So I was in my neighborhood Target store recently, and on a whim, I decided to check out the underwear section. Last time I went I had been disappointed in the available selection and was presently surprised to see that they had revamped the area, with a few new options. I picked up the kind that looked the skimpiest. Surprising, right?

The micro mesh is not like it’s more risqué cousin regular mesh. The pairs are covered in small holes, which themselves are further subdivided by very thin thread into quarters, leaving a mesh fabric that isn’t too revealing. I’d compare it to Cin-2’s Zen line or 2xit’s own Sliq line if you are familiar with either of those.

Speaking of comparisons, I’d like to take a moment to see how this pair compares to other big name brief brands in my collection. Just how skimpy/unskimpy is it really? I compared it to some other 2xist briefs that I own, and while the leg opening hight is about the same on all of the pairs the evolve is a little bit bigger than the rest. So unless you feel that 2Xist’s main lines of briefs are too skimpy, if you are looking for small briefs you are better off elsewhere. The white stripes on the sides on the hips are a nice touch. These pairs are tagless too, and even though they are micro-mesh, the front is double layered so there’s no need to worry about showing off too much. Another positive is the price point. At only $12.99 US before tax, it wouldn’t be too costly to get a weeks worth of pairs for the same price as a couple designer name pairs instead. So there is some to like about these briefs.

Sadly, there are more than a few issues I have with the design. First, I am not a fan of the intermediate style waistband. It is too small to effectively grasp like a large waistband, nor does it give the pair a sleek look like on a pair without a waistband. I really don’t like this trend and hope it goes away. Also, The look of it is a little bit meh..but I am biased towards skimpier pairs, and this is marketed towards a mass audience of which this will probably be the skimpiest thing they have ever worn.

2xist had several other varieties in this new Evolve line, including cotton bikinis, and trunks, including some labeled under the Sliq line. If you guys are interested, I will continue to try these new lines from 2xist. Overall, it’s not great, but it’s not horrible either. Comfortable, with some perks, but nothing exceptional about them.

Still, the fact that this partnership between 2xist and Target persists is a good sign, no matter how good the product is. It points to a sign that men are starting to want more than the bare bones basics that have usually been pedaling in the past. It points to major retailers identifying this trend and making moves to try and get that market. Getting better underwear into more mad marketplaces at an affordable price point is a win in my book.

That’s one of our goals here at UNB, to get guys into good underwear no matter what the style. If you like the look of them, give it a try. About $7 per pair after tax is a good deal, and besides their questionable looks, they are reliably comfortable. Do you want us to review more styles from the Evolve line or other new semi-upscale brands that have begun to pop up in mass-market retailers like Target? Let us know in the comments below!

As always, if you have any comments or questions, you can find me on twitter at @underweardude .

Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of Show us your Drawers!, a series dedicated to having a look at the underwear drawers of UNB readers and writers. Today we are taking a look at the drawers of UNBDustin. Here is what he has to say:

“I’d love to say my underwear drawer is perfectly folded and organized because half of me is OCD and likes things just so.  However, the other half is lazy and can’t be bothered.  So first, you’ll see I have a dresser just for underwear.  It’s vintage and cool (even the original liner in the drawers) but doesn’t actually hold a lot.  I do separate by style: top drawer for thongs and jocks, middle two for briefs and bottom drawer for boxer briefs and boxer shorts.  This keeps things easier to find and looking pretty neat.  However, with 250+ pairs, they don’t all fit.  This is where the other side of me kicks in: a laundry basket with underwear simply folded and stacked in there.  It’s not on its way from the laundry – that’s where it lives.  The problem with this is that I think I only wear about 10% of my gear because I grab what’s on or near the top.  I never make resolutions but I might this year…wear a different pair every day until I’ve gone through my entire collection.  If I don’t like wearing them, get rid of them.  This will hopefully help me clear things out and make way for new stuff!”

Thanks, Dustin! Want to join Dustin in showing off your collection and storage methods? Send an email to info@underwearnewsbriefs.com with “Drawer!” in the title, along with a picture of your underwear drawer and a short paragraph describing your collection and/or storage methods. I hope to receive your submission soon!

Hey there, fellow thong lovers! For today’s Thong Thursday post, I’m gonna talk about some new thongs that I’d love to get my hands on in the new future.  Note that I, nor UNB, have been paid to make these statements nor list these pairs. These are simply pairs that have piqued my interest for one reason or another. Hey there, fellow thong lovers! For today’s Thong Thursday post, I’m gonna talk about some new thongs that I’d love to get my hands on in the new future.  Note that I, nor UNB, have been paid to make these statements nor list these pairs. These are simply pairs that have piqued my interest for one reason or another.

Let’s start off with the oldest pair, the Pistol Pete vintage thong. I’ve always felt that the perfect pair of underwear combines form AND function. To me, that means stylish, and possibly with a fly. So with a stylish thong, and a fly? That gets me interested right there! I love the idea of a thong with a usable fly but have yet to see one that has a great fly. Perhaps this will be the one.

Next is a new thong from Portland-based  Jack Adams. More known for their briefs and trunks, I’m a fan of their Sprinter line of thongs. The Lux Thong combines the styling of their Lux line with a pretty classic(aka on the wider side) thong back. The color choices are also interesting, with the orange option being a nice choice for the fall months. It’s also almost the exact shade of orange as some college football teams use..anyways back to thongs!

The last pair I’m going to mention today is the British brand Sukrew, their new bubble thong.  While I wasn’t crazy about the Sukrew pouch like many others when I tried them, the g-string-esuqe styling of this new line hits with me, especially the small pop of color that shows at the center rear on the multi-colored pairs. Sukrew also states that the Bubble Thong’s pouch holds you in a more traditional form than it’s original pouch, though as always with Sukrew products, you can purchase the pair sans-pouch.

So which thongs are you dying to get your hands on? Which pairs do you want us to review? Have any suggestions on how we should celebrate #ThongThursday? Let us know in the comments below, send us an email, or let us know on twitter!

Hey everyone, and welcome to another edition of Show us your Drawers, where we take a look at a UNB writer or reader’s underwear drawer. Today we have our first reader submission, from Steve. Here is what he has to say:

“Here’s my drawer. I’m up to 43 pairs organized by category of course. Jocks are on the left, then g-strings, thongs, bikinis toward the middle, briefs and finally trunks on the far right. As you can see, I try and mix it up with a variety of colors and patterns.

Hi, guys, it’s Underweardude, back again with another look into the underwear drawers of the internet. Today’s drawer is from yet another UNB writer, The Bottom Drawer! Here is what he has to say:

As you can see from the photo, my drawer is not neat at all. It doesn’t mean there is absolutely no organization to it. I use to fold my underwear and at least stacked them in the drawer. Then I got married and had kids so taking time to fold undies went out the door. When I did an organization post for my blog I attempted to make my drawer neater. See photo below. The photo doesn’t have all my pairs in the drawer but shows my feeble attempt at some order. What I’ve found from my organization attempts is none of them really helped me find the pair I was looking for. You’d think by the picture of the neat drawer I would be able too. Part of this is probably due to having close to 200 pairs now. Then there is the problem of not keeping the drawer that neat too.   Now I do try to keep a bit of order in the drawer most of the time. I keep pairs that are older or don’t care too much about to one side. These I wear for things like yard work or exercising that can be harder on a pair. The other side for newer pairs and ones I want to keep in decent shape longer. So far all my underwear fits in one drawer, due to them being bikinis and thongs. I’m actually planning on trying to do a purge of the drawer. There are pairs I don’t wear and probably will never wear again that I should stop storing. I’m sure there are some in there that should be retired too.e I’m hoping the show us your drawer series that Underweardude came up with will give me ideas on improving the messy drawer I have. Maybe with doing an underwear purge and some new organization ideas, it will improve my ability to find the pair I’m looking for quicker. At least when I am actually looking for a particular pair. Come join in on showing us your drawer by emailing us at info@underwearnewsbriefs.com and use Drawer in the subject line. I look forward to reading everyone’s submissions.

So you buy what you think is the perfect pair. You early await it’s arrival, checking the shipping status multiple times a day. It arrives, you put on, and…something’s not right. Either the color is off, the fit isn’t quite working out, or the size isn’t what you thought it would be. Either way, in most cases you are out some serious cash. So what is there to do? If it was a shirt or a pair of shoes, you could return them, but I can count on one hand the number of underwear manufacturers that allow returns. So what else can you do? Before you turn that $30 pair into a rag, try trading.

Yes, trading may feel kind of..gross. It’s something someone else has worn, yes. It’s still clean and is one of the best ways to get rid of pairs that you don’t want and get more pairs that you do want. Here are some simple trade tips I’ve learned over the years:

• Avoid internationals- As much as I want to include everyone in the world, international shipping is a pain in the butt. Having to figure out how to put foreign dresses into traditional shipping forms, not to mention the high cost. Most times first class shipping with tracking for a few pairs in a simple bubble mailer has cost me less than $10. Not a bad price to pay for clearing out your underwear drawer and getting some new pairs in return.
• Search high and low for your opposite- If your problem is sizing, find someone who has recently left the size you want and is now in the size you are trading away. Yes, this can be sorta difficult, but thanks to the internet and places like Twitter, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone interested in your pairs with a few that might work for you.
• Trade with your trust- I would highly suggest that you deal only with someone that you know or trust. Having said that, even if the trade goes south and you get nothing in return, you only loose a few dollars in shipping and packaging materials, and a pair that you didn’t even want.

So, in the end, there are some concerns, and it may not be for everyone, but trading pairs can be a good way of recouping your underwear investment and helping your collection become only pairs that you love. I’m planning on doing another big cull soon, and most of those pair’s I’m going to try and trade away. I’m actually in the middle of a trade right now. I shipped my pairs out long ago, but I’m waiting for the other guy to do the same. Hopefully, he’ll get to it eventually. Even if he doesn’t, I’m still glad to get rid of those pairs.

Have you ever traded underwear? How did it go? Tell us about it below in the comments or let us know about it on twitter @unbblog. As always, you can find mine on twitter @underweardude. Happy trading!

Hey guys, Underweardude here. I hope you enjoyed a look at my underwear drawer last week. This week we are taking a look at the underwear drawer of another guy here at UNB, UNBRyan. Here is what he has to say:

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the first post of a new ongoing series, entitled “Show us your drawers!”(Note: If you can think of a better name, feel free to use that instead.) This series is a place for you the reader to show of your collection and storage method. This will be a blast! We are starting off with a look at all the guys who make up UNBs’ drawers, beginning with..me!

I originally had all my underwear in the same place it had been for years: at the bottom drawer of a dresser, tossed in along with my socks. As my collection grew, I began wanting more space, and eventually became enamored with the idea of under-bed storage. I loved the idea of being able to roll over in bed in the morning, pull open a drawer, and pick out my pair for the day while still in bed. Sadly, while this pair of built in’s doesn’t make that dream a reality, it does hold all my pairs. The drawers don’t pull out all the way either, which means there are a few more pairs not seen in the picture and can make putting pairs in the back annoying. I have so many pairs I don’t just have one underwear drawer, but two!

The first picture is of my daily wear drawer. There you will find briefs, boxers, trunks, and a few semi-skimpy pairs. This si the stuff I wear day to day, the stuff I feel I would be ok to be seen in, etc. The organizer therein is one i’ve had for decades that was originally meant for socks I believe but was repurposed.

The other picture shows my skimpy drawer, with, left to right- jocks, thongs, and bikinis, as well as a small spot in the back left behind the jocks for pairs for special occasions. Also, yes, the bikinis and thongs are separated by those that have a waistband, and those that do not, thanks for noticing! The organizer in here is from Bed Bath and Beyond, but It doesn’t quite fit well enough. I guess that’s the downside about buying under the bed drawers that match your bed from a group that doesn’t offer organization for them. I like how everything looks folded, but I’m not sure if I’m going to keep it up. It’s a lot of work! I own slightly over 100 pairs, which can make laundry day a real pain in the butt.

Want to show us your underwear drawer? Send in your submission to info@underwearnewsbriefs.com with the word “Drawer” in the subject line, along with a photo of your underwear drawer and a short description if you would like. Check in next week for a look at another drawer from a UNB guy!

Hey, everyone, it’s Underweardude. Clever is back with its new fall line up, and I’ve picked out a few pairs that I think are awesome! They’ve divided this season’s collection into six broad subjects: Print’s, Pick and go, Sport, Elite, Sexy, and Swimwear.

Clever has always done some fun prints, and this year is no exception with the pairs in their Print section. My favorite of the bunch is probably the Cosmopolitan, seen below as a brief but it’s also available as a boxer-brief. It’s probably the most understated print from Clever in this new collection, so if you are looking for something flashier you won’t be disappointed.

Pick and go looks like stuff meant for everyday wear, but with a Clever spin on things. While the Aura line sports a stylish and useful mesh rear, you’d mostly likely find me in the Grape colored Classy Icon Latin brief. I own several Clever Latin briefs in various colors myself, and I quite like them. They are quite a low rise but still feel very much like a pair of briefs. More basic boxers and briefs are available if that suits your tastes as well.

Sport sees the proliferation of mesh continue, as a majority of the pairs from this segment consist of close-knit mesh that doesn’t appear to be see through, in case you were worried. I like the look of the Spaceman brief myself. With the entirety of the rear made of mesh, you’ll never get overheated back there, or get the dreaded “swamp-ass.”

Elite seems harder to pin down than the other divisions, the pairs within all have a classy look to them. Mostly solid tones, my favorite of them being the green Navy Latin brief. It’s rare to see such a light shade of green grace men’s underwear.

Sexy is where Clever lets its designs go wild. See through mesh, skimpy bikinis, jocks, and thongs all dwell here. If I had to choose, I’d go with either the New Wave Brief, which harkens back to Clever’s old Romano Brief style, that has been missing from Clever’s lineup for some years now that I quite like, or the navy thong, with some fun color combinations. While brown isn’t usually my pick for the color of my underwear, the bright blue trim and logo on the waistband just pop for me, and I think they work well together.

Lastly, we have swimwear, with a bevy of fun prints. My favorite is the Summertime swimsuit Brief, particularly the rear. Such a nicely composed illustration, and a great use of color. I could easily see a print of this hanging on a wall somewhere.

So which pair would you wear? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, or let us know on twitter!

See the new collection at the Clever Moda site. 

NOTE: Picture above is Kiniki Henley Micro Brief

Patterns are making a come back in a big way this year. Countless designers, big and small, are choosing some amazing patterns for their lines this year. Why? Well, patterns are fun. They can bring a sense of whimsy or a pop of color to our wardrobe, even if no one else knows what we are wearing. It can make us feel like a kid again. It is something different from the usual, sometimes boring, drab colors that grace much of men’s underwear.

I’m not really here to talk about why patterns are back though. I’m more interested in why patterns don’t always get made. What makes them tick. What makes patterns wonderful and a pain in the behind. I’m no expert on making underwear but here are a few of the reasons I’ve come up with as to why patterns aren’t especially super common among upscale men’s underwear designers.

First off is the look of patterns themselves. I don’t know about you, but I loved the days when I had cartoon characters on my underwear. Eventually, we grow up and have to move on to less colorful pairs. There is also the mainstream boxer fad of patterned boxers, but that faded quickly and now seems to be pretty much universally ridiculed by all. Mass market brands do have some slight patterns on pairs occasionally, but mostly in the mainstream patterns on your underwear are a girl thing. Patterns just have the stigma of being childish sometimes. Just look at the iconic marketing done by Calvin Klien: plain white, nothing else. Even more modern looks have only really just changed the ideal pair color to black. While mass market may put some simplistic patterns on their pairs, it is nothing like what the upscale brands do. Among the countless upscale brands, you can find all sorts of patterns. From classics to crazy, there pretty much is a pattern for everyone these days.

Another reason why patterns are uncommon is that they are probably more expensive to make than their simply-colored brethren. I’m not an underwear manufacturer, but I’m guessing that brands probably have to buy the colors for their pairs. So with patterns, instead of simply licensing the dye for one or two colors, you have to go out and find the perfect pattern, which might be hard to find and expensive to license. You could also make it yourself, but that would require hiring a graphic designer, another expense that I’m sure many small underwear makers might not have the budget for.

Lastly, not everyone is a patterns type of person. Many guys like the clean look of mono-colored pairs, or are extremely particular to only certain patterns, like tartans, etc. This can have the opposite effect as well, as I know some guys will buy practically anything with leopard print on it. The economics of it though, having to balance out knowing that some of your audience may not buy these pairs makes a designer really have to know their audience, otherwise they might end up with a big loss, another thing that a small company cannot handle very well.

In the end, my basic opinion is that patterned pairs can be a risky proposition, but if done well and marketed to the right people, can be a big seller. The market can also swing in this opinion, as underwear ads from the 70s clearly show. Perhaps this is what’s happening today? While I am not a huge patterned underwear guy, there are some patterned pairs that I love dearly. I will say though, in addition, this lack of patterns is nowhere near the case when it comes to men’s swimwear. You can find plenty of flashy and outrageous patterns in that market very consistently. I wouldn’t be surprised that some of the patterned underwear craze going on right now stems from the swimwear market. What are your favorite patterned pairs?Lets us know in the comments below or on twitter.

Hi everyone, and welcome to another article in our Thong 101 series. We hope you are enjoying it so far. This list is based on a list of “commandments” I came up with a while back, detailing in my humble opinion what I thought the most important things to consider when buying your first thong. Some of these concepts will be discussed in more detail in later articles in the series. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Buy something attractive yet sensible- Pick something in a color you would usually wear. Stay away from mesh or anything that reveals too much for now. Sadly, that means single lined pouches that only show a bit are a no go as well. You also don’t want to go for something super expensive just yet either. Stay away from the $40 pairs and look for sales or such to lessen the monetary loss if you decide thongs aren’t for you.

2. Materials matter- You won’t want your first thong to be something you have to hand wash and air dry, trust me, it’s a major pain in the butt. Get something that you can throw in the washer and dryer with the rest of your underwear.
3. Go with a big name- Having your first thong come from a major brand is better because a pair from a major brand will hopefully be suited for a wider range of people and more likely to suit your needs.

4.Comfort comes first- The skimpiest and sexists pairs are often the least comfortable. When trying your first thong, getting used to it is paramount, so at the beginning comfort, trumps looks. You can always try those other pairs later.

5. Try a few- Men’s thongs are coming in an increasingly wide variety of types, fabrics, and styles these days, and many men have a preference for specific types. You may only like one type, or perhaps them all! Basically, you can’t judge all thongs just by one single pair. Additionally, what other’s may like you might not, and that’s ok! This might be the most important tip among all of these.
6. All of these rules can be broken- Last but not least, if a pair really catches your eye, even if it doesn’t meet any of these suggestions, go for it. Finding a pair you love can really help trying a new style of underwear, and can overcome any negative traits from that. In the end, it is all up to individual preference. It’s your underwear, get what you want!

I know some of these tips may be a now brainer, but you would be surprised how overwhelming it can get when you are looking to buy your very first thong. I hope these suggestions help you to decide, or even give you the push to make that purchase! Any other good suggestions you think I might have missed? Let us know in the comments blow, or message us on Twitter.

Picture features Sukrew thong.

Let’s talk a stroll down memory lane, shall we? A little history lesson, about thongs in the early to mid 200s, back when I first got into them.

Note that this was in the says before social media. It was incredibly difficult to discover new brands. For instance, if I hadn’t happened to hear about Ergowear from a guy reviewing another brand, well it might have taken me years longer to discover them. This was back in the day when Andrew Christian was still just making briefs, but I digress.

Before I got into underwear I knew about man thongs, but only in popular culture/social reliance. That means I imagined them as all yellow banana hammocks, loud pairs only worn by male strippers for the enjoyment of others. Imagine my surprise to find that their were more sensible options available? Note that at this time I still found Cocksox too cray, but lets get back to thongs. But which one to buy with my limited collegiate income? Like most people, I began to scour the reviews for all the various pairs of all the sales sites that i could find back then. What i found was interesting.

Back in the day, there were just a few “big” thongs around, those that got a lot of reviews, usually good ones. People tended to stick with what they knew a lot more back then. Maybe it was because it was less common to find a reliably good thong. Anyways, they were the 2xist Thong(Along with it’s identical twin by Cin-2), the Calvin Kline Body Thong, and the Mundo Unico Thong. Joining them slightly later was the Canadian JM Skins Thong. These were the pairs that got the most consistent good reviews, and had so many more reviews than more “interesting” pairs. These pairs have a special place to me, in that they were sort of the “pillar” pairs when I first got into thongs, and while for many they have been relegated to the wayside for more extravagant pairs, I believe they are important. Let’s talk about each of them for a minute, shall we?

2Xist Thong- a classic. an icon. What else can be said about this pair? Recently inducted into the UNB Drawer of Fame, this pair deserves this status. It was constantly the highest rated and most reviewed thong among the sales sites I visited at the time. Many reviewers liked it so much that they started wearing only it! It’s easy to see why. Solid cotton construction means no special laundering instructions. The thin back made it comfortable for newcomers to thonging, and it’s athletic design made it possible to be disguised as a “weird jock” while changing in the gym. While not perfect, i’m happy to have this pair in my drawer.

The CK Body thong usually came next on the list with many loving it, though some had complaints about it’s high rise nature. Still, the fact that a big name brand like CK actually made a men’s thong seemed to help give validity to men’s thronging. Another pair that I am proud to own if more for the brand name/style combination or as s history lesson than actually worn.

Ah, the Mundo Unico thong.  Unlike the others, it was available in bright colors and had a unique for its time back that looked uncomfortable but each positive reviewer shouting to the mountains “try it, you’ll like it!”. While some men found the g-string-thin back to lead to an uncomfortable “scissoring”effect, others found the back, which was thinner than the 2Xist’s , to be a very good, commenting on how invisible the pair is when worn. I do not own one of these pairs, and they seem to have fallen out of favor somewhat, as I can’t really tell if they are still being made,but it is on my to buy list for the year.

Lastly, we have the JM Skinz Thong. While more recent reviews place it’s Natura cousin as being better, at the time this pair was talked about as some sort of secret pair, unknown to many but uncommonly good. It took me far too long to finally get a pair of these, quite recently actually, but I have found the rumors and reviews to be true. Its is a quite good thong.

So by now you’re probably wondering, “So which one of these pairs did he choose as his first thong?”. Well, I’ll tell ya. To be honest, it was none of them! Which thong came first, and why, well, that’s a story for another time.  So here they are, my pantheon of “great thongs” from my early day in the world of underwear. Things sure have changed a lot since then, huh? Which other pairs form way back when do you think deserve to be on a pedestal? Which other underwear time periods would you like us at UNB to discuss? Let us know in the comments or send me a message on twitter @underweardude. I

Spring is right around the corner in the northern hemisphere. Many of the people that reside there have begun the annual spring cleaning. Why not take some time to go through your underwear drawer as well?

I can’t be the only one who has tons of pairs that he hardly ever wears. So a couple weekends ago I took a couple hours and went through my collection. Don’t be intimidated, If you don’t have over a hundred pairs like I do it shouldn’t take long. Instead of organizing my pairs by type. I began to organize them in some different categories: Those I loved, those I liked, those I didn’t like, ones to throw away and those I never wore. I soon decided that was far too many different piles, and narrowed down to just three: Loved, Liked, and Loathed.

As I looked at each pair, I took a moment to think of how much I actually liked it, and how often I wore it. Was it really worth it to keep a pair around if I never wore it? Things can change from year to year. Perhaps you’ve decided that a certain cut or style isn’t right for you. Or that mesh really isn’t your thing. Or that you actually prefer bright colors, or drab ones instead. Now is a good time to make a change. I really thought hard on which pairs I actually liked, and which pairs I tolerated. I made notes on which daily wear pairs I really liked so I can start looking for similar pairs. Eventually, you’ll be left with a pile of remainders. But what to do about them?

Well, you can do a couple things.

First off, if they have holes where they aren’t suppose dot, or stains, the trash is the best option. Yes, it may be hard to throw away something so expensive, but come on. It also gives you the chance to buy a new replacement pair if you really liked that pair.

If they are good condition, you have a couple of options. First off, you can sell a pair on a place like eBay, but you might not get too many buyers. You can also trade pairs with other underwear enthusiasts. Lastly, if you know a guy on twitter who is looking to get into a style or brand that you are looking to get rid off. It doesn’t cost much to ship a pair to them and give your old pair a new home. While you are looking at your collection, be sure to try on every pair that you haven’t worn in awhile. Maybe your mind has changed about the pair since you’ve last worn it. I know that has happened to me a few times.

I ended up going through all my pairs and probably tried on at least fifty pairs that I hadn’t worn in forever. I came away with about a dozen pairs I knew I wanted to get rid of, and at least five to ten more that were borderline. I hope this inspires you to take a look through your collection and get some spring cleaning done yourself!

Note: Post contains affiliate sales links

	Forget battling the lines for a deal this coming Friday, Jockstrap Central’s big sale is on – and they’re starting early. From noon on Wednesday until noon on Saturday, November 26th, everything store wide is between 15% and 70% off. Jockstraps, jock briefs, underwear, wrestling singlets, fetish wear, gym and fetish shorts, tank tops, socks, cock rings, ball stretchers and more are all marked down. Of course the best thing about their Black Friday sale is you don’t have to live in the United States to take advantage of this shopping tradition, they ship worldwide and ship discreetly! This sale is simple – no discount codes to remember, simply visit their online store and you’ll find all their gear listed with the original price crossed off and the sale price listed in red. Everything is on sale but here are just some of the highlights: Their entire PUMP! collection of jocks, briefs and socks are now 20% off. All sorts of discontinued items from Raw Studio, Blue Line, Nasty Pig and Cellblock 13 plus all Activeman Underwear and their Elite Jocks are all 70% off. Papi Jockstrap 2-packs are 50% off and their 3-packs are 20% off. Although gone out of business,we managed to buy up as much remaining stock from Activeman (30% off), Flarico (30% off) and Bike Germany (20% off) so not only is this the last chance to pick up these soon to be collectors items, but you’ll get them at a great discount. They even just received their final restock shipment from Bike and Activeman earlier this week.. Into Fetish Gear? Their ridiculously hot sports fetish meets Mad Max Maskulo collection is all 15% off (biggest discount of the year). All their Maskulo fetish shorts, football shorts, leggings, wrestling singlets and jockstraps (most with open backs, padded armor patches and leather look removable cod pieces) are on sale and all the designs they carry are still exclusive to them (in North America at least). Also in the fetish department: Cellblock 13 jockstraps, jock briefs and reversible mesh Sweeper Shorts are all 20% off. Their exclusive, unique and undeniably hot Raw Studio collection of jockstraps, ball lifters, cock socks, leather cock rings and ball stretchers are all now 20% off. More Fetish: Their imported Italian sports fetish Jockfighters collection (exclusive to Jockstrap Central in North America) is all 15% off and their entire Nasty Pig collection of jocks, briefs, shorts and tees are all 15% off. Finally, be sure to check out their Jack Adams Collection: All jockstraps and Air Mesh Shorts (short, mesh and some are unlined and see-through) are all 20% off with the exception of their sporty Racer Jocks which are now 25% off. Their entire Full Kit Gear collection of Open Back Trunks, Premium Sports Jocks and Steamer Briefs (Jock Briefs) are also 25% off. There are too many incredible deals to mention here so just head over to Jockstrap Central and check them all out while enjoying the view. They provide high-resolution uncensored photography of their models showing off all their gear in crisp details Shop at – Jockstrap Central
	Save 25% on your entire order during UnderBriefs’ Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale. Use the discount code BLACKCYBER at checkout. The sale ends on November 28 at midnight PST. Free shipping is available on US orders, too Shop at – UnderBriefs
	Baskit has these deals running through Monday, 11/28 at midnight Pacific Time. 75% Off Light Old Swim (Dots, Lucky 10s, Playas) Urban 50% off Just /b/ Contrast Billy Boy Deluxe Ribbed Recent Swim (Lucky 11s, Outlines) 35% off Energy Body Art Active 25% off Utility (this is a brand new collection and we’re discounting it anyway Buy 2 Get 1 Free All Action Cool Thursday 12 Hour Doorbusters We’re pushing a “don’t go out on Thanksgiving or Black Friday, just shop for underwear IN your underwear” These will roll out at Noon Eastern and roll through Midnight Pacific (yeah, it’s really 15 hours. So everyone gets 3 “bonus” hours). 75% off Billy Boy 75% off Contrast 50% off Utility Shop at – Baskit Wear
	Fan of Andrew Christian? Shop 30% off everything excluding subscriptions and grab bags. Shop at – Andrew Christian
	BLACK FRIDAY CAME EARLY! FOR AN EXTRA 5% DISCOUNT DO NOT FORGET YOUR PROMO CODE: BFWC2516 FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $100+Shop at – Gregg Homme
	Use Code: BLCKFR23 November 23rd and 24th*This discount is available only for the following styles (MB002, MB202, MB102, MB104, MBM02) and the following prints (Dazzling, Rainbow, Newsprint) *This discount cannot be combined with other promotions, reward points including free shipping. Restrictions applied (discount on specific products) *Availability subject at EDT time zone.Shop at – MaleBasics
	Get 25% off at C-IN2 on All Collections ending Nov 27th. Shop at – C-IN2
	Save up to 60% off your fav aussieBum undies and swimwear. Now 360 items on sale. Shop at – aussieBum
	Start your shopping today! Take 15% off your order! Black Friday is almost here, and we thought we’d get a head start by offering a 15% discount on all items on the BodyAware website AND free shipping on orders over $50 (or £50) through November 29, 2016. To take advantage of this offer, enter code BK15 at checkout. Happy Shopping! Shop at – BodyAware
	Save 31-80% off at Skiviez, it’s off the entire store! Shop at – Skiviez
	Save 25-75% off everything at Mensuas Shop at – Mensuas
	Save 25% off your order, $100 or more. Use code 25off100 at checkout Shop at – Mensunderwearstore.com
	Save 25 or 30% off at D.Hedral this Black Friday! 25% off BLACK16 for 30% off $300 or more use code 30BLACK16 Shop at – D.Hedral
	BLACK FRIDAY SALE 40% OFF CODE BLACK40Shop at – McKillop
	Fan of CR7 Underwear? Get 30% off with code cr730. The discount code expires the 27th of November. Shop at – CR7 Underwear
	Save 25% off the entire site at International Jock. Just use code Black25! Shop at International Jock.
	On a selected range of products, buy any two of the same style and get a third pair free! You don’t even need to venture out and line up in the cold, shop from right where you are via the Cocksox online store. Look out for Buy 3 For 2 icons to find the styles featured in this event. Simply add three of your selected style to your cart, and the third item will automatically appear at no cost. So whether you are giving thanks to a special man in your life, or just treating yourself to some seasonal Cocksox cheer, stock up now as this offer is available this weekend only. Shop at – Cocksox
	Johnny Beach Buns is giving you 40% off your order with code blackfriday16. It’s their biggest sale of the year. Shop at – Johnny Beach Buns
	Its a HUGE sale at aussieBum.They are giving you 50% off for a limited time! ON everything. Shop at aussieBum
	50% OFF Everything! Use the discount code BLACK. Shop at – His Jock
	With Cyber Monday just around the corner in the US, Obviously is gearing up for some massive discounts. The sale goes live at 12:01am US Central Standard Time (GMT-6) on Monday the 28th of November, with hundreds of pairs of the world’s most comfortable underwear at up to 80% OFF. Browse through our shop to find hundreds of products heavily discounted at up to 80% off. Discounts vary throughout our webshop with different collections carrying different discounts. Discounts are final and no additional products will be placed on sale. The discount will only last as long as the stock does, so set yourself a reminder or you might be kicking yourself for missing this incredible deal. Shop at Obviously
	BLACK FRIDAY Let’s break it down for you: 1. SITEWIDE DISCOUNT 10% off your Order – You don’t have to do anything, you’ll get the discount taken off when you’re at your shopping cart checkout!2. FREE SHIPPING For orders over $75. Free standard shipping.3. BRAND DISCOUNTS We’ve selected a slew of brands to go on SALE for anywhere from 20% to 50% off. Discounts on discounts!Add this all up and what do you have? MAJOR SAVINGS, from us to you! Thank you for your support and helping us to continue to be your stop of choice for awesome menswear! Shop at – Top Drawers
	Save 40% all items at Concupisco! Use code Black16 at check out! Shop at – concupisco.com
	Get 25% off all Items at of the Todd Sanfield collection! Use code Black16 Shop at – Todd Sanfield Collection. **Affiliate Sales Link
	Fans of Swim thongs? Or more? Buy one Get one 50% off at Cockpit Undies Shop at – CockpitUndies
	Save up to 80% off at Nasty Pig! Make sure you use code BLKF16 at check out Shop at – Nasty Pig

So I’m not sure which sex got the first modern thongs men or women (man, we need an underwear historian or something?!). But I know that as a straight guy I first saw thongs on women. My entire view on thongs has been greatly influenced by that(I also quite like them on women, but that’s not the point). I’ve noticed over the years that while yes, men do have thongs, they really don’t have much in the way of variety. Sure, there can be subtle differences in back sizes.  There are really only two broad types: thongs, and g-strings. There hasn’t been much change in the world of men’s thongs recently, and I think that’s a shame.

The only real change in thongs over the past few years was the creation of the jock thong, and that was a few years ago now. I’m still not truly convinced that the jock thong is really a good innovation. But again, that’s another article.

Basically, I’ve gotten bored with every single brand thong and g-string being very similar. Where’s the variety? Why should girls have all the fun! I know some innovations have made their way over to the guy side. Pairs with multiple side straps sand such. I think there are a few more ideas in the realm of women’s wear that could work in men’s wear too. Women, on the other hand, have a huge variety of thongs. What I’m going to focus on today are the types of backs. Because I feel some of them might work well, or at least interestingly on a male frame.

First off is this curve back? I remember seeing a back this style from the brand Good Devil under the moniker “split back”. I think this is a cool idea and would like to see more menswear like this.

One type that I am very surprised hasn’t made its way into menswear is a kind that is more like a g-string. Instead of the strings intersecting into a T, or leading into a larger back. They meet in a triangle that sits between the depression between the top of the two checks. I’ve always been curious about this syle,as it seems very common in women’s underwear. While doing a bit more research I have noticed that some men’s thongs do mimic this concept somewhat. They don’t do it in quite a way like the feminine variety. They usually have what looks like a triangle, but is actually a part of a larger back strap. In this design, the only part of the back that is not a string is the triangle.

A trend I don’t see coming to the men’s side of thing is the idea of having the central part of the back strap being metal or made up of charms. That doesn’t look comfortable at all. Cute perhaps, but I can imagine that wearing that in the dead of winter is a bad idea.

I’m not saying these ideas will revolutionize men’s thongs.  I do think that the area of men’s thong design is somewhat stagnant.  I think ideas could help make things a little bit more interesting.
So what do you think? Am I a crockpot, or would you too like to see these ideas come to light? Let me know in the comments below, or on twitter.

It’s that time of year again. Time for cookouts, fireworks, and..underwear sales?! You may not think so, but several retailers and designers are having big sales this weekend. We will keep this post updated as new sales are announced.

	It seems like Andrew Christian always has a sale going on. This weekend get 30% off anything they make using the code 30JULY4 at checkout.
	International Jock has also joined in on the fun, with up to 50% off top brands and styles.
	Jockey has 25% off and free shipping when you use the code STARS25 on all non sale items.
	Skiviez has a site-wide sale where discounts range from 28-75% off.
	Baskit is also celebrating the fourth with a site wide sale, with 40% off everything.

	Maelstrom Online is celebrating Canada Day as well as the 4th with 15% off store wide with the code CANUSA16
	Mens Underwear Store has 25% off select styles.
	Mensuas has a sale going on as well, with 30-60% off everything, with an extra 10% knocked off for those whose purchase at least $100 worth of underwear with the code JULY4