Underwear is probably one of the most underrated pieces of hiking apparel. Hikers and mountaineers usually spend a lot of money on other clothing but become penny-pinching when it comes to underwear. However, we don’t think that underwear is something where you should try to save money as it is in direct contact with your skin and therefore very important for comfort and performance. This is especially true for long hiking trips where anti-microbial underwear will help you to pack lighter and smell better. In this review you will find a selection of the best hiking underwear for men, although most products are also available in a women’s version. We have chosen the best five hiking boxers currently available and reviewed them to make your buying decision easier. Most of them are available with various inseam lengths and/or as briefs.

1. Our Men’s Hiking Underwear Picks

1. Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers
2. SmartWool 150 Boxers
3. Patagonia Sender Boxers
4. ExOfficio Give-N-Go Mesh Sport 2.0 Boxers
5. Arcteryx Motus SL Boxers

2. Comparison of Men’s Hiking Underwear

Feature/Product	Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers	SmartWool 150 Boxers	Patagonia Sender Boxers	ExOfficio Give-N-Go Mesh Sport 2.0 Boxers	Arcteryx Motus SL Boxers
Material	83% Merino wool, 12% Nylon, 5% Lycra	87% Merino wool, 13% Nylon	89% recycled nylon, 11% spandex	90% Nylon, 10% Lycra	100% Polyester
Cut/Inseam length	Boxer Briefs (4.5 or 6 in.), Briefs	Boxer Briefs, Boxer shorts	Boxer Briefs (6 in. inseam)	Boxer Briefs (3, 6 or 9 in.), Briefs	Boxer Briefs
Fit	Slim	Slim	Slim	Slim	Slim
Fly	Available with and without	Yes	No	Yes	No
Antimicrobial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Washing	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash

3. The Selection

1. Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Running
• Backpacking
• Everyday use
• Use in cold weather
• All-year-round use

The Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers provide great comfort. They are made of a corespun fabric with Merino wool (83%), nylon (12%) and Lycra fibers (5%). The fabric has the best qualities of Merino wool (it’s breathable, moisture-wicking and soft to the touch) while the durability and stretch are significantly better than that of Merino wool – nylon fibers provide the durability and Lycra fibers provide the stretch. The density of the fabric is 150 g/m² which is perfect for aerobic activities such as hiking and mountaineering. The Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers are made with flatlock seams and a branded elastic waistband, and are available both with and without a fly as well as in a longer or shorter version (4.5 in. or 6 in.). They are definitely a good choice for every hiker who wants a pair of durable, comfortable and odor-resistant boxer briefs.

 

 

2. SmartWool 150 Boxers

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Running
• Backpacking
• Everyday use
• Cold weather use
• All-year-round use

The SmartWool 150 Boxers  are made of a similar fabric (87% Merino wool, 13% Nylon) as the Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers above. However, the Smartwool 150 boxers don’t contain Lycra fibers and are thus not as stretchy. Nevertheless, they offer great durability and efficiently wick moisture away from the skin. Furthermore, due to the nylon fibers, they also dry fast. They are also available as more roomy boxer shorts. In terms of construction, the Smartwool boxer briefs are equipped with a stylish elastic waistband and stitched with flatlock seams which prevent chafing.  These comfortable, naturally antimicrobial and durable boxers are highly recommended for hikers and mountaineers who need high-quality underwear for their demanding adventures.

 

3. Patagonia Sender Boxers

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Running
• Backpacking
• Everyday use

The Patagonia Sender Boxers are very popular among hikers and mountaineers as they offer great comfort and performance. They are made of a very thin and lightweight (116 g/m2) micro mesh fabric, which consist of no less than 89 % recycled nylon and 11 % spandex for optimal stretch. The fabric has a wicking finish and has been treated with the HeiQ® Fresh durable odor control treatment to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Unlike most of the other products in this selection of the best hiking underwear for men, the Patagonia Sender boxers only come in one inseam length and do not have a fly but merely a contoured pouch to avoid any seams chafing you in the groin. All seams are, however, flatlock seams for optimal comfort. As the boxers are Fair Trade Certified sewn, you can rest assured that those who made those seams have been paid and treated fairly!

 

 

4. ExOfficio Give-N-Go Mesh Sport 2.0 Boxers

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Running
• Backpacking
• Everyday use
• Use in warm weather

The ExOfficio Give-N-Go Mesh Sport boxers have long been a bestseller from the brand, but have now been updated to a version 2.0 which is four times more breathable, 50% more moisture-wicking, and dries 24% faster than its predecessor. The mesh fabric now includes even more Lycra (10 % total), which has furthermore improved the 4-way stretch. Synthetic hiking underwear is prone to smell, and thus the ExOfficio Sport 2.0 boxers have been treated with an improved anti-microbial technology to eliminate odor-causing bacteria,. We recommend them to those who want superb underwear for hiking in summer – while Merino wool underwear is to be preferred in other (colder) seasons as it maintains its warmth even when soaked with sweat. The ExOfficio Give-N-Go Mesh Sport 2.0 underwear is available as briefs as well as with a 3, 6 and 9 inch inseam, so you can choose exactly the coverage you prefer.

 

5. Arcteryx Motus SL Boxers

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Running
• Backpacking
• Everyday use
• Use in warm weather

The Arcteryx Motus SL Boxers are made of the advanced silk-weight Phasic material (100% polyester) which pulls the moisture away from the skin and disperse it across the entire surface for faster drying. Because the material is super thin, the Arcteryx boxers also provide great breathability and freedom of movement. To mitigate odor, the Phasic fabric has been treated with DAO(Durable Anti-Odor). Like the Patagonia boxers, the Arcteryx Motus SL underwear is not equipped with a fly, but does feature a gusseted crotch for extra freedom of movement. Another thing the two products have in common is sustainable production as the Arcteryx boxers are made in a Fair Trade Certified facility as a step on the way to have 80 % of the brand’s production fair trade certified by 2025. The Arcteryx Motus SL boxers are a great option for hiking in warm weather and highly aerobic activities such as running and mountaineering.

 

4. Hiking Underwear Buying Advice – What is important?

Material:

Hiking underwear should be made of a comfortable material which doesn’t cause rubbing or chafing. Furthermore, it should be also breathable, moisture-wicking and quick-drying so that it efficiently maintains your body’s natural temperature. To achieve these qualities hiking underwear is normally made of natural materials such as Merino wool or synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon. Elastane might be added to these fabrics for better stretch and comfort while a small percentage of nylon fibers is often added to Merino wool fabrics for better durability.

Many hikers face a dilemma whether to buy Merino wool underwear or underwear made of synthetic materials. Merino wool underwear has several advantages in comparison to synthetic underwear – it is naturally antimicrobial, pleasant to the touch (not itchy like ordinary wool), provides warmth even when wet (soaked with sweat or rain) and offers better breathability. Also note that Merino wool underwear is not only suitable for cold weather as Merino wool can be knitted into very thin fabrics which are suitable for warm summer days. However, synthetic underwear is less expensive and more durable than Merino wool underwear. Furthermore, it also dries slightly faster. For more information about underwear materials read our article Comparison of Base Layer Materials.

Flatlock seams:

Hiking underwear should have flatlock seams because they offer great comfort, unlike normal seams which can chafe your skin by rubbing against it repeatedly. Learn more about flatlock seams in our article What are flatlock seams.

Antimicrobial:

It’s a great advantage if hiking underwear is antimicrobial. This means your underwear will remain fresh after days of use. Some materials, like Merino wool, have natural antimicrobial properties. Other materials, like polyester and nylon, are usually treated with antimicrobial agents such as Polygiene to provide antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial treatments will, however, get washed out eventually.

Durability:

Hiking underwear should be machine washable and maintain its properties after regular washing.

Style:

For activities such as hiking boxer briefs are recommended as they offer a tight fit and thus efficiently transport perspiration from the skin to the outer layers. A tight fit also protects your thighs from the chafing that looser styles can entail. If you often have problems with thigh chafing, we recommend wearing very long (knee-length) boxer briefs which will cover your thighs better

5. Questions and Answers