...are worthless. I'm in to my fifth/sixth pair and a $30 a pop they can't handle the stress of day to day hiking, running and general work wear. I've shared my frustrations with their customer service but I'm tired of having to use the return policy. I'd like the wool boxers I buy to be able to stand up to EDC wear.

What are you guys using instead? Wool, is what I'm looking for, I'm not much into the synthetic stuff...

Brian,

I really like my Icebreaker boxers. I used them on a bunch of winter trips.

Brian, I'm a briefs, not a boxer guy so my feedback may not be useful to you. I've been wearing Ibex Breezer briefs for years now and there is still no sign of wear in any of them. I wear them every day all year long. I'm guessing Ibex boxers would wear well also.

Edited by ericnoble on 06/17/2007 21:30:02 MDT.

They ain't wool but I swear by the Patagonia Silkweight boxers. I have some that are several years old. Besides they have cool designs like ice axes and dancing Hawaiian girls.

To what advantage is wool when it comes to underwear? I understand the weight to warmth ratio for layers, but I have used many different types of synthetic underwear (REI, Patagonia, and Ex Officio) with fantastic results. What I want out of underwear is COMFORT and WICKING. I do not think (although I am not sure) that wool wicks nearly as good as some of the engineered fabrics. I have also never had any issue with odor and have worn them with only the occasional rinse in the river for a week at a time. You may want to reconsider why it is you need wool???

In the backcountry i wear LW running shorts w/ an inner-brief in lieu of "dedicated" undies----- in the spirit of multiple use. You can swim in them---they dry quickly. Wool will not. When wool is wet it is vulnerable to damage as wet wool is very structurally weak.

I just throw on pants or a shell over the shorts when conditions require. Quite comfortable and like the above poster re. synthetic undies, just wash them when the opportunity presents itself. Application of Body Glide deals w/ chafing issues.

Edited by kdesign on 06/18/2007 11:04:32 MDT.

Like a few other who responded here, I don't use wool "short" underwear for hiking. I purchased 3 pair of microfiber jock straps from Road Runners Sport in San Diego about 5 years ago and have worn them ever since for hiking. I will never wear anything else again. They are light -- about 1oz. They dry immediately when taken off and rinsed in a stream. They support me and my "package" better than any pair of underwear. And in the summer they are very cool to wear. In the winter I wear Schoeller tights so I stay warm and don't worry about my jock straps making me cold.

Here is the link to the new version if you are interested: http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/RRM460/

Kevin's dedicated skivies idea has worked in past pant configurations quite well for me too. I tend to prefer pants on the trail anymore, and thusly use a pair of black patagonia active boxer briefs. They support very well. They breath and wick well. I like black because I can also use them as a swimsuit in areas where someone else might be in sightline...without feeling like I am showing more than they might want to see. The jockstrap would definitly not work in that scenario...and I generally cannot stand anything that is too tight in that area. Patagonia's "active" boxer brief is an example of way too much tension on the "boys" if you know what I mean.

I share your frustration. I have a pair of SW boxer briefs. Short of using Body Glide (which I hate to use) they have been the best anti-chafing solution I have used to date. I have used mine for ~10 days on trail and they are already showing signs of wear. Too bad as they have been the ideal solution (for me).

Why stop at jockstraps. Go for high fashion as well as an UL solution----
y'got ya support, y'got ya swimsuit. and it's only 23 g. in microfiber.

Edited by kdesign on 06/18/2007 15:02:44 MDT.

>Why stop at jockstraps

As they say in the south..."The boy ain't right. You can see it in his eyes."

Edited by samurai on 06/18/2007 17:31:08 MDT.

Well, being as I'm a West Coast, Yankee, Jewish, Materialist, Humanist Cosmopolitan, I'm probably persona non grata in the regions that quote originated from. :-D


p.s. I'm a registered Democrat, too.


p.p.s. Oh, Sam, I thought you were talking about me. I see you changed the title.
Well, Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) in the picture is most of that, too. Except being a West End Brit. And Labor Party.

Edited by kdesign on 06/18/2007 17:39:32 MDT.

>I'm probably persona non grata in the regions that quote originated from. :-D

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised. And yes, I was/am/probably will for at least as long as it takes for this smile to wear off.

See ya

Uhmm... arnt all true southerners Democrates?

and true Yankees are registered Independents these days.

I just got a lecture from a friend's (crazy) mother the other day on being a registered independent. She also tried to hit me when i asked for a takeout box (since it is styrofoam) but that is an altogether different story...

as for being on topic, i too have had issues with the smartwool boxers. after only a few uses they have developed holes in several places. i'm frustrated because i really like them a lot to prevent chafing. if i'm REALLY pushing miles i'll just use some of my cycling chamois cream. works really well.

i'll have to try some of the suggestions on this thread to replace my wearing smartwools.

Kevin,

It's a little known fact that Borat's "Sexy Drown Watch" co-star, Azamat Bagatov, is an ultralight backpacker. Here he is demonstrating his SUL style

well darn. now i know why my shorts weight so much. i haven't trimmed them down yet...

See Kevin?
I recognize that spot. That picture was taken in downtown Charlotte in front of the I-Max theater! Come visit us, we're REALLY looking forward to seeing you ;)

Edited by samurai on 06/18/2007 18:39:21 MDT.

... I just lost my dinner.

Brian---not Jewish Yankees. And those Southern Demos turned Reagan Republicans in days of yore.

Edited by kdesign on 06/18/2007 19:48:37 MDT.

>And those Southern Demos turned Reagan Republicans

I think I'll drop out of this thread while I still have some dignity left.