Help me stop my underwear from flipping out
March 13, 2016 8:30 AM Subscribe
I wear boxer briefs. The waist bands keep flipping over. I am overweight so it's likely the shape of my body/spare tire. I've tried smaller boxer briefs, larger ones, almost comically large ones. They all flip and it drives me nuts. Help!
I won't wear boxers or.. the other option. I'm buying the typical Hanes and Fruit of the Loom brands.
I feel silly asking, but any advice? I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money, but I will pay more for better brands if anyone knows of any.
I won't wear boxers or.. the other option. I'm buying the typical Hanes and Fruit of the Loom brands.
I feel silly asking, but any advice? I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money, but I will pay more for better brands if anyone knows of any.
Personally, when I'm feeling fat, I just go ahead and roll over the elastic band (fold it once, I guess?) all the way around when I put them on. They ride a little lower, but still hold a supportive pouch. The elastic is still a contiguous band that way, and there's no feeling of that uncomfortable transition between "normal" and "flipped over." I've noticed that weight lifters and other athletic-type men will intentionally do this with sweat pants, to keep the crotch high, and waist low, to not interfere with body movement.
I've heard good things about Duluth Trading Co. underwear, but haven't been able to afford trying them.
posted by yesster at 8:59 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've heard good things about Duluth Trading Co. underwear, but haven't been able to afford trying them.
posted by yesster at 8:59 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
I share your pain. I did notice a pair of Saxx brand boxer briefs while I was shopping the other day. They advertised an "anti-fold" waistband. It's their "Fiesta" line.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 9:15 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sevenyearlurk at 9:15 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
An odd thought: have you tried wearing your underwear inside out? I mean, because of the way clothing is hemmed, it might be easier for them to flop over away from the bunch of material folded inside the waistband..... worth a try, anyway!
posted by easily confused at 9:34 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by easily confused at 9:34 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
You may want to spend a little more cash and look into boxer briefs with wider waistbands. Saxx model is featured in that post, actually. Calvin Klein is the brand that I know that does this but you can often find this sort of thing more cheaply at places like TJ Maxx or Marshalls if you are in the US.
posted by jessamyn at 10:00 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 10:00 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
This definitely varies between brands, although it doesn't always correlate with elastic width - I suspect it's more about the type or construction of the elastic.
Looking through my own underwear drawer, the first thing that occurs to me is that I should probably do laundry but the second is that, yeah, I've had the roll-over issue with Hanes, FotL, Reebok, some Jockey, but much less or not at all with Joe Boxer, Tommy Hilfiger (both wide elastic), Perry Ellis (actually quite narrow elastic), and 2xist and some Jockey stuff ("medium" elastic.)
As jessamyn suggests, I tend to buy the "name brand" stuff at TJ Maxx or Marshalls, where it's cheaper, although what they sell there is likely either "name brand" specifically made cheaper for the chains and/or "factory seconds" with some kind of (almost always totally minor and un-noticable) flaw. Either way, I usually get quite a few years out of them, so it's not a waste of money as far as I'm concerned.
posted by soundguy99 at 10:48 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
Looking through my own underwear drawer, the first thing that occurs to me is that I should probably do laundry but the second is that, yeah, I've had the roll-over issue with Hanes, FotL, Reebok, some Jockey, but much less or not at all with Joe Boxer, Tommy Hilfiger (both wide elastic), Perry Ellis (actually quite narrow elastic), and 2xist and some Jockey stuff ("medium" elastic.)
As jessamyn suggests, I tend to buy the "name brand" stuff at TJ Maxx or Marshalls, where it's cheaper, although what they sell there is likely either "name brand" specifically made cheaper for the chains and/or "factory seconds" with some kind of (almost always totally minor and un-noticable) flaw. Either way, I usually get quite a few years out of them, so it's not a waste of money as far as I'm concerned.
posted by soundguy99 at 10:48 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have this problem as well and found that wider waistbands were worse than narrower ones. I just switched to meundies about a week ago and haven't experienced this problem. Though, I don't know if it's a function of them being newer or if it's the narrow waistband combined with the fabric.
posted by Jacob G at 11:12 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Jacob G at 11:12 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
3rding buying name brands at Marshall's etc. Tommy Hilfiger has fairly wide waistbands. Target has some higher end stuff that may work too: Champion, C2, JKY. I don't have your issue but I do like the wider waistbands for comfort. Champion long-leg boxer briefs have the advantage of not sliding up on the bottom end, too.
posted by desjardins at 11:47 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by desjardins at 11:47 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sounds like your waistband is sitting either too high on your body. Try looking for low-rise boxer briefs -- here are some from Jockey that are similar in price & style to Hanes.
(By the way, the meundies referred to above have a low rise, too -- that may be why they worked well.)
posted by ourobouros at 12:01 PM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
(By the way, the meundies referred to above have a low rise, too -- that may be why they worked well.)
posted by ourobouros at 12:01 PM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
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