The biggest complaint we get by far is sizing. It is also the most asked question about any pair we profile on the blog. “Is the sizing true?” By being true we are speaking of the size medium being a 32. Then the other sizes are based off this size. Typically a small would be 29-30, Medium 32-34, large 36-38 and X-large being a 40-42. This is pretty much the standard for US sizing. Countries around the world have different sizes.

I hear many of you saying “How can we implement sizing standards right now?” While it may seem like a something easy to do. Just adjust sizing and bam you’re done. It’s not that simple. Brands would have to redo all their patterns and production. This isn’t a  cheap thing to do for bands. Once production is set, it costs money for every change that you do in the process.

The next issue is production is worldwide. In the US we want a medium to be 32 inches. Other parts of the world they want smaller or larger sizes. People are built differently around the world. Some areas would not need the larger sizes. They may actually need sizes smaller than 28 inches. We must see the bigger picture in the world of underwear. As much as we would love standard sizings, it’s not something that will be happening anytime soon.

What can you do to deal with sizing issues?

First, make sure you check out our sizing charts page. We have most major brands there and their official sizing charts. We try to update it as much as we can but don’t always get bands on there. If there is one you want to see on it, let us know. We want this to be a one-stop spot for sizing questions.

Second, Its best to know general areas of the world and how their sizing runs. Working on UNB for 8 years, I have come to know when sizing runs different from the US.

• Japan – Sizing is typically smaller than the US. I have seen sizing for large and XL being 32 inches.
• Australia – Usually the sizing is similar to the US. aussieBum and Cocksox both are very similar to US Sizing.
• Columbia/Brazil – Sizing is typically smaller than US. Not as bad as Japan. XL can usually be around a 36-inch waist. Brands such as Clever Moda and Mundo Uncio.
• UK/Europe – European countries can be a bit of a crap shoot. Some brands are equal to US sizing and others run smaller. There is no set standard as to what is equal and what is smaller. Sukrew, BumChums and Big Boys Pants are comparable to US sizing. Then brands like Barcode Berlin, Bruno Banani and more.

Lastly, if you’re on the borderline of a size err on the side of caution. Always go up in the sizing. Don’t try to squeeze into a size that may be too small for you. Nothing sucks more than a pair of underwear that is too small. Some guys don’t want their pride hurt to know they have to wear a large or XL. For me, comfort always wins out in this debate. Plus, you can always cut out the tags so no one will know the size you bought.

You can’t avoid sizing issues. It’s one of those necessary evils of loving underwear. We won’t be getting universal sizing anytime soon. But you can avoid some issues. First, double check the size charts before you buy. Next, ask friends and even us at UNB about sizing for a brand before you buy. Lastly, if you buy a “larger” size than you normally wear don’t fret. Remember, who really is going to look at your size tag of your undies?

Now, I want to start with a clarification. One of my previous posts was about buying underwear for a friend, you can find it on the website.  This piece is different in a few key ways. First, when buying pairs for friends you have a bit more freedom as to what to buy because it is your money that is being spent. Although as pointed out in the piece there are still points and thoughts to consider regardless. Second, buying for someone else can be much more about you than them. Not to make it sound selfish but it’s true. We give a little bit of ourselves with every gift and you do get to take into consideration your opinions or wishes more so in that case. However, with advice, it should be much more about them. Personalized as best as possible.

Giving advice always is a bit tricky. On the site I write a lot of reviews and reviews, to me, are much easier than advice because it is a more straightforward. As Walter Cronkite would say, “And that’s way it is,” type of a piece. Advice needs to be precise for an individual and it much more than about one pair. It throws open the entire Underworld universe for possibilities. Yikes!

Yet we must never shirk away from giving the advice when it comes to underwear because we always want to encourage the discussion and the community of underwear enthusiasm. If someone has come to you for advice on underwear it is a badge of honor. They respect your opinion, thoughts and underwear knowledge. It may also have been a difficult or even awkward thing for them to ask you about. So we must be excited that they did! When you aren’t used to talking, writing, or thinking about underwear as much as some of us it can feel awkward.

So let’s give some advice:

Background info:

Ask the person what type of underwear he generally wears or is looking to buy. Remember, it’s his underwear and his money so we need guidelines! Getting a sense of his cut preference and perhaps brands he generally wears can help give you a sense of direction.

If a friend asked me for advice and he says that he generally wears trunks and more generic ones at that. Say Jockey or Hanes (both perfectly valid brands btw. I wear Jockey athletic trunks almost exclusively for my workouts) then you have a taste for where you might direct them. Perhaps Private Structure would be good for their trunk needs. Very classic yet very well made and often in fun colors. If that doesn’t suit them then maybe PUMP! For a bit more of an adventurous trunk (be careful on sizing, PUMP! Can tend to run a bit small).

Range of Acceptance:

Okay so I am borrowing this term from my old argumentation/debate days but I think it applies. You’ve figured out what he usually wears, style and brand. Now let’s figure out what he would wear. Perhaps, as stated above, our friend usually wears trunks but would he be amenable to wearing briefs? Not to say that we’ll start him out in a bikini but maybe a nice hip brief. Here is where you can push but not too hard. Try to see if expanding his comfort zone is possible or if it will just result in never worn underwear.

If you’re going to suggest a new cut, totally valid, think a bit strategically. A good way to go about it might be to recommend a brand that does his original cut.  In addition to the new cut that you’re advising. This way if he eventually didn’t care for the new or different cut he may have discovered a new favorite brand in the meantime! Still a win.

Keep it simple:

You have no idea how hard it was to not write ‘stupid’ after that. It’s just automatic. But yes, keep it simple. Give him freedom in what you recommend. Direct them to a particular brand with recommendations on cut.  Don’t get overly specific unless he really just wants one pin pointed pair. “Have you looked at N2N’s new briefs? They might be a good place to start.” A recommendation like that gives them so many more options and so much more freedom then, “You should get the <insert pair here>.” That type of suggestion leaves them with only a Yes/No type of response.

Keeping is simple like that also allows for him to navigate the murky world of pricing. Let’s face it, some people just will never be comfortable paying over $20 for a pair of underwear and leaving them with more open advice allows them to price shop in a focused area.

Speaking of Pricing:

Many of the folks who might ask you for advice (as just mentioned) do not, would not pay as much as perhaps you or I would on underwear. For me, it’s just part of my life’s budget and I make do with that. Not so much for others. So. Directing them to, “Try looking at Baskit on Tuesdays for their $12 deals, they make a good, solid brief,” can help them be more comfortable spending the money as well. Remember the sales sections! (write that on my tombstone one day, please).

The overall and most important thing is, of course, to think about the person. Your advice might set them on a path of incredible underwear bliss for a lifetime. Inform yourself, find his range, and keep things simple.

All of this was brought on when a friend just recently asked me for advice on buying new underwear. I also immediately told him a new brand that I am falling more and more for (what up Teamm8!). I realized that he would be much more comfortable with options. So I stopped myself and thought it through a bit more. He is a fairly classic guy who really just wants a comfortable, solid pair of underwear that he might throw on for a day at work or a special occasion.

Eventually I arrived at telling him, “For briefs, you might want to try looking at Garcon Model. If you’re feeling more trunks, Jack Adams or PUMP! might be fun ones to try”. For other friends I would have other recommendations but for him, these ones all just felt right. I have previously recommended to friends, JOR briefs, Andrew Christian briefs, N2N thongs, Nasty Pig jockstraps, BumChum trunks, and a whole lot more.