For most people, finding the right pair of underwear for the day isn’t rocket science.
You find a pair of (clean) underwear that are comfortable, you throw them on, and you forget all about them.
Unfortunately, though, this approach to underwear doesn’t always result in the most comfortable solution imaginable – and it may even be crippling your short and long-term health.
Yes, you’re reading that right. The wrong underwear can be doing a whole lot more damage than just riding up and creating wedgies!
Below we dig a little bit deeper into whether or not you should be going with cotton or polyester underwear as well as the major differences between both options.
By the time you are done with the inside information below, you will be able to guarantee that you’re always wearing the perfect underwear (natural cotton or synthetic polyester) – keeping you nice and comfortable, dry, and “secure” no matter what.
Let’s dig right in!
Not All Underwear Is Created Equally
There are a seemingly endless amount of underwear options out there to pick and choose from for men and women these days, with more options pouring into the market on what feels like a daily basis.
Different shapes, sizes, cuts, patterns, fits, and fabrics can lead you to feel almost overwhelmed when you’re on the hunt for the perfect pair of undies.
Right out of the gate, though, it’s important to understand that not all underwear is created equally.
There’s a world of difference between different types of underwear, particularly when you boil things down to the difference in fabric that underwear have been made from.
We’re not just talking about the difference in cotton fabric versus polyester fabric, either.
There’s a huge sliding scale between low quality, scratchy, itchy cotton that isn’t going to last very long at all and premium cotton that feels like you are wearing a luxury bedsheet around your private parts most of the time – just as there is in the world of polyester.
Striking that happy medium between quality and price can be a bit of a delicate balancing act, but you’re always going to want to trend towards the higher end scale of things if comfort, fit, and overall health benefits are priorities.
Cotton Underwear
As a natural material, cotton is king of the ring when it comes to budget based underwear material and is almost universally regarded as the “gold standard” when it comes to well fitting, high-quality, and comfortable underwear options.
Super soft with very breathable properties, you don’t have to worry about overheating when you are wearing cotton underwear (as a man or a woman) the way you might have with synthetics and modern textiles like polyester.
It sure doesn’t hurt that cotton fabrics are very inexpensive, can be worn in pretty much any climate imaginable, and have plenty of stretch and give so that you feel like you are able to move around in your underwear while remaining strong and secure to keep everything in place – particularly useful as a guide.
At the same time, cotton will soak up a lot of moisture and a lot of sweat. That’s big trouble if you’re wearing cotton underwear while you are particularly active. Plenty of guys and gals out there that have worked out in cotton underwear know exactly how quickly things become a swamp down there.
Best Cotton Underwear for Men
Best Cotton Underwear for Women
Polyester Underwear
Polyester has been around for quite a while now, but it is still (the grand scheme of things, anyway) considered to be a very modern and technical fabric.
A 100% synthetic material, polyester roles out of laboratories and production facilities around the world and can be transformed into very comfortable and high-performing pieces of underwear – as well as a lot of other stuff, too.
The beauty of polyester is that it is so flexible and adaptable, but also that it is so consistent and dependable.
Unlike the natural fibers of cotton, polyester has a man-made structure that is consistent and repeatable. You know exactly what you are getting with every thread of polyester material.
Another huge advantage of polyester is that it is almost unbelievably lightweight and super thin, with a high weight to strength ratio.
This means you’ll be able to snug polyester underwear under even the tightest jeans without having to worry about lines and awkward profiles ruining your look.
Combine all of that with the fact that a single thread of polyester usually measures about half as wide as a thread of cotton (and a lot of other materials) and it’s not hard to see why so many people love polyester underwear these days.
This is especially true of folks that are looking for a pair of underwear they can wear on things are hot and humid out. The moisture wicking properties of polyester kick in and help you to stay dry and comfortable when cotton would have soaked right through.
Best Moisture Wicking Underwear for Men
Best Moisture Wicking Underwear for Women
On the other hand, of course, polyester isn’t sunshine and roses exclusively.
Polyester can feel slick and almost slippery to the touch, maybe a little bit noisy when you are walking around, and sometimes the overall fit is a little boxy or squared off – and it isn’t going to lay up against your skin quite the way that natural cotton may have.
How to Choose Between Cotton and Polyester Underwear
At the end of the day, finding the right pair of underwear – cotton or polyester – really boils down to a handful of key questions you want to ask yourself.
Is comfort the most important thing?
If you’re looking for comfort above all else, the odds are pretty good that you want to reach for a pair of cotton underwear more often than not. It’s tough to beat the natural feel of super soft, high-end cotton.
How important are moisture wicking properties?
Another important question want to ask is how important moisture wicking properties are.
If it is the middle of summer and you’re expecting to go out and play some golf or pickup basketball, or if you’re going to be going on long runs when the humidity level is through the roof, cotton is the last thing that you’re going to want to have on.
If sweat is expected or anticipated, reach for polyester every single time.
How much money are you willing to spend on underwear?
At the end of the day, the price of underwear is going to play at least some role in helping you to decide which materials you move forward with.
In most circumstances, you are going to find cotton underwear to be a whole lot less expensive than polyester and other man-made synthetic fabrics.
When you start getting up towards the higher end scale of luxury brand or high thread count cotton that is almost unbelievably soft the economics can flip a little bit – but by and large you’re going to be saving money by buying cotton underwear more often than not.
Of course, polyester underwear will almost always last a whole lot longer than cotton underwear ever could. Their synthetic materials and petroleum-based chemical composition significantly extend their lifeline compared to the natural fibers, which means you won’t have to keep finding new underwear as often as you would with cotton.
All things considered, zeroing in on the perfect choice between cotton and polyester really comes down to personal preference and finding a brand of underwear that you really like.
There’s no reason that you can’t have both in your dresser drawer, either. That’ll let you cover all of your bases!
