Bad pants has the power to ruin your entire day—they may pinch, pull, tug, and end up in all the wrong places. Numerous people own lots of pants that are just too small in their drawer.

And then there are the select few favourites that consistently make their way to the top of the heap, going from your laundry bin to your bum and back again. Finding heroic pairs that will motivate you to permanently remove the duds from your drawer was our aim.

Five styles stood out as the best everyday knickers after extensive testing by a panel of Wirecutter staffers with a range of body types and preferences for knickers: a traditional, affordable cotton pair that comes in a multipack; a high-leg, retro-style bikini; a lightweight, quick-drying brief; a lacy pair of boy shorts; and a comfortable, seamless thong

Cheap cotton underwear you don’t have to baby: Hanes Super Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts, Six-Count Pack

This is the perfect underwear if you’re seeking for reasonably priced, 100% cotton underwear that doesn’t bunch, roll, or pinch. Our testers cherished being able to wake up in the morning, throw on a pair of Hanes Ultimate Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts (also referred to as the Hanes Ultimate High-Waisted Moisture-Wicking Briefs), and forget about them until bedtime.

They feel fantastic and remain put. Feeling like a nicely worn-in T-shirt for your nether regions, these high-rise, high-cut briefs are perfect. These underwear isn’t as rough or scratchy as more expensive pairs we tried, but it’s still not as soft. They have a generous elastic waistband that, depending on your height and build, sits an inch or two below the belly button. They are composed entirely of cotton cloth.

Note: To the dismay and annoyance of some consumers, Hanes also produces copies of this style in a blend of 75% cotton and 25% polyester. These versions are frequently offered in multipacks on the same product page as the 100% cotton model. Make sure to read the fine print on the fabric content on the packaging of the specific set you chose if you’re only interested in the pairs made of 100% cotton.

The four testers (available in sizes S to XL) reported that the undergarments were well-fitting, sat firmly at the hips without bunching or slipping, and retained their shape throughout the day. However, stretchy or tight-fitting pants will highlight the definite seams around the waist and legs, so be aware of obvious panty lines.

They’re inexpensive and easily accessible. Among the most reasonably priced underwear we evaluated are the Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts: About the same (or less!) is spent on a six-pack as it is on a single pair of our individually priced favorites. These underwear are accessible at practically every chain store, in contrast to several more expensive pairs. However, they won’t fit a wider range of hip sizes than our other recommendations because they’re not as elastic.

They require little upkeep. The Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts don’t require you to be picky; simply wash them on warm and tumble-dry them on low. (Because the cotton in these underwear is preshrunk, they won’t shrink after washing.) You can even put them to use for period or laundry day underwear if they get stained, without having to cry over the expense of buying new ones.

They’re remarkably well-built. We were pleased with the underwear’s quality, especially considering its inexpensive pricing. The liner fabric is fastened on both sides of the fully enclosed gusset, or crotch, on these underwear; this extra labor ensures superior durability. With the exception of the Tommy John Women’s Air Brief, even our most expensive options include an open gusset at one end, which could cause it to curl back over time.

There are three more styles in the 100% cotton Hanes Ultimate Breathable line: a lower-rise Bikini, a low-rise Hipster, and a fuller-rear-coverage Brief.

Drawbacks but not unbeatable

• Leggings and other tighter or more flexible bottoms will reveal the elevated seams on the legs and waistline.
• Though our testers experienced no problems, there are numerous user comments online concerning these running small. The manufacturer’s size chart indicates that these underwear suit a narrower range of hip sizes than our other picks—from 36-inch hips to 47-inch hips.
• Although Hanes offers various colors in this style in a blend of 75% cotton and 25% polyester, it’s not often obvious from the product pages or descriptions what exactly you’ll be getting. The white and purple floral pairs that came in our multipack were made of 100% cotton. If “100% cotton” is what you want, carefully read the tiny text on the label; if not, purchase the all-white multipack just to be safe.
• The few “nude” tints that are available are really light, so they won’t go well with darker skin tones.

Details

• Size range: 5 (36- to 37-inch hips) to 10 (46- to 47-inch hips)
• Fabric: 100% cotton body; 100% cotton gusset
• Colors: a mix of solids and stripes or florals, in multipacks of six
• Care instructions: Machine-wash these briefs on warm; tumble-dry low.

A retro high-cut style: Natori Bliss French Cut Brief

The cotton Natori Bliss French Cut Brief has a delicate lace trim, high-cut leg openings, and a nice enough design for a date night. It’s also quite comfortable to wear. Therefore, you should wear these underwear every day. It seems sense that this brief has garnered a devoted following, particularly on Wirecutter.

The material is incredibly supple and elastic. The lightweight, extra-long-staple pima cotton used to make the Bliss French Cut Brief feels wonderful against the skin. This brief effortlessly fits curves thanks to its 6% Lycra content, and the stretchy lace edge doesn’t itch or hurt.

Compared to our favorite Hanes Ultimate Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts, the Bliss underwear is smoother, softer, thinner, and less likely to wrinkle. Usually costing about $20 each pair, they are also significantly more costly. Natori does, however, offer them in three-packs (often for about $16 per pair).

They have a beautiful, vintage haircut. According to one tester, the Bliss underpants “combine the best of everyday underwear with really cute styling.” This brief has a smooth seam that sits near the front of the hips and is cut high at the legs, making it a French-cut brief. More skin is shown in the front due to the lengthened leg line created by the piqué design, which perfectly counterbalances the broader coverage on the back.

These briefs were loose-fitting and fell on our testers just below the navel, though the exact location would vary based on your height and body type. Three testers—one with more of a booty, one with curvaceous hips, and one transgender tester—all praised the classic style of these shoes. However, our tester with straight hips reported that she felt a “tiny bit of a wedgie” from these pairs and wished they had struck her tummy a little lower.

The one we tested was the Bliss French Cut Brief. However, there are two further versions of the Bliss: a Full Brief (which covers more of the hips) and a Girl Brief (which has a lower-rise hipster cut).

This pair is undetectable under clothing and lies flat. The lace trim on the Bliss French Cut Brief isn’t just decorative; it serves as an anchor to hold the underwear in place and prevent bunching, rolling, and digging. The lace is flexible and sturdy. The delicate lace, which is stitched to the body fabric using a strong zig-zag stitch, also smooths the surface, preventing bulges and panty lines. The large frontal crotch coverage and secure lace of this pair combine to reduce the likelihood of getting the dreaded frontal wedgie.

Drawbacks but not unbeatable

• This brief is more expensive than average for cotton underwear for daily use, but we were persuaded otherwise by its excellent quality, comfort, and stylish design.
• We’ve been washing and drying our pairs on medium for months, even though the care instructions state that they should only be hand-washed (yikes!). Despite this, the pairs have held their form and stretch.

Details

• Size range: XS (32- to 33-inch hips) to XXL (46- to 48-inch hips)
• Fabric: 94% pima cotton, 6% Lycra body; 84% nylon, 16% spandex lace trim; 100% cotton gusset
• Colors: over a dozen, including multiple shades of nude
• Care instructions: Hand-wash this underwear; line-dry.

An easy-to-wear pair without any panty lines: Women’s Tommy John Air Brief

You might forget you’re wearing the Tommy John Women’s Air Brief since it’s so light, breezy, and silky. Full coverage is provided by this mid-rise shape, especially in the back, yet the sheer nylon material keeps these from looking dowdy. This brief is an excellent choice for travel or if you tend to get sweaty because it wicks moisture and dries rapidly.

The material is nice and quite thin. These underwear are incredibly light, weighing only 2 ounces. Furthermore, the nylon and spandex mesh material was highly praised by our testers, who described it as buttery smooth and having plenty of elasticity. Despite their full-coverage silhouette, no one will call these briefs matronly because of the slightly translucent fabric.

The Women’s Air Thong, the Women’s Air Cheeky (a hipster design with less rear covering), and the Women’s Air Hi-Rise Brief (a high-rise pair with full bum coverage) are different variations of this underwear available if you choose a more or less revealing cut.

These underwear dries the fastest we’ve tried. The Air Briefs were ready to wear after we bathed them in water and hung them to dry, which took about four hours. When paired with their lightweight design, the quick-dry feature makes them an excellent option for on-the-go laundry during travels.

Sweat-stained fabric didn’t feel awkward against our skin at all. Additionally, the manufacturer says that its exclusive “Cool Cotton” fabric, which is more cooling and moisture-wicking than ordinary cotton, is used for the gusset (crotch liner). (We enjoyed the sensation.)

They stay securely in place. The fabric of other nylon underwear we examined was either too smooth or had an elastic waistband, which caused the underwear to slide down, but the Air Briefs didn’t roll, droop, tug, or bulge.

The leg bands and waistline are snappy and sturdy; even after washing, they held their shape. These underwear come with a “no-visible-panty-line guarantee,” according to the brand, because the seams on the waist, legs, and gusset are bonded and lie flat. Indeed, we were unable to find them under our clothes.

These are sturdy, excellent-quality briefs.One tester noted that after washing their Air Briefs once a week for almost a year, they’re still “basically like new.” One of the small details that makes a difference is that this pair has a fully attached gusset, which keeps the fabric from curling up over time by attaching both ends of the crotch lining to the main body of the underwear. (The Hanes Ultimate Breathable Cotton Hi-Cuts underwear is our only other pick with a fully attached gusset.)

It should be noted that if these are cleaned and dried at high temperatures, the bonded (high-heat adhesive) seams may fail, particularly around the waistline. A Wirecutter employee informed us that, in less than a year, the waistband on her Air Briefs broke. The Tommy John care instructions state that you can tumble dry these underwear on low heat and machine wash them in cold water. But we advise air drying to extend their shelf life.

Drawbacks but not Unbeatable

• Wearing the Tommy John Women’s Air Brief with a flowy skirt should be done with caution because the light mesh fabric is fairly transparent.
• Excessive heat might cause the bonded seams to separate over time.
• A tester reported that she felt uncomfortable with this combination. She added that while this brief was thin and light, it wasn’t as breathable as pairs made entirely of cotton.

Details

• Size range: XS (US 0 to 2) to XXL (US 18)
• Fabric: 77% nylon, 23% spandex body; 100% cotton gusset
• Colors: 11, including black, tan, and lavender
• Care instructions: For this pair, machine-wash cold; tumble-dry low. (We recommend air drying.)

Boy shorts with a playful yet stylish design: Hanky Panky Signature Lace Boyshort

In the greatest possible ways, the Hanky Panky Signature Lace Boyshort exceeded our expectations. Because lace is known to be finicky and fragile, this style could be disastrous if it fits too snugly at the thigh. But the quality, comfort, and pleasing fit of this pair won over the panelists in unanimous fashion.

The material is a pliable nylon lace. The same sturdy, elastic nylon lace used to make Hanky Panky’s well-known thongs is used to create the Signature Lace Boyshort. The material is sheer and has opaque details that offer a light amount of covering. Numerous testers commented that they felt “sexy” around the woven lace.

The delicate flower pattern appears to have the potential to be scratchy, but it’s actually rather harmless—not incredibly soft, but also not bothersome. Furthermore, the gusset (crotch liner) is composed of silky, breathable Supima cotton, an opulent, extra-long-staple cotton, and there are no side seams to press against your hips.

This pair has an ingenious cut that huggs curves. Boy shorts usually cover the entire back and are cut straight across the thigh, but the Signature Lace Boyshort features a slightly more figure-enhancing, slightly more exposing design. These boy shorts have an attractive V-shape due to the angled cuts at the waist and leg openings, which also reveal a little bit of cheek in the back. One tester said, “I can’t get over how great these made my butt look.”

The majority of our selections for underwear feature front and back panels joined by side seams. On the other hand, the Signature Lace Boyshort’s single center seam lets it fit over the hips with ease. Unlike typical boy shorts, its broad, angled leg holes do not chafe the thighs. Additionally, testers with loose skin around their belly found the medium rise and stretchy waistline to be quite helpful.

Additionally, the Signature Lace Boyshort prevents panty lines from showing through clothing: The lace border is flat and firmly stitched to the underwear’s body using zigzag stitches.

Numerous colors and sizes are available for this pair. The Signature Lace Boyshort comes in more sizes (XS to 3X) than any of our selections; the company’s size chart states that the largest size fits hips up to 58 inches. The lace waistband of plus-size pairs (1X to 3X) is a tad larger and more robust.

These boy shorts are available in over two dozen colors, including a variety of skin-tone tones, depending on where you shop.

If you take good care of them, this pair is meant to last. Stretchy nylon lace, used in the Signature Lace Boyshort, is less likely to snag than silk lace. Additionally, the stitching around the waist, leg opening, and seams is strong.

Hand cleaning the Signature Lace Boyshort is advised by Hanky Panky. But our pairs have held up nicely after months of use and mild cycle machine cleaning. Make sure to place them inside a mesh laundry bag to prevent the lace from getting tangled in buttons and zippers. Plus, air drying will make these underwear last longer than using a dryer.

Drawbacks but not Unbeatable

• Although it isn’t irritating, the nylon lace isn’t really soft either.
• These lace underwear are too delicate to treat carelessly and expect it to last. One tester claimed that they tore in less than a year after machine-washing and drying hers without a lingerie bag.
• Our most expensive choice is this one. Even if they fit and are of excellent quality, these boy shorts are now priced at little under $35, which is somewhat expensive. However, department stores and internet retailers like Zappos do offer them for sale.

Details

• Size range: XS (34- to 35-inch hips) to XL (44- to 46-inch hips); plus sizes 1X (47- to 50-inch hips) to 3X (55- to 58-inch hips)
• Fabric: 100% nylon body; 90% nylon, 10% spandex trim; 100% Supima cotton gusset
• Colors: over two-dozen, including various skin tones, evergreen classics like black and navy, and brights
• Care instructions: Hand-wash this pair in cool water; air-dry.

ThirdLove ComfortStretch Thong is the best thong for everyday use.

Over the years, thongs have taken a lot of heat. We can see, too, why some people don’t want a piece of cloth to ride up their ass. The smoothest, stretchiest, and most bearable thong we could find is the ThirdLoveComfortStretch Thong. According to one tester, “I usually can’t wear a thong for more than a few hours before the string starts driving me crazy.” “However, I didn’t have to constantly move or adjust this throughout the day.”

It is a very light and smooth material. Smooth, soft, and breathable gossamer-thin nylon-spandex blend makes up the Comfort Stretch Thong. Without slipping or riding up, the form-fitting, four-way stretch fabric glides with you.

Some people might not notice that the material is so airy that it doesn’t offer any support for your hips or tummy. One test subject reported that the loose skin beneath her belly button felt unsupported by the thong.

Under clothes,it is undetectable. The ComfortStretch Thong lacks cumbersome elastic around the waist and legs and features a simple, seamless design. (Instead of sewing, the seams are adhered with high heat.) That means that even under the tightest clothes, this thong is essentially invisible. Its wide hip band avoids digging in, its bonded edges lie flat, and its midrise back lessens the likelihood that you’ll have a “whale tail” in the early aughts. A tester observed that the ComfortStretch model fit her better than any other she had tested, especially under a tight jersey pencil skirt.

The seams of the ComfortStretch Thong can deteriorate in hot temperatures, and it feels less robust than a more conventionally stitched thong. It is suggested by ThirdLove to hand-wash this thong in cold water. However, despite air drying and machine washing on a gentle cycle for several months, we haven’t seen any damage.

Although there are several sizes available, not everyone may find their ideal fit. The ComfortStretch Thong fits people with hips up to 56½ inches in size and is available in sizes XS through 3X.

Nonetheless, this choice features a more slim gusset (crotch liner) and is somewhat narrow in front due to its thong design. So, this thong might not be comfortable for people who have wider hips or who like more crotch coverage.

Drawbacks but not Unbeatable

• You could find it bothersome since the elastic, paper-thin fabric doesn’t hold you in, especially if you have loose skin around your tummy.
• The only stitching needed to tack in place is at the top and bottom of the side seams, which are bonded (high-heat glued). High temperatures can degrade bonded seams, therefore it’s best to air dry them.
• One of our testers complained that she got a frontal wedgie and was concerned by the tiny crotch.

Details

• Size range: XS (35½- to 36-inch hips) to 3X (54½- to 56½-inch hips)
• Fabric: 68% nylon, 32% spandex body; 100% cotton gusset
• Colors: three colors, including taupe
• Care instructions: Hand-washing recommended; air-dry.

Other good women’s undies

Bikinis and Briefs

For a sleek, attractive bikini that bares more cheek: Cuup’s Modal Bikini is composed of modal and elastane, giving it a smooth, elastic feel. According to the makers, the gusset (crotch liner) is composed of “antimicrobial” bamboo, but we didn’t find it to be as airy as cotton. Testers, however, preferred the cheeky cut, high-cut legs, and V-shaped waist. One tester remarked, “It sat seamlessly on my hips and didn’t cause any indents in the softer areas.” Sizes for this bikini range from 1 (hips 33 to 35 inches) to 7 (hips 46 to 49 inches). The thong version of this brand, which is available in the same range of sizes and is composed of the same silky fabric, was also well-liked by us.

If you’re looking for a set of basic underwear in a sporty fabric: We were reminded of basketball shorts by the fruit of the labor-saving Fruit of the Loom Breathable Micro-Mesh Bikini Underwear, which comes in a polyester-spandex blend and dries quickly. Our reviewers were all thrilled with the fit—these panties were quite cozy and held up well. They also come in a large variety of sizes, ranging from 5 (hips measuring 36 to 37 inches) to 13 (hips measuring 56 to 59½ inches). However, we thought the “Fit for Me” expanded size promotion was off-putting and that the sporty style was polarizing.

If you’re looking for full-tush coverage and seamless nylon underwear: The Jockey Smooth & Shine Seamless Bikini is available in three-pack discounts or individually. It is machine-washable and comes in sizes ranging from 4 (34 to 35 inches around the hips) to 9 (47 to 49 inches around the hips). The testers found the underwear’s clean lines, comfortable fit, and stay-put design to be appealing. But in the end, they went with our Tommy John nylon option, which has less full-coverage in the back.