Wearing my Grundies... A Review

We've spoken a couple times on here about an up-and-coming Australian brand called Grundies.  Today I want to give you my opinions on one of their most prevalent and popular cuts - the fit short (read "trunk").  So without further ado, I bring you today's review.

For the purpose of today's review, I tried the Tattoo Fit Short in blue.  I really like the fit of these trunks, this is one of my favorite fits to wear period (regardless of brand).  They give you nice full coverage while still being revealing and hip.  You don't have to worry about anything falling out or being on display but they're still small and tight enough to subtly show off your physique.  The legs on these trunks are just about even with the bottom of the pouch and the waistband rises to about where your low-rise jeans would sit.  So they're not a super low-rise but they're not up to your navel either. 

These things are comfortable for all day wear.  As is common in a lot of undies, the tag is screen-printed onto the back so there's no itching to worry about.  The pouch is made of a single piece of fabric (no seams down the middle, which is often the case).  It isn't quite what I would call a contoured pouch, but it gives you enough room to hang in.  If you look at the cut of the design, the pouch is actually a sort of filled-in U-shape that extends down to your perineum area.  Made of 90% cotton and 10% elastane (to hold its shape), this fabric hugs the body snugly but not too tight.  I feel like I can breathe in these.  The legbands are simply the fabric rolled over a couple times, so there is no uncomfortable pinching.  The logo waistband is not only stylish but quite soft on both sides.  It stays in place but doesn't cut in.  The back is seamless for a nice smooth look. 

While the cut of these is quite basic, there is still some stylish flair.  The blue color against the black waistband really pops.  On one leg (on this particular pair) is screen printed the "Grundies" logo and then a few stars are printed on the other leg to mimic the Australian flag.  These are nice touches that make these undies (or should I say Grundies) stand out.  Also, as their signature on all their undies, Grundies puts a small red tag with their logo on the left leg attached to the bottom of the waistband.  I think this is a nice designer touch that shows the care and attention to detail that this company has.

These undies are pretty well made, I'd say.  I've worn them numerous times (keep meaning to do this review) and have washed them just as many and they've held up well.  The elastane helps them to keep their shape after each wash.  And just by glancing over them, you can tell they are made well: the waistband is held on by at least three rows of stitching.  The fabric, does, however fade a little after a few washes.  But that is to be expected with such a bright blue.  The screen printing also cracks a little bit, but that is to be expected on fabric that is constantly stretching and moving.  Other than that, these undies hold up fantastically.  They are currently on special for $19.95 (normally $24.95).  I would say for the style in combination with the comfort and great fit these are worth it.  Give Grundies a try. 

MY RATING:

Overall, I give the Grundies Tattoo Fit Short a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:

FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Modest trunk.  Covers just enough but still shows off physique.  

COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10) - Good all day wear.  Tagless, no cutting on elastic. 

STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - Basic with some Aussie flair

QUALITY -- 8 (out of 10) - Excellent attention to detail.  Will fade a bit though. 

VALUE -- 9 (out of 10) - Good bang for you buck.

**********9

Grundies Muscle Trunk - Just $9.95

Grundies is now offering an exceptional deal on their muscle trunk.  They are now retailing for just $9.95 as an everyday low price.  This low price includes free shipping to anywhere in the world!  The muscle trunk is what I would describe as a more full coverage trunk or boxerbrief fit.  These undies have a soft silky feel and they hug your butt in a very comfy way.  These are a great bet for all sorts of activities and at this price they're definitely worth having a couple pairs.  They come in black and white with either contrast stitching (yellow, red, or white) on the black or just plain black or white for a total of five different color combinations.  While they are a fairly basic pair of trunks, the contrast stitching is in a unique pattern lending them a modern, stylish feel.  And if you buy more than three you will save 20% off your entire purchase, so it's really a great deal.  And like I said, there are five different options so it's not like you'll have three of the exact same thing.  This is definitely worth checking out.  

Exclusive Discounts at Grundies

Australian brand Grundies is having their special Stocktake Sale going on right now with discounts up to 60% off.  There are some truly great savings going on on truly quality undies.  And as a special for MUB readers, Grundies is offering an extra 10% off with coupon code "underwearblog" for a total savings of up to 70% off!  That's HUGE!  So be sure to take advantage of these savings while they last.  The Stocktake Sale is going on until January 16 and the coupon code is good until February 15. 

Holiday Underwear Buying Guide

Buying underwear for someone is a very personal matter. Especially for guys, because (as much as I'd like to argue otherwise) they don't get new underwear all that often, so when they do it's important that it works for them and their body.  That being said, many guys have a strong preference for what style (boxers, briefs, trunks, etc) of underwear they wear.  Some don't care that much or may be happy with a number of different styles, but others care a lot.  So make sure you know your man well before buying.  Also, it is very important for you to make sure you know your man's size.  What he wears in pants may not be the same as his underwear, so make sure you check.  Also, snooping in his underwear drawer may not tell you the completely correct size as it's possible he may have some old undies lying around that no longer fit or never fit.  If you aren't going to ask him outright, make sure you look at a pair that you know fits him well.  It's important you get the right size because most places won't let you return it.

That being said, underwear is a great gift for the holidays and many people love to give and receive it!  So once you've figured out what style and size of underwear your man needs, there's still a whole lot to choose from.  I've broken it down for you based on the personality/type of man who might like to wear each pair.  Use this holiday underwear buying guide as a jumping off point for what to get your man.  While some of these undies may seem a little expensive to you, you're paying for quality so they're worth it.  

And finally, make sure you check shipping times and order early so it arrives in time!

 

For the Classic Man:

Ristefsky Macheda low-rise brief.

• This category is for the guy who likes to keep it simple.  He's not opposed to something with style, but he likes his comfort first.  
• Jockey has some great selections this holiday season for the man who likes to keep it simple.  The Jockey Classics briefs are simple and affordable.  And if your man's a little more adventurous you can get him them in some different colors.  I'm also loving the looks of the Jockey Echelon bikini brief.  Super modern and hip, but still classic and simple.  
• Another one of my new favorites in Ristefsky Macheda.  Their underwear is all about being simple and understated but still body conscious.  I really like some of the briefs they have for their retro flair.   I also love their low-rise brief (shown). 
• Another great option for the classic guy is /baskit/.  I would especially recommend (read my review) something from their Snugfit Seamless collection. 

For the Lover/Boyfriend: 

Embossment Boxer from Intymen.

• This is the category for that special someone in your life or just that guy who you know will love and appreciate some sexy undies.
• Some of my favorites are Good Devil and Intymen.  I personally love the Embossment boxer from Intymen (shown).  Once he's done unwrapping them you can unwrap him.  
• Another good option is Doreanse, a French brand that is newly available to the American market exclusively through Audace.   The name literally means "golden bay".  They have all sorts of sexy undies including my favorite Jungle Brief.  Stay tuned for an upcoming brand profile of Doreanse. EDIT 12/16/10: Doreanse is NOT a French brand, it is just a French name.  The brand is actually from Turkey. 
• Another great new-comer on the market is Croota.  They stock some super sexy bikinis (which are basically thongs) called second skin.   I'm also really digging their WW-III collection, which has military-inspired cargo pockets on the sides. 
• For the super daring and open guy, there's the new K'Mando brand of underwear.  This is just a pouch for his goods and nothing more.  They are quite comfy, but not for everyone. 

The Fun Guy:

Lick brand Check Brief.

• This category is for the guy who likes to have fun.  He's adventurous and not afraid to take risks.  That goes for his fashion choices as well.  He's daring and confident in his appearance.  There's a lot of great new styles out there for this guy.
• Grundies is a great new brand from Australia.  I especially like their aussie collection like the trunk with the Austrlia flag or the trunk with a cock (rooster) printed across the pouch. 
• Another great new brand is Lick, which has four collections: Leisure, Individual, Classic, and Kinky (thus their name Lick).  I personally really like the Individual collection, especially the Union brief and the Check brief (shown).   
• Stonemen has also just released some great new beach-inspired styles, a great way to feel like you're on a vacation this holiday season.  Read what I have to say about them here. 
• And another one of my favorites is Popduds.  These are screen-printed undies with original artworks on them.  You can read my review here.  

The Fashionable Man:

James Tudor retro boxer.

• This category is for the guy that's all about style.  He's all about refinement but also isn't afraid to have a little fun with his fashion choices.  
• James Tudor just released some great new retro-inspired undies.  I personally love this brand with all it's funky details like the fully functional button flies (great for easy access).  I'm particularly loving the new retro boxer (shown).    
• Another great brand for the stylish guy is 2eros.  They're underwear is all about refined style that is still very form flattering and original.  I really like the looks of their newest Icon 3 series. 
• And finally there's the habitual favorite aussieBum.  This brand offers a lot of great stuff.  Some fits into fashion, some is more fun.  All in all aussieBum is just a great brand.  But their stuff is very personal, so make sure you know your man well before buying. 

The Sporty Guy:

• This is for the guy who is athletic and likes to do sports.  He is very body conscious and keeps in good shape and is proud of it.
• My favorite underwear for working out is Equmen brand briefs because they support and wick well.  Check out my review here.   

Buy new Undies for Charity (Late Notice)

Hey guys.  Just came across this.  Australian underwear company Grundies is giving $1 from every item sold to Blue September - a men's cancer awareness organization.  This promo has been ongoing all month, so there's still a good week left to take advantage of this deal.  So go on and get yourself some new undies and feel good about your purchasing knowing that you're doing your part to help. 

New Brand: Grundies

Grundies is a new brand of underwear coming from Australia.  It seems there are a lot of underwear brands in Australia these days.  But Grundies is a little bit different.   When clothing company Pacific Brands moved its manufacturing offshore, over 2000 Australians lost their jobs. Melburnian and former Pac Brands employee, Tony Vass, witnessed the impact of the mass redundancies first hand and vowed to tread a different path, investing in local manufacturing and creating his own underwear line: "Grundies".

"The day Pac Brands announced it was moving manufacturing overseas was a pivotal day for me" Tony says. "That decision cost thousands of people their jobs, many of them close colleagues of mine. That was the day I decided I was going to be the master of my own destiny, create my own underwear line and put back in to the Australian garment manufacturing industry."

Grundies underwear launched early 2010 and is the culmination of over 2 years of research and development, utilising some of Australia's best underwear designers and local manufacturing facilities. It was important for Tony to manufacture locally.  

Tony is aiming for a distinctly Australian flavour with Grundies, from the name which derives from Australian rhyming slang for undies - "Reg Grundies", through to the design of one of his Grundies ranges featuring iconic images of the Australian flag and the southern cross.

With three different ranges - a basics range called "originals", a "signature" range which has a more street flair, and an "aussie" range which hearkens back to its roots - Grundies is off to a great start and they are definitely worth checking out.  Also stay tuned for a review soon.