Super Hero - A Review

aussieBum has long been one of the leading brands out there, they are always remaining on top of the game with fun, innovative styles.  Today I want to review a pair that I've had for a while that is worth mentioning.  The Hero line features bold, cartoon prints inspired by cartoon heroes.  They come in briefs and hipsters with many different characters on them, including: Wolfman, Hunter, Exterminator, and Oceanman.  Today's review features the Oceanman Hero brief.

The fit of these briefs is mid-rise and provides modest coverage.  They fit snugly throughout, but not too tight.  The pouch has just the right amount of room so you don't feel too restricted by it.

The fabric is a polyester and spandex blend, which is surprisingly comfortable.  The fabric is so soft and smooth, you don't even realize that it's made out of artificial fibers.  One of my favorite features of this brief is the leg bands.  They are much wider than most bands making for an incredibly comfortable fit.  They hold the briefs in place as they should and prevent things from popping out, but they don't hug too tightly.  These are a really great, go-to pair of briefs.

These things scream fun!  With the bold cartoon prints they help unleash the inner child in you.  The graphic prints are perfectly cut out and placed so that none of the design is cut off.  The waistband is much more subdued than most aussieBum waistbands with a white on white logo.  This allows the focus to be on the graphic print and not the brand on the waist.  I really love the colors of the oceanman briefs and the way the blues and the greens are mixed together.  There is also a great sense of movement in the print.  It is well drawn. 

The quality of these is great.  The fabric and the band hold up well after many washes.  Because of the fabric content, they don't stretch out at all.  The flat-stitching adds to the comfort and does not fall apart.  At $30 USD a pair, these run on the expensive side, but for such high quality you'll get your money's worth.  Besides, these fun prints could be a great conversation starter.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the aussieBum Hero Brief a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Mid-rise.  Perfect amount of roominess, not too tight. 

COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Incredibly comfortable, especially for an artificial fabric.  Legbands are the best. 
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - Bold, conversation starter. 
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - Good quality. 
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10) - Expensive, but will last well. 

**********9

Shielded - A Review

ES Collection is a brand based in Barcelona, Spain.  All their fabrics and designs are made there, but they are quickly expanding in popularity to all parts of the world.  They are noted for their unique cuts in both swimwear and underwear.  Today I am going to be reviewing the Shields briefs from their winter collection; however, I believe for reasons listed below that this piece is more suited to summer wear.  Stay tuned for a review of swimwear.

The fit of these briefs is what I would call skimpy to say the least.  At first glance they don't look it because they are so well designed.  But  upon closer inspection, they are quite small.  They just cover all the essential parts.  The legs are very high-rise making for only a few inches of fabric on the side.  The pouch has a unique, u-shaped top opening that seamlessly integrates with the rest of the brief.  The only seams are on the sides.  

These things are really comfy!  Usually briefs that are this small ride up or ride down causing discomfort.  But these stay in place and keep you comfortable.  They are made of a light-weight cotton blend and are perfect for the summer.  The cotton breaths well and isn't too heavy for the hot weather.  Also, the skimpy fit makes for minimal coverage - also a good thing in the summer.  While they are part of the winter collection, I think they are perfectly suited to summer wear as well.

ES Collection is really all about the style.  These things scream stylish.  From the skimpy, Euro-fit to the unique pouch.  The fly is more stylish than it is functional, but that's okay because no one really uses them these days anyway.  The brief is mostly white with shields printed on it in honor of the Olympics.  There are black bands that accent the white on the legs, fly, and waistband.  My only complaint about the style of these is that I'm not a huge fan of the print and wish that they made this same design with other prints.  

These briefs are well-crafted and still look as good as the day I first got them.  The print, while not my favorite, does not fade even after repeated washings.  The elastic waistband remains crisp and does not fray like many often do.  These, however are really expensive at 40 Euros (roughly 50 USD).  It does not help that the dollar is so weak right now.  If you have the money they are definitely worth it.  But it would be worth waiting for a sale or going to Europe to get them at a better price. 

 

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the ES Collection Shields Brief a total score of 8 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Skimpy.

COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Comfy and light-weight.  Great for the summer. 
STYLE -- 9 (out of 10) - Very stylish.  I wish they came in more varied prints. 
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - High quality, will last you. 
VALUE -- 6 (out of 10) - Quite expensive with the weak dollar.  If you have the money, they're worth it. 

**********8

Review: Under Performance

I was out at the Sports Authority a couple of days ago because some jerk stole my iPhone armband holder and my weightlifting gloves at the Y. Despite the general annoyance of having to drive to one of those big box stores and then clear cutting my way through those circular racks of Cubs and White Sox fan gear, I was in a pretty good mood. Spring has arrived in the CHI and after enduring months of freezing temps, the sun was shining and the skies were clear.

Having found replacement gloves (but no iPhone armband), I made my way to the register. En route, my eye caught the Under Armour display, and more importantly, the picked through boxes of the M series sports briefs.

I had heard through the underwear grapevine that these were coming down the pike a couple of months ago. Periodic checks at my local Dick’s Sporting Goods store yielded nada. It was only when I saw them at Sports Authority did I realize that Dick’s probably didn’t carry them, but luckily for me, I had checked elsewhere.

Brflines modeling Under Armour.

So I said a silent prayer to Saint Selena as I dove into the racks of boxed Undearmour garments. You guys probably know that finding a medium in briefs at places like Macy’s, Sports Authority, or TJ Maxx is like finding satisfaction from a Matthew McConnaughey movie. It’s so very elusive. Luckily, Selena answered my prayers and I found a couple boxes of the M series sports briefs. I casually opened a couple of boxes and found that they had only black, so black it was. I was so excited to finally get my hands on one of these I actually pulled them out while I was stopped at a red light and looked at them. The guy in the car on my left thought it was hilarious when I noticed that he was watching me right before the light turned green.

When I got home, I was able to fully inspect the garment. My first impression is that it is very close to the CK Pro Mesh line from a couple of years ago, right down to the blue waistband. The material is very similar. It’s got that thin, synthetic, mesh feel to it. The waistband of the Under Armour garment is a little wider, at 1 ¼ inches than the CK pro mesh garments and the blue of the waistband is richer and more saturated. They fit true to size for a North American medium (~34”) with higher cut sides than most standard briefs, but a surprisingly full back. I really wanted to see how they performed at the gym, because this is essentially a piece of high performance gear.

So, this morning was my scheduled day to do cardio at the gym. I thought that It would be a good opportunity to put the m series brief through a series of vigorous activities to see how they matched up to my usual workout gear, low rise cotton briefs or bikinis. I did forty five minutes of step mastering, fifty prisoner squats, fifty lunges, and some yoga poses to cool down with the m series sports brief. The Under Armour brief was up to the task. I had heard that they had a tendency to ride up, but I find that all underwear do that when you’re doing squats or lots of cardio. They stayed dry, which was nice and they stayed put for most of the time. What I didn’t get was any added benefit (other than the dryness) of wearing a $20 high performance brief. Maybe I’ll feel different when it’s warm enough to start running outside again.

Anyway, I’m hesitant to give all of you a strong recommendation to get these, just because I don’t think that the price/benefit ration favors the benefit side. For those of you who want to try out the Under Armour M series brief, they’re available at UnderArmour.com. Hisroom also has them.

BRFLINE’S RATING
Overall, I’ve given the Under Armour M Series Brief a 6.0 based on the following (special) criteria:

LOOK -- 5 (out of 10) – They look like a re-hash of the CK pro mesh line
FEEL -- 6 (out of 10) – They were comfortable enough for the gym, but I can’t imagine wearing them all day
PERFORMANCE -- 8 (out of 10) – Stayed put and stayed dry
VALUE -- 5 (out of 10) – Not enough benefit to justify the $20 price point

Review: Tribe is at the Top

What a joy it is to wear great underwear. This is, after all, why I write about it. Tribe Underwear is an example of some truly great underwear. In fact, their trunk brief earns a perfect score from me. Jameswinston Co. is the only other brand to earn a perfect score from my drawers, and since they are no longer in business it's fair to say that Tribe offers some of the best underwear out on the market today. Need I say anymore? Well I guess you would like to know for what reasons I give the Tribe trunk brief such high ratings. (For more information about the brand read my brand profile). For the purpose of review I am wearing Tribe's trunk brief in cobblestone print.

Tribe just knows how to make underwear that works. This is the type of underwear that every man wants to wear. The trunk brief is a cross between a trunk and a brief as the name implies. When you look at it you realize it's not quite a trunk as it doesn't really have any legs, but then again it's not really a brief because the sides don't go up. The sides come down to just above the pouch area, but they go pretty much straight across like a trunk and do not dip up like a brief. The coverage is quite minimal.

Like most underwear of this design there is no fly. Instead, there is a well constructed pouch. It's not too roomy as some are, but it has enough room to allow your junk to stay comfortable. And if the superb shape of the pouch isn't enough to make you comfy, then the super-soft lining inside the pouch will be. Many pouches are lined these days, but none quite like this. Usually they just use the same fabric as the rest of the underwear. But with these undies Tribe uses a different fabric that is ultra soft and they make sure to face the softest part in towards your manhood.

The construction involves minimal seams with one seam up the middle of the back, one on either side of the pouch, and one down the middle of the pouch. There is no visible branded waistband elastic, rather the waist is made by rolling the top fabric over a thin elastic strip. This makes for a very sleek, streamlined appearance that fits nicely under your pants. The waistband is also just as comfy as the rest of the underwear as it is made of the same fabric and there are no issues with cutting as it simply moves with the fabric. On this particular pair, there is no ostentatious branding on the outside (as is a big trend). On some pairs, there is however a small, classy logo centered above the pouch.

While the cut is fairly simple and basic, it is edgy enough to show that you have style. And the fabrics that these come in are just fantastic! I personally really love the cobblestone print that I have, but there are many other great fabrics to suit anyone's personality ranging from more daring, sheer prints to more minimal, opaque ones.

As for the quality of these undies? It is just superb. Really, you already know that I gave them a perfect score, need I say more? These trunk briefs are well crafted with great attention to every detail. I have washed them many times and they are just as good as new. They vary in price based on the fabric (some fabrics are on sale right now) and prices are in AUD which means a good conversion for US buyers. But really, no matter the cost these are a great investment because they are simply superb and will last.

I just want to end this by saying that every time I wash my underwear (when you have as many pairs as I do, it's not that often), these are always one of the first I want to wear again once they're clean. That's saying quite a lot coming from me.

EDIT 3/24/10: As a special to sweeten the deal, Tribe would like to offer all MUB readers 25% off their purchase for the next week using coupon code MUB025 at checkout. Also, if you order 3 or more pairs they'll throw in a special wash bag, which is great for keeping your Tribe underwear (and any underwear for that matter) in top shop.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Tribe Trunk Brief a total score of 10 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 10 (out of 10) - Fits like a glove. Unique and edgy cut.
COMFORT -- 10 (out of 10) - Moves with you, does not ride up. Super soft pouch interior.
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10) - Edgy cut; fantastic fabrics.
QUALITY -- 10 (out of 10) - Like new after many washes.
VALUE -- 10 (out of 10) - Well made, worth the investment

********** 10

I've got Todger on my Todger: A Review

Todger is a new brand of men's underwear based in Paris, France. The brand is all about simplicity and sex-appeal while being appealing to a broad spectrum of men. For today's review I'm going to discuss the Low Crotch style (or brief style).

While these briefs are very simple in design, there are a few details that add a bit of flare and set them apart from the rest of the crowd making these anything but your basic briefs. These briefs, as well as other Todger styles, feature bias-cut and bias-seams along the side. This signature feature while looking edgy, also helps enhance the shape of the brief while worn. The briefs are all solid colored with matching waistband and elastic details and a simple, contrast logo off-set on the left side of the waistband. The fabric is a ribbed, cotton/lycra blend - as is becoming the norm in men's underwear today. The lycra allows the cotton to maintain its shape better after repeated washes. These briefs also include a special bamboo fabric insert on the inside to give extra comfort to the wearer.

The ribbing in the fabric allows the briefs to conform perfectly to your body and your every move. The ribbing is also small enough so that it does not detract from the brief and make it too heavy to wear - it is a nice, light, ribbed fabric that is very comfortable to wear. No matter how much I move around during the day I do not notice any pulling or stretching in these briefs; I feel completely unrestrained. At the same time, though, these briefs stay perfectly fitted to the body and do not stretch out of place with movement.

These briefs are nice and lightweight and have that barely-there feel to them. You won't even remember you're wearing them until you go to take off your pants - and that's a good thing!

Another fun feature on these briefs is the fly. While I am not generally a very big fan of flies on underwear (especially briefs) because they tend to add unneeded bulk and are generally not very functional, the fly on these is quite fun. The fly has two holes for exit, one on the top and one on the right side. While this fly still isn't very functional, and I wouldn't really recommend using it as it may stretch out the brief, it adds a bit of visual interest to the pouch area.

These briefs come in three solid colors: black, white, and navy. I personally like all three colors and they are all great for different moods and occasions. They can be purchased from Todger for $20 Euros, that's about $27 USD. That makes them a little pricey, especially right now with the conversion the way it is. But honestly they are totally worth it. These briefs are sure to fit due to the ribbing that will stretch in all the right ways, and they are so comfy that you won't even remember you have anything on. So go get some Todger! (And I mean that in all senses of the term.)

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Todger Low Crotch (brief) a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Form-fitting. Ribbed fabric conforms to your body and moves.
COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10) - Very light-weight fabric. Feels like it's barely there.
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10) - Basic but with flare.
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - Good quality. Holds up well in the laundry.
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10) - Expensive, especially with the current USD to Euro conversions.

********** 9

Piado: Winning Entry

Piado winner Michael H. from Atlanta Georgia was cold before he got his Piados. All he had to wear was these jocks.

But now Michael is super warm, one might even say hot, with his Piados on.

It's Electric! - A Review

Mid-priced underwear is dominated by names associated with ubiquitous American designers: Polo/Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Donna Karan New York (DKNY). A stroll into mid to high end department stores will yield aisles of socks, T’s, boxers, briefs, and even boxer briefs from these venerable design houses. One such dalliance through a store’s underwear aisle yielded the “electric” hip brief by DKNY.

Donna Karan’s design house is the essence of New York city. Her designs are inspired by it: the architectural forms, its chic sense of style, and the go-go lifestyle of a city that never sleeps. I would describe DKNY’s overall design aesthetic as modern and minimalist. There’s a “safe” aspect to the brand, one that appeals more to the mass market but doesn’t do enough to differentiate it from peers. While my own personal tastes have evolved to include the more off-beat labels, it’s not lost upon me that a sizable portion of the male population gravitates toward the aforementioned brands when they go shopping for their underwear.

If you’re like me, you impulsively go through the underwear aisle of stores that sell it to see if they have any good sales. On a lark, I dropped into “the Basement” (Filene’s Basement) a couple of weeks ago in the Loop and saw a pair of blue “electric” hip briefs by DKNY that were marked down. I knew I didn’t own any of those so I asked myself “why not?” and picked them up on my way out.

So what happened? The answer: you guys get a review.

They’re not revolutionary in any way, design or construction—just a pair of briefs with a designer label. At least they’re masculine, though.

The blue is moderately saturated and is not dissimilar to royal blue. A soft, pewter colored waistband, measuring about four centimeters, crowns the brief. The company’s word mark defaces the front of the garment in bold, yellow letters. I guess that’s a nod to the name of the style. A close inspection of the garment revealed it to be well made with clean seams and no loose threads or pulls anywhere.

In terms of fabric, the brief is about 48% cotton and 52% soft man made material (modal and lyrca). I’m a natural fiber kind of guy, and when you get below a certain percentage of cotton, the material starts feeling synthetic. These briefs are no exception. You won’t ever mistake these for being all or close to all cotton briefs. I do understand that synthetics make colors more vibrant, but for me, the blue isn’t vibrant enough to warrant a trade-off for less cotton.

I will say that they are comfortable. I put them on to go to work in and I haven’t had to pull or adjust the briefs. They stayed put and felt good and dependable, like the one good friend that won’t let your plants die when you’re on vacation. One super annoying thing is that the briefs aren’t as brief as they seem on the picture on the box. That always makes me monkey crazy when something isn’t like it appeared in a picture. The picture on the box makes it seem like the garment is much more low-rise, perhaps like the low-rise cut of 2xist or C-in2 brief. It is, in fact, much fuller cut than the picture would suggest. They fit true to size.

And talk about ubiquitous! You can get these at many different stores and sites that sell undies, but I’d highly recommend International Jock because the way they look on the model is the most accurate representation of how they really fit. (Plus, you get to check out all of the other spectacular pictures on the site).

Would I suggest the brief? Well, it depends. If you’re currently rockin’ the CKs (the original tighty whitie style), sure. It’s a great lateral step that will let you branch out and experiment a little bit. If you’re looking for a true low rise brief, I probably wouldn’t recommend it.

OVERALL, I give the DKNY “electric” brief a score of 6.6 based on the following criteria:

COOL FACTOR -- 5 (out of 10) – masculine, but not unique
WEARABILITY -- 7 (out of 10) – good in between coverage; not too skimpy, not too full. The material was a little too synthetic feeling for me.

QUALITY -- 8 (out of 10) - very well made garment with great attention to detail

HOTNESS -- 6 (out of 10) – the word mark in yellow is an attention getter, but the blue is a little subdued

VALUE -- 7 (out of 10) – a little more costly then CKs, which I consider a similar brand in terms of aesthetic and exclusivity

********** 6.6

Teamm8: A Review

A while back I first introduced you to an up-and-coming Australian brand called Teamm8, now I'm back to report my thoughts on their undies. For the purpose of today's review I will be discussing the Classic Brief.

Let's start with how they look. First off, the style on these things really can't be beat. They are some of the sexiest briefs I've worn! The cut is such that they just cover all the necessary bits and that's about it. Surprisingly, despite the diminutive profile, they still have plenty of room up front because of the stretch of the fabric. You are sure to feel super sexy all day long just knowing that you're wearing these. I tried the classic briefs in white, and I've got to say, the thread count is high enough that they are a uniform crisp white throughout; a rarity in briefs which often leads to the back and sides of the undies looking semi-transparent compared to the pouch. And the stylish and unique waistband will be sure to have heads turning your way. They are also available in red and black (both with white contrast waistbands).

The fit on these things is quite phenomenal. Very often with super small undies they tend to ride down and expose a little crack when bending over and being active, but that is not the case with these. The fabric stretches well with movement but also goes back into place without leaving baggy briefs. They would definitely make a perfect addition to your gym bag for your work-out routine. I do have to comment though, I am a 28" waist, on the site they claim that S is a 30-32" waist, but the small fits me just fine. That said, they run a little small so you might want to try a size up.

Comfortwise, I have no complaints. The fabric is super soft and comfy and the waistband and legbands stay put without irritating. The quality on these is great. I've worn them and washed them quite a few times without noticing any substantial changes in the fit or quality of the briefs. Like all my undies, I wash them in cold on gentle and line dry them (unless hand wash is noted, watch for an upcoming post on how to wash your undies) and they've held up just fine. They are a little pricey at just over $25 + shipping from Australia, but for the quality you are getting they are well worth the investment. Also as a special for MUB readers from now until January 3rd, get 25% off your purchase at Teamm8 using coupon code "MUB25" at checkout. So that's an added bonus to tryout Teamm8 today!

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the Teamm8 briefs a total score of 9 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - not true to size
COMFORT -- 8 (out of 10)
STYLE -- 10 (out of 10)
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10)
VALUE -- 8 (out of 10)

********** 9