OK guys, what underwear?

[CA_Pilgrim]

How do you find the sizing? You look fairly trim (at least from the neck up on your photo). I’m fairly heavily built 200lbs, bought a pair of XL and I could have got a close friend in there with me!

Had to laugh when I read your post. First off, the photo is about 25 years old, although I've only added about 10 pounds of fat since then (always working on that last 10 pounds).

I generally wear a size 34 pants and find the medium size brief a good fit for me. Same goes for other brands of underwear, sweats, gym shorts, etc. A medium size generally fits me best. So I would say order the same size brief you would normally purchase.

 

[davebugg]

The Book of Freedoms: Chapter Two, Paragraph 7: Let not thy boys be confined, nor their airiness hampered. For I say unto you, all praise to commando and woe unto those who hamper thy gladness.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

How do you find the sizing?

On this webpage there is a "What's my size" tool near where you select your size for ordering. It asks your height, weight, age and pant size for various brands and gives you a guess.

It selected a Large (36-38) for me probably based mostly on my Levis size (34/32) and advanced age but I'm totally comfortable in my snug Mediums (32-34).

I'm confused; is it Mediums or Media?

https://www.exofficio.com/men/underwear/boxer-briefs/mens-give-n-go-2.0-sport-mesh-6-boxer-brief/AFS_195116055263.html

 

[MarkN]

Some years back I bought a bunch of different brands as I tried to find good running underwear, including some very pricey ones.
As some others have said, I found and settled on Saxx. It's all I have now and used them on all my Caminos and a few months back on the Kumano Kodo.
I found first performance is very good, but also wear, drying, and price to win out over others.

 

[Cullo]

As we are avid hikers and walk several miles a day, I have tried various kinds of underwear. I just can't find anything as comfortable and regular old cotton briefs. But, 5 weeks on the Camino means cotton might be not awesome at all. Do tell... What should I be looking for. I tried "Smart Wool" and no bueno... The cut is useless. I tried moisture wicking from Adidas. They are OK, not bad. But, not as comfortable as cotton.

What's your trusted brand, etc.. for mens underwear on the Camino? I'm tired of spending money for items that aren't good.

The only thing that annoyed me during my first Camino were the useless mens underwear that I had purchased. Since then, I have walked another three Caminos wearing Lulu Lemon's "lockdowns" (real name). - they are supportive, non-irritating and dry quickly. They do however come in two leg lengths and I prefer the boxer to the cycle pant length.

 

[james lonewolf]

Patagonia and Saxx Boxer Briefs

Saxx are brilliant , great support where it matters , wicks well and dry's fast .

 

[Dougie]

As we are avid hikers and walk several miles a day, I have tried various kinds of underwear. I just can't find anything as comfortable and regular old cotton briefs. But, 5 weeks on the Camino means cotton might be not awesome at all. Do tell... What should I be looking for. I tried "Smart Wool" and no bueno... The cut is useless. I tried moisture wicking from Adidas. They are OK, not bad. But, not as comfortable as cotton.

What's your trusted brand, etc.. for mens underwear on the Camino? I'm tired of spending money for items that aren't good.

I like these but they take forever to dry.

 

[CaminoGW]

Smart wool merino or decathlon merino boxers. Moisture wicking, quick to dry and natural odour control. If facilities are sparse I know I can wear them a couple of days without any hygiene issues

 

[CaminoGW]

I like these but they take forever to dry.

 

[David Bedlow]

'Having recently robbed a bank I invested in a pair of ex-officio’s finest'

Be careful. The elastic on Ex Officio perishes if washed or dried at too high a temperature.

 

[DwainS]

As we are avid hikers and walk several miles a day, I have tried various kinds of underwear. I just can't find anything as comfortable and regular old cotton briefs. But, 5 weeks on the Camino means cotton might be not awesome at all. Do tell... What should I be looking for. I tried "Smart Wool" and no bueno... The cut is useless. I tried moisture wicking from Adidas. They are OK, not bad. But, not as comfortable as cotton.

What's your trusted brand, etc.. for mens underwear on the Camino? I'm tired of spending money for items that aren't good.

I was a little worried about wearing wool for underwear but I bought Saxx black sheep merino wool boxers for my camino. it was cold my first day walking over the Pyrenees in May and hot in Fisterra and Madrid at the end of June when my Camino was finished. They performed great in the cold and heat and no chafing.

 

[Heal_to_toe]

As we are avid hikers and walk several miles a day, I have tried various kinds of underwear. I just can't find anything as comfortable and regular old cotton briefs. But, 5 weeks on the Camino means cotton might be not awesome at all. Do tell... What should I be looking for. I tried "Smart Wool" and no bueno... The cut is useless. I tried moisture wicking from Adidas. They are OK, not bad. But, not as comfortable as cotton.

What's your trusted brand, etc.. for mens underwear on the Camino? I'm tired of spending money for items that aren't good.

I wear Marks &Spencers cotton boxer shorts and haven't had a problem. They dry quickly enough too. One thing I would say is to have different colours, otherwise you lose track of which one needs washing and can end up getting confused if you can't differentiate between the two. I bring only 2 pairs, one "live" and one ready to wash and change every second day. I've got away with it so far

Buen Camino

 

[Caminoport]

Pourquoi, not one mention of "going commando." It works rain or shine except in co-ed sleeping facilities.

Spent a couple of days commando when had chafing issue - very liberating experience

 

[falconbrother]

I saw that Patagonia was on sale at REI so I pulled the trigger on those. Apparently they have done their homework on this topic.

 

[mattythedog]

As we are avid hikers and walk several miles a day, I have tried various kinds of underwear. I just can't find anything as comfortable and regular old cotton briefs. But, 5 weeks on the Camino means cotton might be not awesome at all. Do tell... What should I be looking for. I tried "Smart Wool" and no bueno... The cut is useless. I tried moisture wicking from Adidas. They are OK, not bad. But, not as comfortable as cotton.

What's your trusted brand, etc.. for mens underwear on the Camino? I'm tired of spending money for items that aren't good.

About 15 years ago I ditched the tighty whities for Duluth Buck Naked Boxers (not boxer briefs). I use them for gym workouts, bicycling, traveling around the world, construction work on 100+ F days, camping, skiing, etc. Once in an albergue shower, I forgot my towel, but had on the boxers. Turned out they were easy to wring out and were very absorbent. They also had more area than the $14 REI space aged micro fiber rag I bought. Now I don't bother bringing any towel on Camino, just the one pair of boxers I wear during the day, and the second clean pair to change into once I wash out the boxers in the shower. Then use them for washcloth. When finished, wring dry and wipe down. Repeat 2-3 more times and I am done. I have used for shorts in albergues and on the way to the beach, and swim for swim trunks at the beach. I tested them as emergency hat/buff/bug screen, but have not utilized this capability yet.

 

[dreaming]

I am a female however just wore my breathable cotton undies that I wear at home. Took 3 pairs plus the ones I wear. Had no problem drying them. If still damp, just placed them in the springs of the upper bunk or hung them on the rails.

 

[digitalgerry]

Spent a couple of days commando when had chafing issue - very liberating experience

Did you have any issues. What did you wear leggings or shorts?

 

[epworthrector]

Silk. Silk. Silk. Not as expensive as one might think and with all the positive characteristics associated with this natural fiber. On my Camino in 2017, I endeavored as much as possible to have everything I wore or slept in made of silk. REI was my source. My sock liners, too, were made of silk. Zero blisters.

Great info. Link to the silk sock liners? Were those REI also?

 

[Dougie]

Great info. Link to the silk sock liners? Were those REI also?

To keep down on weight and for easy drying nylon thongs are the best.