The big question...

[Ian Afloat]

...boxers or briefs?
Going to be dropping a fairly large chunk of change on quick dry underwear in the next couple of months. Which is best...boxer shorts or briefs? Or a question of suck it and see? Don't want to be left with a fifty quid duster!

Ian

 

[Phillip]

Going Napoleon style. Commando!!!!

 

[Ian Afloat]

Going Napoleon style. Commando!!!!

No lunging!!!...

 

[Introibo]

Merino wool boxers. Less chafing

 

[Adhemar78]

I wore Icebreaker Anatomica boxers - merino wool. Very comfortable. I didn't have any problems with them.

 

[TerryB]

Never got on with merino wool. Hi-tech trunks (not boxers) from Rohan have been my choice for the past 6 years.
http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-base-layer-clothing

Buen camino
Tio Tel

 

[Ian Afloat]

Never got on with merino wool. Hi-tech trunks (not boxers) from Rohan have been my choice for the past 6 years.
http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-base-layer-clothing

Buen camino
Tio Tel

There you go muddying the water with a third choice!
Is the only difference between a "boxer" and a "trunk" the snugness of the fit on the leg part? And is it possible that some of the manufacturers call anything with a leg "boxers"?
Buen (confused) Camino

Ian

 

[Al the optimist]

Why not your normal everyday?

 

[Ian Afloat]

Why not your normal everyday?

Only taking 2 pairs, so worried about the drying time of cotton briefs, and their propensity to hold on to moisture whilst walking.

 

[Al the optimist]

When are you going? June-August is normally ok for drying quickly.

 

[TerryB]

There you go muddying the water with a third choice!
Is the only difference between a "boxer" and a "trunk" the snugness of the fit on the leg part?
Ian

I understand that
"briefs" = cut away sides - http://www.rohan.co.uk/new-clothing-and-accessories-for-men-Cool-Silver-Briefs
"trunks" = some crotch support - http://www.rohan.co.uk/new-clothing-and-accessories-for-men-Ultra-Silver-Trunks
"boxers" = loose fitting crotch and top of leg - http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+super_rohan_boxer_shorts,312273092
Definitions may differ depending on manufacturer.

Buen (comfy) camino.
Tio Tel

 

[Ian Afloat]

When are you going? June-August is normally ok for drying quickly.

Yes, July/August...but I'm also thinking ahead to October when I'm hoping to do the Ingles and World's end.

 

[JohnMcM]

...boxers or briefs?
Going to be dropping a fairly large chunk of change on quick dry underwear in the next couple of months. Which is best...boxer shorts or briefs? Or a question of suck it and see? Don't want to be left with a fifty quid duster!

Ian

Ian,
Might be worth having a look at the range of "trunks" in your local M&S if you have one, they have served me well for my walking.
Buen Camino

 

[clearskiescamino]

I brought along 2 pairs of under armour quick dry briefs. They dry super quick, no chaffing but were a little more expensive than normal.
I learnt the hard way. Experienced chaffing in 2011 with cotton UW.

 

[xin loi]

While practicing for the Camino, I had chafing if I carried more than 12 kilos of sand in my pack. Tried Under Armour and no more chafing. Took 4 pair on Camino and only had two pair stolen from drying lines. Expensive gear/clothing tends to walk away while drying! Was surprised how expensive Quick Drying clothing was/is in hiking stores along the Camino--saw QD underwear shorts for 35 euros!

Look at pictures of drying lines on web sites and you will see a mixture of everything. I was not concerned about drying , but was concerned about chafing. I must admit however that my chafing may have been caused by the pack pulling on my underwear. And that is something you should find out before walking the Camino with a full pack. Kept pack; changed brand of underwear--worked for me.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The Rohan trunks that Terry mentioned are very light weight (75gms each) and quick drying. He carried 3 pairs and wore the other pair. These were way lighter than his usual M&S trunks.

 

[donalomahony]

Boxers, exofficio
http://www.exofficio.com/products/mens/underwear

2 Caminos, quick drying, Winter and Summer.

 

[Miles2go]

...boxers or briefs?
Going to be dropping a fairly large chunk of change on quick dry underwear in the next couple of months. Which is best...boxer shorts or briefs? Or a question of suck it and see? Don't want to be left with a fifty quid duster!

Ian

Hello Ian,
My ExOfficio briefs weigh 67 grams whereas the boxers weigh 90 grams. If you're obsessive about weight take the briefs. If not, then take a risk and go with one of each.

Good hiking.

 

[xin loi]

You all can't be serious about the weight of your underwear! Or are you? It is not a very difficult hike!

Only advice I can give about weight is that the best place to find 500 gram rocks to put in your pack or pockets for added weight is when walking down hill prior to Molinaseca.

 

[jmcarp]

In the US, we call trunks 'boxer-briefs.' Here's an example: http://www.exofficio.com/products/details/mens-give-n-go-boxer-brief
They provide the support of briefs, but the short legs avoid chafing of the crotch area, and the legs don't bunch up like full boxers sometimes do.

 

[Chacharm]

...boxers or briefs?
Going to be dropping a fairly large chunk of change on quick dry underwear in the next couple of months. Which is best...boxer shorts or briefs? Or a question of suck it and see? Don't want to be left with a fifty quid duster!

Ian

My son wore tech boxers. He absolutely loved 'em. Until the chafing started. I noticed him walking strangely - then limping. When he finally showed me the blisters between his legs (he is trim and in good shape, btw) I was horrified. Open sores. We stopped and bought him a couple of pairs of tech briefs that kept his pink bits squared away along with a lot of diaper rash ointment. He still has scars - I am not kidding.

 

[jeffnd]

Boxers, exofficio
http://www.exofficio.com/products/mens/underwear

2 Caminos, quick drying, Winter and Summer.

I went with 3 pairs. No regrets...

I think I posted when I first joined this forum, that I was a boxer man. I have been for years. I decided to go down to a department store to see what they had for "technical" undies. All they had were briefs and boxer briefs. I decided to give the boxer briefs a shot. I took one step out the door to go on a walk and said, "Nope!"

 

[Ian Afloat]

Aaaargh! Boxer briefs? Is there no end to the confusion?
Having said that, the in store choice of technical underwear in the outdoor stores here in the UK is absolutely pathetic!

 

[Urban Trekker]

I like the synthetic boxers. Cool, dry, and air can circulate. With the exception of my wool socks everything I wear on the Camino is synthetic.

 

[Ian Afloat]

Ian,
Might be worth having a look at the range of "trunks" in your local M&S if you have one, they have served me well for my walking.
Buen Camino

Popped into M&S today and got a couple of pairs of "microskin" trunks. 92% polysomething, 8% Lycra. Looks like they'll dry pretty quickly; going to check out the chafing quotient in the White Peaks later this week.
A lot cheaper than Under Armor etc...£17 for 2 pairs.

 

[Mark Lee]

...boxers or briefs?
Going to be dropping a fairly large chunk of change on quick dry underwear in the next couple of months. Which is best...boxer shorts or briefs? Or a question of suck it and see? Don't want to be left with a fifty quid duster!

Ian

The high performance synthetic briefs with a long, 9" inseam. Made by several manufacturers such as Under Armour.
Wore them on both my Caminos. Worked perfect. Easy to wash and dry fast. No chafing and they don't ride up.

 

[Ian Afloat]

Glad to report that the M&S option is very good. Went on a 10 mile walk in the Peak District yesterday and they performed excellently...no riding up and no chafing.

 

[TerryB]

You all can't be serious about the weight of your underwear! Or are you? It is not a very difficult hike!

I am a 71 year old weighing in at 62 kilos! I weigh EVERYTHING Even putting things on the kitchen scales to choose between different pairs of socks / trunks etc. (I do draw the line at cutting off my toothbrush handle!!) That way I can get my pack weight down to 6.5 kilos without water.
Pack light - walk happy sez I

Blessings
Tio Tel