I'm Feeling the (Male) Power - A Review

It's not often that you come across a new brand of underwear when you're someone like me. And while I had heard of Male Power before, it is new to my underwear drawer. I must say, I wish I had tried them earlier!

I received a sizable bundle of undies from the nice folks over at Male Power, but so far my hands-down favorite is the Heather Rib Enhancer Bikini Brief, which I will review today. At first glance, the brief is nothing too special. It looks like your standard grey brief. Its heather grey fabric is nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. That is at first glance.

Once you get these briefs on, it's a whole different game. The fit is a cross between a brief and a bikini, although in the Male Power catalog they are officially referred to as bikini briefs. The legs are high cut, but there is still some fabric below the waistband making them not true bikinis. The pouch is generously cut, but also form fitting. I did not realize this with my initial wear, but the pouch is actually designed to be enhancing according to the product listing pages. While it is enhancing, it is still comfortable and has a natural look.

In fact, these are some of the comfiest briefs I've tried in a long time and they will definitely take a place in my core rotation. The fabric is silky soft, light-weight, and breathable. The pictures really don't do the fabric justice, it's a very subtle knit that is soft and smooth to the touch. While I've only worn them over the past few weeks in the summer heat, I have a feeling they will wear well throughout the year. The waistband is also smooth, with a side tag that isn't noticeable.

While basic, I'd argue that these briefs are quite stylish. There's something very sexy about them, while at the same time timeless. The light-weight fabric contours perfectly to the male form, emphasizing every curve in the sexiest way possible. They truly live up to the brand's name Male Power. 

These briefs are very versatile, I can't think of a purpose for which you couldn't wear these. With that in mind, and considering I'm adding these to my main rotation, I'd say they're well worth the $22 price tag. They can be purchased at both Freshpair and Mens Underwear Store. The heather rib collection also comes in a thong, jock, and trunk which I imagine are all equally comfortable.

MY RATING: 
Overall, I give the Male Power Heather Rib Bikini Brief a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - High-cut, cross between a brief and bikini; contours to every curve.
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Silky, smooth, lightweight fabric. Soft waistband.
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - Basic, stylish, sexy, and timeless.
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10) - High quality fabric and construction.
VALUE -- 9 (out of 10) - Great for every occasion, worth the price.

********** 9

NPH Strips to Skivvies at the Oscars

Did you miss the Oscars last night? Well then you missed out on some sexy man candy. Host Neil Patrick Harris stripped down to his tight, white briefs Sunday night for a stunt... who cares, Neil Patrick Harris stripped down to his briefs on live network television! And let's just say he's looking very toned and yummy. Enjoy!

Mckillop YUCA Brief Review

A couple months back we introduced you to the new YUCA collection from Mckillop. Today I'd like to offer my review of the YUCA hosta brief. I haven't had much opportunity to sample Mckillop underwear before this, but I have to say they treat their craft with pride.  Every pair is custom made to order and is truly a work of art. This is a great system because it means they'll basically never run out of your size; if you want it they'll make it. And moreover, it didn't take that much longer for them to arrive (considering they're made to order and all).

My first impression of these undies is that they're amazingly soft. In fact, that's the reason I chose to put them on for the day; the fabric is just so soft and smooth to the touch. Excuse me a second while I touch myself... mmmmm. Where was I? Ah yes, the fabric. The fabric is awesome. Just generally these are some damn comfy undies.

How do they fit? Again really no complaints in that department. As for how they fit, they're an interesting cross between a full brief and a skimpy brief. You may wonder what I mean by that, let me explain. The back and sides are what I'd classify as more of a full brief; it's large, full-coverage. Your typical brief. But the front actually takes a turn towards the more skimpy. It's not super skimpy by any means, but there's much less coverage compared to the silhouette of the rest of the brief. I like this contrast. Also the pouch is constructed in such a manner as to give you shape and lift. My package looks HUGE in these things. It's not obnoxious or fake looking, but it definitely has an enhancing effect. The key here is the briefs are form fitting along the perineum allowing the pouch to perfectly cup and lift your balls forward along with the rest of your goods. Again it doesn't feel or look fake, it's a perfect design. The legbands are much thicker than your average bands. I don't mind this actually. They are, however, not super tight. Again this is not really a problem. They're not so loose that your junk is falling out, but they stay away from being so tight that they make you muffin top around your legs (if you've experienced this you know what I'm talking about).

Style wise these briefs are on point. The body of the brief is basic black everywhere (or white if you go with that version) with a simple black waistband. There is a simple logo on the waistband centered in the front. But there is also an element of fun to them: the pouch. The pouch has a floral mesh overlay (it is an overlay, so the pouch is NOT sheer) with contrast stitching. It does bring emphasis to the pouch without being vulgar. In a few words they are simple, classy, and understated. A perfect combo. What about value? Well yes these undies are custom made to order by hand, so don't expect them to be dirt cheap. But the quality here is much better than much of the competition. You can tell these are made with love and by people who pride themselves in their work. Every last detail is perfectly done. So with that in mind, I think $40 CAD (around $38 USD) is a perfectly reasonable price to pay for these undies. This collection is limited edition, so go get them while they last!

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Mckillop YUCA briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Great fit.  Nice cross between skimpy and full cut brief. Loose legbands. Enhancing pouch.
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Amazingly comfy fabric.
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - Basic with some style.  Simple, classy, and understated.
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - Handmade to order. Great attention to detail.
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10) - A little pricey, but worth it if you can afford it.

 ********** 9

Brief Boys Review Stonemen New York Brief

New York Brief

Stonemen

Avg. $37 US

Brief Boys Mitchell and Patton review the Stonemen New York Brief, a unique handmade cut from Australia.

Patton: I wish I’d thought to wear these when I was actually in New York. I thought about it on the plane. Such a missed opportunity.

Mitchell: You keep saying New York. Are you afraid to tell people you went to New Jersey?

P: I took the train into New York whenever possible. Think about it: I could’ve mooned the Chrysler Building with the Chrysler Building.

M: How meta.



P: And – another nice thing, had I worn these in New York – they’re superb for lots of walking. They have a great cut that’s very supportive, never slip, and hug and hold everything in place.

M: Yes, those Aussies at Stonemen really know what they’re doing. To be honest, I was wary of another undergarment that is focused more on the pretty picture or pattern than the engineering, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well-made these are, all around. The pictures on their website make them look a little rubbery and formless, but they might just be over-Photoshopped. In person, you can tell that these are as light and flexible as any other cotton brief.

P: Agreed. It’s amazing how well these fit, especially for a low-rise brief. And they’re gorgeous. I remember when you used to wear Ginch-Gonch all the time. Cute underwear, but not the greatest quality. These are light-years ahead. The only thing I’d point out is that there’s no obvious pouch design, yet it’s weird how, once you put them on, this doesn’t seem to be a problem.



M: I expected to feel confined in these, too. There must be a magic spell at work, though, because they’re quite roomy.

P: I kind of want to buy all of them. Well, almost all – I probably don’t need the ones with hummingbirds on them. But the cityscapes, the sunsets, the nebula, stampeding stallions, ocean waves – I need all of them, for sure. It’s kind of like buying a cool t-shirt, except you need to be on a pretty intimate basis with your friends to show these off.

M: And most of those come with multiple waistband choices. Speaking of the waistband, by the way, another nice feature is that the seam rests on the hip, which is a nice change from briefs that tend to scratch at the base of your spine. So far, these haven’t bothered me.

P: Anybody who stocks up on them will also be helping the environment. For every pair they sell, Stonemen donates one Australian dollar to nonprofit conservation groups intent on preserving the oceanic ecosystem.

M: They’re big on that in Australia.

P: Almost as big as they are on awesome underwear.

M: You know, the more I think of them, the more I like them. Even the way the screen print continues all the way around, a full 360º like a panorama – they’re truly a work of art.

P: Well said.

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

 BOTTOM LINE /  Beautifully made in every way, and worth every Australian cent.

Get Inside Mario Lopez's Briefs - A Review

I'm sure that all of us have thought at some point in our lives "I wish I were Mario Lopez" or "I wish I looked like Mario Lopez." (Please, someone tell me that it's not just me who's wished these things!) I always recognized his good looks growing up watching "Saved by the Bell," but it wasn't until I was in college and saw the "are you staring at my ass" episode of "Nip/Tuck" that I began to fully appreciate the beauty of Mario Lopez. All of this rambling leads me to today's review of Mario Lopez's Rated M brand, specifically the Rated M Elementary Brief in black.

These briefs are quite comfortable. They are made out of a cotton blend (it includes modal and spandex). This blend works together to provide not only comfort but a nice, airy feel. The fabric helps to wick away sweat that might accumulate throughout the day, which is an added bonus.

The fit of these briefs is quite nice. They are some of the most well-fitting briefs that I have worn. They fit snug but not tight. They are a very classic brief in that they are very full in the rear and the sides; they are not a "low rise" style brief. These are the type of brief that I could wear to do most any activity - from desk work to gym time. They stay put throughout the day, so there is no need to worry about them bunching up or chafing/discomfort from unexpected shifting. The leg holes, a major downfall in a lot of briefs, keep their elasticity over time. It's also very nice to know that fabric wasn't spared to lessen the quality of the briefs - there is just enough fabric to cover what they need to cover without there being too much fabric to result in bunching up. These briefs help me to feign the confidence to say, in Lopez's words, "are you staring at my ass?" (Now, I don't think I have that great of an ass, but hey, a fella can dream right?)

As far as style goes, they are nothing that hasn't been done before. They are very simple and straight-forward with the only distinguishing factors being the logo printed along the waistband along with the slogan "For manful men and their very special guests." On this particular pair, the briefs are black and the logo, etc. are white. The piping is also black, so it just blends in, giving the briefs a solitary color throughout. There is an interesting fly on the briefs, but it seems to be more for stylistic purpose than for practicality; it isn't enough of a fly for an average-sized guy to utilize, let alone those who are more well-endowed.

These briefs retail for around $16. They can be found at Freshpair. This price is not entirely unreasonable for a brief that fits so well and holds up so well.

Overall, I give the Rated M briefs a score of 8 out of 10 based on the following:

Comfort: 10 out of 10 - great fabric blend; doesn't bunch

Fit: 9 out of 10

Style: 7 out of 10 - nothing to make this brief stick out from others; awkward/pointless fly

Value: 9 out of 10 - great price, though not necessarily justified since they don't really distinguish from other pairs

Brief Boys Review E=FU8 Pleasure X8 Cut

The Pleasure X8 Cut
FU e=fu8 Underwear

Avg. $88 US

Brief Boys Mitchell and Patton review the Pleasure X8 Cut from e=fu8 Underwear, the brief that “Adam would have worn when banished from the Garden of Eden.” Stitched by hand in New York City, the Pleasure 8X Cut “feels like a perpetual caress.”

Mitchell: From a visual standpoint, this is a beautiful pair of underwear. The combination of the white fabric and the royal purple trim is a stylish contrast, and you might find people lingering on the waistband to try to read the equation.

Patton: To the eighth power indeed. They are gorgeous, and even the shape is unique. The designer calls it a cross between a low-rise brief and boyshorts, but it’s really just a very short trunk.

M: They’re definitely low-rise—possibly the most extreme low-rise article of clothing I’ve worn in a long time. If you’re looking for a pair of briefs to wear under your girlfriend’s ultra-low-rise skinny jeans, look no further.

P: That does belie some problems, however. Not the least of which being what your girlfriend doesn’t have but your boyfriend certainly does. There wasn’t a lot of room in here. I felt mashed up against myself throughout the entire day.

M: There isn’t that much pouch space is there? I think that’s just what you have to expect from a pair like this, though. You have to give up a little modesty. My pet peeve was the waistband material—the elastic was very coarse and scratchy, and I really wouldn’t have minded how low-rise these were if the waistband wasn’t riding the base of my shaft all day. I guess I expected higher quality materials from a brief with such a hefty price tag.

P: Agreed. I felt like a lot of adjusting was necessary, and this is probably why. I kept playing the “do I cover my ass or my pubes?” game. Which can be a fun game—just not at work, or when you’re at the chiropractor.

M: It’s a shame, too. I really loved the TLC that went into these. Each pair of e=fu8 is made by hand in New York. But from a production standpoint, they’re still a little rough around the edges. This pair was only worn twice and already one of the seams began to separate.

P: That is frustrating, I agree, because overall they really are sexy. Despite the lack of room—or possibly because of—they imbue an unexpected sensuality. Throughout the day I was very aware of how I felt, how others perceived me, etc. Even the non-functional fly adds to that allure—it feels like everything could just tumble out at any second, but it’s quite secure. It’s the kind of brief that makes you want to bend over and pick something off the floor.

M: Nothing wrong with that.

P: I certainly didn’t think so.

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

 BOTTOM LINE /  If you have the cash and prefer to support underwear handmade in the US, go for it.

Brief Boys Review Yorkies Binary Brief

The Binary Brief
Yorkies
Avg. $29 US


Brief Boys Mitchell and Patton review the Binary Brief from Yorkies, “for men who are going places.” The Binary Brief boasts a “hidden horseshoe-shaped cup” that “provides a little additional lift up front.”


Mitchell: Apparently, men who are going places in the digital age need more advanced underwear that “puts the total package up front.” While there are a lot of anatomical lift designs out there, these provide lift and support without any of the complicated straps and strings we’re used to.

Patton: Exactly. The “horseshoe-shaped cup” isn’t much more than a pocket, and is surprisingly un-intrusive. Though I didn’t exactly feel like I was going to get a promotion or anything, but maybe I was wearing the wrong jeans.

M: Me neither. Though it’s impressive that Patrick York, the owner and designer of Yorkies, has given himself a promotion with this entire project. His 2011 Kickstarter campaign was a huge success, and he’s currently operating and manufacturing in the Bay Area. I’m pleased to see he’s turned it into a full-fledged business in so short a time.

P: That may have a lot to do with the appearance of the brief. Graphically, they’re very stylish – all black and white, covered in binary text, with a QR code stamped on the right hip. With the lift offered by the pouch, this is a pair of underwear to show off, but from a design and structural standpoint, there’s really not much more here than a basic brief.

M: Agreed. The cut, fabric, and fit all seem pretty standard. Though I will say I was surprised to find out that they were polyester rather than cotton, since they’re incredibly soft. So that gives them a little bit of a performance boost.

P: But definitely not something you’d wear running or anything. Especially not with that extra inch or so of fabric between the pouch and the seat. After a while, they threaten to sag.

M: By the way, did I tell you I scanned the QR code?

P: No. Did it lead you somewhere secret?

M: That’s what I was hoping, but it just brings you to the Yorkies website. Which, if you’re wearing the underwear, I’m assuming you’ve already seen.

P: What if you’re scanning someone else’s underwear? Maybe they should offer customizable QR codes that lead to whatever online profile you choose.

M: In case you get lost and you don’t remember your name?

P: Or maybe the website is fine.

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

 BOTTOM LINE /  For guys who want to show off their assets with more style than a solid color brief.

I've got Todger on my Todger: A Review

Todger is a new brand of men's underwear based in Paris, France. The brand is all about simplicity and sex-appeal while being appealing to a broad spectrum of men. For today's review I'm going to discuss the Low Crotch style (or brief style).

While these briefs are very simple in design, there are a few details that add a bit of flare and set them apart from the rest of the crowd making these anything but your basic briefs. These briefs, as well as other Todger styles, feature bias-cut and bias-seams along the side. This signature feature while looking edgy, also helps enhance the shape of the brief while worn. The briefs are all solid colored with matching waistband and elastic details and a simple, contrast logo off-set on the left side of the waistband. The fabric is a ribbed, cotton/lycra blend - as is becoming the norm in men's underwear today. The lycra allows the cotton to maintain its shape better after repeated washes. These briefs also include a special bamboo fabric insert on the inside to give extra comfort to the wearer.

The ribbing in the fabric allows the briefs to conform perfectly to your body and your every move. The ribbing is also small enough so that it does not detract from the brief and make it too heavy to wear - it is a nice, light, ribbed fabric that is very comfortable to wear. No matter how much I move around during the day I do not notice any pulling or stretching in these briefs; I feel completely unrestrained. At the same time, though, these briefs stay perfectly fitted to the body and do not stretch out of place with movement.

These briefs are nice and lightweight and have that barely-there feel to them. You won't even remember you're wearing them until you go to take off your pants - and that's a good thing!

Another fun feature on these briefs is the fly. While I am not generally a very big fan of flies on underwear (especially briefs) because they tend to add unneeded bulk and are generally not very functional, the fly on these is quite fun. The fly has two holes for exit, one on the top and one on the right side. While this fly still isn't very functional, and I wouldn't really recommend using it as it may stretch out the brief, it adds a bit of visual interest to the pouch area.

These briefs come in three solid colors: black, white, and navy. I personally like all three colors and they are all great for different moods and occasions. They can be purchased from Todger for $20 Euros, that's about $27 USD. That makes them a little pricey, especially right now with the conversion the way it is. But honestly they are totally worth it. These briefs are sure to fit due to the ribbing that will stretch in all the right ways, and they are so comfy that you won't even remember you have anything on. So go get some Todger! (And I mean that in all senses of the term.)

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Todger Low Crotch (brief) a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Form-fitting. Ribbed fabric conforms to your body and moves.
COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10) - Very light-weight fabric. Feels like it's barely there.
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10) - Basic but with flare.
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - Good quality. Holds up well in the laundry.
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10) - Expensive, especially with the current USD to Euro conversions.

********** 9

Bjorn Borg - A Review

Today I'm going to review some Bjorn Borg briefs. Bjorn Borg was a Swedish tennis legend, now after retirement he has focused his attentions on creating a fashion line in which underwear plays a prominent role.

I was sent a pair of his fun stretch briefs in opaline green. These briefs are what I would call basics with some flare. They have modest full coverage but they come in lots of fun colors. These are the kind of briefs that you can wear to the locker room and not feel completely exposed in, but you'll still feel stylish and fashion forward. They fit snugly but still allow for freedom of movement and comfort throughout the day.

One of my favorite parts of these briefs is the attention to detail. The leg holes do not have elastic bands around the edge as many briefs do, but instead have a special stitch to ensure that the legs stay in place and prevent gaping. The briefs are sewn with a five-panel construction with one large panel across the butt, one panel on each side extending to the pouch, and a two-panel pouch design. All the panels are sewn together with a flat stitch in the same color as the fabric to create a smooth appearance and smooth, comfortable feel. Like I mentioned earlier, these are modest briefs and the pouch reflects that. It does not draw attention to your crotch, but it allows enough room so that you fit comfortably.

I find myself using the term 'comfortable' a lot in this review, and these briefs really are all about comfort. They are perfect for sports or everyday wear. They provide the support you need to get through the day and they give you enough coverage so that you stay comfortable and they remain in their proper place all day.

Now the seal on the deal is that these briefs are not just comfortable but they are also stylish. They come in a broad array of bright, fun colors with bold, fun waistbands. The particular pair that I tried was lime (or opaline) green with a black and red logo waistband. But they also come in stunning blue with a green waistband and more neutral colors like black with rainbow waistbands. These are currently on sale at the Bjorn Borg site for $9.99 (USD), although the color I have is no longer available from their site (you can get it at Freshpair, however for $18 USD).

These briefs are the perfect thing to wear when you know you are going to be someplace where your underwear will be seen and you still need to look respectable (like a locker room). They will keep you covered, but still let everyone know that you have style. And for $10 a pair, you really can't beat it.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Bjorn Borg briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 8 (out of 10) - Very modest, full-coverage. Snug, but not too snug.
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Very comfortable, perfect to wear all day.
STYLE -- 7.5 (out of 10) - Basic, but stylish.
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10) - Very well made, great attention to detail.
VALUE -- 10 (out of 10) - Seriously, where else can you get such quality briefs for $10?

********** 9

Key Largo Reviewed

Today I'd like to introduce you to a new brand of underwear called Key Largo. Key Largo prides itself in being the first underwear brand designed for Baby Boomer men and women. The styles are full cut and conservative and are all about the comfort. Their goal is to provide quality full-coverage, comfortable underwear at a reasonable price. Key Largo for men comes in three styles: a low-rise brief, a mid-cut brief, and a boxerbrief. All styles come in black, white, and heather gray and are sized small - xx-large. Key Largo is the brainchild of Lea Holder; you can read her blog about the industry here.

Today I'm going to review the mid-rise brief. My sample was in black. I have to start off by saying that I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a Baby Boomer and therefore am not really part of Kay Largo's target market. That said, I still really like these undies and can appreciate their comfort and coverage even though they are not what I normally would wear.

Key Largo really is all about the comfort, that's the first thing I notice when I put these things on - they're incredibly comfortable and oh-so-soft. You really can't argue with that. There's no tag in the back to cause itching and irritation and the waistband is covered to provide optimal comfort. The 100% cotton brief feels like it has been washed a hundred times (in a good way) right out of the box. I don't know if I've ever experienced the likes of it before.

In terms of fit, the mid-rise is much higher than I am accustomed to wearing. Today when I pulled on my pants as high as they would go (low-rise jeans), I still had about an inch of the brief showing above the pants (I suppose I could've switched to a different pair of pants). That said, the rise is probably just fine for the target audience who most likely will be wearing higher rise pants than I wear. When I first looked at these briefs I felt like there was a ton of fabric and that there was no way these would fit me without being baggy, but I was wrong. They fit like a charm. Even around the legs, where I often experience gaping, was snug in a comfortable way that still allows for movement (although they did stretch out a bit during the day). Another great feature of these briefs is that they have a functional fly on the front that... wait for it... actually functions! This is an anomaly among briefs where even though there is often a functional fly it really is too cumbersome to bother using. This fly actually easily opens without being too constrictive but also pops back into place when you're done using it. I was quite impressed.

These briefs will not be winning any style awards. But then again, they aren't trying to. They are a very basic, classic brief that does the job. They are unpretentious with a simple off-set logo label in the front. They are well priced at $12 a piece and promise to keep you in comfort for years to come. So in short, Key Largo accomplished their goals of making quality, comfortable, affordable underwear with full coverage.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Key Largo Mid-Rise Briefs a total score of 8.8 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 8 (out of 10) - they do loosen up a bit during the day
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - really can't be beat
STYLE -- 7 (out of 10) - there really isn't too much style, they are just simple and basic
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 9 (out of 10)

********** 8.8

Review: Undergear Ribbed Brief

Undergear has long been a great place to get quality underwear. In addition to selling many different brands of underwear, they also sell their own house brand. The Undergear line is notable for making high-quality, basic underwear.

Today I'm going to review their basic cotton ribbed brief. This brief is all about comfort. It is the perfect go-to brief for days when you just want to be comfortable. If underwear could give you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside this underwear would do it. It is made of soft, cotton ribbing material that conforms perfectly to your body. The underwear stretches just enough to accommodate you but the ribbing holds it tight enough so that you are held in place. After wearing them all day they do get stretched out a little bit and there is a little bit of gaping towards the leg holes. But all you have to do is wash them and throw them in the dryer and they're back to normal and ready to wear. These are one of the few pairs of underwear that I throw in the dryer, usually I just line dry my underwear so it maintains its shape. But this underwear needs to be machine dried to maintain its shape - the white elastic banding prevents the briefs from shrinking too much in the dryer.

The style of these briefs is very reminiscent of American Apparel briefs; they are very basic but still stylish. They have white contrast banding around the legs and fly and a white logo waistband. This makes for a very crisp and classic look while still being hip and stylish. The only major difference between Undergear and American Apparel is that American Apparel makes a much larger array of colors. But I feel that the quality of Undergear's briefs is much better than that of American Apparel therefore making up for the lack of color choices.

As I just mentioned, the quality of these briefs is excellent. They hold their shape and color after repeated washes and machine dries - quite a feat for basic cotton briefs. And at the price of $12.99 each (or $10.99 if you buy two or more) they are well worth it. In fact, select colors are now on sale for $3.99. That's an absolute steal! If you're looking at Undergear's site, don't get confused. These are not the low-rise spandex briefs. Those fit quite differently and are not anywhere near as comfortable in my opinion.

So overall, these are incredibly comfortable briefs. They are basics with no frills, but they do their job well. The colorfulness of the briefs, however, gives them a bit of style and fun. You will definitely get your money's worth out of these briefs, especially if you get one of the pairs for $3.99.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Undergear Ribbed Brief a total score of 9.3 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 8.5 (out of 10) - loses shape during the day
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - basic
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 9 (out of 10) - a 10 if you get the ones on sale

********** 9.3

Question of the Day:
What are your thoughts on basic underwear vs. fashion underwear? Do you have a go-to pair when you just want to be comfortable?

Basic Briefs

Where I live its not that easy to find great designer underwear, to say the least, I'm pretty much limited to my local Macy's store. So the other day I was shopping for just some basic briefs and me being the athletic type I wanted some athletic briefs. When I mean basic I wanted just no-frills, simple stuff, so I was pretty excited to find the 3100 Essentials collection from 2(x)ist. These are as basic as it gets, yet retain the high quality we have all come to love from 2(x)ist.

While shopping I picked up a 3-pack of black Fly Front Briefs, and a pair of black Sports Briefs. The Fly Fronts were $19.00 and the Sports were $10.00. The sports pair are made of 100% cotton, and are pretty dang comfortable. I'm a big fan of athletic briefs because they allow a great range of movement that you don't get with regular briefs. You all know I love my jocks so the athletics are a great alternative to those, when I run in a jock I find that my shorts like to get stuck up my crack, so the full-back on these do great. Now the basic fly fronts aren't my first from 2(x)ist, I got some a couple years ago, and they've held up like you wouldn't believe. Often times I find briefs stretch out pretty quick, but these have held their shape very nicely, and they hold my boys even nicer.

If you're in need of some underwear but don't wanna drop the dough, check these out and check their prices out.