There are exactly seven categories of men’s underwear that matter most . Everything else from “trunks,” “hipsters,” to “micro briefs” are just a marketing variation of one of these core styles. We differ, because here at Malebasics, we’ve been manufacturing all seven essential types of underwear in our factory since 2008. No gimmicks, just high quality underwear. So, here’s how each one is actually built, what it does differently, and who should be wearing it.
1) Briefs: The Foundation
The men’s brief is the oldest modern and still the most popular underwear worn worldwide. Full waist coverage, full rear coverage with a moderate leg opening. What separates a good brief from a bad one is the pouch. Companies making cheap quality briefs use a flat-front fold, which compresses anatomy into a single plane. But not us, with anatomy in mind, we cut ours with a three-panel contour pouch that provides forward projection and natural positioning.
The brief works is very versatile. From office wear, casual wear, to sleeping and working out. It’s the most versatile style because it provides maximum coverage with moderate support. The waistband sits at or just below the natural waist. If you’re built with a shorter torso, briefs are usually more comfortable than boxer briefs because the leg openings don’t ride up into your thigh crease.
Best for: daily wear, guys who want full coverage, shorter torsos, and anyone who finds boxer brief legs restrictive.
2) Boxer Briefs: Coverage Meets Compression
Boxer briefs combine the support of a brief with leg coverage that extends 3-6 inches down the thigh. They prevent thigh chafing, the #1 reason men switch from briefs. The fit should be snug without being compressive. If your boxer briefs bunch and ride up, then they are too loose, defeating the design purpose.
To help combat this issue, we use the same contour pouch from our briefs on our boxer briefs, then add flatlock seams on the inner leg to eliminate chafing from the extended fabric. The leg bands are engineered with a soft-edge elastic that grips without leaving marks. Our key manufacturing detail is this: the leg panels are cut with negative ease, so they stretch to match your thigh this is what prevents the ride-up that plagues cheaper brands.
Best for: thigh chafing prevention, athletic use, guys with muscular thighs, wearing under jeans or chinos.
3) Thongs: Minimal Fabric, Maximum Function
Men’s thongs eliminate every stitch of fabric that isn’t providing support. The front pouch holds you in place, a narrow back strap maintains tension, and that’s it. Zero visible underwear lines under any clothing. With comfort in mind, we have helped move the industry beyond outdated thinking. The perception of thongs as being purely “sexy” underwear and not masculine is outdated. Plenty of men wear them daily because they’re genuinely the most comfortable option once you adjust to the minimal coverage.
The construction challenge is the back strap tension. Too tight and it digs, too loose and it shifts. We solve this issue with negative-ease cutting the strap is cut slightly smaller than body measurement, so the fabric’s stretch creates consistent, comfortable tension during movement. Sub-styles include the g-string (thinner strap, less pouch coverage) and the t-back (Y-shaped strap junction at the rear).
Best for: fitted pants, suits, guys that hate bunching, hot climates, and workouts (no fabric to bunch during squats or deadlifts.
4) Bikini Underwear: The Brief’s Bolder Cousin
Men’s bikini underwear takes the brief silhouette and drops it lower rise, higher leg cut, less overall fabric. The waistband sits on your hip bones instead of your waist, and the leg openings expose more thigh. It’s the same support concept as a brief but with a more modern, body- conscious profile.
The manufacturing difference is the waistband width and placement. We use a narrower 30mm elastic on bikinis (versus 50mm on briefs) because the hip-level position means a wider band would dig in when you sit. The higher leg cut requires a different pattern than simply shrinking a brief the angle of the leg opening changes to follow the natural crease of the hip.
Best for: guys who want brief-level support with a more revealing cut, low-rise pants, and warm weather.
5) Jockstraps: Support Without Rear Coverage
The jockstrap was invented for athletic support a pouch connected to a waistband with two leg straps, leaving the rear completely open. The design has split into two distinct markets: athletic jockstraps built for gym performance, and fashion jockstraps in lace, mesh, and faux leather built for style.
We make Jockstraps with two fundamentals in mind. Contour pouches that lifts and positions, a waistband wide enough to anchor the garment (we use 50mm woven elastic); and leg straps with the right tension. Our leg straps are 20mm crochet elastic with sublimation-printed branding soft against the inner thigh, durable through years of washing. The open rear means zero fabric heat buildup, which is why athletes still prefer jocks over compression shorts in high-heat training.
Best for: gym and sports, guys who run hot, fashion/club wear (in lace or leather), anyone who wants support without rear coverage.
6) Boyshorts: Full Coverage, Low Profile
Most companies offer Boyshorts for men that borrow a women’s boyshort silhouette a low-rise, short-leg style that covers the full rear with a hip-hugging fit. Think of them as boxer briefs with a shorter, tighter leg and a lower waistband. They provide full coverage without the bunching that regular boxers cause under fitted clothing.
We differ by offering boyshorts in microfiber and lace. The microfiber version is a stealth pick for guys who want panty-level comfort without the women’s panty label. This results in a fit that is similar to men’s panties but the shape reads as “sporty underwear” rather than lingerie. The lace version from our lace collection is one of our best sellers the boyshort is the most forgiving silhouette for guys new to lace.
Best for: full coverage with a modern fit, guys exploring beyond traditional underwear, sleeping, and lounging.
7) Long Johns: Base Layer That Does More
Long johns extend coverage from waist to ankle. Traditional long johns are heavyweight thermal knits designed purely for warmth. We differ from the rest, by making ours in microfiber and Pima cotton. Pima cotton is a lighter, more flexible fabric that works as athletic base layers, gym leggings, and loungewear in addition to cold-weather insulation.
Our construction is essentially a brief with extended leg panels. Our contour pouch carries over from the brief pattern, and the leg panels use ribbed ankle cuffs to prevent riding up. This is a detail that we borrowed from compression athletic wear. The microfiber version wicks moisture for gym use. The 95% Pima cotton version is the comfort option softer than standard cotton with dramatically less pilling.
Best for: cold weather layering, gym base layer, loungewear, skiing and hiking.
Which Type Should You Start With?
Pro tip: If you’ve only ever worn basic cotton briefs or boxers, start with a microfiber boxer brief. It’s the most universally flattering style with the broadest use case. Next, branch off into styles that you need like thongs for invisible wear under fitted clothes, bikinis for a more body- conscious daily option, jockstraps for gym support, and boyshorts for full-coverage comfort.
Every style we make uses the same high-quality core construction:
1) Contour pouch
2) Flatlock seams
3) Woven elastic
This ensures consistent quality. What’s left for you to choose is what kind of fabric feels best against your skin and how much fabric you want to do the job.
