The Best Underwear for Backpacking
Underwear for backpacking. Is it something you should think about? If so, how much should you think about it, and would a different pair of underwear actually make a substantial difference in your backcountry experience?
Well, we’re about to find out! Spoiler alert, the answer is YES…it does make a difference. Whether you’re male or female, what you wear under there can impact your overall comfort on the trail, prevent unwanted chafing, smell, and overall discomfort.
In all my years and miles of backpacking, I’ve learned that it’s the little things that matter. The smallest of things can have the biggest impact and keep me going mile after mile and trip after trip.
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EX-OFFICIO GIVE-N-GO Sport Mesh Underwear
Let's get right to it, these ExOfficio underwear are so awesome they will melt your face off. If you're a dude and you're looking for a comfortable, non-stinky, durable, and breathable pair of underwear to wear on your backpacking trips, look no further. I'd highly recommend these.
I wore the ExOfficio Give-n-go underwear for over 2000 miles on the Pacific Crest trail in 2017 and have continued to wear them for each backpacking trip since. When gear works, it works and there’s no need to change it. I haven’t had a single complaint since the day I first put them on and started hiking.
Image Courtesy of ExOfficio: ExOfficio Give-n-go Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs:
Image Courtesy of ExOfficio: ExOfficio Give-n-go Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs:
My Underwear Backpacking Story (don’t make this weird).
Image Courtesy of ExOfficio: ExOfficio Give-n-go Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs:
Prior to wearing these, I first wore just cotton underwear. Not a good choice for a number of reasons, but mainly because they stink really bad, really fast. They also don't do very well at airing out. Once you start sweating, it's all downhill from there. Cotton is great for everyday use, but when you're working hard in the mountains, it gets nasty and can cause some serious chaffing.
I eventually moved from cotton to just some regular old spandex-type boxer briefs They worked well, but for some reason, they'd stink out eventually and they're not SUPER comfortable to wear because they don't breathe super well. They were just your average pair of men’s boxer briefs, they weren’t BAD but they weren’t GOOD.
Then I tried a pair of Merino wool boxer briefs because I figured since I loved merino for everything else, why wouldn't I like them for underwear. They were 100% merino, and I hated them. They stretched out on me and would bunch up. Layering up over them was super uncomfortable. They felt like the cotton version of Merino...so tossed them.
EX-OFFICIO On The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Then, leading up to my hike on the PCT my friend tells me he found some amazing underwear that I should try. They were the ExOfficio Give-n-go Sport Mesh boxer briefs and he said they were game-changing.
Anytime someone uses those words, I'm sucked in. Having never worn them, I bought two pair for my hike and never looked back.
These things are incredible! Here’s what I love about them.
I brought two pair with me for my hike and ended up sending one set home because I could easily wear them for a week without them getting gross.
Because of the sport mesh material, they breathe REALLY well
No feeling of being restricted in the front with your bits.
They're stretchy, but not tight or loose. Just comfortable.
They don't bunch up
They don't stink even after several days of wearing them.
They're crazy durable (still no holes or damage)
The waistband is great and doesn't bunch up or bind. Very smooth and comfortable.
And because of all of this, they don't cause chaffing.
On this note, I hiked with some guys who were battling some bad chaffing and suggested they try a pair of these.
They did, the chaffing stopped, and they never looked back
Final Thoughts On The EXOFFICIO GIVE-N-GO SPORT MESH Underwear
Image Courtesy of ExOfficio: ExOfficio Give-n-go Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs:
For all the reasons I just listed out, you should really consider trying them out if you're doing any kind of backpacking. You don't need multiple pairs, just get one and call it a day or get two and have one as a backup in case you shit your pants out there (which is a thing). You certainly don't need to swap them mid-trip, the backup pair is just in case you can’t get to a tree in time.
It's really this simple; if you're looking for a pair of performance underwear to wear backpacking, these are them. They have a bunch of different styles, but I'd suggest choosing the longer ones if you're subject to a lot of chaffing and if you're a chick, they have you covered as well so be sure to take a look.
My friend was right, these are no doubt game-changing!
By Land,
Emory
Product links
Check out the links below is you want to pick up a pair of these puppies for yourself. As you can tell, I highly recommend them!
Affiliate Disclosure Statement: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Any income made from your purchase goes back into keeping By Land alive and kicking out great content!
