The Best Hiking Underwear (Top 9 Pairs Reviewed & Ranked)

Another performance athletic company brings us a solid performer to the list. These wicking, stretchy boxer briefs are thing, comfortable, and made from the right stuff to keep up with you on the trail.

Again, since these aren’t “outdoor specific” they’re a bit more affordable than some niche brands might be. That said, they’re just as good for getting the job done.

What stands out the most to me on these is the high spandex content. At 13% spandex, these are made to fit very snug without impeding movement. They’re almost more like leggings in terms of fit than underwear.

If you don’t mind the tight fit and like lots of support, look no further.

Additionally, they have a small bonded outer pocket.

Note: There isn’t a fly on these so you’ll have to drop trow to take a leak. On the plus side, however, they can easily be worn by themselves for maximum coolness and comfort on the hottest hiking days if you’re not worried about modesty.

Patagonia is, of course, among the leading outdoor brands in today’s market. Their Essential Boxers make the cut on our list today for exceptional feel and quality.

For transparency, I will say that I have limited experience with lyocell fabric. It’s a bamboo-sourced fiber and Patagonia says the product is Fair Trade Certified, but I can’t speak to its performance compared to polyester or merino.

That said, Patagonia is not a company to skimp on quality. If they’re using it, I trust them to have done their research. They claim the lyocell is moisture-wicking and breathable.

Flatlock seams and a flat waistband are must-haves and these boxers deliver on that. There’s a fly for easy access and the loose-fitting boxer style is a bit more relaxed and casual than the supportive boxer briefs on our list.

These are an ideal choice for day hiking and those who need less support.

REI’s in-house brand brings all the performance of the leading brands with a fraction of the price. I personally love the REI brands because they’re an awesome value.

If you’re looking for the tighter-fitting boxer brief style from REI you’ll find them in the High-Performance section below.

That said, there’s nothing wimpy about these boxers. They’re made from great lightweight, moisture-wicking polyester. Featuring flat seams and a flat waistband they’re going to be comfy and help avoid any chaffing from excess fabric.

On top of all of that, they have a Lava XL finish that’s supposed to help absorb odors.

These are an awesome comfy choice for day hiking that comes at a great price.

Outdoor Research has long been a top pick brand for me. Their Echo long sleeve shirts are an unbeatable stable in the ultralight high-performance backpacking world. To find out they brought that quality to these boxer briefs is amazing!

Let’s start with the Airvent polyester. This fabric is some of the lightest, softest, and most breathable woven polyester I’ve ever used. Air and moisture pass through like the fabric isn’t even there. This is ideal for underwear when you want the support and protection without the heat and sweat!

I can say firsthand that the Echo family of clothing from OR is the quickest-drying fabric I’ve ever used.

Of course, you get the other standard features like fly, flat sewn seams, and a flat waistband for comfort.

Overall this might be my top pick for extreme-performance outdoor underwear for men.

Smartwool was one of the first companies on the scene of high-performance merino wool products. Their 150 boxer briefs have tons of advantages over cheaper bloomers.

Upfront I think we should note that these do not have a fly. That’s good if boxer flys bother you, but bad for access when you need to go right now!

That said, they do combine the odor resistance of merino with the durability of polyester. While polyester is known to get stinky quick merino is well-reputed for its anti-microbial properties. Whether these balance each other out or simply undo one another, I can’t say. Users, however, seem to love them!

It is a boxer brief style underwear, but the inseams are pretty short. You’ll get a little chafing resistance, but not a lot.

Adidas might not be a top outdoor brand, but they’re no stranger to athletics. That’s why these boxer brief style underwear are both affordable and high-performance and they make a great pick for backpacking.

I love the flat sewn seams on these underwear. Since hiking creates a lot of abrasion and rubbing on your legs over miles, soft thin underwear are critical.

Additionally, they’re available in a few different fun styles and colors if that matters to you.

At the end of the day, they make a top pick because the thin polyester is cool, wicking, and fast-drying. All of these characteristics make them top picks for trail underwear with maximum support.

It’s worth noting that the longer leg inseams can help a lot for people who commonly have chaffing problems in the thigh areas.

REI has been in the game for a long time. Their in-house brand is always keeping up with the top brands. If you want value and performance, look no further.

While it is a boxer brief style underwear, the high 13% spandex content makes them comfortable. They’ll stretch and fit easily without being too tight.

I like the dual-layer fly seam construction because it’s less likely to chafe than standard box-style flys. Additionally, all seams are flat sewn and the waistband is the industry-standard flat elastic.

There’s nothing revolutionary here, but it checks all the boxes and comes in at a great value. Plus, the REI in-house brand is widely available and you can pick some up at any REI store near you so that makes them a winner for me.

Icebreaker has become a top competitor in the merino wool market. They’ve come to be known for delivering high performance with no compromises. But, that comes with a price.

The ever-popular boxer brief style is back. It’s proven and popular for the compact support that helps prevent pain and chafing after miles on the trail.

Additionally, they’ve brought in lightweight merino wool fabric. This fabric is touted for moisture-wicking and natural anti-microbial properties to keep you cool and odor-free longer. That said, merino tends not to be as durable as some synthetics. For that reason, they blended it with durable nylon fibers for longevity and lycra for stretch.

All things considered, these boxers are a top-performer in terms of specifications and technical composition. However, you better be ready to pay through the nose for a pair!