

Daniel Radcliffe's Skivvies?

Daniel Radcliffe, the title-star of Warner Brother's Harry Potter movie series, has recently been coming under fire for his role in a London stage show, "Equus". In this show he strips down and bares all for a sex scene. This has angered many parents who now say they will boycott his films. But really, why does it matter? It is not as if he is playing the roll of Harry Potter in this show. It's his own life, and his own time off, why can't he do what ever he wants to? And even if he playing Harry Potter in the show, so what? It would not be the first time he did a nude scene as Harry Potter. You may remember he had some anxiety a while back about his nude scene in the Goblet of Fire: "I sort of come in with this dressing gown on and in theory I'm naked underneath. I actually had a pair of flesh-colored underwear on which was just like really something you'd never want to wear!". Well this just begs the question: "Daniel, what would you wear?" Boxers or briefs? Photos (displayed in this article, click them for a larger view) have been circulating on the Internet for a few days now and I just thought it would be interesting to speculate on the topic of his undies in the show and in daily life.

So let us know what you think about this topic? What do you think Daniel will wear while stripping in the show? And what do you think he prefers to wear in daily life? Do you have any photos or sources to share? Please answer these questions by commenting on this post.

Valentine's Buying Tips

Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Underwear is often a popular gift to give for this occasion. But it can also be a bad gift, so here are some universal tips for buying underwear for your man this Valentine's Day that will be sure to help you find him the perfect pair:

-Know your man: don't buy him skimpy, sexy undies if he's not into that type of thing. If you really aren't sure then sneak a peek at his underwear drawer and see what types of things he has there. If he has all boxers he most likely isn't going to appreciate a sheer thong. If he has all plain , white briefs, then he may be OK if you get him a colorful brief.
-Know your man's size: Sure you've seen it and him before, but that's not how to judge underwear size. You can do one of two things: ask him, or look at his drawer. But be careful, when looking through his drawer he may have things that are old and don't fit him right, so make sure to look at the size on his most recent pairs (note, not all underwear comes in pant sizes, most are in S,M, L so you probably will have to peek for this one).
- Why are you buying him underwear? Is it just because he needs some new ones, or are you trying to say something more. Make sure that you give the right message. If you just want to replenish his essentials, then don't give him something sexy (unless that is what he normally wears). For example, the underwear shown may be quite a kitschy, but it may not convey what you actually mean.
-How are you related? If he is just your best friend you may not want to give him the same thing you would if you were dating or if you were married (in fact if you're just a friend you may want to consider a different type of gift). Valentine's Day gifts can actually change what kind of a relationship you have with a person, so be careful.
- It is Valentine's Day: Valentine's day is a sexy holiday, so even if you don't want to say something sexy with what you buy him, keep in mind, this is Valentine's Day. So at least get him a fun color or something like that.
-My List: I will be doing a "Count to Valentines" starting February first. Everyday I will give one of my picks for a Valentine underwear gift (not in any specific ranked order, just as I think of them). So be on the look-out for that.
-Other lists: Here's a some lists that you can look at in the meantime, they've been compiled by various online underwear stores:

• Freshpair's "Valentine's Day for him"
  
• Mensuas' "Cupid's Picks"
• Planet Undies' "Sales"
• JustHom has Valentine's deals on main page
• International Jock
• ABC Underwear
• FigLeaves
• Bare Necessities
  
• Your Privates - does not have a list of undies, but has a lot of stuff that would be good
• UndiesDrawer's 'kyunderwear' put together a list that's worth a look.
  

So good luck and happy underwear hunting!

Not your old Jockeys

Greetings, fellow men’s underwear enthusiasts. As a personal friend of Uman, I, AndyUndy have been given the opportunity to serve as a guest critic for Men’s Underwear Blog, and generate some healthy difference of opinion. My latest acquired pair of skivvies is a trunk style from Jockey. I must commend the company on this since they have come a long way from the white-bread-briefs of our parents’ generation. These trunks/boxerbriefs (The fine line between the two in this case is compounded further by the length of your thighs and how you wear them) are on the whole quite good.

The most outstanding quality is the fabric blend: 86% polyamide / 12% spandex / 2% polypropylene. This may not mean much unless you’re a textiles engineer, but let me tell you it feels wonderful. The material has a great substance; it’s soft, breathable, and oh-so-stretchy! It is sure to retain its shape for years. The waistband and leg bands are incorporated into the material of the underwear. They are not merely elements sewn together. In addition, there are no side seams whatsoever. Therefore, the construction is practically flawless.

The fit by contrast is a bit surprising. These trunks have a strong tendency to rise up. (This is what I alluded above) Even the image on the product tag shows the waistline totally smothered. This fit is a bit dated given that “low rise” is all the rave these days. The leg bands have the same problem of not staying put. There is also no allowance made for one’s “naughty bits.” Many trunks have something of a pouch but these do not, and with all that polymer fabric, there isn’t going to be any give in the near future. I suppose the flip side to this is more support but that quality just isn’t working out in this case.

At the Jockey store this trunk came in two flavors; Indigo and fire engine red. The waistband and leg bands are adorned with an analogous tricolor stripe; a very nice touch. (Unfortunately I have not seen this feature on the website.) What is available online is just as nice though. The price is comparable to many of the more exclusive names on the market, which may or may not be justified. Personally I would not buy them at the suggested retail price. In closing I would like to say that the trunk’s strengths exceed its shortcomings. If you are very ..err… closely attached to trunks, these are a great fit for you.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Jockey Next to Nothing Boxer Brief (1156) a total score of 8.5 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 6.5 (out of 10)
COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10)

********** 8.5

New Contributors!!

A few of you have noticed that Nudle has moved from being a past contributor to a present contributor. To answer all your questions, yes Nudle will be contributing again sometime very soon.

We also have a fun new contributor lined up, Andy Undy (originally going to be Andies). Doesn't he sound like fun? I also have a few guest contributers lined up as well.

I'm very excited to see what everyone has to say and I'm sure you will be interested too. So be looking for their posts soon. I have no idea what they will post about (thus the question mark where the model's underwear should be), but whatever it is I'm sure it will be interesting and well worth reading.

If you think you have what it takes to be a contributor, or you'd like to post a guest article or review, just drop me an email and I'm sure we can work something out.

Big End of Season Sales at Wyzman!

Wyzman is currently having some great sales on men's underwear. They're clearing out the old season so they can bring in the new. And they have up to 70% off Punto Blanco (you know how I feel about Punto Blanco). So check out their sales here.

Boxerbriefs vs. Trunks - what's the difference?

One of the most common inconsistancies that I've seen in the men's underwear world is the use of the terms 'trunk' and 'boxerbrief'. Brands often use these terms interchangeably, however they refer to entirely different things. They are similar, but still very different. I may have this wrong, but as I see it the terms are defined as follows. If you disagree with these definitions please call me on it because these are the definitions that I go by when writing posts.

Boxerbriefs:
-usually has a fully functioning front fly
-has two back seams "framing" the ass.
-generally legs are a longer than trunks (hits mid-thighish)
-Elastic waistband and legbands




Trunks:
-usually has no fly
-usually no seam in back or one seam down the middle
-often they are "seamless"
-legs tend to be shorter than trunks (hitting just low enough to cover)
-often has elastic waistband
-usually does not have elastic legbands

Hope that clarifies the difference. It is very confusing. So let's not even talk about hipsters, or low-rise trunks, or any other similar terms that are also tossed around.

And don't even get me started on the punctuation of boxerbrief (boxerbrief, boxer brief, boxer-brief). I just tend to switch it up the punctuation because the idea is always clear.

Look at the photos for further clarification.

Poll of the day: What are your thoughts on this? Do you go by a different definition? What is that? Is my definition incorrect?

40% off Gregg Homme!

Get 40% off the ever popular Gregg Homme underwear collection at Wyzman.

Wonder Jock Review

aussieBum is a great line of men's underwear from Down Under. I've written about their products and innovations many times. Now I have finally had the chance to try some of their latest designs. That's right you guessed it, the Wonder Jock (also known as the Patriot, I guess technically the style is the Patriot and the technology is the Wonder Jock).

First off these things fit like a glove. The fit is excellent. aussieBum runs a little small (than what most men are used to), however the ribbing in the fabric allows for movement and does not constrict. The inside workings (the "wonder" part) fits well, unlike the Alio pocket. The fabric is nice and soft. They are so comfortable that you barely even realize that you are wearing anything. The only thing that you notice at all is that there is this strange "lifted" sensation down under (if you know what I mean). It's not a negative sensation, it's actually quite pleasant once you get used to it, it makes you feel supported. It's just that one isn't generally used to being so supported that it takes a little getting used to. I imagine that the cup feels something like wearing the sock jock. It really is basically just a jockstrap (without the straps) built right into the inside of a pair of briefs. I really didn't notice any visible enhancement, but I did physically feel lift. So I'm not sure if they did what they claim to do or not, but they are quite comfy.

The style is great. They are very fashionable. I just love the contrasting piping and the use of the ribbed material. Very Aussie and very fashionable. My only real complaints are these:

• They are too patriotic for everyday wear, I really don't like how the waistband says "property of ____ (fill in country of choice here)". They're OK for Independence day, but for everyday they're just too patriotic for my taste (I guess they are called "The Patriot", but I really would like this technology just implemented into their classic briefs).
• The color choice is very limited. I really like all the fun colors that their normal line of briefs offers. Also I don't necessarily want a Germany brief if I want a black brief.
• Also, they only come in brief style, currently. So this complaint I can waive because I know for sure that they will be coming out in a hipster style because it was in their podcast on 1/1/07. I don't know when the hipster will come out, but I know that it has been made and manufactured (because it was given out in the podcast).

While I'm talking about the Podcast, I just want to go on a little tangent about that. I recently found the aussieBum video podcast, it is great. A few of the episodes involve them cruising the beaches to give men some new undies. Most of the time they find that the men weren't even wearing any underwear to begin with (*gasp*). So they fix them up with some great new underwear which the men promptly show them off for the cameras. It's a really fun, unique spin on the podcast.

I have no complaints about the quality of the Wonder Jocks. They are excellent quality from down under for down under. I'm really looking forward to the release of the Patriot hipster!

The value is very good at 15.72 a brief (+ shipping).

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the aussieBum Patriot briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 10 (out of 10)
COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 10 (out of 10)

********** 9

Poll of the Day:
What do you think of the "enhancement" trend in the men's underwear world?

New Papi Collection only at MaleBasics

There's a new Papi collection available only at MaleBasics.com. It looks very fun and exciting, I'm really liking the looks of it. Here's a little statement about Papi that I did not know before: "Papi Underwear is made by ISACO International, the producers of Perry Ellis Underwear and other fine men's underwear and garments. Papi Underwear is the new line from ISACO - hoping to captivate the younger more active generation, thongs, undergarments and wide variety of other underwear items are made with Generation Y in mind. When you are looking for the finest quality men's sexy underwear look no further than Papi." The new collection is available here, it is very moderately priced. So check it out now!

New Sites in Sidebar

I added some new sites to the sidebar. I periodically add sites to the sidebar, but now I've decided that it is best to let you know about them so you don't miss any new things that I've noticed. This is the first time I've done this update, but from now on whenever I add a store to the sidebar I'll let you know.

Otter Fashions
A fun new line that has been brought to my attention is Otter Fashions. They have cute Y-front briefs (pictured at right) that have a fun otter design on the front of the pouch. Check these fun things out. And if you love them you can even get a variety pack with all the fun colors they make.

Butt Covers
Ok, so Butt Covers aren't actually meant for men. But the largest size would fit some men. I'm not a huge fan of them, but they are underwear, and the purpose is to inform. So I'm informing.

Thunderpants
Thunderpants is a fun line of undies that are "Built to Blast!" They have a ton of fun styles, so check them out. I bet you'll be a fan. I haven't been able to get a hold of them for ordering, but perhaps you'll have better luck.

Free 2(x)ist socks giveaway!

MensUnderwearStore.com has quite a lot of fun stuff going on. Tyler at Men's Underwear Store alerted me to the fact that they have a great 2(x)ist sock giveaway contest. Now I've gotta say, I've had my eyes on the 2(x)ist socks for awhile. They are really fun, colorful, unique, and very stylish. You aren't likely to run into too many men wearing them. Yes I know they aren't exactly underwear, but they kind of are (please people, work with me here!). Men's Underwear Store will be giving away 1,000 pairs of 2(x)ist socks between January 18, 2007 and March 31, 2007. Starting January 22nd, 100 sock winners will be announced each week until all the socks are gone! No strings attached! All you have to do is complete this form and you are entered to win.

Also, I have learned from UD that they have also started up a new blog. It is definitely worth a look because it gives a unique behind the scenes view of the underwear world through interviews with some of their underwear models.

And finally, definitely check out Men's Underwear Store for purchasing some of their products. If you like what you see and decide to buy, make sure you sign up for their 'Frequent Buyer Program' so you can win some "Boxer-Bucks". It's free and will definitely be worth it if you buy a few items.

New AE boxerbriefs!

If you are an avid reader of my blog, you may remember that the other day I posted about how all the AE knit basics underwear were on sale and no longer in the regular section. I hypothesized that they either totally discontinued or were in the process of remaking the line (like Abercrombie did). I was correct with the latter hypothesis; they created new knit underwear. They call them knit boxers on the site, but they're really all boxerbriefs. They have a variety of looks: basic and bright colors (with contrast trim!) as well as logo patterned fabrics and striped fabrics. So check out this fun new line. It is definitely a step up from before, I am really liking the look of this new line. I hope to get to try some soon. Before they just had pretty basic colors (grey, black, and white). Now they have fun and funky colors (as well as the basics) as well as a more noticeable logo waistband (the old logoed band was very subtle, this one is a little more in your face). I think that this just goes to show that retailers realize that the general masses (especially the young high school and college students that American Eagle is aimed at) of men want to wear fun underwear. Fun and colorful underwear for men is no longer just a niche market; it's a huge industry! So check them out, they are a great deal at 2 for $20 (or 1 for $12.50)! Poll of the day:
What do you think of American Eagle's new line of underwear? Do you like it better than the old line or not? Will you buy it?

JustHom updates and freebie

Here's a little news update from JustHom. Just received this by email. In honor of Adam's birthday they are giving away some party favors. Also they are allowing you to vote on the new colors of the Hom Plume string.

"IT'S ADAM'S BIRTHDAY...
He's decided to give customers a present! If your order is worth £30 or more (not including postage) between now and midnight UK time Sunday, you’ll get a little extra in your parcel - a great HOM shower mousse.

FAB NEWS - we're talking to HOM about producing their famous Plume string in new colours for the autumn. We know lots of Justhom customers will be delighted at the news, so now we need to know which you'd really buy? This poll is limited to five choices - metal (gold or silver), blue, green, pink and violet. Of course we would be very careful to choose just the right shade of each one. And we're not promising to have all of them, probably just two, but you tell us which would be your top choice. Vote now - the poll is only running for five days so go to http://www.justhom.com/ and submit your vote (left hand side of website)"

Recent Comments

I am just loving the new Blogger. I'm so glad I switched, I am finding lots of fun, new things to add to the site all the time. I just wanted to let you know about a fun little widget that I just added in the sidebar called 'Recent Comments'. This widget tracks all the latest comments on blog posts so you can see what other readers are saying. So why not try it out a bit by posting some of your own comments and watching them magically appear in the sidebar. There are many more drastic plans for the blog's layout coming soon, so be on the lookout for those. Thank you so much for your continued readership.

Win a free Cocksox!

What better way to welcome in 2007 than to welcome new Cocksox™ Members!? So, for the remainder of January, when you join up one of your friends as a Cocksox™ Member, you both will be entered into the drawing to win a FREE pair of Cocksox™ in the style and color of your choice! That is quite a deal, you rarely see contests like this where you get to pick what you get. So act now, you must enter before the end of the month (Jan. 31) in order to be eligible to win.
Also..

"2007 is going to be a huge year for all our Cocksox™ Members as we introduce a host of new sexy styles, new exotic fabrics and new V.I.P. Member Rewards. So keep an eye on the website!"

Doesn't that sound interesting. I can't wait to see what new styles and "exotic fabrics" Cocksox comes out with. I'll keep you posted on the latest news from Cocksox.

Get kissed at JockBoyLocker

In honor of Valentine's Day Jock Boy Locker is giving everyone a 14% discount on all swimwear and jockstraps. This deal good through Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th). Use coupon code 'vday1407' at checkout.

Jameswinston Press Release!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

New Jameswinstons coming soon!

*This is an exclusive piece of news available first here*
As you may know from my review or from your own experience, Jameswinston Co. is a relatively new manufacturer on the underwear scene that specializes in making quality and colorful undies. The current line of underwear is excellent (I gave them a 10/10 in my review), I can’t imagine how great the new line will be when it is release soon. In order to make space for the new lines they are having a special sale: buy one pair at 20% off or any three pairs at a massive 50% off until end of January; just use promo code ‘jw003’. It’s a great chance to try out the original if you haven’t already, or to stock up if you already have learned about the excellence of Jameswinstons.

Now about the new line: I have had the privilege to view some photos of prototypes (I wish I could share them with you, but I cannot). And I gotta tell you, Jameswinston has outdone himself again. I mean what can be better than a 10? (I think this new line may have to get some extra credit) There are lots of fun new colors to choose from, including: ‘Mint’, ‘Dark Sand’ and ‘Soda Pink’. Also, one of my favorite new additions is the changes in the styling, it’s the same great fit (for the most part, I am told there are a few minor tweaks to the style for added comfort) but with a lot of great new details: contrast stitching, incredibly unique colors, neon and retro lines, and redesigned logo patches. I will keep you updated on this great product and I will be sure to give you more information and photos when they become available.

I just wanted to be the first to let you know. The official press release goes out tomorrow (UK), at which point I'll figure out how to share a copy with you.

3 for 2 plume at JustHom

JustHom's sale is going great. So great in fact that they decided to let their subscribers have an even better deal on some of the items that are almost sold out. You may not be a subscriber to JustHom's newsletter (you can be though), but you are reading this blog. So use this link to check out their exclusive subscriber deal (buy 3 pay for 2). Three day's only, so hurry.

Andrew Christian Podcast

As many of you may be aware, Andrew Christian has a great line of underwear (and other clothing). His styles are very fun and unique. In fact he just launched a new line of underwear with Show-It™ technology. I absolutely love this line, hopefully I will have the chance to try some of the line sometime soon (and write up a review). But that is not the purpose of this post. I want to tell you about a really fun new trend in the men's underwear world. Lots of consumers are interested in the whole behind-the-scenes stuff of the underwear world: models, fashion shows, photo shoots, etc. Well Andrew Christian has decided to let everyone in on some of the behind the scenes with his video podcast available here through iTunes for free (you must have iTunes installed on computer for link to work)! This podcast has actually been going on for awhile (since 11/6/06), but I just found out about it recently. So check it out, I'm sure you won't regret it. Also, Andrew Christian has a lot of other fun things that most other underwear manufacturers don't have on their website, like: wallpaper, AIM icons, e-postcards, PDF catalog, and a lot of other eye-candy. So the website is also worth a gander.

Models depantsing each other from stairway shoot (11/8/06)

Mensuas Sale

Mensuas is having a huge sale! Save 15% off your order minus shipping. Use promo code 'jan2007'. The code is good through 1/17/2007. Also check out the redesigned Mensuas website. And check out the 'Cupid's pick' section for Valentine's Day.

Update From JustHom

Underwear Blogosphere,
I just wanted to share with you the email that I received from JustHom today. It has some interesting news contained in it. So read and enjoy:

"Justhom is planning a major expansion next month. [Their] new warehouse is nearly ready and new stock will be arriving mid February. [They'll] have a new website name (still top secret) and new brands including Impetus, Bruno Banani, Strellson, Mey, Sloggi For Men, 2xist and Budgy Smuggler (quirky swimbriefs from Down Under).

The Justhom website will continue to run alongside the new site until everyone gets used to the new name. And rest assured Justhom’s usual dedication to customer care and speedy deliveries will be maintained throughout. Watch this space for more news.

NEW HOM SWIMWEAR 2007 - in stock already!

[They] were [the] first to take delivery of HOM’s fab new swimwear ranges before Christmas and they’re selling like hot cakes. So please DON'T wait until the summer to buy.

JUSTHOM SALE SUCCESS
[Their] January sale is going really well so please order ASAP to avoid disappointment. In many cases the HOM stock [they] have [t]here is the very, very, very last of certain ranges and colours. If [they're] running low, [they're] probably running out permanently, so shop soon. Don’t forget you can simplify your tour round the website by shopping by size.

NEW COMPETITION - WIN LUXURY LEATHERGOODS FROM DENTS
[Their] latest prizes are luxury leathers from Dents - top prize a superb toilet bag and travel document wallet, while five runners-up will each receive a smart Dents wallet.

LOVE VALENTINES
Get ready for Valentines Day - nothing says I love you like a nice pair of pants."

I really have no idea what to expect from their website, but it should be good. I just wanted to update you on this. Also that is a good tip on the January sale, I have previously blogged about it, but it is still going on. I'm not quite sure what leathergoods from Dents has to do with underwear, but they are correct: Valentine's day is coming up really soon (as previously mentioned).

Wyzman Valentine's Day Deals

Valentines? Really? Isn't it a little early? I thought that too, but then when you think about it, Valentine's Day is just a little more than a month away. Wyzman is offering two hot deals: 30% off Chevignon, and 25% off HOM 3001. There are two days left on the HOM 3001 sale (it was a 4 day sale, sorry I didn't let you know sooner) and I do not know how long is left on the Chevignon sale (it just started). I have never tried either brand, but I personally think Chevignon is the better of the two deals. I really like the fun styles that they make, and they are very resonably-priced to begin with. The HOM 3001 on the other hand, is quite expensive and the sale still doesn't take much off of the price. Also I am not a huge fan of sheer undies. I feel that underwear should cover, if it doesn't why bother wearing it? But enough opinion from me, the purpose of this post is just to inform. So check the sales out.

Eminence Brand

Eminence (I cannot find their official website) is a fun brand of underwear made in France. I really like the looks of these things (from what I've seen on the web). The styling is so unique and many of the designs include manly floral prints (yes manly floral prints are possible). I really like the following styles because of how fun and different they are: Bayadère Fleurs, Ornement, Zéphyr (shown), and Graphique. The fabric used could often be interpreted as feminine, but the way they've styled their line creates a very manly feel to an otherwise feminine fabric (not that feminine is a bad thing). I've had my eyes on these undies for quite some time now, but I just could not bring myself to telling you about them because they are so overpriced and I have no idea how good the quality is on them. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to sample a pair, but I can tell you about a new price. Planet Undies, as part of their Winter Sale, is offering many great pairs of Eminence underwear at a fraction of the cost. Freshpair also offers some of the more basic Eminence underwear for a lot cheaper, but the basic ones really aren't that exciting. It seems that many of their customers felt the same way because now all Eminence underwear is on final sales/clearance at Freshpair. So even though I haven't tried these out yet, I'd suggest that you do. Let me know what you think. Hopefully I'll get to try these out soon and then I'll let you know.

Question of the day:
Do you have any fun stories involving undies that you'd like to tell in the comments thread?

Punto Blanco (review)

One of my favorite brands that I've experienced recently is Punto Blanco. I've kind of been keeping it a secret from you. I have been meaning to tell you about it for a while, but I just have not had the time with all the other things I have been posting about. Well it is a secret no longer. Punto Blanco is the number one producer of quality undergarments in Spain. Punto Blanco mixes soft fabrics, superb finishing details, fashion-forward designs, and quality to create one of the best brands out there. I just love the unique look that every pair has, I also love how many of their lines are inspired by and named after various world-class cities such as: Paris, Tokyo, Miami, London, Moscow, Munich, and many more. I've only tried the briefs as of yet, but I'm sure the boxerbriefs are excellent too. I really can't say much more. They are incredibly soft and comfortable and the precisely tailored details make them fit like a charm. In fact it would be very hard to charm them off of me they are so perfect. I just love the way they look too, they are so unique and well designed. One thing that I really like is how each logo waistband is different for each style and the colors on the band are perfectly matched with the rest of the brief (or other style). The only thing that is problematic about this brand is that they can run a little pricey (I've seen them on sites for as much as $85 a pair!). But if you look around you are bound to find a good deal. One site that I have found to consistently offer some of the lowest prices out there is Wyzman. So I urge you to check them out and let me know what you think, I'm sure you'll love them.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Punto Blanco briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 10 (out of 10)
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10)

********** 9

Poll of the day:
Do you have a favorite pair of underwear? If so what is it and why is it your favorite? When do you wear it?

Miami Boxerbrief

Wedgie War - a true story

The following is a true story that I observed a while ago:

There was this group of "jocks" hanging out in the hallway. I really don't know how it started because I wasn't really paying attention. But somehow they ended up in an all out wedgie war where about 5 of them were trying to pull up each other's boxers while trying to defend their own. They did this while tons of people (girls and boys) watched and egged them on. One person even got out a video camera and started recording. It was all good fun and everyone had a good time (players and spectators alike). Finally two boys came up behind one boy and pulled him up by his boxers (American Eagle ones). They held him in the air for a few seconds while he yelled and then everyone heard a huge ripping sound, they put him down. The boy who had his boxers ripped proceeded to survey the damage. He then proceeded to pull up his boxers to see. It turned out that his boxers and basically ripped all through the crotch so he basically had a sort of boxer "skirt". He pulled this "skirt" out over the outside of his jeans and walked around like that for the rest of the day. It was hilarious. Then the kid whose boxers ripped complained that he had a basketball game later that day to play and he had no other boxers on hand to wear. Imagine him having to play basketball commando and what would happened if someone happened to pull down his shorts (which does sometimes happen in basketball). Not to mention him having to change in the locker room before hand. Well everyone laughed about that and went about their way. I wish I had a copy of that video to share, but I don't.

Poll of the Day:
Have you ever received or given a wedgie? Will you tell the story?

Winter Clearance Sale at Bare Necessities

Bare Necessities is having an awesome Winter Clearance Sale going on now. You can save up to 70% off on great brands. Brands include: D&G, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Calvin Klein, RIPS, 2(x)ist, Jockey, Nautica, Versace, and more! The Winter Clearance includes 132 styles. Also check out the regular sale section (I think it's the same, just the Winter clearance is only underwear and the regular includes undershirts, lounge ware, and other things) for more on sale styles. So check it out now

Alio Review

Alio Enterprises is a family owned company. They're specialty is a new, patent-pending, men's underwear design. The special part of their design that is patent-pending is what they call "the pocket". Basically it is a special, one-size-fits-all, deal that is designed to support and separate all parts of your manhood from your legs. The theory behind this is it will prevent uncomfortable sticking and pinching that can often occur in regular underwear (especially on hot days or when doing strenuous jobs) and it will allow you to go all day without adjusting. In fact this pouch is designed in such a way so that your member is always held behind the fly for easy access while on the job.

Their underwear comes in two different designs, the full-cut brief, and the boxer brief. And each design comes in two colors, navy and classic white. I had the opportunity to try one of each style in two different colors (a white full-cut brief and a navy boxerbrief). For the purpose of this review I am just going to talk about the full-cut brief.

I'm going to do this review in a slightly different order than normal because this way will make more sense, so just work with me.

My first impression upon opening the box is that there is was a lot of fabric. This was just from the looks, no trying on. I guess I may be a little used to my small (somewhat skimpy) fashion underwear. I really wasn't quite sure if the underwear would fit me tightly, I thought it might be a little saggy or loose.

Well I was mistaken about that. I tried both the boxerbrief and full-cut brief on. They covered more skin than I am accustomed to, but they did fit tightly. Now the next task was figuring out how exactly to use them. They are pretty self-explanatory, there is a "pocket" of sorts on the inside and you simply insert shaft and testicles into it while you put on the underwear. Sounds simple enough, but if you can't figure that out on your own they provide you with an instruction sheet just in case. Well this simple task actually proved to be a lot more complicated than it should be. Yes I could get everything into the pocket, but everything just kept coming out. Or at least everything felt like it was coming out. It actually held most everything in place nicely, but it just felt as if it was not held in place correctly and thus I would continually keep checking things (and the purpose of this underwear was to allow you to go about your life comfortably without checking or adjusting things). I think part of the problem is the "pocket's" placement. It really is not a one-size-fits-all-pocket. The pocket design I think is generally fine, but it is placed much too low on the inside of the underwear. The problem for me was that my testicles didn't completely fit into the pocket if I had the waist at normal level. I could manage to get everything in comfortably if I brought the waistband up to about my navel, but who wants to wear their underwear that high? I can tell that is not the way they are supposed to fit based on the model photos on the website. Anyway, I really wanted this product to work and be a great success for me, but it really wasn't (they just weren't incredibly comfortable). I could wear them comfortably without using the pocket, but that sort of defeats the purpose. I know there have been many people who are in fact very comfortable in these (they have many testimonials on their site, and in fact some people posted testimonials for this product on this post of mine), but unlike what they claim, this is not a one-size-fits-all deal. It should be, but some design changes need to be made before it comfortably fits on every man. Also, as I mentioned a little earlier, they cover a lot of skin. I'd like to go back to that point. What I mean by this is that their "full-rise brief" fits more like a standard boxerbrief, and their "boxer brief" fits more like a sliding short. When I say this I am basing it on the length of the legs. I know this is not just me because that appears to also be the case in the model in their promotional photos. This is not a problem, it is just something that you should be aware of when making your buying decisions.

The style of these briefs is fairly classic. They have a fashionable, printed, 1.5", logo waistband with the word "Alio" around the top. I really like the contrast of the white waistband against the navy body (on the navy ones). I've heard some complaints about there being two seams on the back instead of one, but personally that is not a problem and I like the way it adds a little unexpected to the classic. Also these briefs are made out of fairly thick fabric, at first I wasn't sure that I liked this, but now I've decided it is fine and is actually quite soft and comfortable. Also another first impression that I was wrong about was the leg-bands. At first I found them to be too tight, but I think that is just because they were new. After the bands stretched out a bit they were quite comfortable and held the long legs in place quite well (which is often an issue with long-legged underwear).

Really, my only problems with these briefs are all related to the front area:
-The "pocket" really is not one-size-fits-all and does not quite fit me right (and others have complained of this as well). Fix is to move the pocket up a bit.
-The fly doesn't quite look right (see photo) when it is filled out (I noticed this in their promotional photos as well), perhaps a larger overlap would help.
-Also the fly area is see-through in places on the white version, more overlap would help.

However, a plus to the fly (and pocket) is that because of the pocket everything is easily accessible and no fumbling or searching is necessary at the urinal.

The quality of these are quite good, they are made of great, comfy fabric. The only reason the quality is graded down in my review is because of the issues with the fly area (see above) and the fit.

The value of these briefs are great. All styles and colors are only $14.95 + shipping. And the best part about the value of these briefs is that if you are not 100% satisfied you can get your money back in 30 days. So I would encourage you to try them and see if you like them. Even if you don't like the pocket it is still a pretty good value for just a pair of underpants. You will probably have a different opinion than I do. If you try these out and you really like them I'd welcome you to write your review of them on this blog (send me an email).

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Alio full-cut briefs a total score of 7 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 7 (out of 10)
COMFORT -- 6 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 9 (out of 10)

********** 7

New Triple X Collection 2007

Triple X is coming out, get it first at Malebasics.com
This lattest Collection has been developed with the greatest
fabrics, colors and textures to give you the best look ever!!
MaleBasics.com is proud to be one of the first websites to have this exciting collection

This new collection looks pretty fun, so go check it out. Here's the link.

New Year's Sale at International Jock ends soon!

You can save up to 60% on popular styles. And I mean popular. The selection includes:
-Andrew Christian
-C-IN2
-Ginch Gonch
-Go Software
-Gregg Homme
-Kyle
-Steven
-Artificial Flavor
-Calvin Klein
-Jocko
-Justus Boyz
-Play
-Puma
-And more!
If that doesn't make you want to buy some undies I don't know what will. So hurry. The sale ends tomorrow!

Ginch Gonch Review

I've recently had the opportunity to try a bunch of fun undies from Ginch Gonch. And I gotta tell you: you should really get your inches into some Ginches. This unique brand of underwear strives to bring out the little boy (after all their motto is: "live like a kid") in every man with their fun patterns and prints, while at the same time the keep the man in the man with a bit of innuendo (in the form of play on words) in every design. Some such examples: weiner eaters (hot dogs with bites out of them), woodies (faux wood pattern), jolly cocks (roosters on red), and many other fun designs. Out of the samples I received I really like the low-rise briefs the best (and I received the most of them) so I have decided to review them first (I will review the other styles (briefs and sport briefs) on another occasion).

To start off with fit. They fit pretty good. My only issue is the waistband is a little too large at some points, but it still manages to stay up and look great. Also, some may find the cut to be way too low. Mine seem to rest right above the shaft, if they were any lower you'd be seeing things over the top. But frankly I like this fit. And the best part about this fit is it is REALLY comfortable. I mean really. The fabric is really soft and feels great against the skin. The cut is just right so that it doesn't cut or bunch or do any other strange things. They remain perfectly in place all day long without any uncomfortable moments. That is quite an achievement. Also, I'd like to note that the waistband is just as soft and comfortable as the rest of the briefs. This is also really cool, most briefs don't necessarily have comfortable waistbands and in fact the waistband is often the cause of uncomfort on many briefs.

The style, what can I say. It is great, cute, sexy, fun, funky, unique. No one else makes briefs quite like them. They are awesome. I love the contrast stitching and bands and the unique, playful color-schemes. The only issue with the style is that the fly is really quite impossible to use. The overlap is too much, but then again, if it were any less it would probably pull open due to how small these briefs are. So even though the fly doesn't work, it is still a nice addition because it adds a retro feel to the overall design.

The quality is quite good. The materials are top-notch, and as I mentioned, quite comfy. The only real issue that I've had with the quality is the fact that they have to be hand-washed. You could try machine washing them, but it might ruin some of the fun screen-printed patterns. But hand-washing these fun briefs is an excellent payoff for the fun style and comfort that they provide.

The only thing that might make you hesitate in purchasing these skivvies is their somewhat high cost. But don't let that stop you, they are worth it. If you don't have that kind of money to drop then just wait until they have a sale (check this blog for when they have one) because they do occasionally go on sale.

Also a fun thing to note is some of the styles (I'm not sure which ones) come packaged with a comic book. These series of comics involve various Ginch Gonch super-heros parading around in their undies and saving other underwear-wearing people. They're quite fun and they add to the overall "Live like a kid" slogan. (I think the comics can also be found somewhere on the Ginch Gonch website.)

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Ginch Gonch low-rise briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10)
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10)

********** 9