Guide to the Best Travel Underwear

The one things I hate bad versions of when traveling are underwear and socks. I can get by with wearing the same shirt or pants over again, but ill-fitting, damp, or dirty underwear or sock20s are the worst and can make or break a trip.

So when looking for good products I have a lot I need to evaluate. Here we are going to look at what’s the best on the market for underwear on the go. Ones that will hold up to your travel, easy to clean, wicking, breathable, and all other important aspects.

So what to look for?

Updated 2020

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Breathability

This is what you want when you are looking for travel underwear. Lots of walking and traveling can cause discomfort and chaffing. Having something that is made from a breathable fabric will go a long way in terms of quality of your day. Regular Cotton underwear while comfortable is not breathable and not comfortable for hard or hot days on the go.

Ease of Cleaning

Unless you are going for a short trip, you will not be able to pack enough for the entire trip. Also, travel underwear tends to be expensive, so you might not want to purchase too many. Something that you can clean easy in a lot of different situations is the best. Ones that you can easily wash, rinse, and dry even in your hotel room are important if you are going to find yourself backpacking or otherwise in tough to clean situations. Also some underwear can’t be put in the dryer (due to material) so that might factor into whether you want it or not.

Quick Drying

Whether you get wet from the lake, sweat, or the rain, having something that will dry quick will be great. I found this to be one of my main factors as dry clothes are one of the most important things for me in terms of what I bring.

Odor Control

You are inevitably going to have to wear your underwear for a long day or even possibly multiple days. Perhaps you are out hiking in the wilderness or taking long train or bus trips. Not being smelly is key both for your benefit and those around you.

Material

Pay attention to what something is made from especially if you have allergies or issues with any sorts of materials. Some things like natural wool might be great, but could be expensive or hard to keep dry. Overall there are a lot of different material (mostly synthetic) and some that are really light and durable.

Price

I wish price wasn’t a factor, but isn’t it always? Sometimes brand names are worth the cost and sometimes not. Often times certain materials are just more expensive. Prices range from a few dollars to nearly $40 for a pair, so there is a huge range of options.

Other Factors

• Will you wear them at home? If you wear them for your regular day-to-day it is certainly easier to justify the costs.
• Will it keep it’s shape? I’ve found some that due to the extreme lightweight nature that they don’t really fit well after awhile.

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Product Reviews

Ex-Officio Give-n-Go  Underwear

Ex-Officio is the “king” (or “Queen”) of the travel underwear business. I’ve been using these guys for years and they have held up on some of the toughest trips. If I had to choose I would go with the brief version of the underwear such as the boxer brief or sports brief. The regular boxer version I found does not stay in place as well nor does it hold up as well. I used the boxer ones for awhile and always used to get frustrated with them losing their shape until I switched to the much better boxer briefs. The one reason I don’t like the sport’s briefs is that I always found versions without a fly. If that’s not an issue, than consider it for yourself.

Ex-Officio has great options for both Men and Women.

Men’s Version

[[amazon asin=B00DZLVDAC&text=Check Prices on Men’s Boxer Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B001M0MN48&text=Check Prices on Men’s Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B00TB0IQXS&text=Check Prices on Men’s Sport’s Brief]]

Women’s Version

[[amazon asin=B00ZIE1YD0&text=Check Prices on Women’s Sport Bikini Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B0036S3U28&text=Check Prices on Women’s Bikini Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B0036ZA268&text=Check Prices on Women’s Boy-Cut Brief]]

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Smartwool Merino Wool Underwear

One of my favorite companies for their incredible wool products. High Quality merino wool has many of the factors that you look for in travel underwear while not requiring synthetic materials. However…you will certainly be paying a hefty price for them as well.The quality of the wool is high and these keep you dry and comfortable in all weather conditions. I’ve found these to be good even in warmer months, although not as good as the full synthetics for keeping me dry. Although they feel way more comfortable next to the skin than the non-wool varieties.

Men’s Version

[[amazon asin=B008VTJIF0&text=Check Prices on Men’s Boxer Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B0113OAZ38&text=Check Prices on Men’s PhD Seamless Boxer Brief]]

Women’s Version

[[amazon asin=B01HN750WA&text=Check Prices on Women’s Seamless Bikini Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B01HN6M6NC&text=Check Prices on Women’s Merino 150 Bikini Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B018ZVD9WG&text=Check Prices on Women’s Boy Short]]

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Under Armour Underwear

Overall a great option of synthetic underwear with a variety of options and technology. I use these a lot for on the go travel whether for a weekend or even at work. They are comfortable, lightweight, and comfortable.  The prices are competitive in comparison to some of the other options available. You usually get more than one for the absurdly high prices.

Men’s Version

[[amazon asin=B01594DIFU&text=Check Prices on Men’s Iso Chill Boxer Brief]]
[[amazon asin=B005CX0QMM&text=Check Prices on Men’s UA Mesh]]

Women’s Version

[[amazon asin=B019Z2HO0M&text=Check Prices on Women’s Stretch Hipster]]
[[amazon asin=B01FAGTPQI&text=Check Prices on Women’s Pure Stretch]]
[[amazon asin=B01FXOCAVY&text=Check Prices on Women’s Pure Stretch Thong]]

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Icebreaker

Icebreaker is probably one of the best well-known New Zealand Merino wool brands. Are they the best? Probably. Are they affordable? Well depends on what your budget is. You certainly pay more for these than most of the other brands on here. I generally go with MacPac if I’m traveling in a place those are available, however internationally most places you can only find Icebreaker. Yes, it is a great company and a great product just generally very expensive. However, if you are looking for a good Merino wool underwear, they have them too. Comfortable, and definitely not cheap in any definition of the word.

Men’s Version

[[amazon asin=B00YZNSWOO&text=Check Prices on Men’s Anatomica Long Boxer]]
[[amazon asin=B00YXXLGTE&text=Check Prices on Men’s Anatomica Boxer]]
[[amazon asin=B00YXXIH5U&text=Check Prices on Men’s Anatomica Brief]]

Women’s Version

[[amazon asin=B00ZEJ0ZVG&text=Check Prices on Women’s Siren Thong]]
[[amazon asin=B019JWMHXM&text=Check Prices on Women’s Siren Bikini]]
[[amazon asin=B00L6CGO2O&text=Check Prices on Women’s Sprite Hot Pants]]

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Arc’teryx

100% synthetic products and full of tech, Arc’teryx has a large selection of good quality travel underwear. These are a great choice for those on the go. I found them to be great at breathability and wicking and overall high quality with good durability. Price-wise though they are rather expensive as all Arc’teryx products tend to be. These are about the only things I can actually afford to purchase from this brand! They also tend to control odors rather well too. A huge annoyance on the men’s is the general lack of a fly on many varieties. Available in Men and Women’s versions.

Men’s Version

[[amazon asin=B0163YTHBY&text=Check Prices on Men’s Phase SL Boxer]]
[[amazon asin=B01KKDHBOE&text=Check Prices on Men’s Satoro AR Boxer]]
[[amazon asin=B01GFS88FE&text=Check Prices on Men’s Phase SL Brief]]

Women’s Version

[[amazon asin=B01680SV0Q&text=Check Prices on Women’s Phase SL Boxer]]
[[amazon asin=B00ZKN0UXY&text=Check Prices on Women’s Phase SL Brief]]

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So do you have a favorite? One that is your go-to pair when you are on the go? Would love to hear suggestions, comments, concerns, plus others that are worth testing. Let me know by contacting me or commenting below.

Be Sure to also check out other packing and pre-travel advice in some of my other articles such as:

• Guide to the Best Travel Packing Cubes  
• How to choose Carry-on Luggage
• Guide to the Best Dry Bags
• Guide to Waterproof Beard Trimmers