By Terry Doyle
I appear to have become the "underwear guy" for The GearCaster. First it was Saxx, and now it's Boxer Briefs from the Polarmax AYG 365 collection. I am ok with this title, however, as wearing the right underwear can easily make or break your enjoyment in the outdoors.
The AYG 365 Boxer Briefs are made from a combination of 96% XTRdry Cotton and 4% Spandex for added stretch and durability. Unlike regular cotton, Polarmax's XTRdry Cotton is moisture wicking, quick drying, and treated with Acclimate Fresh Anti Microbial to try and keep you fresh. I found the cotton to be very soft against the skin and breathable. The moisture wicking property appears to work, as even in hot weather, I did not get all sweaty in the places where you do not want to be sweaty.
At 4.5 oz., the boxer briefs are lightweight enough that you hardly even notice you are wearing them. The AYG collection uses comfort flat seams, most obvious in the almost non-existent leg hems. The minimal seams add comfort and reduce irritation, yet hold on to your legs enough that the boxers don't slide around. Usually not a fan of elastic, the elastic waistband is surprisingly comfortable -no digging into your skin after hours of use, even when carrying a pack.
The AYG 365 Box Briefs fit true to size. I have a 36-inch waist and the Large fit perfectly. The boxers are just the right length, allowing for full mobility with no bunching.
I am impressed with Polarmax's focus on environmental packaging, such as using soy ink and recycled paper, as well as trying to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Polarmax products are made in the USA, an added bonus for an American company.
The one piece I really disliked on the boxer briefs was the label. There is nothing worse than a plastic label rubbing against your skin for hours on end. Polarmax tried to avoid this problem by placing the label off to the side, but that still does not do the trick. I would love to see the company print the label on the underwear fabric itself. In the meantime, I recommend you cut out the label as soon as you open the box.
Bottom Line: For me, the AYG 365 Boxer Briefs were even better than Saxx. That's saying something.
The Polarmax AYG 365 Boxer Briefs
retail for $29.95 and are available now.
