This is something I had to share. Australian company Budgy Smuggler is doing a board short buy back! You heard me, they are giving guys money for their board shorts and want them to wear budgies instead. Brilliant idea. They said something awesome “We want guys to embrace the body they are in.” Which is something we stand behind. I hope we start to see more guys here in swim briefs soon. Hats off to Budgy Smuggler.

Who out there has tried bodysuits? I’m talking about the ones that look similar to a leotard and not full body. They fit in with bikini and thongs with their association of being feminine. They might get that rap even more so.

I have tried out a few about 10 years ago. The ones I tried had the tank top style cut top and I saw them as underwear and undershirt in one. I had a thong cut and two bikini/brief cuts. The only issue I had with the ones I tried is using the restroom. Two of the three would require you to remove your shirt to get your arms out of the bodysuit to pull it down to go potty. If you had to pee then you could slip yourself out the side. The other one had snaps in the crotch that was a better design for restroom use, but then you had to get them snapped again. If in a public bathroom at a urinal, people might wonder what you were doing.

For me they ended up being mainly sleepwear, since they would be a pain for restroom use away from the house. I did use one as base layer for cross-country skiing. I could also see them for short term wear like working out.

This post came about because UNBTim pointed out that he’s seeing more brands offering them like Bodyaware and Pistol Pete. That got me looking to see what is being offered out there in bodysuits for guys now. My one pair was from Bodyaware and was the one I liked best. They have added five bodysuit versions to their line recently. That brings their total to 9 different bodysuits. Two of the new ones have no opening between the legs, two have snap closures, and the one has full front zipper. What I like about some of the ones I’m seeing now is that they are making them look like shirts. Pistol Pete has ones that look like hoodies. Though most bodysuits look like they are tight fitting shirts. Even came across a site that you could get polo looking ones. Another brand that I see offering some bodysuits is Rufskin, which says theirs are ideal for high endurance exercise. They definitely do look that way.

In the end, the bodysuit never caught on with me. I do find the ones that are looking like shirts interesting, but I like my outwear shirt to be a looser fit. If they didn’t cost so much, maybe I would give them another try. At this point I do not want to pay that much for something I might not wear. What are your experiences with bodysuits that look like leotards?

Here’s some of the examples I mentioned above:

Welcome to our first new “Ask UNB” Here is the first question and answer from a few of our guys.

Bill asks: You have posted a lot recently about the growing popularity of thongs. Any ideas why this is a new trend? Any tips for someone interested in trying a thong?

The Bottom Drawer (Nate):

To me there has always been an upward trend in guy’s getting into thongs. I think it has just been accelerating. It’s approaching 20 years, since I tried my first thong. Back then there was a very limited selection and places to buy thongs. Mail order catalogs and brick and mortar stores were still the main ways to buy anything. I found a handful of places to buy underwear online and Undergear was the leader. Over the years more places to buy underwear and brands have been popping up. It seems the last 5 years or so that the men’s underwear marketing has been growing faster competition wise. Brands are trying to differentiate from each other and adding thongs to their line up was a way to do so. Having more thongs visible to the guys shopping for underwear has to be tempting them to give them a try.  

I’d say the Internet for sure is a big factor in the growth of thongs. It’s opened doors for buying with privacy and discussing underwear anonymously with other guys. I know I haven’t had a face to face conversation about underwear with anyone I know. Then I’m going to say the bloggers and conversations on message boards and the like are giving guys the encouragement that it is okay for them to wear a thong.

We’ll be discussing getting into thongs in a Thongs 101 series we are working on. For now the two things I’ll say is first pay attention to fabric of the thong. A nice soft fabric will be more comfortable between the cheeks. Then don’t give up after just one time wearing them. Give the pair a few chances a little more each time. Along with that try another brand or style if the first one doesn’t pan out.

TheThongedGinger

I think TBD really hit the nail on the head, and i have nothing really to add.

The best way to break into the style is fabric, pouch, and cleaning. Get a fabric that is soft with a good airflow, a good pouch that fits your style i personally love enhancer pouches, and get something that you don’t have to hand wash and hang dry for your first. The added cleaning is something you really don’t want to do unless you like the style enough to buy more.

UnderwearDude

I also agree with TBD, that the internet has certainly been a great help in opening guy’s eyes to the wide variety of underwear available, such as thongs. I don’t think this is a new trend, just a continuation of thongs trending upward with the few years where jocks dominated the market in between. I think guys are getting bored with more conservative pairs and are wanting to try something new, and thongs are a popular choice.

If you want to try a thong, I’d say go for one that looks the most comfortable to you then looks the sexiest. After that, well, the other guys have already got that covered.

UBNmichael
Don’t forget that outerwear can dictate underwear too. With the popularity of skinny jeans, thongs are very practical. Even the skimpiest briefs or bikinis will show lines and could bunch up. With that, I wonder if there is a networking effect: Your bro bends over, you see his thong, and needlessly awkward conversation ensues. In the end, you may become confident enough to wear them.

Most of us work 40+ hours a week. Meaning we are spending at least 8 hours a day in our undies. We should be wearing great undies to work to give us one less thing to worry about or annoy us. After talking to you guys over the years, I realize not everyone wears their good underwear to work. I have to go WHY? You are missing out on feeling great every day.

I know there are some that have strict uniforms and requirements. The military comes to mind. Also, professions where safety is key and fire resistance is important. These I get, you can’t wear what you want. But, if you’re an accountant, retail worker, mechanic or anything else, you need to be wearing your great underwear. Don’t leave it for weekends or special times.

One of the biggest joys of underwear for me is the comfort they bring throughout the day. If I wear something that doesn’t give support, has bad fabric or dull colors. I feel less than optimal. My best example is taking my beloved briefs/bikinis and then having to wear boxers. I’d sooner go commando, which to me is the same thing.

Office Workers

Fewer people are being made to wear suits. If you are consider wearing underwear that matches or complements your tie. It’s a small step that no one will know. If your business casual does the same with your shirt. Whether it’s a polo or button up shirt, make your undies match your shirt. It seems hokey to say but it’s a fun thing you can do. After a while doing it, you will subconsciously start doing it. I do now. I pick out either undies or shirt first and the whatever I pick next will match.

Retail Workers

If you are in retail, and I have been there. Wear underwear that gives great support. You will be on your feet 8 hours or more. Walking, standing and being active. I”d say be more practical. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still be stylish. There are plenty of great undies with pouches and amazing design. Like Sukrew, N2N Bodywear and more.

Blue Collar Workers

I think our blue collar brothers are left out of a lot of underwear discussions. It’s often thought these guys don’t like undies or could care less. We do have readers who are blue collar who love undies. They aren’t trapped in the world of boxers or boxer briefs. If you’re not “out” as an underwear guy, you may not want a whale tail from a thong sticking out. You may never hear the end of it. But, if that’s how you roll, by all means, do it. You can get great underwear that is more classic in styling and won’t bring too much attention. Like Baskit, Todd Sanfield and more.

If you’re not wearing great undies every day, you should. Wear some great undies to make you feel amazing and sexy every day