I’ll admit that one of my guilty pleasures is seeing guys bend over or raise their hands and getting a peek at their underwear waistband. To me, I love learning about what underwear other guys are wearing. Interestingly, waistbands have become almost a status symbol, with companies trying to make their waistbands stand out as the focal point of any pair of underwear. If you’re looking to impress with your waistband, these are brands and pairs that will definitely do the trick.

Calvin Klein – Iron Strength

This is one of my all time favorite pairs, and the waistband is a lot of the reason I like it. Fitting with its name, all of the waistbands in this line are bold and masculine. It has the legendary Calvin Klein name in the front and six horizontal lines running around the rest of the waistband. Overall, it kind of reminds me of racing stripes, which definitely makes a statement.

Saxx – 3Six Five Boxer (Charcoal Polka Dot)

I always think of Saxx when I think about waistbands, and one particular pair stands out to me. Like the previous pair, it has the brand name and then horizontal stripes, though these are red, white, blue, and gray stripes of different lengths. It’s a nice contrast and it makes this pair of underwear.

2(X)IST – Graphic Modal No Show Brief (Black)

This line has a lot of different types of waistbands, and my favorite has to be the black pair. Though the pair is solid black, the waistband has a unique pattern that reminds me of leopard print but isn’t overpowering. It overall gives up a luxurious vibe that is indicative of the brand.

Andrew Christian – Trophy Boy

This is a classic example of a statement waistband. It exudes confidence and sexiness and anyone who sees it would likely agree. The word “trophy boy” written in bold capital letters against the black waistband conveys a clear message that you’re a guy who is assertive and strong. This is a waistband I always try to show off when I’m wearing it.

Emporio Armani – Magnum

This line’s waistband comes in different colors, but the common theme between them is the two-tone horizontal stripe and Emporio Armani written with the signature eagle logo in the middle. The coolest part is how the font changes to be the opposite color when it crosses the line between the two tones. As fans of Emporio Armani know, this is one of the classiest brands on the market today, and this waistband shows that. (Picture by International Jock)

I love that brands are putting more thought into waistbands. It really shows an attention to detail that elevates any pair of underwear.

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.

Just this week a brand that we have covered announced they are closing. Underweardude pointed out in a private chat that JM announced it was closing. I was like WHAT? This year has seen some major changes in the world of men’s underwear. It’s been an odd year. This just compounds onto the year.

I have been doing UNB for almost 9 years. In that time I have worked with hundreds of blogs and have ones that I have gotten to know. Working closely with them over this time I consider them friends and not just people I work with on the blog. This may seem odd but, but the men’s underwear industry is a rather close knit market. Everyone knows everyone and for the most part get along.

At Magic you can see a lot the brands in Underwear Alley, get together between appoints and talk. Not necessarily about underwear but just be friendly. This is one thing I love about this industry. At these shows relationships are built and strengthened.

Every year brands come and go. I have a running list of brands that have ceased production. This year seems to be a lot more brands either closing or selling to someone else. Here are some of the brands that I will personally miss working with the owners/designers.

• Blue Collar Underwear – I am not sure when exactly they went out of business. I kept getting bounce back emails and then their site was gone!
• Pistol Pete – They are still around but long time owners Sami & Peter sold the brand. After 20 years they felt it was time to move on.
• JM – They have been around longer than UNB. I used to talk to them at Magic. We should have done more with them.

There are a few other brands that I have talked to that are weighing options. I was a little down but then I talked to Hashtag Hooker this week. When talking to the CEO/Creative Director Andreu, I realized that the community will continue with new brands. And that change can be a good thing in the long run. But, let’s face it we all hate change, especially if our favorite underwear company closes it’s doors.

If you have a favorite brand show them support. Give great reviews of their pairs of underwear on their site or Amazon. Interact with them on social media, you may score some goodies! Join their email list so you know what they are doing. Lastly, buy from them! Especially through their own site.

This is not to be a post of chicken little saying the men’s underwear industry sky is falling. Just a lot of this news has knocked me off my game. I realize that I can’t hold on to the past and must embrace the new changes and brands. UNB will carry on and keep sharing great underwear and gear!