Gear We’ve Tried Finding the Perfect Underwear Three brands of “technical” undies for hiking and winter recreation The Hipsters surprisingly provide more modest coverage in the back, and have a very wide waistband that does not roll. Seamless construction assures a chafe-free hike. I really liked the soft feel of the fabric of both styles. I’m not a big fan of briefs, yet this pair may make a convert of me yet. Best and most comfort- able pair of briefs I’ve ever worn. Men’s Active Boxer Briefs S-XXL $26 Men’s Active Sport Boxer Briefs S-XXL $26 No tightie whities here. Un- derwear for outdoor recreation AE: Both the briefs and boxer briefs comes in all shapes, styles were comfortable. I’ve been hesitant to and colors. Patagonia offers a wear non-cotton underwear in the past women’s “Active Boy” short, when hiking because the feel wasn’t as (above) which has seamless comfortable as cotton. But these feel construction for a comfy fit. almost like natural fabric. There were The men’s boxer-briefs (right) no issues with bunching, and the elastic felt almost as soft as cotton, wasn’t too tight on either pair. even thought they’re synthetic. Allison’s note: The folks at Patagonia tell us that the men’s brief and boxer Allison Woods and Andrew Engelson thing we want getting in the way of that briefs are made from recycled content experience is any discomfort from our and are 100 percent recyclable through When I first floated the idea of doing gear or clothing. Andrew capitulated, their Common Threads Recycling a review of tech- and even went a step beyond and agreed Program. nical underwear, to participate in the testing. Here’s what We love Patagonia’s recycling pro- WT Editor An- we learned. gram, and you should too. Bring used drew Engelson just base layers to a Patagonia store. They about fell out of won’t give you anything for it, but you’ll his chair laughing. Patagonia get a warm fuzzy feeling your Capilene I’m getting used to Women’s Active Boy Shorts is being recycled into “new” undies. Just this, because we XS-L $22 don’t think about that too much. do come up with Women’s Active Hipsters some pretty cockamamie ideas in the course of developing our editorial cal- XS-L $18 Smartwool endar, but gol darn it, I was serious as a Women’s Microweight Boy Brief heart attack about getting serious with AW: The women’s “boy” shorts are some of the fine technical underwear out nice, cute, even a little sexy. They are XS-XL $35 there for us these days. So I laid out my quite comfortable, and stayed put during case: hiking’s as simple as putting one physical activity. I would not wear them AW: I’ve tried lots of technical wool foot in front of the other, sure, but as we around camp, as they are too revealing apparel, but something about underwear, all know, it’s hard work, and it’s always a in the back. The flat waistband sits low well, it kinda made me itchy just thinking plus to work up a good workout on the on the hips. The cut of the boy briefs about testing these. So they sat in their way up to a high lake or peak. The last has improved over the years, and it’s little wrapper until every other test pair appreciated by this tester. had testing time. I was delighted to dis- March 2007 WASHINGTON TRAILS Gear We’ve Tried briefs comfortable and warm, but not overly so. No problems with Neat Stuff! bunching or chafing. The boxer Montbell Ultra Light brief is a good, comfortable design that had plenty of um…how would Down Tee Shirt I say it…support? I think you $120 understand what I’m saying. The Unisex S-XL problem with traditional boxers is that they’re not well suited for As Gear active motion, and the boxer briefs Editor for this esteemed pub- don’t have this problem at all. I ran lication, sometimes in them and everything stayed in I think I’ve seen it place. I would be a little concerned all. But when these might be a bit too warm in I saw this the summer, but that’s hard to unique say until I try them in warmer piece of conditions. Of all insula- the pairs I tested, tion, I these were most realized I comfortable. This had not. New was during winter this spring hiking and run- from Mont- cover that they ning, so I might bell, behold, were not itchy. have a different the Ultra Light At all. Seriously. opinion if I’d test- Down Tee Shirt. Yeah, it’s a I know non- ed them in Au- little odd to say the least, but itchy wool has gust. I liked the I was not disappointed by its been around a color (red) too, performance. This little thing while, but I’m which showed sports 800 power fill goose still amazed little more cre- down, snaps up the front, every time. I ativity than the and handwarmer pockets. liked the look other brands. It’s more functional that you of these, and Top: Smartwool’s Microweight Boxer might think on cool days, and that they were Brief is completely itch-free and provides is best worn over longsleeved long enough to plenty of warmth and support. However, insulation rather than under it’s a bit pricey at $40 a pair. REI provide a modi- Men’s Boxer a jacket—unless you want cum of mod- Bottom: REI’s Men’s briefs come in either Briefs to look like you have giant esty. One could regular weight or mesh (pictured). The biceps. mesh ones look a little funny, but provide S-XXL $18 even get away Plus, c’mon, you know it’s good ventilation in warmer conditions. with wearing Men’s Briefs stylish! —A.W. them as shorts S-XXL$16 on the trail. The Smartwool is a little warmer than synthetic material, which in AE: These were quite comfortable, felt be the pair you put on and forget about the right conditions is a plus. One place almost like cotton even though they’re completely until the hike is over. where having a warm butt is on a ski lift, made of synthetic fabric. I’d probably and the Boy Brief was up to the task on opt for the “ventilated” ones for sum- Allison’s note: If it seems as though a chilly winter day at Crystal Mountain. mertime hiking. My concern with the something’s missing from the last sec- I must say that at $35 and $40 for these boxer-briefs is that they’d be a bit too tion of this review, you’re a pretty sharp woolies that they ought to be able to cook much material in hot weather, but for cookie. I did rigorous testing of an REI dinner and purify water at camp. winter play, they’re great. I think the women’s underwear item, and then mesh ones look a little weird, but they discovered less than a week before WT Men’s Microweight Boxer Brief were comfortable. The leg elastic on the goes to press that they had cancelled the S-XXL $40 REI briefs was a bit too loose. Mostly a product for Spring ’07. The funny thing, quibble, but it was noticeable. For me, I didn’t like them AT ALL, so maybe AE: I found these lightweight wool the perfect pair of underwear should they were right in canceling. WASHINGTON TRAILS March 2007.