The odds are good that if you live anywhere that gets a lot of snow, you're pretty familiar with long johns, a very specific type of underwear designed to keep you nice and toasty when the temperature starts to drop.
Incredibly comfortable (as long as you pick the right ones) and capable of trapping a lot of extra body heat that traditional underwear wouldn’t have been able to, figuring out if you should be wearing traditional underwear with your long johns can be a bit of a pickle to work out.
On the one hand, long johns are often called long underwear – which would make you tend to think that they replace tighty whitey underwear or boxer briefs when you slide them on.
On the other hand, though, anyone that has slipped into a pair of long johns know firsthand that they're always a bit looser, a bit “freer”, and sometimes feel like a base layer rather than a legitimate pair of underwear.
That’s why we have put together this quick guide. If you've ever wondered if you should wear underwear underneath long johns, here's the answer.
A Quick History of Long Johns
Underwear in some form or another has been worn since people have put on clothes, but you wouldn’t believe how fuzzy the history of this critical piece of clothing really is.
You see, there’s quite a bit of controversy about whether or not long johns are the exact same as a “union suit” or if they are completely distinct entities the way that some historians portray them as.
We won’t talk too much about union suits right now (the full body long johns with a flap in the back) but instead will focus on long johns that were popularized by one of the most dominant early boxers in the United States, John L Sullivan.
A bareknuckle boxing legend, and the first champion to really dominate in the world of modern glove boxing, John L Sullivan became known all over the world for fighting in the ring wearing these funny, fuzzy long underwear pants.
Partnering with a textiles company out of England to advertise these underwear in the US and throughout Europe, Sullivan’s name got attached to the underwear and that’s where most historians agree that the term “long johns” came from.
The basic style and the basic of this form of clothing really hasn’t changed all that much since the late 1800s, though today’s technical fabrics and thermal materials are definitely quite a bit better in the performance department while remaining thinner, lighter, and more hygienic as well.
Does Underwear Work with Long Johns?
As far as wearing underwear with long Johns is concerned, it’s really all going to come down to personal taste.
Some people absolutely swear by wearing long johns “as is” – right up against your skin – just the same way you would wear a pair of underwear.
Many popular forms of thermal underwear and long johns are designed to look and to fit a lot like underwear, really helping to support these types of decisions.
They are always going to be a little loose and a little baggie “down below” compared to traditional underwear. But for the most part they feel really comfortable up against your naked skin and can be worn without anything else underneath.
On the flip side of things, though, there are plenty of people that feel like long johns are nothing more than a traditional base layer that goes on over your underwear but underneath your “outer pants” – your jeans, your snow pants, etc.
These folks feel like you should be wearing underwear underneath your long johns, if only to keep them cleaner and more hygienic but also to provide a little bit more support than traditionally loose long johns ever could.
As we mentioned a moment ago, though, it really all comes down to what you are feeling like.
This is your underwear, after all, and you get to call the shots!
Pros and Cons of Wearing Underwear with Long Johns
The benefits of wearing underwear with your long johns are pretty simple and straightforward.
For starters, most people usually find their traditional underwear to be a little more comfortable than even the best fitting long johns ever could be.
Our favorite underwear fits snugly in all the right places while giving plenty of room to flex and move, breathe quite well, and doesn’t trap too much heat.
On top of that, you’ll definitely be able to keep your long johns quite a bit cleaner and will feel more comfortable wearing them a couple of days without washing them in between if you have underwear between you and the long johns fabric.
On the flip side of things, though, some people find that wearing underwear and long johns causes underwear to bunch up, to ride up, and to cause quite a bit of discomfort.
You’ll always have to fight through a couple of extra layers when you have to go to the bathroom when you wear underwear underneath your long johns, and that can become a bit of a frustration – especially if you’re outdoors in the cold and need to relieve yourself.
Tips for Wearing Underwear Comfortably with Long Johns
If you are going to wear underwear with your long johns it’s never a bad idea to make sure that the underwear you’ve chosen is lightweight, fits great, and has moisture wicking properties that you can really rely on.
Your long johns (your thermal underwear) are going to be handling the heavy lifting of keeping your body warm. You don’t need your underwear to be doing double duty, specifically in that area.
Nobody wants to deal with a swampy situation down below, especially if you are going to have to peel off a couple of extra layers – your outer pants, your long johns, and then your underwear – just to deal with and remedy the situation.
No, it’s a good idea to stick to your everyday underwear or even a pair that have been specifically designed with performance and athletics in mind. Lightweight, durable, but super comfortable underwear pair nicely with long johns for sure.
