Updated: 26 March 2024.
The best running underwear for men, from £16
The best compression socks for running...
Tested by Joe Mackie
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Even if your kit bag is crammed full of innovative gear and your feet are constantly cradled by the latest running shoes, there’s still one key piece of kit you may be overlooking as you prepare for race day – your underwear.
A good pair of running underwear can make the difference between setting off on a comfortable run and enduring unpleasant chafing as you rack up the miles. Fortunately for you, our panel of avid runners has tested a number of the best underwear for running, to find out which ones can handle the heat and which ones crumple under the pressure.
So, do yourself a favour and invest in one of our tried and tested pairs of pants to enjoy wedgie- and chafing-free running.
Shop the best women's underwear for running here
Best men’s underwear for running
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What makes good underwear for running?
There are several key differences between your everyday underwear and boxers made specifically for sport. These are the main things to look out for:
Material: Cotton is the most common material used to make underwear. However, if you’re after a pair to wear for more hardcore exercise, you’ll likely want something a bit lighter and more flexible, with heightened sweat-wicking properties. Among the products we tested, brands opted to make the most of nylon, polyester and even merino wool to keep wearers comfortable.
Fit: You’ll want a pair of underwear that can keep you supported as you pound the pavements or trails, without being so tight that they feel restrictive or don’t move with the body.
Sweat-wicking properties: As mentioned under the material section, you don’t want your underwear to be sodden at the end of each jog. Not only will this prove heavy and uncomfortable, it could also lead to rubbing. Some materials are able to wick sweat away from the skin as it forms, keeping wearers cool throughout. This is one of the key criteria we considered when testing underwear for exercise.
How we test
We sent out 21 different pairs of underwear to our panel of trusted runners, with each person asked to review up to three products. They wore each pair for at least three different types of exercise, including high and low impact activities, sweaty sessions and lighter workouts. In our Runner’s World Lab, we also put each pair of underwear through the wash three times to make sure they retained their fit and shape.
Design, comfort, performance and quality were all considered as each tester delivered detailed feedback on the products they had worn. This data was then broken down and combined with the Runner’s World Best Garmin deals.
Runderwear’s Running Briefs offer a perfect wearer experience. They’re seamless and tagless, making them easy to wear underneath tight-fitting clothing and reducing chafing, plus good support for a man’s more bouncy bits. Be warned — Runderwear’s quality makes them so popular that supply doesn’t always meet demand, so our advice is to buy a few pairs at a time.
| Materials | 92% On a tight budget? Heres the best run kit to buy |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | S-XXL |
Innovation and underwear might not be the most obvious of bedfellows, yet Runderwear has managed to marry the two with its “silicone leg grippers” — rubbery strips running down the side of each leg, designed to stop these boxers from riding up while running. Many testers found they worked perfectly, though a few didn’t like how the strips felt and said they made the boxers tricky to slip into. Despite this Marmite-like reaction, most of our panel were in favour, so we’d recommend giving them a go.
| Materials | 92% Advertisement - Continue Reading Below |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | S-XXL |
Our stance on these impeccable boxers couldn’t be any clearer — we love them. They’re made using a single piece of true rib microfibre, which fitted like a glove and proved incredibly comfortable for a range of activities — both exercise-related and otherwise.
They were tight enough to offer plenty of support and they didn’t bunch or ride up, despite the longer legs, so testers had no trouble with chafing.
| Material | 78% Nylon, 22% Elastane |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | Small (28-30”) to extra large (39-42”) |
| Priced as | Per pair |
These briefs won our coveted Gear of the Year awards – and for good reason. Designed for extra support on the move, there’s a light compression in the fabric and a ‘Pro’ version of Saxx’s signature ‘BallPark Pouch’, which increases snugness and security where it counts. The four-way stretch fabric never feels constrictive, and it’s ideal for longer runs, offering breathability, as well as moisture-wicking and anti-odour properties.
| Materials | 88% The best compression socks for running |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | S-XL |
| Priced as | One unit |
Merino Wool is much finer than the yarn used to make your favourite winter jumper. It also has natural thermo-regulating properties, helping to keep you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s chilly.
Our testers found these boxers incredibly comfortable, with no sign of them being pulled out of place or rubbing at all.
However, they have a baggier fit than others on this list, making them more suitable for low- to medium-impact activities such as strength or recovery work, rather than a track session.
| Material | 87% recycled polyamide, 8% elastane |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | Small (29-31”) to extra extra large (41”-44”) |
| Priced as | Per pair |
Having to rearrange your underwear mid-run is enough to knock anyone off their stride. Fortunately, the Boxerjock’s tight fit and soft material allows them to move with the body, while the elasticated waistband meant they stayed in place without digging in at all — ideal for strength sessions and lower body exercises like lunges.
They were comfortable to wear under workout clothes, though a handful of our testers said they were a bit bulky and felt hot during more strenuous sessions.
| Material | 90% polyester, 10% elastane |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | Best wireless headphones |
| Priced as | Two-pack |
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