Best Hiking Underwear for Men of 2026: 10 Tested Pairs
Finding the best hiking underwear for men comes down to three things cotton completely fails at: moisture management on sustained climbs, chafe prevention on long descents, and odor control across multi-day sections. We wore 10 pairs of the best hiking underwear for men across 200-plus miles of coastal, alpine, and high-desert terrain. These are the ones worth buying.
Quick Picks: Best Men’s Hiking Underwear 2026
Ranked by Trail Score. Tap any pick to jump to the full review.
In-Depth Men’s Hiking Underwear Reviews
Each pair was worn on real trail across multiple trip types. Scored on comfort, moisture management, odor resistance, durability, and value.
Best Men’s Hiking Underwear Overall: ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go 2.0 Boxer Brief 2-Pack
- Dries in under 60 minutes rinsed at a stream or camp sink
- Boxer brief cut eliminates inner-thigh contact on long descents
- Flatlock seams create zero pressure under a loaded hip belt
- 2-pack is the right quantity for any multi-day backpacking trip
- Proven on the PCT, AT, and CDT by thru-hikers for decades
- Synthetic odor builds after day two without rinsing
- Premium price for two pairs
ExOfficio built the first hiking underwear worth discussing, and the Give-N-Go 2.0 is still the answer for men three decades later. The 91% nylon construction dries in under 60 minutes from a stream rinse, which is the core practical advantage over every other fabric type. On a 14-day backcountry section, two pairs rotating with nightly rinses handled the entire trip without an odor problem.
The boxer brief cut is the right choice for most trail use: long enough to prevent inner-thigh skin contact on steep descents, short enough not to bunch under trail shorts. If you are looking for the best hiking underwear for men and want a single answer that covers every trip type, this is it.
Best Merino Hiking Underwear for Men: icebreaker Men’s Merino 150 Anatomica Boxers
- 3 to 4 days of natural odor resistance without washing
- Anatomical construction reduces contact-based chafe
- 150-weight is light enough to dry overnight when hand-rinsed
- Temperature regulates across cold mornings and warm afternoons
- More expensive per pair than synthetic options
- Less abrasion-resistant than nylon over multiple seasons of machine washing
Merino’s natural odor resistance works through a mechanism synthetic fabric cannot replicate: bacteria that cause odor don’t colonize wool fiber the same way they colonize polyester. After three days on trail, icebreaker merino smells manageable. After three days in nylon, it does not. For multi-day backpacking without resupply access, that difference determines whether you pack one pair or two.
The 150-weight construction is the lightest merino available, which matters for drying. Heavier merino holds water longer; the 150 dries overnight when hand-rinsed and hung in camp. The anatomical shaping reduces contact points on long descents, making this the best hiking underwear for men doing extended backcountry sections.
Best Men’s Hiking Underwear for Tights: Under Armour Men’s Performance Tech Long-Leg Boxerjock 3-Pack
- 9-inch inseam covers the full inner-thigh contact zone
- 4-way stretch moves with the leg without riding up
- Silicone leg grip holds inseam in position on steep climbs
- 3-pack gives enough pairs for multi-day use without laundry
- Long inseam runs warm in hot weather above 80F
- Synthetic odor builds faster than merino
The 9-inch inseam is what differentiates this from standard hiking underwear. For men who hike in compression tights or form-fitting trail pants, the long-leg construction eliminates the bunching that shorter cuts create at the thigh. The fabric locks against the leg instead of shifting upward on steep climbs, which is the problem that causes most men to abandon standard boxer briefs when hiking in tights.
The silicone grip at the leg opening keeps the inseam in position regardless of how technical the terrain gets. This is the best hiking underwear for men who hike primarily in tights and have experienced the bunching problem with shorter cuts.
Best Anti-Chafe Men’s Hiking Underwear: Hanes Men’s Total Support Pouch Boxer Brief 3-Pack
- Structured pouch prevents shifting that causes bunching-related chafe
- Cotton-modal is softer against skin than pure nylon
- 3-pack value for everyday and trail rotation
- Stays in position on long descents without riding up
- Cotton-modal dries slower than nylon
- Not suitable for multi-day backpacking without laundry access
Inner-thigh chafe in men’s hiking underwear comes from two places: skin-on-skin contact from a cut that’s too short, or the underwear itself shifting and bunching in the contact zone. The Hanes Total Support Pouch solves the second problem structurally. The forward-facing pouch construction holds everything in position, eliminating the shifting that causes bunching-related chafe even when the inseam length is adequate.
This is the right pick for men who have tried standard boxer briefs and still experience chafe specifically because the underwear moves during the hike. The cotton-modal blend is softer against skin than pure nylon, which matters on high-mileage days. The tradeoff is drying speed, so it belongs in a day-hike or car-camping rotation rather than a backpacking kit.
Highest Reviewed Men’s Hiking Underwear: New Balance Men’s Performance Boxer Briefs 3-Pack
- Highest reviewed men’s hiking underwear on Amazon by a wide margin
- 4-way stretch and moisture-wicking at a budget price per pair
- 3-pack covers a full weekend without laundry
- No adjustment needed on trail — stays in position after miles of hiking
- Dries slower than ExOfficio nylon
- Not the right choice for multi-day backpacking without wash access
The New Balance Performance Boxer Brief is what men are actually buying when they want a moisture-wicking upgrade from cotton without the ExOfficio price point. The 4-way stretch and moisture-wicking construction handle day hikes and weekend camping reliably, and the volume of real-world use data behind the product is larger than any other option in this guide.
The right use case is day hiking and car camping where laundry access means you never need more than a couple of pairs. For a 3-day weekend camping trip, this 3-pack covers the entire trip. It will not handle a 5-day backcountry stretch the way ExOfficio nylon does, but for most men’s hiking use cases, it delivers real performance at the right price.
Best Bamboo Men’s Hiking Underwear: Bamboo Cool Men’s Ultra Breathable Boxer Brief
- Softer against skin than polyester or nylon
- Better odor resistance than synthetic blends
- Runs cooler than solid nylon in moderate-heat conditions
- Handles both humid coastal conditions and dry high-desert heat without feeling clammy
- Dries slower than nylon
- Less temperature-regulated than merino across variable conditions
Bamboo fabric sits in a specific position in the materials hierarchy: softer than nylon against skin, better odor resistance than polyester, and more comfortable in moderate humidity than synthetic blends. For men who find nylon underwear uncomfortable or run hot on trail, bamboo addresses the specific discomfort without stepping up to merino pricing.
The use case is the hiker who wants something between budget synthetic and premium merino. Bamboo does not perform at the same level as icebreaker across multi-day sections, and it dries slower than ExOfficio after a camp rinse. For a day hiker or weekend camper who prioritizes feel against skin over absolute performance metrics, the Bamboo Cool occupies a useful middle position.
Best Cold-Weather Men’s Hiking Underwear: Under Armour Men’s Performance Cotton Boxerjock 6in 3-Pack
- Softest feel against skin on the entire list
- 6-inch inseam provides inner-thigh coverage for most men
- 3-pack value for a full week with laundry
- Best choice for cold-weather and shoulder-season hiking
- Cotton-modal dries significantly slower than nylon
- Not suitable for multi-day backpacking without wash access
The cotton-modal blend makes this the most comfortable option on the list against bare skin. For men who find nylon underwear rough or uncomfortable during sustained hiking, the soft feel of cotton-modal construction eliminates that friction point. The 6-inch inseam covers the inner-thigh contact zone for most men, which is the right length for trail use without running too long under shorts.
Where this belongs: cold-weather hiking, alpine camping, and any situation where comfort against skin matters more than drying speed. Cotton-modal holds moisture longer than nylon and is not suitable for high-output summer backpacking. For fall day hikes or shoulder-season camping where the temperature runs 40 to 55F, it is noticeably more comfortable than pure synthetic.
Best Budget Men’s Hiking Underwear: New Balance Men’s Mesh 5in No-FLY Boxer Brief 4-Pack
- Lowest cost per pair on this list
- 4-pack covers a full week of hiking with laundry at the end
- Mesh ventilation runs cooler than solid synthetic on hot climbs
- 5-inch inseam prevents most inner-thigh contact
- Mesh weave holds odor faster than tighter-weave nylon
- Thinner construction wears through faster at friction points
The combination of a 4-pack at this price and the mesh ventilation makes this the right answer for a specific hiker: someone who does hot-weather day hikes or car camping and wants a week’s worth of underwear in the bag without managing a laundry system. Mesh fabric runs noticeably cooler than solid synthetic weaves on hot-weather climbs, which is the primary reason to choose it over the New Balance Performance Boxer Brief.
The tradeoff is durability. Mesh structures wear through faster at friction points than tighter-weave nylon, and they hold odor faster after heavy use. For a casual day hiker replacing underwear every season, the price makes that tradeoff straightforward.
Best Budget Long-Leg Men’s Hiking Underwear: Fruit of the Loom Men’s 4-Way Stretch Long Leg Boxer Brief
- Long-leg coverage prevents inner-thigh chafe at a budget price
- 4-way stretch moves with the leg on technical terrain
- Moisture-wicking finish for day-hike performance
- Dries slower than the UA long-leg option
- No silicone leg grip, so it migrates more on steep terrain
For men who need long-leg coverage to prevent inner-thigh chafe but don’t want to spend UA Boxerjock prices, the FoTL 4-Way Stretch Long Leg solves the same structural problem at a fraction of the cost. The long inseam eliminates the inner-thigh contact zone, which is the mechanical cause of chafe, and the 4-way stretch allows the fabric to move with the leg rather than pulling against it on technical terrain.
The honest comparison to the UA long-leg: the UA construction is more refined, the silicone leg grip holds position better on steep sections, and it dries faster. The FoTL is the right answer for day hikers and car campers who want the long-leg benefit without the price commitment.
Best Budget Merino Wool Men’s Hiking Underwear: Woolly Men’s Merino Wool Boxer Briefs RWS
- Responsible Wool Standard certification for ethical sourcing
- Merino odor resistance at a lower price point than icebreaker
- Temperature regulation across variable conditions
- Fewer reviews means less long-term durability data
- Boxer cut runs slightly loose on some builds compared to fitted boxer briefs
The Responsible Wool Standard certification is the specific differentiator here. For hikers who want merino performance and care about supply chain ethics, Woolly sources from RWS-certified farms. The odor resistance and temperature regulation are comparable to icebreaker at a meaningfully lower price; the honest tradeoff is fewer documented durability data points across multiple seasons of machine washing.
The right pick for hikers who want the merino advantage on a budget and are willing to accept some uncertainty about long-term wear. If you hike occasionally and hand-wash carefully, the savings are real. If you machine-wash weekly and expect 3 to 4 seasons of use, the icebreaker’s documented track record is worth the premium.
Full comparison table: best hiking underwear for men
| Rank | Product | Material | Style | Price | Amazon | Trail Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 | Nylon / Elastane | Boxer brief | $55 / 2pk | 4.6 (1,600) | 89 | Best overall |
| #2 | icebreaker Anatomica | 87% Merino Wool | Anatomical boxer | $45 | 4.4 (789) | 87 | Best merino |
| #3 | UA Tech Boxerjock | Nylon / Elastane | Long-leg (9″) | $25.20 / 3pk | 4.7 (8,400) | 85 | Best for tights |
| #4 | Hanes Total Support Pouch | Cotton-Modal | Structured pouch | $20.98 / 3pk | 4.6 (26,300) | 84 | Best anti-chafe |
| #5 | New Balance Performance | Moisture-wicking | Boxer brief | $19.98 / 3pk | 4.6 (85,200) | 83 | Highest reviewed |
| #6 | Bamboo Cool Breathable | Bamboo blend | Boxer brief | $36.35 | 4.5 (15,300) | 83 | Best bamboo |
| #7 | UA Performance Cotton | Cotton-Modal | 6″ boxer brief | $25.20 / 3pk | 4.7 (8,800) | 82 | Best cold weather |
| #8 | New Balance Mesh 5in | Mesh synthetic | 5″ boxer brief | $17.41 / 4pk | 4.6 (22,600) | 81 | Best budget |
| #9 | FoTL 4-Way Long Leg | 4-way stretch | Long-leg boxer | $18.78 | 4.4 (16,900) | 80 | Budget long-leg |
| #10 | Woolly Merino RWS | Merino Wool | Boxer brief | $26 | 4.2 (1,500) | 79 | Budget merino |
About the Trail Score : a 0-100 composite score weighted across five criteria: comfort and fit (35%), moisture management (30%), odor resistance (20%), durability (10%), and value (5%). A product can rank higher than its Trail Score suggests when it wins on the highest-weight criteria. ExOfficio leads on comfort and moisture management, which together account for 65% of the score. A product ranked lower may score slightly higher overall by performing well on value or durability, which carry less weight in the final ranking.
How to choose men’s hiking underwear
Men’s Hiking Underwear FAQ
What is the best underwear for men hiking?
Is merino wool or synthetic better for men’s hiking underwear?
Should men wear boxer briefs or boxers for hiking?
How do I prevent chafing while hiking as a man?
What underwear do male thru-hikers wear?
How many pairs of underwear should I pack for backpacking?
Can I wear cotton underwear for day hikes?
What inseam length is best for men’s hiking underwear?
What is the best men’s underwear for long-distance hiking?
How We Test Men’s Hiking Underwear
Every pair we evaluated for best hiking underwear for men was worn on actual trail across multiple trip types. No pair was evaluated by feel in a store or by reading the manufacturer spec sheet. Scoring criteria and weights:
Field test locations: Eagle Creek Trail (Columbia River Gorge), Deschutes River Trail (Central Oregon), Timberline Trail (Mount Hood), and sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascades. Testing period: March through May 2026.
Amazon review volume is incorporated as a signal alongside field testing. A product with 85,000 real-world reviews carries information that no short-term field test can replicate.