Most people I know have a piece of gear or a fitness hack that has transformed their workouts. Something which, now they’ve discovered it, they swear they’ll never relinquish. It may sound a little weird, but for me that was discovering moisture-wicking underwear.
Unlike normal underwear, dedicated workout undies are made from technical fabrics or blends such as elastane, nylon or polyester. They can also be made using natural fibres including organic cotton, merino wool or bamboo viscose. Manufacturers choose these materials because of their inherent performance properties. That might be four-way stretch, next-to-skin comfort, microbial resistance or the ability to wick moisture away from the skin or to dry quickly.
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Having made my own discovery with moisture-wicking underwear, I don’t think I can ever go back to regulation underwear when I work out. And here’s why:
Improved comfort
The main raison d’etre of moisture-wicking underwear is improving comfort while you work out. Compared to normal undies, they will be lighter, stretchier and softer, causing less restriction, abrasion or discomfort as you exercise. Technical fabrics – whether natural or man-made – will help disperse sweat as it forms on your skin, wicking it away from your body and allowing the fabric to stay dryer for longer. Damp or sticky underwear not only feels uncomfortable; it can also chafe against the skin. But using breathable fabrics to reduce and disperse the build-up of moisture, dedicated workout underwear keeps you fresher and dryer for longer. Smartwool Merino Boxer Briefs, for example, are excellent at this.
Excellent versatility
Most of the best moisture-wicking underwear is designed with versatility in mind. That means you can use them for whatever kind of workout you do – with the exception of cycling, which I’d always recommend using dedicated padded cycling shorts. But running, mobility drills, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, Hyrox, machine work, free weights as well as outdoor sports like tennis and indoor ones such as boxing are all ideal activities for wearing moisture-wicking underwear. Runderwear boxers are one such example.
High performance
Another benefit of the best moisture-wicking underwear it its ease of movement. Most man-made technical fabrics employ four-way-stretch technology, allowing you to move completely unrestricted. Likewise, natural fibres have their own inherent flex and stretchiness. This ensures fabric or seams aren’t constantly rubbing against your skin, but rather moving with your body. Soft, wide and stretchy waistbands and flattened or minimal seams are another aspect of a lot of moisture-wicking underwear. Waistbands like these won’t roll or cut in as you move. While the fewer prominent seams your underwear has, the less chance of creating hot spots, pinch points or chafing zones. CXP Endurance XP Shorts, for example, have dedicated anti-chafe seams.
Any disadvantages?
As far as I’m concerned, there aren’t really any disadvantages to wearing moisture-wicking underwear. OK, so you might find yourself having to change undies before every workout. But surely that’s a reason to wear them all day long. After all, they’re made with long-term comfort in mind. And if you decide to make the transition to technical underwear, you might think some of your 2-in-1 running or workout shorts might become redundant. But if you think about it, most of these (even the ones with mesh pouches or inner shorts) are really just shorts with built-in moisture-wicking underwear. So you’ve already made the transition without realising it. Welcome to the comfort club!
