WHILE you can get away with your standard undercrackers in the gym, intense cardio like jogging requires some of the best running underwear for men - especially if you're training for a marathon.
Anyone who's done more than a bit of jogging knows the importance of wearing the best running underwear for your needs.
If you don't wear the correct undies or go commando, you're risking overheating, infections and a runner's worst enemy: chafing. And nobody wants any of these things.
Luckily, to curb these problems, a lot of running shorts come with inner underwear linings that absorb swear buildup and help to prevent chafing.
Running underwear also provides support in the front and the back, to reduce bounce and keep everything in one place while on the move.
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Best running underwear for men at a glance:
- Best long men's running underwear: Under Armour Tech Sports Underwear
- Best anti-chafing boxers: Manscaped Performance Boxer Briefs
- Best short running underwear for men: Lululemon Always In Motion Brief with Fly
- Best supportive running underwear for men: Saxx Men's Kinetic Boxers
- Best comfortable running underwear for men: Just Wears Active Boxer Briefs
- Best sustainable running underwear for men: Bam Jersey Bamboo Sport Trunks
- Best men's running underwear multipack: Just Wears Active Boxer Briefs
Under Armour Tech Sports Underwear
- Under Armour Tech 2 Pack Sports Underwear, from £35.98 - buy here
Under Armour has developed a quality reputation for a good reason - their products are reliable and work well. These fast-drying shorts are soft to the touch and offer breathability during your runs. They also are form-fitting, preventing chafing against the material.
The fast-drying fabric is especially great for runners, meaning perspiration is drawn away from the skin and quickly evaporates. Translation? Sweat isn't going to build up in your boxers, so bye-bye rubbing and infections.
Despite their snug fit, you won't feel restricted. These pants are made from 4-way stretch material, so they promise comfort as well as full freedom of movement.
Material: Polyester and elastane; Sizes available: XS-XXL; Priced as: 2 pack; Colour range: 8 colours
Saxx Men's Kinetic Boxers
- Saxx Men's Kinetic Boxers, £24 - buy here
These Men's Kinetic Boxers from Saxx are designed for high-impact, high-intensity sports. So, they can definitely handle anything from a light jog to a full sprint — and they'll definitely see you through marathon training.
The moisture-wicking stretch material draws sweat away from your skin, helping to control odours and keep you feeling fresh and dry. The flexible material also provides an excellent fit around your glutes, thighs, quads, and hamstrings.
Yet the draw for most men will be the BallPark Pouch, which delivers contact-free support and keeps everything in place, eliminating chafing and awkward readjusting.
Material: Nylon and spandex; Sizes available: S-XL; Priced as: Single pack; Colour range: 3 colours
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Niksa Men's Sports Underwear
- Niksa 3 Pack Men's Sports Underwear, from £19.59 - buy here
For those who want the discretion of boxers with all the support of running underwear, look no further than these bad boys from Niksa.
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They deliver compression and support, keeping you cool and comfortable while the quick-drying fabric will allow air to circulate freely.
The main selling point of these pants is their compression aspect, which means they help accelerate blood circulation around the thighs and reduce muscle fatigue and soreness — exactly what you need if you're an avid runner.
Available in packs for three starting at £17.63, they're excellent value too.
Material: Polyamide and elastane; Sizes available: S-XXL; Priced as: 3 pack; Colour range: 1 colour
Manscaped Performance Boxer Briefs
- Manscaped Performance Boxer Briefs, £20 from Manscaped - buy here
When you are on a long run or in the middle of an intense HIIT workout, the last thing you want or need is friction.
Skin-to-skin contact during repetitive movement is a recipe for red, raw and irritated skin. It happens to underarms and nipples too, but the inner thighs and groin are particularly vulnerable areas for runners.
Chafing can cause no end of discomfort, but these Manscaped boxers are designed to keep high-friction areas cool with a micro-fibre blend design.
They also look pretty stylish to boot, with a sleek black shape and no-roll logo waistband.
Material: Microfiber blend; Sizes available: S-XXXL; Priced as: Single pack or 3 pack; Colour range: 3 colours
JustWears Active Boxer Briefs
- Just Wears Active Boxer Briefs, £49.35 for 3-pack from JustWears - buy here
JustWears has potentially designed the most comfortable pair of underwear on the market, and not just for running.
They're silky soft, quick-drying, breathable and absorbent - things we love for everyday wear as well as when we're active.
They've got a pouch to keep your - as JustWears puts it - plums and banana separate, which both increases airflow and provides more support.
There's also an elongated inseam for a closer fit, meaning they don't ride up and there's no chafing.
We're warning you though, once you've tried a pair of JustWears (for running or otherwise), you won't want to wear anything else.
Material: MicroModal Air fibres; Sizes available: S-XXL; Priced as: 2 pack, 3 pack, 6 pack, or 9 pack; Colour range: 8 colour collections
Lululemon Always In Motion Brief with Fly
- Lululemon Always In Motion Brief with Fly, £22 - buy here
If the main feature you want from your running underwear is support, go for Lululemon's Always In Motion Brief. Unlike most running underwear, these are a brief fit and therefore don't cover the thighs — which is no problem if you're wearing them under longer running shorts to tackle chafing.
These briefs are made from four-way stretch fabric and are specially shaped for optimal room and support, so even though they're tight, you won't feel cramped.
The hardworking fabric is also quick-drying, sweat-wicking and naturally breathable, so you don't have to worry about what they call 'swamp crotch'.
Material: Modal and elastane; Sizes available: XS-XXL; Priced as: 3 pack; Colour range: 8 colours
Runderwear Men's Running Boxer Shorts
- Runderwear Men's Running Boxer Shorts, £17.60 - buy here
Runderwear claims that its boxers keep you 100% chafe-free, which is exactly what every runner wants to hear. And the reviews back this claim up, with shoppers saying the pants "deliver what they promise".
It's the sweat-wicking, lightweight, and breathable (and 92% recycled, by the way) fabric that has this effect, by promptly removing sweat from your skin and preventing overheating.
These boxers also won't budge as you run. They have silicone leg grips to hold them in place, and the seamless design means the waistband won't roll down.
They're also pretty affordable, at £19.80 per pair.
Material: Recycled polyamide and elastane; Sizes available: S-XXL; Priced as: Single pack; Colour range: 3 colours
Falke Men Boxer Ultralight Cool
Men Boxer Ultralight Cool, £32 - buy here
Falke's undergarments are intended to withstand warm and hot conditions, so they're perfect for summer or if you're especially dedicated and enjoy running on holiday.
What makes them so suitable for hot conditions? They're made from ultralight polyamide-mix material, which is as moisture-wicking as it gets. These are athlete-standard and can be used for anything from yoga to high-impact sports — all while keeping you cool.
This pair might look like regular boxers, but they're actually knitted to adjust to the shape of your body so you feel extra supported. The tight fit won't restrict your movement, though.
Material: Recycled polyamide and elastane; Sizes available: S-XXL; Priced as: Single pack; Colour range: 2 colours
Gymshark Sports Tech Boxers
- Gymshark Sports Tech Boxers, £17.60 from Gymshark - buy here
Gymshark has made a name for itself as the go-to retailer for avid gym-goers, purely because its products are so high quality and reasonably priced. And these running pants are no exception.
They tackle what matters most: sweat. Made from sweat-wicking material, you won't be worrying about getting damp in these — and you can forget about chafing.
These claim to fit like a "second skin", which means they're unlikely to bunch up or slip down. While the fabric is tight and supportive, it's still soft and stretchy and also has an elasticated waistband. So, this pair are equal parts comfortable and practical.
Material: Polyamide and elastane; Sizes available: XS-XXXL; Priced as: 2 pack; Colour range: 1 colour
Bam Jersey Bamboo Sport Trunks
- Bam Jersey Bamboo Sport Trunks, £20 from Bam - buy here
If you're on the hunt for the perfect running underwear but you're also environmentally conscious, this is the pair for you. Bam's trunks are made from bamboo, which means they're not only smooth and sleek but also kind to the environment.
In fact, this product actually has a positive impact on the environment, with 93.9 days of driving water saved, 0.7m2 of land farmed without pesticides, and 2.1km of driving emissions avoided in the production, packaging and postage process.
The pants themselves don't sacrifice any useful features on the mission to be more sustainable, either. They have a longer fitted leg to prevent 'ride up', a supportive pouch with a fly feature, and an elasticated waistband for added comfort.
Material: Bamboo, viscose, organic cotton and elastane; Sizes available: S-XXL; Priced as: Single pack; Colour range: 3 colours
What is the best underwear for running?
Underwear for running is supposed to be tight and form-fitting in order to be supportive and to prevent chafing one of your most delicate areas, but breathable where you need it to be.
The best underwear for running will also have lining made from materials like cotton that will absorb the sweat and microbes responsible for infections.
So if you're sold on the idea that pants for running will transform your training, check our guide on the best running underwear out there.
Do runners wear underwear?
Runners don't always wear underwear.
Running shorts often have a special lining designed to reduce friction and to keep you dry, so you don't need to wear anything underneath.
