Waterpoof/quickly drying Undies?

midnite-penguin

midnite-penguin

Joined
Nov 6, 2007
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244
This might seem odd, but spring/summer are just around the bend, so - what do you guys wear when you plan to get wet on the trail.

I know during the summer a lot of guys just go commando under the swim trunks/board shorts - and thats obvious.

But for hiking, it can get VERY uncomfortable walking any amount of distance free-balling under your shorts.

The alternative however is to wear boxers/briefs and have them stay completely soaked and uncomfortable while your swim trunks/board shorts get dry.

Do they make underwear in quick-drying material, so that you can wear something under shorts that doesn't stay damp for the whole day after you swim across that river/lake?
 
A thong generally dries quickly :-)

Okay...here is what generally works best for me...go to Wally World and get the cheapest silk boxers you can find...they are lightweight, cheap, comfy and dry extremely fast. Toss them when they wear out.

OR if you've gotta have the latest technology then you can visit REI online and get their REI brand Mesh MTS boxers or briefs in summer weight (which breaths extremely well) or their REI Winter Weight for cooler weather. These products work extremely well but are expensive. But if you only need a couple pair for hiking then it isn't such a big deal.

Nice thing about the silk or REI shorts is they generally don't sag when soaked with sweat and you can wash them out every few days in a river/stream and they dry fast - extremely fast! And they don't tend to stink too badly either after a few weeks without a bath or a washing.

OR you can still go to REI and buy the Exoffical boxers or briefs. Again, a bit spendy but very popular with the executive travel bunch because you can pack only two pair for a weeks business trip. The take up a very small footprint in a suitcase or backpack. I've worn these in the wild with great success. Again these tend to mitigate the stink factor even without a bath or washing.

Washing process...take them to the stream or pond and using some Castile soap that I always carry give them a good scrubb'n. Rinse well and wringing out extremely well. I take and swirl them over my head like a David and Goliath type of sling shot to use centrifugal force to dry them and then sit them in the sun or a good breeze for an hour and they are dry. OR...do all of the above and if you can find a cotton towel, tee shirt or anything cotton or fleece will work too and lay them flat onto the shirt or fleece. Then roll up them both up together like a burrito (with the shorts in the middle) and then step on it a few times with your feet...the moisture from the shorts are tranferred to the cotton or fleece and the shorts are about 89% dry now with the moisture transferred to the outer garment. Put them on and let your body heat do the rest of the drying. No problem with the outer garment...they don't get that wet and they dry fast and besides their generally an outer garment anyway so it isn't directly in contact with your skin.
 
midnite-penguin said:
But for hiking, it can get VERY uncomfortable walking any amount of distance free-balling under your shorts.
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I respectfully beg to differ. It depends on what you're used to. I've hiked many many miles free-ballin, and after the first day or 2, it ceases to be an issue for me. YMMV, however. I recommend trying the free-ball method, with some Sportslick or other athletic lube to grease up with. Most brands of that type of stuff are water-resistant, and hypo-allergenic. And they last a long time.
But, in the spirit of the original question, I'll say get some nylon shorts with a liner. I like the Nike running shorts, their liner is very soft, and dries quickly.
 
You could consider under garments from Under Armor. That is what their moisture wicking material is designed for. Try the boxer briefs. :)
 
Oh yea...forgot Under Armor...great stuff and similar to the choices I recommended - good call Sgt!

The deal is everything mentioned so far are in the $18 to $25 range per pair except the wally world silk which will set you back $5-6.
 
midnite-penguin said:
But for hiking, it can get VERY uncomfortable walking any amount of distance free-balling under your shorts.
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I tried cotton, silk, polyester, polypropylene, and everything else. They all chafed me terribly when I hiked more than a short distance. When I finally gave up, and switched to freestyling, I experienced comfort at last.

For me, at least, the need for underwear is just more counterproductive marketing hokum. I'm more comfortable, and save a few bucks and a few ounces, without.

(Oh, and switching from toilet paper to baby wipes when ditching the underwear, helps stay more clean and comfy.)
 
+1 on the UA boxer briefs. No more chafing! Plus, they dry fast after washing and pack small.

Damp cotton can get pretty brutal! :grumpy:

-- FLIX
 
Yeah I figured under armor would have something, all the options are pretty spendy but I guess you get what you pay for.

shorts with liners are terrible - they are so uncomfortable IMO, so Nike running shorts are out of the question.

I'll look around my next trip to REI or the UA outlet.
 
I actually have some boxers made of Pertex which is one of the fastest drying materials made, the bad news is that they are made in the UK by Buffalosystems so they would have to be imported !!!
 
I'm not sure, but I hear Patagonia Capilene is kinda their version of UA stuff, but softer and less like Spandex. That could be worth looking into.
 
It's funny this thread happened today. I just went on a 12 mile killer freakin' hike and the worst part of the whole damn thing was the chafing. I was freeballin'. Not gonna do that anymore. I don't see how boxers would help me as they're not all up in there where the chafing occurs. Maybe boxer briefs. Gonna buy a few and try 'em out.
 
Wildewinds said:
It's funny this thread happened today. I just went on a 12 mile killer freakin' hike and the worst part of the whole damn thing was the chafing. I was freeballin'. Not gonna do that anymore. I don't see how boxers would help me as they're not all up in there where the chafing occurs. Maybe boxer briefs. Gonna buy a few and try 'em out.
Click to expand...


Wildewinds, that is where the UA boxer briefs really shine. The spandexy fabric keeps everything where it belongs and slides across itself with very little drag. No chafing, no hot spots. :thumbup: They aren't cheap though. Most places have them for $19.95/pr. :eek:

-- FLIX
 
Running shorts. The short, disgusting-looking kind that normal people would not actually run in. They are great as underwear though, and can double as a swimsuit if you have no pride.
 
I am for going commando. Never had a problem with jock rash myself since high school wrestling when I had to wear something. I do however wear a pair of Adidas nylon shorts for any swimming needs that dry super fast. Lots of baby powder and the wipes as well.
 
Swimming trunks , good idea. They will keep the soldiers in line and dry fast too.
 
i free ball and use Anti Monkey Butt Powder...awesome stuff... if you get wet strip powder and replace clothes....you are good....look for it ANti Monkey Butt Powder. trust me....i have 15 bottles of the stuff and each bag has two in it...it works good on poison ivy and the like well too...its loaded with caladryl.

here is one site...i just pulled it up on google...i buy mine local at the motorcycle shop

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=172067&aid=336064&aparam=anti-monkey_butt_powder
 
Unless I'm out for exteneded periods, I wear undershorts. After a year in Iraq, Cabela's MTP performance underwear worked outstanding!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21082-cat601722_TGP&id=0005085901467a&navCount=3&podId=0005085&parentId=cat601722&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601722&hasJS=true

They dry quickly, robust enough to take harsh abuse and retain thier shape very well. If you chafe, you might look for the boxer-brief types. Just my recommendation...

ROCK6
 
pitdog said:
I actually have some boxers made of Pertex which is one of the fastest drying materials made, the bad news is that they are made in the UK by Buffalosystems so they would have to be imported !!!
Click to expand...

But they ARE very light!

Helly Hansen do a brief in polyprop with a windproof panel at the front. Not bad, but they don't dry anywhere near as fast as the Pertex ones.
 
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