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

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Sorry for the delayed guide, but better late than never right?  And there are after all 12 days of Christmas, so while there may not be time everywhere to order in time for the first day, you can still make it before the end. 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.

This year I have a great list for you, I believe I've only mentioned one of these brands before.  So in addition to being a great gifting guide, this is also a good guide of some new brands to try for yourself.  

For the Classic Man:

Naked boxerbriefs.

• 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.    
• Undz is a newer brand on the scene.  They are very basic but still funky and stylish.  Also, one of my favorite parts of them is they don't cost a lot ($4.99 a piece).  So if your man needs lots of new undies, this is perfect.  I personally really like their briefs.
• Another brand that I'm really loving lately is Naked.  They make very simple yet comfortable undies.  When I wear these I feel like I'm, well naked.  They truly feel like you're wearing nothing.  I personally really like their boxerbrief fit (shown).   

 For the Lover/Boyfriend:

Body Aware Curacao briefs.

• This category is for that special guy in your life - or just that guy you know will appreciate sexy undies.  But as I've mentioned before: know your guy; not all guys like sexy undies.
• I brand that has recently come to my attention is TBJON.  They specialize in really sexy undies meant for your sexy activities.  I really love their thongs.  The lyte and kol styles are great.
• A new brand that makes some pretty sexy undies is Mckillop.  They only make jockstraps and pouches (jockstraps without straps).  I really dig their colorful power jocks - currently on sale for $15.  
• And finally, a really sexy line is Body Aware, which has recently come to my attention.  There's an exhaustive catalog - they've really got something sexy for everybody.  Personally I really dig the Curacao briefs (shown).  But there's a ton to search through there, so go check it out!

 The Fun Guy:

Marek+Richard Underdog 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.
• A new brand hailing from the UK is Bum-Chums. These undies are really fun and colorful. They have bright colors in their Fruity collection and metallic fabrics in their Celestial collection. These undies are for the guy that loves to have fun in (with) his pants choice. 
• A new-comer on the scene is Marek+Richard.  The company was founded earlier this year by two young fashion designers who met while studying at school together.  I really love their fun new take on things.  Especially loving their underdog brief (shown) that combines mesh and cotton jersey for a very unique, runway look. Also they're currently having a sale. 

The Fashionable Guy:

• 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.  
• My first selection comes from Spanish brand XTG Extreme Game, a clothing brand specializing in daring designs.  I really love the subtle refinement that this brand brings to many of their undies.  I really love their blackletter brief.  It's a really fun fabric that is lightweight and semi-transparent.  Very fashionable and refined. 
• While far from new, I'm always a fan of DT Clothes (formerly known as DT Jocks).  They have some really fun and funky asymmetric undies that are very fashion-forward in my opinion.  

So there you have it folks, those are my suggestions for what to get your man this holiday season.  Happy shopping!  

New Brand: Undz.org

Undz.org is a relatively new Canadian-based site founded by Bertrand Dore.  The brand is developed around the concept of making stylish men's underwear that is affordable.  Now many brands say this, but when Undz set out on this mission they really meant it.  You can purchase a pair of Undz for just $4.99!!  That's right, I didn't forget a 1 or a 0, that's 5 bucks.  For any of you who shop underwear you know that's a great deal.  Heck, cheap brands like Hanes and Fruit of the Loom are about that price.  

What's the catch?  While it's only slight.  In order to purchase Undz online you have to order at least 5 pairs and pay for shipping.  But with shipping (only $5.99), five pairs only costs you about $33.  And you could easily spend that much on just one pair of designer undies.  

I've had the chance to try these out and I'm quite impressed with them.  The fabric is good quality and holds up well in the wash and the fit is nice and comfy.  I do wish that they had more colors and prints, but what they have is a great start and they're continually expanding.  Also the shipping was insanely fast: mine arrived just a day after placing my order.  I couldn't believe it. 

So if you're looking for some new undies but you think you're gonna have to go with the bargain brands at Target, take a look at Undz and try them instead.