Traveller’s guide to: technical underwear

Plan on being on the road/a boat/multi-day walk for a while? You don’t want to take masses of underwear with you. Technical underwear is often made from quick-drying fabric, meaning you can wash them daily, knowing they’ll be dry for the next day’s adventure, and some are made from fabric that prevents odours, meaning you don’t need to change them quite so often.

Finally, if you are getting active, you want underwear that moves well with you. Using special material and panel construction means this kind of underwear offers a superior fit.

Weight: Think light and small – to keep the bulk of your bag down, or to enable you to pack more pairs so you don’t need to do laundry if you don’t want to. However, don’t sacrifice a few grams in weight for comfort.

Styles: Think about the activities you’ll be doing – you may want a variety of styles. Options will include boxer shorts and underpants (men) and lady boxers, fuller briefs and hipster knickers (women).

Fit: This is a very personal choice but whichever type you choose, ensure your undies fi t your body shape and don’t rise up when you move around.

Seams: The fewer the better – these are where underwear can rub and be uncomfortable. Check any seams are not too bulky and are flatlocked for maximum comfort.

Fabric: Look for stretchy, unrestrictive material that is breathable and that will move sweat away from your body (known as wicking). A quick-drying fabric will make pants easier to hand-wash on the road, so you can pack fewer pairs. Some fabrics have anti-microbial properties – either naturally occurring (eg merino wool) or synthetically added – which helps minimise odours.

THE TEST: Made from beech-tree pulp, and sold with a pack of seeds (to o# set your carbon footprint), these pants have great green credentials. As the fabric is naturally anti-microbial, they smell better for longer too.

SHE SAYS: Of all the boxer short-style pants, these ones felt more like a traditional full brief, with a good fit. The fabric is super soft, the seams minimal and flatlocked for comfort, and the waistband didn’t rub.

HE SAYS: Instantly comfy, these are fairly loose – though I had a larger size than I’d usually pick; a closer fit would be better for active days. Seams were not problematic. Weighing 44g (women’s M) and 78g (men’s L), these are at the heavier end of the scale. Other fabrics here offer more in the way of quick-drying and wicking properties, but these come at a lower price.

THE VERDICT: A good price for enviroconscious, comfy underwear that feels good, especially on long journeys.

Features: ★★★★✩

Design: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★★

Weight: ★★★★✩

Value: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★✩

THE TEST: If you’re after a pair of good old-fashioned style briefs, these are for you. The Cambias feature Páramo’s Directional Clothing System technology, which makes them very effective at moving sweat away from your body. They are also very fast-drying so washing them on the road is quick and easy.

SHE SAYS: These were fairly snug compared to others on test – they fi t quite high around the waist. The fabric is nice and soft. They didn’t rub but I found the seams a little bulky – a visible panty line could be an issue!

HE SAYS: Size was also an issue for me. I’m a 34” waist and found these a bit tight – go up a size for comfort. The waistband, fabric and seams were soft against the skin though, so a great option for men who prefer this style. Unsurprisingly, being the only brief-style on test, these are the lightest men’s pants (48g, M); the women’s are third-lightest (29g, M).

THE VERDICT: Great fabric for on-the-road washing and against-the-skin comfort, but consider buying the next size up.

Features: ★★★★★
Design: ★★★★✩
Comfort: ★★★★✩
Weight: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★★✩
Overall: ★★★★✩