Today is Baskit $12 Tuesday. That means you can get a really great pair of Baskit for 24 hours at the $12 price. This week the pair is the Urban Basic Brief. This brief is made with a great pouch and low rise design. Find it and more on the specials page of the Baskit site!
What happens when a straight guy steps outside his swimwear comfort zone? This post below. Our newest writer Gabe tells about how he put on a speedo for the first time on vacation. Enjoy the post!
‘Old habits die hard.’ The same can be said of attitudes or personal beliefs. Anything that jeopardizes the safe comfort of our small thought bubble universe is usually eradicated quickly. It’s just human nature. After all, no one wants to accept that their deep-held personal beliefs may be wrong.
But that’s not what we’re here to talk about… our story is about Speedos!!!
Actually, my introduction is highly relevant to that style of skimpy spandex swimwear. If you’re unsure about why that is then I offer this challenge: put on a Speedo, go to your nearest public beach or pool, and loiter in the sun. Count the number of awkward moments you experience in an hour.
The truth is that, despite centuries of human progress and enlightenment, we are still unable to shake our profound feelings of shame toward our own bodies. This is especially true here in the U.S. where we have John Ashcroft and Super Bowl wardrobe malfunctions to remind us that unclothed human bodies are morally wrong.
It is a perverse dichotomy. We love seeing skin. It is all over our magazine covers, television ads, movies, etc. And yet, we have somehow all silently agreed amongst ourselves to make our disgust known anytime we see it in public. Recall the scene from the movie Meet the Parents in which Ben Stiller is left no alternative but to don a Speedo in front of the entire family and how the group taunted him. The knee-jerk ‘eeewwww’ reaction is so embedded in our culture as to be second nature. It is a learned behavior and it is doing us no favors.
A few years ago my girlfriend (now fiancé) and I made a trip to a resort on the island of St. Lucia. We were staying at a place that catered mostly to couples (lots of newlyweds). Our visit happened to coincide with that of a large group of 30 and 40 something couples from the Netherlands. They were a fun group. Good lord could they drink!
The afternoon of our second day there, we were lying on the sand at the beach behind our bungalow. It was only then I became aware that I was the only man wearing board shorts. My male European counterparts were all wearing speedos. It was actually me, in my family‑friendly swimwear, who was getting the odd looks from people. Or at least I certainly felt that way. Go figure. By the third day I had decided enough was enough. After some encouragement from my GF (and after downing a brightly colored fruity umbrella drink) I strode to the resort shop, bought a pair of black speedos, and “hammocked up.”
It’s important to note here that I swam competitively for many years and was accustomed to wearing a speedo during workouts at a pool. But I had never simply worn one while relaxing on a beach. Nor did I possess the kind of rippled physique that might grant me an exemption from mockery. No, I was stumbling head-on into Greg Focker territory.
But truthfully I felt no stigma or shame. I was lucky enough to find myself in a situation where the social pressure element (the fear of being taunted) was totally eliminated. My girlfriend was not critical at all as she seemed only to encourage me. Once that critical element was removed the only pressure remaining was internal.
And this brings me to perhaps the most important point. A straight man wearing a Speedo may experience thoughts of self-doubt which are as inhibiting as any external social pressure. We are afraid that if we wear a Speedo (and heaven forbid we enjoy it) that it somehow makes us gay. As if Tim Gunn himself descended from the heavens, waived a bejeweled wand, and made a cloud of pink smoke go “poof” on top of our lives. Your next stop is an appearance on Oprah where the topic is straight men who ruined the lives of their unsuspecting female partners.
This is not how it works. Honest. My experience did not turn me gay. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Ignoring the urge to cover up made the personal time with my girlfriend way more adventurous and flirty than it had ever been before. Lacking a better term I refer to it as the ‘Tarzan Effect.’ I felt less schlubby. I actually liked my own body for once, even if I was carrying a keg instead six pack abs. It was this sudden inrush of confidence that made the rest of our stay incredible.
This experience was important to have because it marked a change in my attitude. It was the last time I really worried about what other people thought of me. This letting go has had many positive effects in other parts of my life. The speedo itself is really just a secondary part of the bigger change in thinking that I’m trying to sell here. And that is: be unafraid. Find what it is that makes you feel confident or happy. See how it affects your relationships, intimate or otherwise. Experiment. This body you have is the only one you get. Why not enjoy it?
I don’t expect this sense of adventure or experimentation will be everyone’s cup of tea. I’m sure that there really are people who, absent any social pressure, still really prefer to cover up. And that’s fine too. The only thing I would urge upon those people is to withhold judgement of others who are more adventurous than you. They’re not trying to gross you out. And if it does gross you out, just look away.
If you’re still afraid that a speedo will turn you gay just remember that it’s simply an article of clothing. The inherent traits that you possess are much stronger and are unlikely to change by virtue of a wardrobe choice. If I’m wrong and it does change you then look on the bright side… you’ll get to meet Oprah.
So for the guys reading who are still on the fence, I dare you… “hammock up”
We all know underwear should be fun! If you are reading this blog this is a mantra for you as it is for all the guys on the site. Aware SOHO has always created really fun and colorful undies. They also go that extra mile when creating waistbands. Each line has it’s own distinct waistband. They have released some new undies recently that we think you should be aware of and the Compton Jock is one of those pairs.
As the Aware SOHO site says who wants to always wear white or black underwear all the time? See this pair and more at the Aware SOHO site.
Today’s Brief Distraction is a great picture from aussieBum. This is a behind the scenes picture from the new swimwear collection. Make sure you go check them out for some amazing swimwear.
I get the chance to review another great pair from N2N Bodywear. Much like the Signature Trunk, this Seafarer Brief is a style N2N has had in their line up for a few years. Each season they redefine the line and change up the colors. It’s much like revisiting an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. The Seafarer line has three new colors, black, light blue and white with a white waistband and trim. I have reviewed the other briefs before and looked forward to seeing if anything changed.
I received the light blue pair in a size large. The large fit my 36 waist very well. I wore this pair on a weekend that was pretty active with errands. I know you’re shocked it was not another day at the office. Whereas the Signature line I reviewed this week has a definite pouch, this one is the opposite. There is no defined pouch design with this pair. You may think this is a problem but the way the material is made it has extra give that felt great and almost created a pouch. Speaking of material, the previous materials at times to me seems a little too loose. Granted it fit great but I could always hoped for better support. This material (90% cotton/10% Spandex) seems thicker for a lack of better word. It gave me a bit more support than previous editions of the brief. So my active day really gave this pair a test and it passed.
Sizing with N2N is pretty much what you see on the site. The large fits a 36 waist fine. They are pretty much on American sizing. I am 100% confident that you will get the right size. N2N makes underwear guys want to wear. A few years ago they added XL to their size line up and it has expanded their audience.
I really liked the new material best. I’m not sure how to describe it but it just seems thicker. It gave me great support through out my running around town. I was on the go from the morning till afternoon. Next thing I liked was the color. The light blue is one we haven’t seen from N2N that often. This year one of the big trends is lighter colors in underwear. The light blue is a welcome addition to the underwear drawer. The fit was another thing I liked about the pair. Even without a defined pouch it gave me the support I needed through out the day. As for Con’s….I can’t really think of any other then maybe add more colors. Which is a very superficial con and I’m sure next year we’ll see some great colors like last seasons orange.
I really like giving a brand multiple reviews. It shows if they keep up their standards. N2N is definitely keeping up and improving. They always try to out do themselves each year. My previous pairs have been XL and I’m glad I have one of my favorites back in my underwear drawer. It really sucks to not be able to wear your favorite paris of underwear. But the trade off to be healthier is worth it.
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N2N Bodywear furnished this pair for review. They can be found on their site for $21. Sorry no personal pic for this pair
We brought you a picture of Nick yesterday but we wanted to give you one more pic of Nick D’Alessandro. He is the newest model for Cityboyz Fashions. Nick is a National NPC Men’s Physique competitor who also is a fitness and fashion model. He says “I am currently aiming to get my PRO Card this year and then one day do the Olympia!” We wish him luck
It’s rare I get to try a pair of underwear every year as the line is refreshed. That is what has happened with the N2N Signature Boxer. It was released a few years ago and every time we get review pairs from N2N, I get a chance to revisit this pair. The past reviews have been very good. You wouldn’t think that since I’m not a big boxer brief fan. This is one pair that I have grown to love over the last few years. So, each time it gets refreshed with colors, I get excited to retry it.
The current refresh of the Signature line is either a navy or white body accented by red. It’s a very eye catching color combination. The trunk has two red accents on the side of the pouch and has a signature 1 ¼” inch waistband. The pair is also designed with a contour pouch, that N2N is known for making. Lastly it’s made in a 90% cotton and 10% spandex blend.
I really didn’t think that N2N could improve on this pair. The last reviews just fit so well that I didn’t see how they could make it better. Imagine my surprise when I put the navy pair on, that the color combinations were not the only improvement. I think they have made the pouch better. It just fit me so well through out the day. It did everything I want a pair to do, give me great support, be true to size and look great. I am not sure how they improved the pouch, but I’m a bigger N2N fan now.
I wore this pair to work and errands later in the day. They held up amazingly well. I have said it before but N2N makes underwear that is made for a guy. I say this because they take time to think about how it will fit and make sure all the needs a guy would have in underwear are met. As I went through the day my mind didn’t even think of the underwear. The fit was one of those that when you wear a great pair of underwear, you forget you are wearing any. There were no issues in construction or fit. I loved how the pouch not only gave great support but also even enhanced my package.
The sizing on N2N is pretty much spot on. I received a Large, which fit my 36 waist very well. The rest of the sizing is pretty much American standard sizing. You should have no issues when purchasing a pair of N2N. The previous pairs I reviewed were XL. But with the last year I have lost 75 pounds and have gone down a size! You can see a personal pic below the break. This is one of the few times I have posted a personal pic, so be nice!
There are many pro’s for this pair. The first is the new color combinations. This really accents and shows off what you want to show off! The fabric is perfect for daily wear. The spandex gives you great support and will form to your body. The pouch was another pro. If you love underwear with a great pouch then this should be a must for your underwear drawer! As for con’s the only one I can think of is I admit I like a boxer brief!
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N2N Bodywear furnished this pair for review. You can find it on their site for $24.00. See my personal picture below
Today’s Brief Distraction features Cityboyz Fashions model Nick D’Alessandro. He is wearing Supawear and photographed by Luis Rafael. Right now Cityboyz is having a sale get 20% off orders $100 or more by using code cityboyz20 at checkout
It’s Been a while since we ran a boxer brief as the Underwear of the week. This week we have chosen the Nils Bohner Stars Greca Hipster. Nils Bohner may not be a brand many of you know out there. But, we think it is a brand that you should definitely check out. Nils Bonhner is based in Germany and made in Europe:
“Mediocrity is not our standard!” is their motto. The NILS BOHNER products and collections have been around since 1997 on the German market. In all the styles of NILS BOHNER you will only find technically innovative fabrics such as high quality cotton, modal and microfiber fabrics use. These are then combined with comfortable soft rubber straps and other accessories.
Reasons this pair is our underwear of the week:
This pair is available from Dead Good Undies for £20 and is available in Black and White.
Post contains an affiliate sales link for Dead Good Undies
Today’s Brief Distraction features the Pop Mod Brief from Go Softwear. They have released some great new pairs in the last month. We hope you enjoy this picture.
In Part One of a two-part series, I’ll be going through some of the factors that makes an underwear lover manage their obsession, how to appreciate the underwear collection you may have amassed over time, and what prompts such action. In Part Two, “In With The New” I will examine some of the factors in the underwear world that contribute in feeding the insatiable desires of a men’s underwear addict and provide some guidelines and tips that have been helpful to me, in managing your obsession with the reality of your finances.
-Part One- “Love What You Have”
For the average male, it is probably close to inconceivable to think about owning over 160 pairs of underwear, and for straight men in particular owning that much underwear at one time just seems crazy. But for an underwear addict regardless of orientation, (I happen to be straight) your mind never thinks about the number of pairs you own, because you are constantly thinking about the next purchase. Unless you have an “in” within the underwear industry, you are mostly left paying asking price for your newest, favorite pair. On the rare exception, that is, if you are lucky (and driven) enough like I am, you can score free pairs by writing about and reviewing underwear, (we are always looking for new talent – so if you like free undies and you like to write – get in touch with us) but for the pairs that you just have to have, you’re left paying full price, or shopping around the internet for sales.
When I got into underwear about 3.5 years ago my collection stood at just three pairs. Today, by my count, my collection is at 160 pairs. Obviously in those 3.5 years I became an addict, obesssionist, whatever you want to call us underwear loving nerds, and with that comes the honest reality of the money it cost me to get here. Just doing some basic math, the average price for each piece of underwear in my collection is roughly $16, so that honest reality I was talking about shows me that I’ve spent over $2500 in 3.5 years, hundreds of dollars a year.
Of course, if you have a collection that numbers over 20 pairs of designer undies, let alone a collection as big or bigger than mine, I am preaching to the choir. Men’s designer underwear is expensive and it is expensive for a variety of reasons, which I won’t get into here, but might venture into in a completely separate post later on. I also don’t need to tell you that even as big as that $2500 figure looks on paper (as you read it) you never think about the overall total you’ve spent, you are just thinking about your money in terms of your next purchase.
But life can throw the proverbial curve ball, which can require a shift in priorities when it comes to how you spend your discretionary income, and it did for me this past winter.
My wife was pregnant with our son, and while I knew that his arrival would mean my routine, 2-3 underwear purchases per month would need to take a big hit, I figured I could get by with one, maybe two purchases a month. Then my wife lost her job at 8 months pregnant. In the four months since our son was born I haven’t made a single underwear purchase. My collection has only been added to by the underwear I get to review for UNB. As tough is this has been for me as an underwear addict, the silver linings to all of it has been quite rewarding.
Since I am no longer having new underwear delivered to my door constantly, I have really been able to enjoy the breadth and depth of the collection I have amassed. If you’re an addict like I am, and constantly growing your collection week in and week out, what you end up doing is neglecting all the great underwear you’ve already got. For instance, before my son was born I had over a hundred pairs of underwear that had been worn less than three times, and a large portion, less than twice.
No matter how big your underwear stash is, its really imperative that you aren’t wearing certain pairs out, and to do that means you need to “wear through” your collection-meaning, alternate through your collection over the course of as many days as you can. There are so many benefits to doing this too.
For one, in the last couple months of my wife’s pregnancy and especially in the first two or three weeks after he was born, I packed on the pounds. With such a massive underwear collection, some of the pairs from brands that run small-including many of my favorites just wouldn’t fit me any more. The result? I’ve been working out 5 days a week in the morning doing strength/circuit training. I’ve lost a bunch of weight and inches off my waist and I fit into just about everything I own. It’s really been the biggest benefit of loving what I have.
Another huge benefit to enjoying what I have has been the benefit some of my favorite pairs have received. When I gained weight I just wanted to wear all my stretchy Andrew Christian underwear, and cycling the rayon through the wash every week or so is not ideal. Without the threat of new AC briefs to replace them, I’ve forced myself to explore all the other underwear in my collection that performed the same task-and now that I’ve lost weight, the conscious decision to hop around from different labels, styles, and cuts. I could probably go on about my own experiences with why I love taking the break from the thrill of having new pairs to wear each week and instead loving what I have, but it is probably better to make it simple.
Whether you’re like me and you are somewhat forced into the “Loving What You Have” concept, or you simply realize that consistently adding new pairs just creates a ton of barely worn, brand new underwear that languishes in your drawers, there are so many benefits to taking a break from the grind of feeling like you need to buy every designer’s newest offerings. Here are some tips as to why you should do it and the benefits of loving what you have.
For an underwear addict like me (and many of you) of course it must be said that nothing is better than getting those new pairs in the mail or on your doorstep to open and do that initial first try-on. For me, I know I will be back in the game once my family is back on more firm footing–it is killing me not to be able to test out all the new styles from my favorite brands. Yet, with that said there is something noble about wearing what I’ve got. It is all underwear that at one time or another I simply couldn’t live without, and the only way to feel that way about those pairs again is to get them on.
So whether you are like me, and somewhat forced into “Loving What You’ve Got” or you are looking at your credit card statements each month thinking what you could do if you had spent just half of what you spent on underwear, making the decision won’t be easy to swallow at first, but once you realize that your drawer(s) 🙂 are already filled with the underwear you love, loving what you have becomes so much easier.
And of course, don’t forget to remember my tips!
Today’s Brief Distraction features another great picture from Andres Ramirez. This is model Abraham Arasa who has been a ballroom dancer since 5 years old. His ultimate dream is to be a firefighter.
This is my second review of Pikante this week. I will say Pikante is becoming one of my favorite underwear companies. The pair I am reviewing is the 9220 Jockbrief. This isn’t so much of a jockbrief as a jock bikini. It’s a smaller cut then usual jock briefs from other brands. I have one other jock brief and a pair of boxer briefs from Pikante. The other jock brief has a great fit and I hoped this one was going to have a simlar fit.
The Pikante 9220 Jock brief is available in four colors. Those are white, red, blue and black. Each pair has a contrasting trim around the waist, legs and back openings. Made out of 94% Cotton, 6% Spandex blend fabric. Which felt good through out the day. The waistband is a smaller waistband that had me worried if it would hold up through out the day.
I wore this pair to work and when I first slid the pair on on it made me feel a bit naughty. I haven’t had too many jock briefs and the opening in the back, didn’t feel odd but felt nice and did I say naughty because everything was hanging out! The waistband issue I mentioned above didn’t cause problems. It held me up as I ran around work and did some errands. I received the red with black trim. I loved the color combination
Sizing in Pikante is pretty well matched to the sizing chart. I received an XL and it fit my 36-waist fine. This is definitely smaller then typical US sizing but if you follow the chart listed on websites you shouldn’t have a problem getting the right fit.
Some things I liked were the smaller size of the brief. It fit me just right and felt great through out the day. Next, I love the color combination with the trim. They could have made it a solid color but added a bit of pop. My suggestion for improvement is minor. The Cotton/Spandex blend felt great but I’d love to see this with a nylon/spandex blend. Some other pairs I have with this blend just fit so well. The nylon/spandex could make it more form fitting.
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Pikante furnished this pair for review
I have recently started wearing more briefs from Clever Moda, so I was pleased to receive this pair to review. Clever always creates underwear with interesting patterns and color combinations. They are usually super comfortable and wear well as everyday underwear.
I wore this pair on a regular work day for me. Eight hours of sitting at a desk staring at a computer monitor. But unlike most desk-jockeys, I rarely sit still at work. I get up and walk around, and when it’s slow I’ve been known to bust a move in the middle of the office if there’s good music playing. I love how these underwear felt all day. I “dress down” and never had a problem with anything moving out of place. I wore them to the gym as well after work. There’s always a little thrill to changing in the locker room when I am wearing new and different underwear. With it’s squiggly line and diamond mesh pattern, this is definitely an eye-catching pair and drew a few inquisitive looks. Not only does the mesh make them visually appealing, but also makes them very breathable. Throughout the workout, I was comfortable and dry.
The pair I received was a size medium, and fit perfectly on my 31” waist. The fabric is 85% nylon/15% spandex; stretchy and supportive. They are available in white or purple, with a silver waistband with the purple Clever logo. They were form fitting without being uncomfortable, and definitely will go into the rotation to be worn regularly.
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This pair was furnished by Clever Moda.
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2(X)ist is having their Semi-Annual 25% off event. This sale is site wide. So go save one some great pairs.
Shop at: http://www.2xist.com |
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GET A FREE JOCK WITH EVERY ORDER OF $40 OR MORE
From now until Wednesday, June 12th, 2013 (midnight EST), when you shop at Jockstrap Central and your product total is $40 or more, they will throw in a free jockstrap. While supplies last, the free jockstrap will be one of their Wolf Athletic Supporters (If they run out, you’ll still get a free jock, just not one of those.) On the last step of your checkout (the invoice page) you’ll be asked to choose your size and color preference. Wolf jockstraps are phenomenal and if you don’t have one already, this is a great chance to get one to “try” out. We’re sure you’ll be hooked! If you already have one, get yourself another for when the first is in the wash. Shop at: http://www.jockstrapcentral.com Link contains an affiliate like |
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Save 25% off on CK underwear now at Men’s Underwear Store. You may notice the picture is very “Back to the Future” Also while there save on 13 of the most popular brands!
Shop at: http://www.mensunderwearstore.com |
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International Jock is having a sale on Armani, C-IN2, CK, 2(X)Ist and more. Save 25% off these brands
Shop at: http://www.internationaljock.com |
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C-IN2 is having a Father’s Day Sale. You can save 25% off the entire collection. There is one week left in the sale so don’t miss out
Shop at: http://www.c-in2.com |
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It’s swimwear season and 10Percent.com is giving you 25% off all swimwear styles. This is for a limited time so don’t miss out. Some brands they have are Clever, Vuthy, N2N Bodywear, Rufskin and more!
Shop at: http://www.10percent.com |
Today is Baskit $12 Tuesday. It’s the one day of the week you can get a pair for just $12 from Baskit! But this is just for one day! This weeks pair is the Contrast Boxer Brief. However, there are always more sales on the Specials page so make sure you check it out!
D.Hedral is a brand we have covered many times on the blog. Including some really great pictures of former rugger Thom Evans. We got two great pairs to review, which are the Angel Fit and Seamless briefs. The first one I will be reviewing is the Seamless Brief. If you’re not familiar with D.Hedral they are a brand that is developed to enhance your backside.
I was really excited to try the D.Hedral after reporting on them for so long. I wanted to see how well they accented my assets. The seamless brief, I don’t think has the same powers to show off my backside as the Angel Fit line. In the Angel fit you choose your waist and angle sizes. Where as, the seamless your only choice is size.. My past experiences with seamless underwear have not been too pleasant. Sometimes the waistbands won’t hold up and the pair looses shape during the day. So I had hopes that I would not be let down.
I wish I had some exciting place to tell you I wore this pair and then put it through its paces. Like I went hiking or played baseball. I did not; I just wore them to work. Which when you come to think about it is where we wear our undies the most. It wasn’t to stressful day. I noted my concerns above and through out the day I kept notice on the underwear. It held up great and the waistband didn’t stretch or loose shape. Made out of 92% Polyamide, 8% Elastane that felt great against my skin. It really surprised me that it felt as good at the end of the day as the beginning of the day. I received the black pair but it’s also available in navy, grey and white.
If you order these directly from D.Hedral the sizes are in centimeters. So you will need to either do some math or find a converter calculator (which is what I did). The two sizes are S/M and L/XL. S/M is 77-90 cm (30 – 35 inches) and L/XL is 91-107 (35-42). I have a 36-inch waist and the l/xl fit me fine. I didn’t want to chance the smaller size.
I really liked the fit of these. They did a great job making a seamless pair. Also, another thing was the waistband. Many times when you get a seamless pair it’s just the main material that is made into a waistband. This pair they paid attention to the waistband to differentiate it from the rest of the body of the brief. My only complaint is that I wished they had a few brighter colors. I’d love to see a red or orange in this line.
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D.Hedral furnished this pair for review. It is available at their site for 28 Euros.
Today’s Brief Distraction is from Timoteo’s Cellblock13. If you’re looking for something fun then this is a brand you should check out! This is the Football Pants with a jock back.
Model: Breydan Forrester
Photographer: Timoteo Ocampo
We all agree that underwear should be fun. I decided to put that statement to a test. When I got a chance to pick some Pikante I chose the metallic silver Spotlight Anatoimc brief. It is not one that I would normally wear on a daily basis but sometimes we have to step outside the underwear comfort zone and try something new. This is the third pair of Pikante I have tried since loosing my weight.
My first impression was it’s a really cool pair, being all bright and shiny. The material is metallic (Polyester 93%, Spandex 7%.) but didn’t seem like it would stretch like other pairs I have received from Pikante. I was a little worried about the fit. On top of that is it has a zipper in the pouch. Need I go into detail how that can be bad for a guy? I don’t think so. But I always try to have an open mind and I took an extra pair of undies to work just in case this pair didn’t work out.
I wore this pair to work. I didn’t want to do a review that was too intensive because I wasn’t sure how well this pair would hold up. The main concerns were it’s ability to move and breathe. So in the morning I put it on and liked the look of it. The fit surprised me; it didn’t fit as tight as I thought it would. It was snug but not too tight. As I wore it through the day my worries about it not breathing were put to rest. I could barely tell I was wearing a metallic pair. Granted I wouldn’t wear it to the gym or running but for daily wear or a date night you should be fine.
The zipper maybe a concern to most of you guys. I didn’t find it as a bother. The zipper is covered with fabric so it didn’t rub me in the wrong places. You may ask if I used it. For the review I unzipped it a few times during the day. Each time I as super careful zipping up. It worked fine and its not just decorative.
If you are familiar with Pikante and their sizing chart it’s pretty much spot on. I’m a size 36 waist and the XL fit me fine. I believe the XL fits 36-38. If you’re close to a 38 you may have an issue. These aren’t made for bigger guys. Being a former bigger guy it can be frustrating to find great undies in larger sizes. But follow the size guide and you should be fine.
I really liked this pair. Will I wear it weekly, probably not but it will definitely be a fun pair to wear on occasion. The major down fall for this pair is it’s hand watch only. If you wash it in the washer you may find the metallic fabric may not hold up. So put in the washer at your own risk. I would say another great place to wear this would be in a costume if you go to Cons. There could be some super creative things you can do with it. But for my daily wear it made me feel sexy all day, no one knew that I was wearing such a fun pair under my pants.
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Pikante furnished this pair for review. The pair is also available n black
MaleBasics came out with their new Geometric line this past week. It’s a really fun line featuring Chevron, Byblos and Hounds Tooth patterns. Here is what they told us about the line.
We decided to have a bit of fun with this new collection while keeping it classy end elegant. it’s all inspired on this season’s trend: Geometrics. We went from the traditional and classy “Houndstooth” a.k.a “Prince of Wales” to the simplicity of Chevrons. The Malebasics Geometric Collection honors the colors that have defined the brand for the last 12 years: Red, Black and White
We chose 3 patterns that are very different from one another. Malebasics Byblos is an elegant pattern, inspired by structures that are impossible to achieve in the tangible world, it is a classy reminder of Japanese engravings and Op Art. Wait until you see how this hypnotic pattern gets wrapped around your waist.
We made the Malebasics Chevron Pattern very irregular on purpose. The idea was to recreate the hand-traced patterns that can be found in African and Amazonian tribes. The effect is extremely beautiful and elegant when printed on our super soft fabric.
“The Prince of Wales”: The quintessential masculine pattern. Commonly known as the Houndtsooth, it has its origins on the garments used by Scottish shepherds. Then popularized by Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor and Prince of Wales, it was adopted by upper classes as a symbol of status. During the 20th Century, designers like Christian Dior, Moschino and Chanel have used the pattern in their collections. As the geometrics are coming back this season, what pattern could be best revived if not the Houndstooth? We decided to go ahead with a Classic as we felt that it was time for the Prince to make it all the way to your underpants but this time, oversized!
The high percentage of Cotton on this collection and its weight, makes it very resistant and soft to the touch. We took our engineered underwear and transformed it by suing these new prints. The comfort is the same it’s just the look that has changed. There is a new element in this collection and that is the fact that we started to use our new logo on the waistband. Also, this is our first collection of Underwear that includes a Jockstrap.
Find the Patterns for pre-order and more at the Male Basics Site – http://www.malebasics.com
Today’s Brief Distraction is UNB Original. It was taken in Las Vegas this past February when we met with N2NBodywear. This is the Ultra 2.0 Singlet in Orange. Enjoy your Sunday
The pair of underwear I am reviewing is the PPU Boxer #1322. Before trying these on, I enjoyed taking in the big picture. The white fabric has see through polka dots, the waistband is red with contrasting black logo sewn in, the leg openings have black piping to contrast with the stark white and bright red, and there is a black mesh area above the pouch for a peek-a-boo effect. Interesting. The PPU logo sits on each side and is not centered over the pouch which does not bother me like it bothers other guys. The red waistband has a metallic sheen to it which I really enjoyed.
After trying them on, the waistband is comfortable at nearly two inches in width. The slight pouch was accommodating, conforming, and defining. While this is a boxer, it felt more like a brief. Companies seem to have their own take on what defines a boxer and in this case I suppose a slightly longer side panel is the key. The boxer was pieced together in multiple pieces to create the pouch and had a seam down the center of the rear for even more definition of the assets. The black mesh panel shows off the area above the bits and the upper portion of the bits, as well. It is quite erotic, in my opinion. This boxer comes in several colors (mint, white, black) that most anyone would enjoy. This is my second pair of PPU underwear and I like them.
While wearing this pair of underwear, I went on an extended shopping experience over an eight hour period with lots of walking, bending, and trying on clothes. It was a busy day filled with quite a bit of activity that tested the underwear under normal circumstances for most guys. The pair fit well, looked good, did not bunch up, did not ride up, and felt like I did not have underwear on at all. This pair of underwear would be good for a night out on the town or everyday wear, but not for exercising or major activity.
I received a size extra large in this boxer. This size should cover a 34-36 pant size. Sizing was not true to size as I am a large in the vast majority of underwear, but this is a non-issue as the company tells you that the XL is a 34-36” size. So, size up. This pair can be found for around 21$ on most websites.
I loved the polka dot see through pattern that made up the body of the underwear, the metallic red waistband, the black contrasting piping around the legs, the black mesh see through peek-a-boo panel, and the way the crotch area felt against my skin. 82.5% Nylon and 17.5% Spandex fabric combination makes this a slightly stretchy and conforming pair of underwear that I enjoyed. The rear seam was another part of the boxer that I enjoyed as it showed off the assets. This boxer had nothing about it that I could complain about.
Overall, this was a nice pair of underwear and I felt sexy and comfortable at the same time while wearing them. The design is conforming to the body and creates a fantastic profile from the front and the rear. I did find that one could take the pouch and pull it down and under the package to push up the mesh pouch area and create a totally different look for the boxer. I enjoyed this boxer and look forward to wearing it again.
Pros
Cons
Ratings:
· Daily Fit – A
· Sizing – B
· Construction/Materials – A
· Styling – A
· Daily Performance – A
· Overall – A-
PPU furnished these for review.
I asked a few of the guys on the site to give me what undies would they suggest for summer. Each guy gave me a pair and a reason why it would be a great pair for summer. Here is our list of what we think would make great additions to your underwear drawer.
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UNB J.D. – Bjorn Borg Check It -Nothing says summer light bright yellow, purple and pink plaid, Check Yourself in the awesome pair of Bjorn Borgs. |
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AtlBriefs – Cocksox CX01 Bikini Orange – Cocksox brief in orange. Aside from the fantastic fit, the bright color definitely puts some pep in my step |
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UNBBrandon – C-IN2 Zen Street Jock Clearwater – I am a huge fan of bright colors so it was difficult for me to pick one but I am also not the kind of person who punts when asked to pick just one thing. So for me, it’s my pair of C-IN2 Zen Sport Briefs in “Clearwater.” I think the light turquoise color is very summery, and the underwear itself is perfect for hot summer days because it features perforated rayon (mesh) fabric. |
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Alex B – 2(x)ist Cabana Stripe – 2(X)ist does a great job picking new and flashy colors and designs. This pair has it all, the colors and the stripes. These bright colors are the colors of this summer. |
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Tim – 2EROS Jock Line – My personal favorite is the blue pair. The bright blue material with the contrasting red accent will brighten up your undies drawer! |
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TTheamazing – Andrew Christian Trophy Boy Boxer Brief Electric Blue – I love the electric blue color because it makes me think of the carribbean and i’m on vacation |