Weight-Loss Update

Hello. It's me again - the guy who writes about normal guy thoughts in and about underwear. Sorry I don't have a hot body or any other eye candy to offer, like the other interns.

But I am working on the body shape part of things. When I first wrote awhile back, I was down 19 lbs and just starting to notice the positive changes. Well, as of today I am 26 lbs down, and still feeling good. This losing weight business is tough stuff - way harder than putting it on in the first place. I've kinda hit a point where my losses have slowed down, because I've been busy lately, and I've been lazy about my diet and exercise. Next week it's back to the routine, hopefully.

Here are some progress pics for you. The navy blue pair is a Stafford ribbed trunk, available from JC Penney. I chose to post in this pair, because even two months ago, it was too tight and made me look and feel awful. Now I can wear them comfortably, although the muffin top is still there. I keep losing inches higher up, and the fat is settling down just above my hips (argh).

The other pair is a Calvin Klein X trunk. I put these on today because they are all stretchy and a bit flashy, and they just make me feel nice when I wear them. Hope you like 'em.

Neither of these pairs has a fly, but quite a few of the pairs I own do. That was one place where I noticed that I needed to lose weight. A number of my pairs have small rips or tears at the seam of the fly where the pouch was stretched too far because my thighs were too big before. (No, it's not because of how much is filling the pouch. I wish.) Now my flys work properly. Guess I'm just going to have to add those to the list of pairs to be replaced. Any suggestions on what to replace them with? I'm still waiting for UMan to hook me up with anything...

Brief Boys Review Calvin Klein

Panel Stripe Hip Brief
Calvin Klein
Avg. $24 US

Brief Boys Mitchell and Patton give the run down on the Panel Stripe Hip Brief from Calvin Klein, “a comfortable, supportive, and enhanced fit made from 95% cotton and 5% elastane.”

Patton: What exactly is elastane?

Mitchell: Apparently it’s just another name for Spandex. At least according to Wikipedia.

P: Fancy.

M: So everybody knows Calvin Klein. They call themselves pioneers of the “wholesome underwear look.” It’s pretty safe design, but good design—very well made, very durable. If you’re looking for something relatively basic, it’s an appealing brand.

P: Basic, but not totally conservative. They’re low rise—but not ultra-low rise—and fit snugly under a pair of jeans. They even have an extra seam for each cheek that more or less works like a jockstrap, lifting and providing a little more definition than the average brief.

M: Really? I didn’t think it was very flattering. It kind of reminded me of wearing a diaper. Not that I’ve done that recently.

P: Of course not.

M: I do think they’re true to size, like all other CK products I’ve tried, but they have a generous amount of stretch, which makes them prone to sagging now and then.

P: I guess it depends on your preference—sometimes a little extra stretch can prevent a brief from ending up in your ass crack. But it can also bunch up under your junk.

M: There is that. From the wrong angle they sometimes have a weird camel toe thing going on.

P: You mean moose knuckle?

M: My mistake.

P: Plenty of room for the whole kit and caboodle, though. However, while there’s a spacious pouch, the fabric’s elasticity gives that weird pointy effect—where your junk looks like a cone aimed at the floor. But at least these are versatile for all package preferences. Whether you stash it to the left, right, or over the balls, you’re good to go.

M: What do you mean stash it?

P: When not in use.

M: Of course. You’re right though. While it’s not something to be ashamed of, the CK Hip Brief is definitely more about comfort than appearance. The pouch isn’t as shaped as others, nor is it as flattering. But you can go through a whole day at work without that trapped, suffocated feeling you sometimes get with a brief, and the tag is barely noticeable.

P: Ugh. The tag—I always try to buy tagless. But yeah, this wasn’t that big of a deal, which is surprising. Overall, though, I agree with you. Aside from the fun stripes—including the matching waistband—these are everyday, wear-to-work briefs.

M: But still stylish enough to be seen at the gym.

P: Precisely.

M: So would you recommend them?

P: Well, I tend to work a long day. I get dressed somewhere between six and six-thirty, go through a nine-hour work day, and don’t really end up in PJs until eleven or so. The only… let’s call it recess I get in all that time is while I’m at the gym. There aren’t many briefs that stay comfortable during an entire 21st Century day, but these do.

M: I agree. You should probably change before you head out for drinks, though, or any other special occasions.

P: Undressing occasions, for sure. So how about the score?

M: Here’s what we came up with:

 FIT /  Good
 COMFORT /  Excellent
 STYLE /  Poor
 QUALITY /  Excellent
 VALUE /  Average

 BOTTOM LINE /  Embodies today’s basic fit. Extremely comfortable, but not the sexiest pair around.

InTouch Hulk Boxer Briefs Reviewed

Hello old and new readers of MUB. I am very excited to be joining the team as the result of the recent “Join our team” announcement. I am a 25 year old who recently graduated from college. I have recently begun to see results from working out and have put on some muscle, which has been my dream for most of my scrawny life. With this change comes the confidence to dress myself up well and be seen. What better place to start than the most basic layer of clothing? As I outgrow my current collection and start to amass new pairs, I look forward to telling you about my new discoveries in the world of men’s underwear. Hope you will allow me a little stumbling room as I get used to things around here.

Now, I might have forgotten to mention in the intro that on most days, I work from home as an animator. Working from home certainly has it’s benefits, one of which is, not having to get dressed. As somewhat of an underwear enthusiast, I own easily over 25 pairs. Which in my opinion is not an extremely large number while making sure that there is everything from boxers to thongs in my underwear drawer. My purchases span everything from lounging, classy, raunchy and erotic while others are just plain fun.

For my first review for the site, I will be reviewing a pair of underwear that I own which falls in that category of “plain fun”. Being a geek and superhero movie fan, I just had to get my hands on (or "my ass in," more accurately speaking) this “Incredible Hulk” boxer brief as soon as I saw the picture. These boxer briefs are by a brand called InTouch (site works sporadically) and can be ordered for about $15 on eBay (auction ended).

As with all Asian sizing, I went for a Medium and it fit me perfectly. The back, and legs are snug without being uncomfortably tight. The pouch provides good support in the front and due to the soft and very stretchable material will also accommodate a sizable package. What I also like about the underwear is that the pouch is just one layer of cloth, thus it is more comfortable in warmer weather and also allows for the hulk (sorry, I had to do it) to expand comfortably.

Finally, lets talk about the aspect that really made this a must buy for me: The print. The back sports the big “HULK and the super mariner” title which could be read from across the room. A smaller image of the hulk lies underneath which isn’t going to be seen if you have a very round butt. But the front is where the impact is. The face of the Hulk is front and center on the pouch with his green arms on the sides accented by Hulk’s pink pants. The colors will survive washes so you don’t have to worry about it wearing out.

All things considered, I believe this pair is a great value for money. The elastics, stitching and fabric have all passed the test of time really well. This is one pair that is a must for all superhero fans.

Tally:

• Fit: 4 out of 5 for asian size discrepancy 

• Comfort: 5 out of 5 

• Look: 5 out of 5 

• Value for money: 5 out of 5

Ginch Gonch - Live Like a Kid!

Kasey is a new contributor to the site.  Please give him a warm welcome and feedback.

Do you own, and actually wear, boxers that feature a print of SpongeBob SquarePants, a strategically placed elephant trunk, or a douchey saying like “Place lips here?” If so, please burn them and delete my number if you have it.

Kasey in Crotch Rocket briefs.

Clearly, you wear these atrocities because you have a sense of humor. I commend you for that. Aside from obscene amounts of wealth and a home in Manhattan, a solid sense of humor is the main thing I look for in a man. But the manifestation of that sense of humor can make or break the situation.

If you want to wear something under your skinny jeans that makes you chuckle to yourself knowing what lies beneath, I have a two-word suggestion for you to replace those “Who’s your Papa?” Smurf boxers – Ginch Gonch.

Kasey flashing his I Love Paris undies.

This Montreal-based company has been around for almost 10 years now and they have perfected the combination of humor and sexuality. Tongue-in-cheek designs printed on comfortable, fitted, and durable briefs, boxer-briefs, and more.  According to their website, “[Ginch Gonch] was the first of its kind to successfully combine humor and sexuality with funky, fashion-forward designs, and has completely reinvented the underwear industry through the unconventional ways it sets the trend for the rear end.” Hear, hear!

Indeed, with design titles such as “Wiener Eater,” “Crotch Rocket,” and “Eyeful Tower,” as well as the option of a fantastic low-rise fit, this company allows you to have a childlike laugh while still feeling like your boys and your buns are supported and sexy.

I Love TV briefs.

Their recent “I Love…” collection is wonderful (though disappointingly devoid of jockstraps) and has only left me with baited breath to find out what’s coming next! This collection has something for everyone: I love London, I love Paris, I love Tokyo, I love Bacon, etc. (I currently own all of the aforementioned designs as my way of manifesting the man who will have homes in each of those locations and feed me bacon every morning.)

So to recap: Bounce the boxers and give in to Ginch Gonch. Look good, feel good, and live like a kid!

Smooches, pooches. Thanks for reading!

Review of Undz Briefs

A while back we asked you to submit applications to be MUB interns.  Today we bring you the first of our interns, Georgia Dude.  Here's what he has to say about himself in his own words "I’m 23 and a recent college graduate now living my life-long dream as a teacher. I teach high school English to the current generation of over-tested students. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve had a fascination with underwear. I determined long ago that when I got my first “real” job I would actually start building a real underwear collection. I’ve been a faithful MUB follower since I was in college. In fact, I even had the fortune once of winning a MUB contest where I won a pair of Piada briefs, which were my first pair of designer underwear. I’m extremely excited to come aboard the great staff at Men’s Underwear Blog!"  Please let us know what you think of his first review!  And stay tuned for more from our new interns! 

Canada is not often a name that we associate with quality underwear (or with underwear at all, for that matter). The Undz (pronounced undeez) brand is a relatively new name on the market. Earlier this year, in my never-ending quest for new and exciting underwear, I stumbled across this great brand of underwear. Founded in 2010 in Montreal, the Undz brand believes that “you shouldn't have to take out a loan in an effort to fulfill your trendy underwear collection desires.”

As a recent college graduate and new to the workforce with limited funds, I can completely appreciate this belief. The Undz brand comes in two styles – briefs and boxers, which are more like trunks. If you’re looking for a way to add some color to your underwear drawer, then Undz is a great choice for you. The brand has a variety of fun colors, ranging from plain white, black, and gray, to pink, green, blue, and purple in their more traditional styles. Recently, the brand has added the “fluffy soft waistband” model to its boxer/trunk selection, which comes in newer, more exciting colors than their traditional models. What’s more, the color holds after continuous wear and washing.

Harkening to their belief that quality underwear should be affordable, the price of this underwear ranges from just $5 for the classic briefs to $10 for the “fluffy soft waistband,” with other price options between. And for just $1.99 processing and $5.99 for shipping across the US and Canada regardless of order size, it’s affordable to shop this brand. As far as fit goes, the Undz brand is made really well. Don’t just take my word for it, though. I have a friend who is dedicated to the 2(x)ist brand; I urged him to order some of the Undz briefs, and he now is a firm believer in Undz and even compares them to the 2(x)ist briefs.

From personal experience, these underwear are great for extended wear. The brand seems to stay true to size; I am a small (28-30), and their small fits me perfectly. They fit snugly (but not constrictively) at the waist and have the perfect amount of fabric, so it’s not too tight nor does it have too much fabric where it would bind. The briefs do not appear to have much of a pouch. In fact, my friend who is dedicated to the 2Xist brand was hesitant to try them simply because they lack an obvious pouch. But as he has learned, there is adequate room in the briefs. The briefs are better than most for all-day comfort because they stay in place. Wherever they are in the morning, they will be there in the afternoon. And what’s better than a pair of underwear that doesn’t ride up over the course of the day?!

Overall, I give the Undz brand brief a 10 based on the following scale:

Fit – 10 (out of 10) Snug fit without being constrictive

Comfort – 10 (out of 10) Great for extended wear. No extra fabric, so they don’t bunch up. Smooth fabric blend helps repeal sweat. Ample room.

Style – 10 (out of 10) Distinct, simple, and clean look.

Quality – 10 (out of 10) Very well made.

Value – 10 (out of 10) Very affordable and will last for a while, so worth the investment.

-Georgia Dude