Cooling Underwear

[linkster]

Hey does anyone have any experience with the new ExOfficio SOL COOL Boxers? I know cotton can cool in the heat and kill when wet in the cold. I wonder how quickly they would dry.

 

[pitztop]

I wore ExOfficio boxers on my last camino and loved them. Super comfortable and quick drying. I'll be wearing them again on my camino this year. The problem with cotton is that it takes ages to dry after you wash them. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with ExOfficio boxers.

 

[Sarah Olson]

Hey does anyone have any experience with the new ExOfficio SOL COOL Boxers? I know cotton can cool in the heat and kill when wet in the cold. I wonder how quickly they would dry.

You might take a look at Duluth Trading Co's Armachillo underwear. I actually bought a pair of the men's boxer briefs to wear under my hiking skirt, they are super comfortable and fast drying. (hope that wasn't TMI!!)

 

[JRO]

Hey does anyone have any experience with the new ExOfficio SOL COOL Boxers? I know cotton can cool in the heat and kill when wet in the cold. I wonder how quickly they would dry.

My hubby liked Travelsmith's own brand of boxers, and also REIs. Both have lasted now through 2 caminos and headed out Friday on a third....so they DO wear. Oh, and he wears them all the time at home too. Ditto for the women's undies of the Travelsmith brand also - for all you ladies out there. I also wore Ibex wool ones, but the Travelsmith were lighter to pack and dried more quickly.

 

[t2andreo]

I have worn loose fitting ExOfficio boxers (NOT the boxer brief style) for four Caminos. They are now my daily wear, here in South Florida. At the risk of TMI, let's just say they are (IMHO) the most comfortable thing you can wear with cargo type shorts...also my daily uniform...

For a month-long Camino, three pair should be sufficient. One on you, one washed last night, and one washed two nights ago. This cycle works very well.

I found, as many other do, that the "three-set model" works well too. Some folks drop it to two total, one on and one off. But that presupposes a good place to do and wash and dry the shorts, socks, and shirts daily. On the Camino, it DOES rain fairly often.

Originally, I started doing Caminos carrying four sets. But that extra set of shirt, shorts, and two pair of socks cost me one kilo. The extra set got sent down the road to Ivar.

Now, for a two week or less Camino, I use this "three set" model with ONE pair of zip off cargo pants. After two weeks, they tend to get a bit funky, even if I wash the bottom legs as needed to remove mud and road grime.

For a month-long Camino, I will typically put an extra pair of sip-off cargo pants in a ziplock bag, at the very bottom of my rucksack. This all works FOR ME.

I hope this helps.

 

[linkster]

@t2andreo Thanks for the reply. I have some give n go boxers and they are great. I was looking for a review of the new cotton version. TMI seems like an oxymoron when talking about underwear.

 

[wayfarer]

I wore ExOffocio boxers in 2012 and found them comfortable and fast drying, a little sweaty and hot when the temps are high but otherwise no problem Since then I have switched to Merino boxers, again comfortable and fast drying but more comfortable in the heat. Last word, avoid cotton IMO.
Buen Camino.

 

[StevethePlanner]

Avoid cotton. ExOfficio Give and Go boxers are great. I rotated only two pair for a month on the CP 2 years ago. Each day washed them with socks and shirt. They are the same material as Duluth Buck Naked. In a couple weeks, leaving for VdlP for 7 weeks. Still planning on only two pair. People WILL see your underwear. Take BOLD prints, not boring solid colors!

 

[t2andreo]

NO COTTON underwear or socks...PERIOD!

Merino wool or synthetic fabrics are the only material that, IMHO and direct experience work on Camino.

You will suffer uncomfortable and possibly serious "jock rash," or whatever women get in that area when wearing wet or damp cotton undies.

I hope this helps.

 

[trecile]

You might take a look at Duluth Trading Co's Armachillo underwear. I actually bought a pair of the men's boxer briefs to wear under my hiking skirt, they are super comfortable and fast drying. (hope that wasn't TMI!!)

Duluth Trading has now come out with Armachillo undershorts for women! They must have become aware of how many women were buying the men's boxer briefs for themselves.

 

[Sarah Olson]

Duluth Trading has now come out with Armachillo undershorts for women! They must have become aware of how many women were buying the men's boxer briefs for themselves.

Oh oh!!! I will have to get some! I had some of their regular undies, and they are great! Yay!!

Update: ARGH!! I bought these same things under a different name when I bought the men's boxers that I use. They aren't very comfortable, and the crotch hangs kinda low, like you would want to wear underwear under them! I wrote a little review for them. Back to the drawing board...