20 Best Hiking Underwear For Men & Women

The most epic hiking adventures no doubt begin with a solid foundation plan. So it's a wonder that tons of people still overlook the first layer of apparel they put on—hiking underwear.

In light of all the tales of chaffing and trail discomforts, caused entirely by wearing the wrong underwear (several miles in the middle of nowhere), this article will be focusing on how to pick the best underwear for hiking.

10 Best Hiking Underwear For Men

Let's take a look at our picks for the 10 best pairs of hiking underwear for men:

1. Adidas Men's Sport Performance, Climalite Boxer-Brief

Extra Support: Adidas is an easily recognizable brand, and with good reason since they've been in the business for more than half a century. This brief is clearly designed for their trademark athletic pursuits. It's made from 8% spandex and 92% polyester so that you'll have just the right amount of stretch, but with enough poly fabric to wick away moisture during even the most intense physical activity - which we guess hiking falls under. It has a double-lined support pouch, made with mesh, which fits the natural contours of your body, so that you're extremely comfortable while hiking. The waistband is tagless and plush-soft to keep you comfortable and prevent the brief from scratching up your skin.

While the form-fit of the climalite boxer-brief means your chances of a wedgie are drastically reduced, it can be feel a little too constricting because even the larger sizes tend to fit a bit too snugly. If you're worried about fitting into it, you can try the ExOfficio Give N Go boxer.

2. Under Armour Men's Original Series 

All-day underwear: Sure you're looking for some hiking underwear, but what if you got a multipurpose one instead? This under armour is made with 90% polyester and 10% elastane fabric so it's a tad bit stretchy. The HeatGear and 4-way stretch fabric allows you to work and move in all weather conditions and directions. They've been worn by industrial maintenance guys trapped in hot rooms and construction workers trapped on rooftops all day long and have saved them from forming manly waddles back home everyday. 

The downside is that it has a small tag at the waist, which isn't designed to be cut, as it'll scrape away at your skin (you can't get it off completely without ripping the seam from the waistband of your brief). So if you're looking for something you'll wear even when you're aren't hiking (maybe you're a casual hiker), and perhaps you work in very hot climates, then you'll want to get this.

3. Lacoste Men's 2 Pack Cotton Stretch Boxer-brief

Made With Super Soft Cotton: Even though cotton underwear isn’t typically not recommended for hiking, this lacoste men's boxer brief was made with 95% premium soft cotton and 5% spandex. So it's extremely soft, light and stretchy enough to wick all moisture away during intense physical activities. Cotton is known for its extreme durability so you can throw this in the washing machine and it will remain intact. 

It's just an inch or two longer than typical trunks so not too tight or long. It has no fly though so you'll have to go all the way from the top, when you need to use the bathroom. However, since it has a seamless waistband this shouldn't be an issue.

4. ExOfficio Men's Give-N-Go Boxer 

Breathable design: Unlike traditional boxers, this ExOfficio's model is sort of smaller, so it offers a little more support. It's made with 94% nylon and 6% spandex, ergo lightweight and stretchy. The good thing is that this means you're guaranteed to stay dry throughout your trip with this boxer. To combat what would have been a major disadvantage, the fabric is treated with antimicrobial properties to prevent odor buildup, so you can actually just take 2 pairs on a week-long hiking trip.

Hardcore hikers won't like this since it's still a just a boxer. Because although it's more form fitting than what you'd typically find around, it still won't give you a lot of support. If you're a bit overweight and you don't expect to be on the trail for a while, or you just walk at a ridiculously slow space, this will suit you just fine.

5. Apex Merino Wool Boxer-briefs

Extreme Weathers: It's always important to take care of yourself "down there". If you're worried about the potential dangers of your nether regions being in such close proximity to the artificial antimicrobial ingredients used in synthetic fabrics, then this 100% Australian merino wool boxer-brief is for you. You literally won't find anything safer, as merino wool has its own natural antimicrobials, which doesn't have an expiry date by the way. 

Sounds pretty cool right? There's always a but though. This brief won't be as stretchy or durable as typical underwear is, since it includes absolutely no other material. It does have an ergonomic fly, hence it's very form-fitting for all your "manly sporting activities". If you're cool with spending big bucks on your delicates, you'll just have to get them in bulk.

6. Lapasa Men's Sport Boxer-Brief

Micro-Mesh Breathable Fabric: these buggers promote great airflow so that you're cooled off as soon as you start sweating. The pouch and thigh area feature a Y-line ergonomic tailoring design meant to reduce friction during intense activities. If you hate it when the waistband slacks and bunches up, you'll love the chic design pattern on this semi brief, because it means there's extra adhesion at the waist so it won't slide down or bunch up easily.

Now if only they applied some of this chic pattern tech to the thigh coverage area. Since it's a bit longer than most briefs, some users have noticed it sliding up their legs, but this it's most runners with this complain, so you may not have that issue with just hiking.

7. Saxx Men's Quest 2.0 Boxer-Briefs

Reduced Friction: You spend a pretty penny on just one pair but that buys you some bad boy flaps strategically placed inside the pouch area, which are designed to prevent all forms of rubbing. So your bits and tackle are right where they should be even while you're taking a hike. They even smell great even after wearing them days in a row, so maybe the price is worth it. 

8. Woolx Dailys Men's Merino Wool Boxer Briefs

All Weather: Made with 100% lightweight merino wool, about 17.5 micron, this WoolX feels like baby-soft cashmere and is great for hiking in all types of weather. So they hold up great whether you're hiking on lava floor or skiing on mountain tops. Since merino wool has antimicrobial properties it won't get that chemical smell briefs made with synthetic fabrics usually do. 

Note that this WoolX briefs are a little longer, and made with wool so if you're a very hairy person, you may not love this because the wool could irritate your skin. You can find lighter fabrics Saxx briefs if you want.

9. 5Mayi Boxer-Briefs Cotton Regular Long

More Room: Once you break them in that is. Since cotton on its own won't make a good hiking underwear, this 5Mayi brief has 5% spandex in it for added elasticity. It has an ergonomic fly so you have more room in the pouch area. This comes as a package deal, so if you subscribe to the "if I have enough socks and underwear I can put off laundry forever" school of thought, go for it. 

10. Saxx Underwear Men's Vibe Boxer-Brief

Very Stylish: Saxx has been creating innovative underwear "everyone wants to wear but can't afford to" for more than a decade now.

This particular brief is made with a 4 by 4 way stretch beautiful fabric, so if you want to look awesome in your skivvies, and can afford to, look no further. It features a 3D friction free tech meant to provide extra comfort. It's made of 95% viscose and 5% spandex making it very soft. Plus, it even fits like a second skin.

Moreover, it was designed to withstand extreme temperatures so it wicks away sweat while you're on the trail, and keeps you cool and dry just like every other hiking underwear.

10 Best Hiking Underwear For Women

Here are our picks for the 10 best hiking underwear for women:

1. Smartwool Women's PhD Seamlesss Bikini Panty

No side or bottom seams: Almost everyone has a bubble butt these days, but it doesn't look like Smartwool's taking this into its sizing consideration. Aside from that, this underwear's great for extreme weather conditions - it's made with a mix of merino wool, nylon and elastane - which is great for thermal heat distribution. It has no inner thigh seams, so your lady bits won't be handled roughly. If you do decide to go with this, and you have a perky derrier, go one size above what the sizing chart suggests. 

2. Icebreaker Merino Siren Thong Underwear

One size fits all stretch: Although the prevailing belief is that the best hiking underwear for women shouldn't be thong-styled, if you don't mind that "feeling", this shouldn't bother you. Besides, this isn't your typical G-string kind of thong - it has a bit more coverage - plus it's made of merino wool which is always great when hiking on a snow trail. 

It does have a tag, which is mildly irritating at best, but since the tag can be removed easily, this shouldn't be an issue. Design's minimalist, but thongs generally don't need additional "flavor" to make them sexy, so this should boost your self-esteem (if you need it) just fine while you're on a trail.

3. Adidas Women's Climacool Cheekster 

Extremely breathable: Most folks are familiar with Adidas since they're known for making superb sportwear. This climacool cheekster doesn't disappoint one bit. It's specifically designed for high intensity sporting activities, so its micro mesh fabric makes it extremely breathable - an optimal feature which will affect your comfort while on a trail. 

Adidas is an easily recognizable brand, so you'll find just the logo instead of an annoying tag on the waistband. It does have very thin edges though, so if you don't pick the right size, you'll end up with underwear that rolls up every step you take.

4. Ibex Outdoor, Balance Boy Shorts

Fits like a dream: It's like buying from the men's section, but without having to deal with an uncomfortable manly front pouch. This is the priciest item on this list, but it's essentially a boy short made almost entirely from merino wool (which is pretty expensive), so the price seems justifiable.

This is the underwear you get after having terrible experiences with cheap, poorly made ones and you've come to realize that you'll need to budget for hiking underwear the same way you budget for other hiking gear.

5. ExOfficio Women's Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs 

Everyday wear: If there's a firm you can rely on to make great hiking underwear, it's ExOfficio. They've been making awesome travel wears for more than three decades. This particular bikini brief is made from a lightweight diamond mesh fabric, which helps with air flow. Lightweight mesh also dries quickly so you can probably survive a one week hiking trip with just three pairs.

Unfortunately the elastic band on this shrinks when you wash it in a washing machine, so try to hand wash only (you'll be using this on a trail anyways). The bikini line cut means this could be worn daily, especially if you work in extreme weather conditions and need something to keep your lady parts refreshed. Again, remain to Handwash only that it'll stay strong.

6. Boody Body Ecowear Women's Midi Brief

Great for sensitive skin: Boody has proven time and time again that it's possible for firms to make great hypoallergenic wears without damaging the environment - most firms just choose not to. This midi brief by Boody is certainly no different - quality wise - than all the other underwear Boody has excellently made.

Don't let the relatively low price (for a hiking underwear) fool you into believing it's of sub par quality compared with other brands. This brief has micro gaps in the fibre to allow air flow freely. It's like your classic mid rise granny panty, except it's not made from cotton but from organically grown bamboo fibres. It has natural thermo-regulating and odor resistant properties, so at this price, it's definitely a steal. Grab a pair if you're committed to a greener earth.

7. Adidas Women's Climacool Thong Underwear

Flat lock seams: Yup, double wedgie's a thing, so if you aren't careful with your measurement, you'll learn just how uncomfortable it is when you're in the middle of nowhere. If you get past the sizing though, this is a great alternative to the Icebreaker - it's made from a company with a reputation to protect, so you can at least trust that it'll do what it says.

And what it says is that the ideal mix of breathability, comfort and athletic stretch-performance fabric and design will be well appreciated while on a hiking trail. It has flat lock seams, which works wonders in preventing chafing.

8. ExOfficio Women's Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Hipskini

Control the moisture: This is what you get when a hipster and a bikini decide to have a baby (yes they can have kids, don't argue when there's irrefutable proof). This hipskini is low rise, but snug, so it won't ride up or down as you walk.

It features ExOfficio's odor eliminating Silvadur technology, so this won't stink up your backpack even if you don't wash it immediately. As with all lightweight and mesh fabrics, this underwear requires gentle care - hand wash and line dry only - so that it'll last long. 

9. Under Armour Women's Power in Pink, Pure Stretch Hipster

Seamless alternatives to thongs: First, Under Armour's donating (some?) proceeds from this power in pink underwear to John Hopkin's breast cancer research, so if you're interested in contributing to this cause, while getting a great hiking underwear in return, this is a great place to start.

Second, if you're not willing to risk the double wedgie the wrong size of Adidas' climacool thong may give you, you should try this power in pink pure stretch hipster instead. It covers just enough to prevent a wedgie while you're on a trail, but is low rise and leaves just the right amount of cheeks uncovered to be considered sexy.

10. New Balance Women's Breathe Hipster Panty

Fused seams and edges: This has a bit of commando feel to it. The seams are fused and barely noticeable, so you won't feel them along your inner thighs. It also won't leave any visible panty line.

It has a 360 degree stretch which is meant to allow mobility in all directions. Unfortunately, as the underwear gets older, it loses its elasticity. Sure all underwear gets old and eventually lose some features, but this stretches way too fast to be worth the cost. With how fragile this is, Under Armour's Power in Pink pure stretch hipster makes more financial sense, because you'll probably run through these (pack of 3) before you realize it.

What To Look Out For in Men's Hiking Underwear

Using random underwear for a hiking trip can leave you with all sorts of discomforts. No support, too much support, chaffing, moisture retention, bunched up shorts at the waist, shorts that slip off, self-inflicted wedgies. The list is endless (unfortunately). Here's what to look out for.

Using random underwear for a hiking trip can leave you with all sorts of discomforts. No support, too much support, chafing, moisture retention, bunched up shorts at the waist, shorts that slip off, self-inflicted wedgies. The list is endless (unfortunately). Here's what to look out for.

Underwear Material

Please don't fall for those ridiculously cheap cotton boxer shorts in bargain bins. When they get wet (which will definitely happen while you're on a trail), they stay wet and this will only lead to the beginning of your misery. What you'll want is a pair of lightweight, quick drying and breathable underwear that won't rub off delicate areas.

Natural materials, like Merino wool, are very breathable. The downside, merino wool takes longer to dry and it isn't the most durable underwear material. So if you're a frequent hiker, you'll start noticing holes after a couple of uses.

The synthetic options are polyester, nylon, lycra and polypropylene (the high-end brands combine two or more of these for maximum comfort). Synthetic materials (especially the "poly" ones) are typically more durable, quick to dry and incredibly light, which you might appreciate 10,000 miles on the trail with a backpack the weight of a nine year old kid.

Note, some of these materials are not stretchy on their own, so a number of companies tend to add others, like elastane. When shopping, make sure you take note of all these.

Even if you're a manly man, odor control is pretty important. With that in mind, although synthetic materials are quick in wicking moisture away from the skin, they can trap odors, (thereby raising your "stink quotient") much faster than natural fabrics.

Of course most firms these days treat their synthetic fabrics with antimicrobial ingredients and other odor-inhibiting agents. Hence, when looking for underwear, if you can't find something made with wool (Merino has natural antimicrobial properties), get synthetic ones with some type of odor inhibitor, which won't wear off easily.

Flatlock Seams

A stitching technique that allows your underwear seat flatter, therefore, more comfortably against your thighs. One of the common causes of chafing is material than won't lie flat, so this is a necessity for hiking.

Types of Men's Hiking Underwear

• Briefs: Perfect for guys who need lots of support, especially (coughs) if you have something that needs a lot of support. It's also great for guys who never miss leg day (how do you do it?!!) and have thick/muscular thighs.
• Boxers: these are very casual and loose-fitting, so are the most breathable underwear. They come in different shapes and sizes, from trendy to grandfather-sized boxers.
• Boxer-briefs: Are a sort of hybrid of the two styles discussed above. A typical boxer-brief will cover between 1/3 and 1/2 of your thigh. The general consensus is that the best underwear for hiking come in boxer-brief styles, since they're snug but hang low enough to prevent chafing.

Shopping For the Best Women's Hiking Underwear

Material

Cut or Style

The best hiking underwear for women should have a cut that not only feels flexible and comfortable enough for high-impact activities, but also snug enough to enhance thermal efficiency. All these while preventing your nether negions from chafing.

In case you need to be told, poorly made thongs and other similar styles are a no no. You'd feel them with every step you take, and they won't warm you up on snow trails. Granny panties have their own merits, but are not easy on the eyes. Fortunately, they're not the only two styles. As you read the reviews, you'll be seeing hybrids of these two cuts.

Comfortable Seams

Try and select undies with flat lock seams. It's a stitching technique that connects all the parts of the underwear together without overlapping. So the stitches are smooth thus minimizing chafing. Avoid those undies with vertical seams down the middle (like in some boy shorts), as it won't take long before they start irritating your thighs.