I’ve worn cheap underwear nearly my entire life. It always seemed good enough, and I figured if it’s not broke, no need to fix it, right?
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This summer I had a transcendent experience that changed my thinking on investing in high-quality skivvies. Specifically, undergarments of the merino wool variety. Merino underwear is by no means new. Several of my fellow GJ editors have been wearing it for years. Heck, the founder of this publication named merino apparel among his favorite tested products during the first ten years of GearJunkie back in 2012.
Many of my favorite pieces of apparel over the past few years have been merino. From socks and base layers to jackets and hats. Why it took me so long to discover the joys of merino underwear is a mystery. But I figure the least I can do is make a case for any readers who have yet to try merino for their undercarriage.
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There are two barriers to experiencing merino nirvana. The first and most intimidating is price. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, merino is expensive, and underwear is no exception. The pairs that I’ve been testing are $40 to $50 a pair. The second hesitation for most people is comfort. “Wool down there must itch, right?”
But for these three reasons, merino underwear is worth the cost. And no, it doesn’t itch.
Bacteria & Odor Resistance: Sweat is inevitable, especially during the summer. This is where, in my experience, merino undies have come through in the clutch over the past six months. Without going into too much detail, I’ve sweated hard for 3+ days at a time, with no sign of itchy bacteria or any hint of foul odor in the Ibex Woolies 150, Smartwool NTS Micro 150 Boxer Brief and Icebreaker Relay Boxer Briefs. Yes, I sniffed my underwear after wearing it for three days.
Temperature-Regulating: Merino retains heat, while still breathing well. Each of the offerings from Icebreaker, Smartwool, Ibex and super.natural have performed just as admirably in July as they have in temperatures well below freezing the past few weeks.
For the coldest days, Ibex and Smartwool offer thicker merino for extra warmth.
Comfort: At the top end with brands like the aforementioned, any merino product is going to be among the most comfortable clothing materials out there. As someone who has an aversion to itchy clothes, especially when it comes to performance wear, each pair of merino drawers I put to the test have been luxuriously comfortable.
A few notes on each pair I’ve been testing…
Ibex Woolies 150 Boxer Brief ($50)
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Icebreaker Relay Boxer Briefs ($50)
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Smartwool Men’s NTS Micro 150 Boxer Brief ($48)
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Super.Natural Base Boxer 175 ($40)
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Wildcard: ExOfficio Sport Mesh 6” Boxer Brief ($30)
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