Best Underwear for Survival
I never thought in a million years that I’d be writing this review. Responding to the request that going commando or a paracord G-string is the way to go would have been funny, but top-performing survival clothing is a plausible request, and that’s not the TruePrepper style. Underwear is an important piece of clothing for hygiene, comfort, and stashing in survival kits. There are plenty of types and brands to consider.
This is where I come in. I’ve researched the best underwear for survival and long-term wear, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, a budget option, and an upgrade pick. If you need undies that’ll keep up in any situation, one of my suggestions will have you covered.
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In our latest update on the best survival underwear, prices were adjusted and pictures added. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Best Survival Underwear
ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport 2.0
Lightweight, Comfortable, and Quick Drying
This underwear is designed for any environment, is easy to maintain, and comfortable on the go.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
ExOfficio has been specializing in outdoor performance clothing since 1986, but really brought us something great in 2000 with their Give-N-Go underwear. They are recognized as a top performer by experts in all sorts of active outdoor activities- from backpacking to backwoods bushcraft.
Specifications
- Sizes: 5
- Color Options: 5
- Material: 90% nylon, 10% spandex
- Inseam: 6″
- Features: Working mesh fly
- Weight: 2.5 ounces (Medium)
These undies are incredibly lightweight, soft, and dry extremely quickly. I don’t stash them in my kits, but I do wear them in my everyday rotation. I like how breathable they are and how the length doesn’t show under shorts.
I prefer the sport version over their original because it’s more form-fitting and keeps everything in place. It also has a longer inseam, providing a bit more leg coverage. The flat seams are a nice touch and are designed to reduce chaffing. The best part of these is the breathability, which helps them dry quickly. Antimicrobial fabric helps keep smells in check, too.
One downside is that they don’t come in a wide range of sizes or color options. I wear a medium, so it wasn’t a big deal for me and my testing, and I prefer dark colors anyway- I’m not trying to match my undies to bright-colored socks or anything.
With great quality paired with high durability, it’s easy to see why the ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Boxer Briefs top the rest.
Budget Underwear
Under Armour Boxerjock
Simple, Inexpensive, and Comfortable
Surprisingly durable for how lightweight they are, these boxer briefs can take a lot of punishment.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
This popular option from Under Armour is widely available in a huge range of sizes and colors, and surprisingly durable for its weight. They endured being worn on long-distance runs, in chlorinated pools, and in salt water for several years without showing signs of deterioration.
Specifications
- Sizes: 9
- Color Options: 48
- Material: 90% polyester, 10% spandex
- Inseam: 6″
- Features: Working mesh fly
- Weight: 2.5 ounces (Medium)
These are my go-to picks for survival kit skivvy rolls because the price works, and the performance is great. Even with options in my drawers that are three times the price, I still mix these into my everyday rotation. The polyester dries quickly, and the fabric isn’t affected by chlorine when I use these to run, swim, and then run home.
I’ve been wearing these bad boys since the military because they work great under a uniform or PT gear. They keep you dry, comfortable, and from having to adjust your crotch constantly.
If you are looking for inexpensive undies that will keep up, the Under Armour Tech Boxerjock is the best option.
Upgrade Underwear
Icebreaker Anatomica
Breathable, Soft, and Durable
Bring the power of wool to your briefs with these boxers that are relentlessly soft and durable.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Icebreaker prioritizes performance, and their Anatomica boxers show this off. They aren’t cheap, but they use cutting-edge fabric technology blending the benefits of Merino wool and synthetics.
Specifications
- Sizes: 5
- Color Options: 13
- Materials: 83% Merino wool, 12% nylon, 2% spandex
- Inseam: 4.5″ inseam
- Features: Working fly
- Weight: 2.5 ounces (Medium)
You wouldn’t have thought that wool would work well, or even be worth investing in with boxers or briefs, but the trick is the synthetic blend. They spin their wool around a nylon core, which gives them structure, preventing permanent stretch.
I can get itchy with wool directly on my skin (like with the wool poncho I reviewed), but the Merino wool blend doesn’t irritate me. This is great because these offer the benefits of both synthetic and natural fibers, with the lone drawback of the high price.
With high-tech fabric leveraging the best of synthetic and natural materials, the Icebreaker Anatomica Boxers are the best choice for survival, period.
Comparison Table
| Underwear | Recommendation | Price* | Main Material | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport 2.0 | Best Overall | $34 | Nylon | Fast Drying |
| Under Armour Boxerjock | Best for Budgets | $20 | Polyester | Durability |
| Icebreaker Anatomica | Best with Merino Wool | $45 | Merino Wool | High Quality |
| Fruit of the Loom Cool Zone | $8 | Cotton | Inexpensive | |
| Calvin Klein Stretch | $9 | Cotton | Light compression | |
| Hanes ComfortSoft | $10 | Cotton | Bulk packaging | |
| Duluth Buck Naked | $20 | Nylon | Cooling feel | |
| Smartwool Active | $35 | Merino Wool | Comfortable |
The Undies We Compared
Our research narrowed the field down to a few brands and types of underwear that we compared: Duluth, ExOfficio, Under Armour, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Icebreaker, Calvin Klein, and more.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We considered a wide range of underwear, and there are a lot of options out there. Long underwear is interchangeable with base layers, so we took a harder look at that in our survival shirt review.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have some underwear that keeps up, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually, so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out our top picks.
What to Look For
The best survival undies have a few features to look for:
- Value
- Comfort
- Durability
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
When you get the right blend of these, you can find the perfect underwear for the suburbs, inner city, or deep in the woods. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the undies that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like undergarments shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. There is a wide range of prices in just our picks, so there is no need to spend beyond your means. Most brands offer savings when you buy multiples, so you can get a whole week’s worth without breaking the bank.
You never want to spend too much money on one resource, especially when it comes to clothes. It’s better to diversify your spending to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Comfort
Comfort is paramount whenever it comes to any sort of clothing. The military has conducted studies and found that soldier modify or don’t even wear parts of their uniform or PPE if it’s uncomfortable.
This seems like common sense, but you don’t want the basics getting in your way when you need to operate at your best.
Durability
When it comes to survival, all of your gear needs some durability. Underwear is no exception- it needs to be able to survive through sweat, abrasion, a variety of temperatures, and plenty of washings.
Most durability is related to the fabric type, weave type, and fabric weight. Some of it is also related to the construction quality, like the stitching and seam. We saw a wide range of material types for underwear, from white cotton tightie whities to Merino wool, and plenty of synthetic fabrics in between.
The synthetics really shine because they are lightweight, durable, and have some stretch without memory. Even the wool option used nylon and elastane for structure and stretchiness.
Size & Weight
All underwear is lightweight, and we didn’t encounter any that would make a significant difference in weight once it’s rolled into your pack. Rolling them into a skivvy roll makes them take up even less space.
Versatility
We won’t go too far into telling you what to do with your undies, but any fabric material or elastic band can come in handy for a wide range of survival applications. Sure, they are best when worn, but if they are your backup pair from your bug out bag, why not convert them into a makeshift water sediment filter if that is what you need for survival?
Be resourceful and remember your gear’s versatility regardless of its main use.
Layering Systems
Layering is the key to staying warm, and underwear is the building block to it all. Wearing underwear under your clothes or base layers is also hygienic, as you can swap it out to stay dry and relatively clean.
Vanessa, with her Wild Woman Bushcraft channel out in Bavaria, takes it to a Naked and Afraid-type challenge to prove that underwear alone with some natural insulation can work below freezing:
Who Needs Underwear?
Underwear isn’t exactly necessary, but most people wear some sort of undergarment. It’s great for layering, hygiene, and comfort if you get the correct size and type.
Because they have plenty of benefits with very few drawbacks, we consider underwear essential as a worn item in your:
We also list them as essential, packed into kits, including:
You can usually combine undies, a shirt, and socks into a skivvy roll in those kits and other specialized kits for easily packed and fast access essential clothing.
How We Review Products: We research thoroughly before selecting the best products to review. We have vast prepping and survival experience and bring in outside experts when needed. Hours on end are spent testing gear in stressful conditions and using specialized testing gear to verify claims. We assign performance criteria and impartially rate each tested item. Learn more about how we test.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best underwear for survival are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Bartels, T. (2005). Physiological comfort of sportswear. Textiles in Sport; Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles. Page 177 – 203. (Source)
Chang, Z., et al. (2018). Research on the male lower torso for improving underwear design. Textile Research Journal. Volume 89. Issue 9. Pages 1623 – 1641. (Source)
Jamshaid, H., et al. (2023). Multi-response Optimization by Using Taguchi-Based Grey Relational Analysis to Develop Chafe Resistance Underwear. ASTM Compass. Volume 51. Issue 5. Pages 1 – 21. (Source)
Conclusion
Turns out that underwear is better for survival than going commando. Comfort, chafing, heat/moisture management, and more can all be tackled with a humble pair of skivvies.
Here are a few other gear reviews and guides our subscribers have found helpful:
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See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.
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Please include recommendations for women’s undergarments, too!
I mean, sure, women could cross reference the recommendations for men’s undergarments and do the necessary calculations and conversion, we do have some specific concerns that must be taken into consideration when thinking about underwear on the go. It would be really helpful to have recommendations from women who are experts in the field