Outdoor hiking underwear is often overlooked – perhaps due to British prudishness – but there’s a lot that can ruin your day if our most intimate baselayer is poorly fitting or made from inappropriate materials. Male and females clearly have different needs, but for all genders, every step we take begins at the hips, so design needs to accommodate massive amounts of movement. We get hot and sweaty and the fabric needs to deal with that – and then there’s the awkward part – access for toileting! In the winter, long johns might be suitable for most, most of the time, but here we’ve considered underwear that should work all year round.
Main image: Never mind the Trossachs – Pete lays it (not quite) all out for us | Credit: Peter Macfarlane
There are as many options to consider in design and fabrics in underwear as there are in any other piece of outdoor clothing, but extra research before you buy is worthwhile, as you often cannot return underwear. Fabrics vary from various synthetics to merino wool, and mixes of both. Merino stays fresher for longer without washing (think backpacking), synthetics dry more quickly and retain their shape but don’t stay as fresh for long. As with socks, sometime a mix of both can work the best.
Body shape should be factored when deciding on longer or shorter legs in your hiking underwear. Longer legs can help counter seam abrasion from trousers, but might ride up. Waist bands vary from wide elastic which are stable but might irritate, or simple fabric, which may be more comfortable but can over stretch. For the guys, a fly is useful. It can be a hassle to fish around under layers on a wet and windy day while wearing waterproofs, pulling down the waistband and adjusting layers. Now we understand a little of what the women in our outdoor lives have to put up with! Overall, think about what you prefer wearing on a day to day basis and try to find a performance fabric version close to that.
Why you can trust The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors is here to help you make the most of your time outside. We have been helping people to explore from sea to summit, valley to mountain top for over 40 years. Our gear tests remain completely impartial. If you are wary of websites that only review brands that advertise with them, or sceptical of social media accounts always singing the praises of their latest freebie, you’ve come to the right place! Our reviews rank #1 for rigour, trustworthiness, and independence, and our gear testing team is the most experienced in Britain. With over 200 years’ experience between us, we are professional mountain leaders and instructors, wildlife photographers and rangers, outdoor authors, guidebook writers and trail addicts.
Our picks of the best hiking underwear
| Quick List |
|---|
| Best ventilation: Artilect Boulder 125 hotpant (available from Ellis Brigham) |
| Best for long legs: Runderwear Running Long Boxer (available from Runderwear) |
| Best value: Alpkit Kepler boxers (available from Alpkit) |
| Best odour control: EDZ Merino Wool Boxer Shorts (available from Amazon) |
| Greener Choice: BAM Seamless Midi Short (available from BAM) |
Best ventilation
Artilect Boulder 125 Hotpant
Kirsty Pallas’ Best in Test
There a lot of good features packed in here, but the price does represent that, and for that price I would expect them to last for a long time.- light fabric
- warmth
- tight legs
- price
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $50 / £45 (available from Ellis Brigham) Weight: 34g for Small Materials: Nuyarn merino, nylon, Flatlock seams, ventilation panel Sizes: XS – XL Men’s version? Boxer equivalent artilectperformance.com |
Artilect wasn’t a brand I’d come across until recently, and their merino items are very well made. The Artilect Boulder 125 Hotpant briefs are made from Nuyarn merino, a patented yarn that boasts improved performance over standard merino. They did sport a high warmth to weight ratio, feeling very warm but coming in at half the weight of the other two pairs in my selection. They also dry very fast, so were ideal for multi day trips and washing en route.
These are the only pair of hiking underwear I tested that have any form of ventilation, which is a panel on the back that has eyelet holes in, and sits roughly where waistbands of other layers, and a rucksack might, so an area that can get very hot. Due to being a much lighter and finer material, there is a double layer right at the crotch for additional protection. I really liked the fit, especially the briefer style – it feels like there’s nothing that’s going to move around as I move. The waistband is comfortable, low profile and works with other layers, and all the seams are flatlock so I didn’t experience any rubbing or chafing. There’s a lot of good features packed in here, but the price does represent that, and for that price I would expect them to last for a long time.
Read more: Kirsty’s full review of the Artilect Boulder 125 Hotpant
Best for long legs
Runderwear Running Long Boxers
Peter Macfarlane’s Best in Test
I keep pulling the Runderwear’s on because of the comfort.- excellent fit and comfort
- long legs
- no fly
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $32 / £25 (available from Runderwear) Weight: 86g, size large Materials: 92% recycled polyester, 8% recycled elastane Features: zoned fabric, ribbed elastic waist and legs, silicon leg grips Sizes: S – XL Men’s version? yes runderwear.co.uk |
The fit is close, but not tight as in compression base layers. This close fit means that the Boxers slip easily into any trousers I’ve tried with them and I’ve had no discomfort issues at all. There is a little light bobbling at the hips from my initial days out with these, but it hasn’t progressed or worsened in the following months even with continued use under the same trousers.
The fabric is a recycled synthetic mix which wicks sweat well and dries very quickly. Over extended use between washes, odour has been minimal which makes them a good choice for camping trips where quick drying is a bonus. The fabric is zoned to promote rapid moisture management under and around the crotch where some additional zoning at the front allows for extra stretch for form fitting support. The minimal seams are flat and the self-fabric waistband and leg cuffs are soft and reliably keep their shape.
Read more: Peter’s full Runderwear Running Long boxers review
Best value
Alpkit Kepler Boxers
Kirsty Pallas recommends
As with much of Alpkit’s product, the cost represents very good value for a pair of nicely made and well fitted merino boxers.- warmth
- quick drying
- price
- Inside leg rides up slightly with lots of movement
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $44.99 / £29.99 (available from Alpkit) Weight: 71g for size 10 Materials: Corespun merino, nylon, spandex Features: Wide waistband, flatlock seams Sizes: 6 – 20 Men’s version? Yes alpkit.com |
These merino boxers from Alpkit are instantly soft and comfortable straight from the box. The merino used is ultrafine and sourced from certified non-mulesing farms, to give some peace of mind about the conditions the sheep are kept in. The fabric has a barely there feel but remains warm in cooler conditions. Another benefit of merino is that it is also cooling in warmer weather. They have been very odour resistant even after a couple of day’s use, and they dry quickly after being washed.
The fit is close to skin without feeling overly tight, and the seams are located away the crotch and on the hips where they might rub. I haven’t experienced any discomfort or chafing while wearing these, even under several layers and doing big days. I’ve generally worn them with a thermal baselayer directly on top which is also skintight and keeps them in place. They don’t have any special features but do the job as you would expect, and I feel like they will last me a good while too. They also don’t use plastic packaging, so all packaging is fully recyclable.
Read more: Kirsty’s full review of the Alpkit Kepler boxers
Best odour control
EDZ Merino Wool Boxer Shorts
Peter Macfarlane recommends
The merino is also excellent for odour resistance and the boxers can be worn on extended trips between washes without too much of a pong developing.- fabric
- fit
- excellent fly design
- short legs
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: international shipping available / £24.99 (available from Amazon) Weight: 92g, size large Materials: 100% Superfine merino 200g Features: elastic waistband, fly opening Sizes: S – XXXL Men’s version? briefs edz.co.uk |
The EDZ Merino Wool Boxer Shorts have a traditional underwear look to their layout which is not a bad thing – it should mean tried and tested features but brought to us in a hill walking ready fabric. The fabric is 200g merino wool which is a standard weight found on base layers and used here it makes for a warm and comfortable feel against the skin. The fabric has just enough stretch to it, so over extended use the boxers keep their shape well while allowing enough stretch for comfort and unrestricted movement.
The weight of merino is also excellent for odour resistance and the boxers can be worn on extended trips between washes without too much of a pong developing. The finishing is excellent, with flat seams throughout and a wide elastic waistband with a good stretch to it. This has been comfortable over extended use with a soft inner surface helping to avoid irritation against the skin. The fly opening is well executed. It’s set wide across the front of the Boxers and makes a good area of double fabric which is welcome on colder days. It’s easy to use, it reliably secures after use and it adds a little bit of flexibility in the fit as it allows an extra bit of stretch for different body shapes.
Read more: Peter’s full EDZ Merino Wool Boxer Shorts review
Greener Choice
BAM Seamless Midi Short
Kirsty Pallas recommends
They are a nice, close fit but with no pressure points – plus great eco credentials.- price
- seamless
- slow to dry
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $29 / £22 (available from BAM) Weight: 71g for Small Materials: bamboo viscose blend, polyamide Amni Sol Eco, elastane Features: seamless Sizes: S – L Men’s version? A range of boxers, but no direct alternative bambooclothing.co.uk |
BAM are fairly unique in the outdoor sphere with choosing to use bamboo as a material for hiking underwear, which is a fast-growing and sustainable product, and surprisingly can be used to make very soft fabric – as in the BAM Seamless Midi Short. They don’t shy away from the fact that there are chemical processes within this, but they are working to become zero waste and appear to be very environmentally conscious. These shorts use bamboo viscose, which is extremely soft and stretchy when you first put it on, and for every other use after. This is mixed with a polyamide synthetic which has been designed to fully biodegrade in five years rather than hundreds in landfill. All in all, it does feel like the Bam Seamless Midi are a greener choice.
They are a nice, close fit but with no pressure points. The waistband is just doubled over and so slightly thicker which does the job with keeping them in place well. They are seamless other than one joining seam in the crotch, which is flatlocked. I’ve not had any chafing and found these to be very comfortable under several layers.
Read more: Kirsty’s full review of the BAM Seamless Midi Shorts
Artilect Boulder 125 Boxer Short
Peter Macfarlane recommends
These are good shorts across warm to cool temperatures, but they are a little expensive.- light
- comfy
- fast drying for merino
- fabric stretches
- price
- no fly
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $50 / £45 (available from Tiso) Weight: 56g, size medium Pros: light and comfortable, fast drying for merino Cons: fabric stretches, price, no fly Materials: 85% Superfine Nuyarn merino wool, 15% Nylon Features: elastic waistband, zoned fabrics Sizes: XS-XXL Women’s version? hot pant equivalent artilectperformance.com |
The Boulders are very comfortable straight from the box, with the merino fabric very soft against the skin. The elastic waistband has an easy stretch to it and was also comfortable against the skin and I found no irritation under it over long days where I was working hard and sweating. The merino is zoned with plain fabric making up most of the briefs and a perforated variant in the crotch area and at the hips. This is designed to breath better and dry more quickly, and it performs well despite the wool base fabric.
The downside of the lighterweight merino zones is a tendency for the fabric to overstretch and lose some of its shape over extended use. I’ve found this to be fine over a single full day on the hill but on a multi-day trip between washes the Boulders do lose the enjoyable close fit they have after they’ve been washed. However, they do have good odour resistance over extended use.
The seams are all flat and the front has a double thickness panel which insulates a little and also helps this area keep its shape better over extended use. I’ve worn these under a variety of trousers and the performance was good across them all with no catching or snagging. The legs can occasionally ride up a little but I haven’t experienced any annoying bunching or wedgie issues.
Read more: Peter’s full Artilect Boulder 125 Boxer review
How we tested
Kirsty Pallas is a size 10 with muscular legs and glutes. Her hiking underwear was tested throughout winter, often under two or three layers including thermal leggings, softshells, or waterproofs. They were worn hillwalking, teaching winter skills, and on winter climbing routes.
Peter Macfarlane has a waist that sits around an average size large and has a fairly regular build. He wore the hiking underwear with a variety of outdoor trousers and fabrics including relaxed fit non-stretch, stretch softshell and closer fit multisport leggings as well as regular casual use with jeans and other trousers. They’ve been tested across the seasons and on tracks, trails and bigger hill days on the Munros.
How to choose the best hiking underwear for you
Material
The main reason to buy activity specific hiking underwear is for comfort and performance, so choose breathable and wicking material. There’s two main categories and then a few outliers. Merino is popular as it feels soft, insulates well, and dries fairly quick, plus is odor resistant which may allow you to wear them for multiple days. Synthetic is light and fast drying and a little cheaper. Bamboo is light and breathable but much slower to dry. It’s best to avoid cotton as it doesn’t wick and takes a long time to dry.
Fit
For hiking underwear, a close fit is going to work best and also be the most comfortable, but there are options. Most brands offer boxers in men’s and women’s styles, but some might also make briefs which you may prefer. For boxers, it’s worth thinking about the leg length, as sometimes a short leg length can bunch up around the top of your legs, which can become uncomfortable while walking. Women’s styles may also include thongs, which can be a good option for warmer weather, but a brief or boxer gives extra insulation in colder conditions. Another key fit factor is likelihood of a wedgie, which longer boxer legs or briefs can help avoid!
Seams
Seams can rub when worn under other layers, so look for either seamless or minimal flatlock seams. The main areas of concern are on the outside of our hips, so most active underwear shifts those seams, to help avoid chafing while moving. Price Merino is more expensive, and a heavier weight merino will increase the cost again. But they are can be more durable, so consider how often you use them – investing may be worthwhile.
