Besides footwear, I’d argue that the most important piece of gear on trail is your underwear. Nothing ruins a backpacking trip faster than a yeast infection or chafing. And I learned that the hard way. On a thru-hike in Italy, I experienced chafing so terrible that I had to go buy baby diaper rash cream from a pharmacy in a tiny village.
A good pair of hiking underwear can be hard to find, and I’ve tried so many brands. My skin is too sensitive for merino wool, and Patagonia stopped making the only quick-dry underwear I actually liked. So when Australian basics brand Paire announced it was coming to the U.S., I jumped at the chance to try its products. After wearing its BioTracker underwear ($21), my search for comfortable and functional outdoor underwear is finally over.
The Design
Paire’s BioTracker underwear is made from an unusual mix of fibers, including mulberry silk and super-fine modal, a tree fiber. The brand says that this combo makes for a product that is soft on skin, breathable, anti-stink, and anti-microbial. Some experts believe natural fibers are better for vaginal health than synthetic ones, and the silk and tree fibers in Paire’s are a good alternative to merino wool.
It also has a bit of spandex for adequate stretch and freedom of movement. The invisible waistline is supposed to stay in place without digging into your skin.
The “BioTracker” feature is supposed to help you keep track of how long you’ve had your underwear. The “handy tracker changes color with wear and time so you can see how long they’ve been in rotation for. Designed with active proteins that sense external stimuli, BioTracker lets you decide when it’s time for a refresh,” Paire said on its website.
The BioTracker comes in a variety of cuts, including full brief, classic bikini, mid brief, boyleg brief, hi-cut brief, and g-string. This is more cuts than most other brands offer. The sizes range from XS to 3XL, accommodating waists ranging from 23 to 37 inches. I wear a size 8/size 29 in women’s pants, and tested a medium in the classic bikini, and that fit well.
Price
Depending on the cut, Paire’s BioTracker run from $21 to $28 per pair. It can be tough to justify spending more than a Chipotle burrito (with guac) for a single item of underwear.
It’s worth noting, though, that hiking underwear has never been cheap. The lowest-price quick-dry underwear from Ex Officio costs $22. Many brands, including REI, Kari Traa, and Smartwool, actually cost more than Paire, with prices above $29.
For a multiday backpacking trip, I like to bring at least three pairs, so I can wear one while I wash and dry the used pairs. Outfitting myself for a trip in Paire would cost $63, which in my mind, is reasonable. I’ll use this underwear for years and get plenty of use out of it. In addition to hiking, I also wear quick-dry underwear like this for climbing trips, airplane travel, and long training sessions at the climbing gym.
Testing
I brought these underwear on backpacking trips in Yosemite and Germany. I backpacked 17 miles through the Black Forest in 95-degree heat with these underwear, so I feel confident in saying they do not cause chafing. If there was ever a time this was going to be a problem, this would’ve been it.
I got pretty sweaty, and these underwear wicked away moisture well and stayed relatively dry. They are thin without being too thin. I jumped, fully clothed, into a river to cool off, and they dried completely within a few hours. Even more impressively, even with all my moving around and taking a heavy pack on and off, I never got a wedgie.
I really liked how the BioTracker felt on my skin. They were soft, and the waistband didn’t shift or move around, and also didn’t feel like it cut into my skin. I prefer a bikini underwear to have a more true bikini shape than this design; I’d consider this more like a full brief with more coverage than I wanted.
Of course, they had a bit of an odor after multiple days of wear, but all in all, it wasn’t bad. Any stink totally went away after I washed them. Even with a decent amount of use, they’ve held up well, with no pilling after multiple washes.
If I’m honest, the BioTracker feature feels like a bit of a gimmick. I am the kind of person who will wear my underwear until they’ve got so many holes they’re no longer functional. A change in color on a small logo isn’t going to dictate when I replace my underwear.
Who’s It For?
Paire’s underwear comes in a range of cuts and sizes that are far more expansive than most other brands. Most brands use merino wool, and if that’s a no-go for you, like it is for me, the BioTracker is an excellent choice.
For women looking for versatile, breathable outdoor underwear, Paire is worth checking out. It’s not cheap, but buying something to avoid chafing is always money well spent.
