German playwright and poet Bertolt Brecht once brilliantly stated, "From the cradle to the coffin, underwear comes first." Mind-blowingly, some still choose tighty-whities or the daring commando. Today, real G's wear boxers.

The primary difference between boxer briefs and boxer shorts is the fit. Briefs are tight against the leg and crotch, while shorts are loose-fitting with more room. Other differences include the fabric and the design of the pouch.

The primary function of undies is to protect and comfort the most vulnerable body parts of a man. Testicles contain life-creating little swimmers. The sheer amount of skin-on-skin contact below the waist can lead to chafing and rashes.

Let's not forget about the drip. Despite being hidden under clothing, underwear is a component for full swag. There are reasons brands slap their logo on the waistbands.

We know which underwear style is supreme and provides the best solution. But for the sake of science, let's review. 

Boxer's Form Follows Function

The difference in fit is subjective to the individual guy. Thunder thighs, monster dongs, balloon sacks, and dump track asses count. Some guys like the support of the boxer briefs, and some like the air flowing breeze of boxer shorts. 

The fabrication of boxer briefs consists of modern threads like polyester and elastane. These stretchier yet tighter fabrics provide the classic boxer brief fit. The result is smaller leg holes and closer support for the pork n' beans. This design makes boxer briefs an ideal style for athletes, offering benefits like recovery time, joint stability, and increased muscle oxygenation.

Boxer shorts are usually made with cotton and cotton blends. The oldest examples of cotton clothing date back to 6000 BCE Peru. That is some old underwear, brother. That sort of reliability stands for something. One thousand years later, across the planet, the Kingdom of Kush mastered cotton clothing and created one heady scene. 

The less flexible fabric means modern boxer shorts construction is roomier. Cotton can regulate body temperature effectively. The material is poor at managing moisture, and the loose fit encourages bunching. The result of moisture accumulation is a rainforest-like atmosphere. That's not good for anyone.

The Friction Hell of Chafing

You are about to enter the back nine of the local golf course after crushing a plethora of crispy boys. But the drunkenness isn't the only feeling building. A burning pain is hitting both thighs, the dreaded chafing.

The cause of the friction injury is repetitive skin-on-skin on contact. It's made worse with increased moisture. Since boxer briefs cover more skin and often use moisture-wicking technology, they are the clear winner to combat chafing. If you’re still getting swampy down there, consider using some fresh body powder to keep you dry throughout the day.

The Best Underwear for Your Swimmers 

Men across the world know the extreme sensitivity of our testicles. It becomes painfully obvious with any sort of nut shot. What men may not think about is the relationship between types of underwear and low sperm count.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a low sperm count includes chemical exposure, heavy metal exposure, radiation, and overheating of the testicles. This debate focuses on the overheating process and how that relates to boxer briefs vs. boxer shorts. A 2018 Harvard study concluded that men who reported wearing boxers had higher sperm concentration than men who did not. Wow, it seems like the brainiacs at Harvard figured it all out, huh? Not so fast.

The study divided men into two underwear style groups: Boxer short wearers (loose underwear) and men who did not (tighter underwear). The loose underwear group statistically had higher sperm counts than group two. The loose group was younger and leaner on average, two characteristics that factor into sperm production. Specifically, reported boxer brief wearers did have a lower sperm count than boxer short wearers. 

Yet, the study began in 2000 and had no data for fabric or brands of underwear. So while the study did conclude that boxer shorts are the best option for fertility, it had more holes than a cheese grater. For snipped dudes, this is all moot, and they can concentrate on functionality and looks alone.

Look Good Play Good

The iconic look of men's underwear brands label peeking above the line of pants is generational. From Marty McFly's and Kendall Jenner's Calvin Kleins to Aaliyah's Tommy Hilfigers, showing off the waistband is a look.

We want to drip from head-to-toe in swag and underwear counts. An oversized pair of heather grey, discount rack boxer shorts won't help you make a statement. As for impressing the ladies, the fashion experts at GQ polled 200 women for their preference. 75% of women choose boxer briefs.

The Obvious Underpants Choice

It seems clear that boxer briefs are the top dog of the underwear style kingdom. Functionality, chafing prevention, and style receive top marks. As for protection to the almighty fertility center, the debate still rages.

But what if there is a better way? A kind of underwear that combined moisture-wicking technology, cool-max technology, and spun with silver ions to fight stank. The holy grail of men's underwear. The fabrication behind DUDE men's underwear puts the Harvard fertility problems study straight into a locker. The sleek black and eye-catching blue will bedazzle a potential mate like a peacock's feathers.

There are some things in life you can get away with going cheap; underpants aren’t one of them. If you believe you are world-class between your thighs and your waist, you deserve world-class undies. Go DUDE underwear or go home.