Mack Weldon Underwear Review: Does Game-Changing Underwear Really Exist?

Does game-changing underwear really exist?

According to Mack Weldon—the brand hailed “the Apple of Underwear” by The Huffington Post—the answer is yes. Men’s Health magazine touts them as the “Best Underwear for Men” (yes, in quotation marks), and even the NY Times is in on the action.

Seriously, I didn’t even know underwear could make the news. I told my wife that and she pointed out that an image of Mark Wahlberg in a pair of Calvins still does regular rounds in the media two decades after the campaign hit the streets.

What I do know for sure, though, is that Mack Weldon underwear is everywhere on social media. So for once, I’m ahead of a trend—because I’ve been wearing some version of a Mack Weldon boxer brief since 2016.

Here’s what else I know. It won’t change the world, but it will help you buy good underwear.

The Mack Weldon Brand

As a brand offering, all Mack Weldon underwear are good. Really good. They’ve got all the cut preferences covered:

  • Boxer briefs
  • Trunks
  • Briefs
  • Boxers
  • Long underwear (as a California native, I assume these are man-leggings)

Factor in the additional 8” boxer brief style, and the dizzying number of colors and prints, and the brand delivers pretty universal appeal.

But choose carefully, man. Where my other underwear have fallen victim to unravelling, stretching, and wearing out, my Mack Weldon’s are mostly still going strong. Fading is always an issue if you go with the boldest colors (more on that later) but the construction of these underwear is impeccable in every other way.

Mack Weldon

So are you willing to pay the price? Literally, I mean.

A pair of Mack Weldon AIRKNITx boxer briefs will set you back a few bucks less than a similar offering from Tommy John. And for that price, you can score a 3-pack of Calvins on special. For reference, that’s the argument my wife makes. For more reference, here’s my comeback: my oldest AIRKNITx boxer briefs have lasted 4 years and counting—or $8 a year.

And since I’ve gone to the effort of breaking down the brand by price per annum, let’s go a step further and break down the brand by line:

Mack Weldon AIRKNITx 8” Boxer Brief Review

Mack Weldon Review - AIRKNITx 8” Boxer Brief

Let’s start with AIRKNITx because they’re my favorites. There are a lot of reasons I’m sickeningly brand-loyal when it comes to my underwear, and the AIRKNITx has them all in one package:

  • They deliver on premium fit, comfort, and support—without restrictive compression. They’re lightweight but snug, versatile enough to suit everything I do in a day, and breathable enough to keep me comfortably dry on my morning run.
  • The AIRKNITx line uses a 50% Polyamide / 33% Polyester / 17% Elastane fabric blend with a fine waffle-knit feel that offers plenty of stretch and flexibility without feeling flimsy or worn-out. The synthetic fabric blend wicks moisture away from the skin really well, too.
  • The waistband is comfortable and doesn’t roll-down or twist, and doesn’t feature a bunch of large-font branding—a nice surprise. From the back, you’ll notice the tag detailing printed on the back of one leg. As someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time looking at my own backside, I prefer it to a tag on the inner-back of the underwear.

Special Mention:

The AIRKNITx line doesn’t have a functional fly. If you send your trooper over the wall to whizz—rather than straight through the front door—you’re not going to care. Committed fly users might see the fly-less pouch as a drawback, though.

Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey Boxer Brief Review

Mack Weldon Review - 18-Hour Jersey Boxer Brief

When I first saw these boxer briefs were called 18-Hour Jersey, my first response was ‘so?’ I’m not ashamed to admit I always wear my underwear for 18 hours. Not since my graduation from toddlerhood have I worn more than one pair of underwear in a day.

What the 18-Hour Jersey name actually refers to is the manufacturing process. The material used is rested for 18 hours post-production to allow it to expand. It’s then woven into its final state, so it delivers a more resilient, comfortable, consistent fit, free of warping, shrinking, and puckering. This line has a few more wins under its waistband, too:

  • The 47.5% Cotton / 47.5% Modal / 5% Spandex fabric blend is ultra-soft and relaxed, so they’re a great choice for around the house (slug-life style).
  • 17 solid colors and 17 bold prints for incredible versatility.
  • Solid waistband construction eliminates roll-down, while the cut of the leg and stitch construction reduces ride up in the thighs.
  • The functional fly features soft seams for easy access and a premium flat-lying fly that won’t ruin the lie of dress pants or bunch up awkwardly in public.

Mack Weldon Silver HD Brief Review

Mack Weldon Review Silver HD Boxer Brief

I’m a sucker for a good gimmick, so when I saw what gave Mack Weldon’s Silver HD line its name, I aggressively and passionately added these to my cart. But there’s a lot more to this underwear than just integrated silver fibers—although NASA uses this exact technology, just FYI.

  • Mesh panels for breathability and circulation around the valuables.
  • Silky-cool 66% Micro Modal / 21% Nylon / 7% XT2 (that’s the fancy silver stuff) Nylon / 6% Spandex fabric blend is designed for odor-reduction. Let me be real with you: it doesn’t stop a fart. But if your more concerned about funky odors around your twig and berries, the silver tech is pretty successful.
  • Superior comfort and fit, with a more firm, snug fit than the other Mack Weldon offerings.
  • Excellent premium feel and thickness. These feel incredibly durable, and they hold their shape and resilience well despite the hundreds of washes they’ve been subjected to in their lifetime.
  • Not content to just wick sweat away from your down-under region, Mack Weldon also feature a mesh insert at the back of the briefs to catch any sweat dripping down your back. That makes these comfortable, breathable, dry, and free of sweaty sack smell through a heavy gym session.

Special Mention:

2 things.

  • Color loss was most noticeable in this line. Whether that’s because the Silver HD brief is only available in dark colors—Navy and Black, specifically—or if it’s a fabric issue, I can’t tell.
  • The AIRKNITx doesn’t have a functional fly. Mack Weldon overcompensates with the Silver HD brief—giving it a double-sided fly.

Is Mack Weldon Underwear Worth the Money?

I pledge my undying fealty, GoT-style, to Mack Weldon underwear. But if you want to send the nuts and bolt in for a look around the place before you buy, Mack Weldon offers a Try On Guarantee:

If you don’t love the first pair you buy, they’ll send you a different size or style, or issue you a refund—and you don’t have to return the pair you bought.

Insanity. You know what else is insane? With more than 1.5 million pairs of underwear shipped, they’ve got a return / refund rate of less than 2%. It’s a testament to the standard this brand sets in the underwear game.

About the author

Kelsey Summers

Kelsey is the lead editor of Undywear.com. She's a fashionista who's written for Glamour, GQ and others. She enjoys breaking the stigma and taboo around underwear and writing about all things fashion.