Underwear and swim brief inspired by each other

[JamesSwim]

I noticed that there's a Speedo brand brief with design that's inspired by some underwear
http://www.speedousa.com/3-active-brief.shtml
with a waist band on the top, (I recall one web site did say it was styled like underwear)

Then there are many men's brief style underwear that's made similar to a swim brief -- made with nylon/poly plus lycra. For example, Calvin Klein has many and other fashion underwear brands like 2(x)ist.

The main difference seems to be that swimsuits have drawstrings while underwear has an elastic waistband, and that swimwear typically has a lining and underwear/underpants tend to be made with slightly thinner fabric.

So for people who like to wear swimbriefs for purposes other than for swimming, it seems that the underwear manufacturers are already making pants that meet that need . They are smooth and somewhat stretchy. Very unlike typical cotton briefs.

And for people who swim, it's interesting that at least one Speedo model is made to look like underwear/underpants.

[Byron]

Yes, it's becoming more noticeable that this is happening.
As for my own taste I am not a fan of contrast bands on speedos and making special designs in underwear may provide a usp but seems superfluous for what is hidden under your pants anyway.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by Byron

Yes, it's becoming more noticeable that this is happening.
As for my own taste I am not a fan of contrast bands on speedos and making special designs in underwear may provide a usp but seems superfluous for what is hidden under your pants anyway.

True --it's superfulous for the design you can't see, but I was wondering about the fit and fabric of underpants too.

Since people on this forum like speedo-style briefs, does one like to wear stretch briefs (underpants) made of cotton/lycra or poly/lycra too, or do you wear regular cotton boxers or briefs and only wear the stretch swim briefs when you go swimming?

I recall that some people wear their speedo-style swimbriefs as their underwear too, but I discovered that they now make underwear with the same type of lycra blend fabric, so you can keep your swimsuits for only swimming.

[Torchwatch]

If you swim or take part in any other active sport you are likely to be using communal locker rooms, while you are changing the other guys will see your underwear and you will see theirs. The underwear that you wear says something about you, even if it is that your mother buys your underwear and you don't care about it.

In the days before shorts with built in liners guys tended to wear underpants beneath their shorts, the shorter the shorts then the briefer the underpants. Once you reach the point of wearing tiny running shorts with a bikini brief underneath then you are probably happy to swim in speedos.

Since the fashion for wearing low cut jeans showing off the top of the boxer briefs began, the underwear manufacturers have been printing designs on the boxer briefs to make them more interesting. Someone who wears "interesting" underwear is going to want similar standards for their swimwear.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by Torchwatch

If you swim or take part in any other active sport you are likely to be using communal locker rooms, while you are changing the other guys will see your underwear and you will see theirs. The underwear that you wear says something about you, even if it is that your mother buys your underwear and you don't care about it.

In the days before shorts with built in liners guys tended to wear underpants beneath their shorts, the shorter the shorts then the briefer the underpants. Once you reach the point of wearing tiny running shorts with a bikini brief underneath then you are probably happy to swim in speedos.

Since the fashion for wearing low cut jeans showing off the top of the boxer briefs began, the underwear manufacturers have been printing designs on the boxer briefs to make them more interesting. Someone who wears "interesting" underwear is going to want similar standards for their swimwear.

OK, I see your logic. If you're comfortable with briefs in public when swimming (not just for team or competition) then you're more likely to prefer, or be comfortable wearing bikini briefs as underwear, especially since you change in communal lockers and be seen.

I guess there's some people don't go work out and change in locker rooms often, but they may wear snug underwear, even if they are hesitant to wear briefs when swimming in public. How often that happens is hard to gauge, other than sales numbers of underwear/underpants.

I was wondering how well companies are selling brief underwear with lycra for men. Is it on the increase, or on the decline (that matches the rise or fall of popularity of speedo-style swimbriiefs)

[Byron]

For me I have to say keep the excellent manmade fibres for swimwear but for
underwear only cotton (I am thinking of comfort at the end of a hot day in a heavy business suit).
In gym I would wear speedos under shorts but that is for good support and in readiness for post-workout swim.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by Byron

For me I have to say keep the excellent manmade fibres for swimwear but for
underwear only cotton (I am thinking of comfort at the end of a hot day in a heavy business suit).
In gym I would wear speedos under shorts but that is for good support and in readiness for post-workout swim.

That's a good recommendation. I too think cotton is best for all-day wear, but I think some of the newer man-made fabrics claim to be moisture wicking too. I thought that poly/lycra underwear, similar to a swimsuit, would get stuffy after warm day but one that I tried was cool and dry all day long.

So I think poly/lycra in underwear must be made differently than those in swimwear (which has no need to wick away moisture or sweat)

[Torchwatch]

Cotton Lycra is an option to mix the comfort and moisture wicking effect of cotton with the body forming skin tight feel of lycra.

[PSDave]

personally I don't like the cotton blends. I find that the cotton retains the mositure too much. Nylon dries quickly so not stuck in wet briefs. Of course, living with very low humidity where things dry fast helps.

[Supawear]

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