Selecting the right underwear isn’t as hard as it may seem, but finding information about different men’s underwear styles and fabrics can be difficult because it isn’t something that most people frequently talk about. For you lucky readers, however, we’ll share a thing or two that we’ve learned from running a men’s underwear store.

Do you even need help choosing?

If you’ve found a brand, style, and fit that you like to wear, then go ahead and skip over this article. Stick with what you like–if you want to try something different, try a new color or pattern. We’re always getting the latest fashions and colors in stock. By adding our “New Products” feed to your RSS reader, you’ll always be the first to know when new inventory arrives.

If you like the freedom of boxers, then this article might not be for you, either. Some guys like to hang loose, and other guys need the free leg movement afforded by boxers. That added agility comes at the expense of support, however, and if you need your underwear to provide at least some support for your goods, then keep on reading.

If you have no idea what underwear to buy or have been buying Fruit of the Loom’s by the gross for the past decade because that’s what you’ve always worn, then we’ve written this article just for you. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions.

How tall are you?

This may seem like an odd way to pick an underwear style, but the question is simple enough, and so is the consequence of your answer: shorter guys obviously need less fabric to cover their assets than taller guys.

If you’re over 6′, you’ll find that boxer briefs–not trunks, pouch briefs, or low-rise briefs–are made for you. This is especially true if you’re over 6′4”. Don’t worry about losing that low-rise style that the shorter kids enjoy; a boxer brief on a tall guy will fit similarly to a trunk on a shorter man. If you are tall and put on some trunks, you may find that your rear isn’t covered or the fit just isn’t right. (If you’ve ever bought a large T-shirt because you need the length to accommodate your torso but find that the shirt is as wide as a trash bag, then you’ve experienced a similar type of problem. Trust us on this one–boxer briefs are your friend.)

If you’re like most of us (5′9” here) and are under 6′, you will find that low-rise trunks and low-rise briefs will fit you perfectly and make you feel great. If you’re right on the 6′ border, try a regular trunk (but be cautious of the low-rise variety).

Do you need athletic support? A sexy profile?

Choosing among boxers, boxer briefs, and trunks seems simple enough. But who would want to wear a thong or a jock strap? These styles obviously don’t fit into our selection method based on your height. Instead, these satisfy distinct needs that different guys might be looking out for.

Jock straps are really designed for guys who want extra support for the gym. Alternatively, some guys wear them just because they’re sexy, and few things are more masculine than a jock strap. Thongs elevate this feeling to a new level. You’ll just have to try a pair to see what you think.

What about extra room?

After you’ve selected a style, the next important decision that you’ll have to make is whether or not you’d like a pair of underwear that has a pouch. A pouch is designed to give extra room up front. If you’re a “show-er” or a guy with bigger equipment, then you’ll find that the extra room in pouch underwear makes for more comfort and a better fit.

There’s nothing wrong with not needing the pouch; it’s a simple matter of figuring out what fits best for your geometry. If you choose a pouch variety when you don’t need it, you may find that it doesn’t provide the support you need and leaves you with an unattractive, baggy appearance in front. To that effect, we carry our own line of underwear that lets you choose your unique pouch size, and it’s inexpensively priced to boot.

What kind of fabrics do you like?

You probably haven’t given much thought to the fabric content of your underwear before. Some people don’t even seem to realize that underwear is available in fabrics other than cotton! Cotton is a great, natural fabric that is widely used and enjoyed by men around the world for its comfort and simplicity, but it’s important to realize what other options are now available.

In recent years, some underwear brands–most notably C-IN2–have introduced fabrics that originate from bamboo, and it’s not the painful, splintery death that you might first imagine; instead, it’s a light, natural fabric that is soft and provides all-day comfort. If you’re just making your first steps away from cotton, then we definitely recommend that you check out the bamboo options that we have available.

If you’re planning on wearing your new underwear to the gym or on a jog, look for fabrics such as spandex or, less commonly, polyester. Spandex can be a little confusing because the same material is known around the world by different terms and brand names: spandex, Lycra, Dorlastan, elastane, Linel, and Elaspan are all closely related and for all intents and purposes are the same thing. The fabric is very strechy, light, and durable. Importantly, it also resists staining from body sweat, so you can avoid those evil-looking yellow armpit stains that form on your favorite cotton T-shirt. These high performance fabrics can help wick away moisture, too, keeping you dry while you’re doing your daily workout.

Never give up

If all else fails, try several different products. Snatch up a pair from our closeout page to give yourself an idea of what works better for your body type. Obviously, men have all kinds of different body types, and there are many different underwear types as a result. It may take a few tries, but you’ll eventually find something that you like.

Let us know if this helps you. Got a tip that you’d like us to share with our customers? Send an e-mail to info@skiviez.com.

• Are you out of your mind?
• Why would I ever do such a thing?
• What in blue tarnations is “sling support underwear” and why and how would I wear it?

While the answer to the first two questions still eludes me, I’ll be answering one of Skiviez’s most top-asked questions today: how to actually put on and wear C-IN2’s sling support underwear. Don’t be embarrassed by the fact that the usually quite simple act of wearing underwear has now defeated you–quite a few of our customers are positively mystified by the intimidating strap.

But first, let’s talk a bit about the sling support line in general and what it’s meant to do.

Wherefore “Sling Support”?

The esoteric diagram to your right is the same diagram that is printed within every box of the C-IN2 sling support line. The idea is that the adjustable strap will pull your package up and out, giving you that Wonderbra-like “Huzzah!” needed to make your naughty bits comfortably noticeable without being absurd nor obscene.

You just wrap the strap around your scrotum and the base of your penis and adjust the strap, much like one would adjust a belt buckle. Tightening the strap pulls your entire sexual array to higher elevations, much like how Popeye hoists the piano via a rope and pulley in the old cartoons.

But, considering how attached you probably are to these parts of your body and your general unwillingness to experiment, and given that the strap apparatus is deceptively complex, that strap adjustment is easier said than done. You might be tempted to just snip out the strap, shove a banana down your pants, and call it a day. But perhaps a how-to guide will help.

How to Wear C-IN2 Sling Support Underwear

I’m in the boat with you–prior to this morning, I had never actually tried wearing any of C-IN2’s sling support line.

One of the first things that will strike you when you inspect the underwear is that the strap isn’t adjustable in the sense of adjusting a lap belt in your car; that is, the adjuster doesn’t slide back and forth. Instead, the strap loops around and is secured by a plastic button. The strap has several slits that you can choose from.

1. First, put on the underwear like you normally would. I’m assuming that you can handle this: put your legs through the leg holes and pull up.
2. The underwear comes with the button already secured to the strap in a middle-of-the-road position. Grab the strap and stretch it so that you can shove your bits through the loop created by the button.
3. “That tingling feeling means it’s working.” No, wait, this isn’t Icy Hot–that tingling feeling means that it’s too tight, and you’ve created a cock ring instead of sling support. If you’re into that, that’s fine, but let’s try loosening it up a smidge.
4. To loosen the strap, remove the plastic button by stretching the strap’s slits around the edge of the button. (The fabric might “crunch” as you do this, but don’t worry; it’s pretty hard to tear.) To move up or down a size, cross the corresponding slits on each side of the strap and then re-insert the button. For example, to use the smallest size, then you’d make sure that the sixth slit on the left side crosses the sixth slit on the right side and then you’d insert the button. Check the “default position” diagram above. Which slit you choose is entirely up to your comfort level and preferences.

If you ever get tangled and confused about how the strap should lay, place the underwear front-side down on a table. The strap should look like an inverted “Support Our Troops” ribbon; finished side up, crossed in the middle, folded underneath at the bottom.

And there you have it. I hope that I’ve managed to answer your questions about how to properly wear the sling support underwear. Why not give a pair a try today? In the best case, you’ll enhance your appearance. And in the worst, it’ll build character, and you can always snip out the strap with scissors and enjoy the larger-than-normal pouch size. Good luck!