Falke Cool Boxers – First Hand Review

Material

The Falke Cool boxers are made of a polyamide (nylon) fabric with a small content of elastane fibers (8%). When I unwrapped the boxers, I was surprised how soft and non-synthetic the fabric feels. I have several pairs of synthetic boxers from various brands at home, and the Falke Cool boxers are indeed the softest and most pleasant to the touch. Nevertheless, I did also notice that the fabric is relatively thick, at least for a garment that is designed for warm to hot conditions.

I expected that the boxers would be made of the exact same fabric as the Falke Cool t-shirt, but that’s not the case. The Falke Cool boxers are made of thicker and less porous fabric. Now, the advantage of the thicker fabric is better durability which is important when it comes to performance underwear. Whether you are running or hiking, the underwear is exposed to friction, especially between your inner thighs. Many of my performance boxers started tearing there within a year of use (particularly those made of pure Merino wool). I haven’t noticed any such issues with the Falke Cool boxers so far and thus I assume that the fabric is adequately robust. Nevertheless, if I notice anything, I will of course update this review.

When you are buying performance underwear, you typically want a breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying and odor-resistant garment. These were thus the qualities I focused on while testing the boxers on various trails and runs. I wore the boxers for the first time on the hike to the 2557 meters high Sass Ciapel (trail to be published soon) and I was impressed over the comfort. Nevertheless, when I started gaining altitude and the intensity increased, I did notice that they are slightly less breathable than my other synthetic underwear. The relatively thick fabric does indeed have impact on the breathability. However, it doesn’t seem that it has a big impact on the drying time. The boxers were always dry when I returned from hikes and I was therefore very satisfied with the drying time in general. I noticed that the boxers nicely disperse the moisture across the surface of the fabric and that’s probably also the reason why they dry so fast (moisture dries faster when dispersed). The boxers are also very moisture-wicking as they efficiently pull the moisture from your skin.

It’s no secret that synthetic garments become smelly fast unless they are treated with some kind of antimicrobial agent. In the product description on Falke’s website I haven’t found any information about antimicrobial treatments, but to my surprise the boxers didn’t become smelly even though I wore them on four hikes in a row without washing them in between. Now, antimicrobial treatments often wash out, but so far, the boxers have remained odor-resistant.

Comfort, fit, sizing and functionality

The Falke Cool boxers belong in the short leg boxer briefs (trunks) category. They have an inseam length of two inches (5 cm). I usually prefer longer boxers for sports because the legs of short boxers often ride up in my experience. Nevertheless, this was not an issue with the Falke Cool boxers.

The boxers fit tightly to the body but because the material is super stretchy, I found them very comfortable nevertheless. While hiking and running they never restricted me in any way. I also haven’t encountered any chafing or rubbing. When I had a closer look at the boxers, I noticed some very neat details. The flatlock seams are incredibly thin – on the inside it’s actually hard to locate them. I would therefore be very surprised if they caused discomfort to anyone. The waist band is made of a stretchy double-layer fabric which is very soft to the touch and the stitching beneath the waistband is minimal for extra comfort. The logo on the waistband is printed not to cause chafing. The Falke boxers don’t have a fly, but I personally don’t think this a problem. To be honest, I find flies inconvenient and usually a weak link in the durability of underwear.

As for the sizing, I got the boxers in size L and they fit me perfectly. My waist circumference is 94 cm (37 in.).

Washing and drying

The boxers can be machine washed at 40 C without bleach or softeners. Like most other activewear they shouldn’t be tumble dried. As the underwear is odor-resistant it doesn’t have to be washed after every workout. Nevertheless, I recommend washing the garment regularly for hygienic reasons.

Verdict

The Falke Cool boxers are a good option for outdoorsy people and athletes. I’m very impressed over the softness of the fabric and neat details like super thin flatlock seams and comfy waistband. The boxers are also moisture-wicking, quick drying and odor-resistant. They fit me well and I’m very satisfied with the freedom of movement. The only thing that bothers me is that they are made of a relatively thick fabric, which somewhat reduces the breathability. However, there are always tradeoffs, and the Falke boxers indeed provide better durability due to the more robust fabric.

If you have any questions about this product, drop me a line in the comments below.