Do you know how to prevent wedgies?

December 17, 2020 10:46 AM

I have a big butt relative to my other dimensions. If I follow the sizing charts correctly, I end up with all the wedgies. I do not like wedgies. How do I find underwear that fit me correctly? Looking for approaches to shopping, store recommendations, etc.

I bike so I figure maybe it's biker's butt, but search results for underwear for bikers just return padded underwear.

I have female bits but you all have had this problem and secretly discovered that underwear designed for people with dangly bits also doesn't ride, whatever, I'll wear it. I just want underwear that doesn't end up in my butt crack.

In case it's relevant: 5'8, 135 lbs, long legs, wide hips, narrow waist.

Looking for answers from people who have had all the wedgies and no longer get wedgies. I have no income right now so cheap is best, but I will have income again someday for organic/fair trade/etc., so tell me the full range of answers, please.

posted by anonymous to Shopping (17 answers total)

I am a cis woman and switched to male-style briefs (not boyshorts but actual briefs). I don't get wedgies anymore. One thing that might help is looking for underwear that has a wider gusset (aka crotch). I find the briefs are already wider here and also whih helps a lot.
posted by assenav at 11:15 AM on December 17, 2020

My ass is not insubstantial. I have found that so many women's undies are 'cheeky' even if they aren't marketed that way. Hate it. For years now I have been buying the cotton hiphuggers from Uniqlo and I find they do not crawl up my butt ever. They are v cheap, though they do tend to wear out pretty quickly, but so cheap who cares if I need to a few new ones every six months. They also have a 'Seamless AIRism' version but I haven't tried them because my parts like cotton.
posted by greta simone at 11:32 AM on December 17, 2020 [3 favorites]

I finally succeeded in rolling the dice on online orders with my last two out of three tries: these long-leg boxerbriefs and these slip-shorts (that's a plus size link but surely FooL makes them in non-plus). The boxerbriefs wear great under leggings, the slip shorts are good under loose pants and I like sleeping in them because they don't friction-pull on my sheets when I roll over.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:51 AM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

I am your size (physically and in the butt) but an inch or two shorter and have this problem with underwear that doesn't have functional elastic at the legs, the kind where it's just kind of a continuation of the underwear fabric, but don't usually have it with underwear with functional elastic at the legs. My current favorites are these breathable Fruit of the Looms -- I bet I have at least 30 pairs and get sad when I run out and have to wear my other underwear. They never ride up on me.
posted by jabes at 11:55 AM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

I have this problem!! It sucks! But the good news is there are absolutely undies out there that don't ride up -- I have zero wedgie issues now that I found some undies that work for me. You want ones with a tighter "cuff" around the thigh holes (sounds uncomfortable but it's not).

• These Warner panties are my daily go-to. Love 'em.
• Thunderpants are also excellent, but pricier.
• Womens' boyshorts / boybriefs ride up like crazy for me, but actual male boxer briefs do the trick. I wear AE boxer briefs when I'm feeling more masc.

I asked this question about the same issue a while back -- maybe you can find some other possibilities in the answers there.
posted by mekily at 11:56 AM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

I am AFAB and also have a big arse!
The best I've found is to either wear boxer briefs (I buy them from TomboyX, where they are cut for people without external genitalia) or find knickers with very low leg openings, bonus if I can find ones with a tighter thigh cuff. Basically, if you are wearing them and looking straight-on at yourself, the leg opening should cut straight across the top of your thigh instead of angling up towards your waist. You want to put a rectangle of fabric over your butt instead of a triangle. I also find it helps to buy something high-waisted so the waistband is actually up over my bum instead of cutting across it.
(In total contravention of what I said above, I've had okay-ish experiences with MeUndies' Cheeky Brief. Note that you'll probably have to go up a size or two, but they tend to stay put pretty well! I also almost never wear knickers without leggings or bike shorts overtop of them, so I might be getting addition assist from that, so take this with a couple grains of salt.)
posted by kalimac at 12:19 PM on December 17, 2020

I am a person without dangly bits but who spent a few years wearing men’s underwear (mostly cotton “bikinis” with no fly) which gave me wedgies because they’re made for people with flatter butts than mine. During the pandemic I gave up and bought a bunch of inexpensive full-coverage women’s briefs (though I bought a new package on ebay for like $10) and it has been much much better in terms of wedgies. Every time I’ve had a wedgie since then, I’ve realized I’m wearing an older pair of the men’s bikinis instead of the newer women’s briefs.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:30 PM on December 17, 2020

Addendum: Answering this question motivated me to purchase another batch of the Warner panties... only to discover they're in super limited stock everywhere and nobody has my size/color anymore! Nightmare! I've ordered these which are similar; fingers crossed. (I know, ugh Amazon but I can't find them anywhere else.)

Also, in case it's helpful, here are some brands/styles that did not work for me:

• Aerie women's panties (all styles -- boyshort, full coverage, hi-cut)
• MeUndies (hipster and cheeky -- have not tried the boyshort but based on my experience with the Aerie boyshort I don't think it will work for me)

posted by mekily at 12:39 PM on December 17, 2020

I'm a megafan of these Jockey undies. Lots of coverage in the bum area, not restrictive in the leg opening.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:16 PM on December 17, 2020 [3 favorites]

An ex that was prone to wedgies swore by the string bikini cut version of what BlahLaLa linked to.
posted by Candleman at 2:12 PM on December 17, 2020

I too hate wedgies, and have an ample backside, wide hips, short rise. High cut styles (high cut leg opening) and full coverage backs work best for me. Wore Best Fitting Panties for years but they are harder to find. Walmart maybe carries them now, so reasonable price point. This summer I splurged on Duluth Trading undies. Nice quality, cotton, stretchy, run large. A bit spendy, but looks like they are having a sale now. And when I say they run large, I went down a full size and they fit perfectly, close to the body without pinching or squeezing. I think finding the right size is part of the key to avoiding wedgies.
posted by socrateaser at 3:13 PM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Sometimes you just lean in and get a thong. By the third day it’s ridiculously comfortable.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 6:20 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

Seconding the uniqlo underwear. It is great! I have the bikini ones linked above as well as more boy-shortish ones (usually loathe that style) and they all fit very well and do not ride up.
posted by bookworm4125 at 2:42 AM on December 18, 2020

Check out Soma’s vanishing edge line, they have a silicone strip on the inside of the leg openings on the bum side that keeps everything in place. Source: have a round butt and narrow hips and am constantly battling wedgies.

https://www.soma.com/store/product/vanishing+edge+microfiber+bikini/560000793
posted by sparringnarwhal at 10:23 AM on December 18, 2020

Soma lace hipsters. The way the lace is cut on the butt is functional, keeping them from moving around a lot. See second photo. Also, they come in tons of colors and patterns, and they are often on sale. Based on your description, size L would probably be best.
posted by Red Desk at 9:06 PM on December 18, 2020

I'm AFAB and have had this problem, and Tomboyx's iconic briefs were the solution.

(I see why other people suggest uniqlo, though - their men's briefs were my previous best find until I discovered tomboyx, whose briefs fit my body even better.)
posted by 168 at 5:50 AM on December 19, 2020

Another vote for TomboyX, though the brand is not at the cheap end of the underwear price range.

I'm 5 foot 4 with long legs for my height, a short torso, wide hips, a bit of a tum and a flat ass. Wedgies seemed to be my destiny until I discovered that TomboyX made a High-Rise Bikini. I read all the reviews (sorting by most votes), saw that the enthusiastic review by my body-shape twin had received the highest number of votes, crossed my fingers, and ordered.

As someone who has 2 to 2.5 inches between the bottom of my ribcage and the top of my hips, I'm shocked that I love high-rise anything, but these are the best. I'm slowly replacing most of the rest of my underpants with this brand and style. I now have three pair of the High-Rise Bikini underwear. (The High-Rise Boy Short is also loved but I haven't tried it.)
posted by virago at 6:19 PM on December 19, 2020