What types of men's underwear are there? Brief, boxer trunk, jockstrap, thong and suspender compared

Men's underwear comes in many more styles than just briefs or boxers. A suspender, G-string, thong, jockstrap, bikini brief or tanga, brief, boxer trunk and boxer differ mainly in the amount of coverage, leg length and construction at the back.

Short answer: a suspender consists only of a waistband and pouch and therefore offers the least coverage. A G-string uses only a thin cord at the back, a thong has a narrow strip between the buttocks and a jockstrap has two elastic straps around the buttocks. A bikini brief or tanga has very narrow sides but covers the buttocks. A regular brief uses more fabric at the sides, a boxer trunk adds short legs and a boxer generally has longer legs.

Which type suits you best depends on how much coverage you prefer, what you wear and the look you want. Below, I compare the main styles.

Types of men's underwear at a glance

These are the main forms, but brands create many variations. Think low-rise styles, strings and bottomless designs. The exact terminology can differ by brand.

What is a brief?

A brief is men's underwear without legs. The front and buttocks are covered, while the leg openings sit high around the upper thighs. In Dutch, this style is commonly referred to simply as a men's brief.

There are several variations within this category. One of the most revealing is the bikini brief, also known as a tanga. It uses much less fabric at the sides than a regular brief.

What is a bikini brief or tanga?

A bikini brief is a more revealing variation of the brief. The front and back are connected by very narrow sides, leaving much less fabric around the hips than on a regular brief. From the front, a bikini brief can therefore almost resemble a jockstrap, while the rear covers the buttocks like a brief.

A tanga is the same type of underwear as a bikini brief. Which name is used mainly depends on the brand. When judging the style, it is therefore better to look at the actual cut rather than only the product name.

The main difference from a regular brief is therefore not at the back, but at the sides: on a bikini brief or tanga, these are reduced to a minimum.

You can read more about this style in the blog what is a bikini brief for men?

What is the difference between a boxer and a boxer trunk?

The term boxer is often used quite broadly in Dutch for men's underwear with legs. The precise meaning can therefore vary by brand. A classic boxer short has a looser cut, while a close-fitting boxer or boxer brief sits closer around the upper thighs and generally has longer legs.

A boxer trunk is also close-fitting, but cut shorter. The legs end relatively high on the upper thigh. A boxer trunk therefore uses less fabric around the legs than a longer close-fitting boxer, while both styles fully cover the buttocks.

Do not look only at the name on the packaging, but especially at the actual cut and leg length. Brands do not always use the terms boxer, boxer brief and trunk in exactly the same way.

And what is the SUKREW Sprint?

Some brands also use their own style name for a specific cut. SUKREW calls its long trunk style the Sprint. The Sprint has long, close-fitting legs that reach to just above the knee, giving it a shape similar to short cycling shorts. It is therefore not a universal underwear category like a brief or jockstrap, but SUKREW's own style name.

The Sprint clearly shows why the product name alone does not always tell the full story. Within a single brand, a trunk can have much longer legs than you might expect based on the general term trunk. The photos, product description and leg length therefore ultimately give the best impression of the cut.

What is a jockstrap?

A jockstrap consists of a waistband, a pouch at the front and two elastic straps that run from the bottom of the pouch alongside or beneath the buttocks to the waistband. The buttocks themselves remain open.

That construction makes a jockstrap immediately recognisable. The style was originally developed as functional underwear, but today it is also popular as bold and sexy men's underwear. In the detailed blog what is a jockstrap?, you can read more about its origins, fit and differences from other styles.

What is a men's thong?

A men's thong, often called a men's string, has a narrow strip of fabric at the back that runs between the buttocks. This leaves the buttocks largely visible while the waistband continues all the way around.

The main difference from a jockstrap is at the back: a thong uses one central strip, while a jockstrap has two elastic straps around the buttocks. Thongs also come in variations with different rises, pouch shapes and widths at the back.

What is the difference between a thong and a G-string?

A thong and a G-string both leave almost the entire buttocks visible, but mainly differ in the amount of material at the back. A thong generally has a narrow strip of fabric running between the buttocks. With a G-string, the rear is even smaller and often consists of a very thin cord or elastic.

You can therefore see a G-string as an even more revealing version within this group of underwear. In practice, however, brands do not always use the terms thong, string and G-string consistently. A style that one brand calls a G-string may be sold by another as a thong or string. Here too, look at the actual construction rather than only the style name.

What is a suspender?

A suspender consists only of a waistband and a pouch at the front. The pouch is not connected to the back of the waistband by straps or fabric. This leaves the buttocks completely uncovered.

That is the main difference from a jockstrap: on a jockstrap, elastic straps run from the pouch around the buttocks to the waistband, while on a suspender that connection is completely absent. In the blog what is a suspender?, I explain the style in more detail.

What is the difference between a brief and a boxer trunk?

The clearest difference is the legs. A brief has no legs and leaves the upper thighs free. A boxer trunk has short, close-fitting legs and therefore covers more of the upper thighs. Both styles cover the buttocks.

What is the difference between a jockstrap and a thong?

With both styles, the buttocks remain largely visible, but the construction differs. A jockstrap has two elastic straps that run around the buttocks. A thong has one narrow strip that runs between the buttocks. This makes the styles look and feel clearly different.

What is the difference between a jockstrap and a suspender?

A jockstrap has two elastic straps that run from the pouch around the buttocks to the waistband. A suspender has only a waistband and pouch: there is no connection from the pouch to the back. The buttocks therefore remain completely uncovered with a suspender.

Which men's underwear offers the least coverage?

If you look purely at the amount of fabric, a suspender is the most open style: it consists only of a waistband and pouch. This is followed roughly by the G-string, thong and jockstrap. A bikini brief or tanga uses clearly more fabric because the buttocks are covered, but has much less material at the sides than a regular brief. Boxer trunks and boxers ultimately provide the most coverage because they also cover part of the upper thighs.

Which type of men's underwear suits me?

If you want a style with as little fabric as possible, a suspender, G-string, thong or jockstrap is an obvious choice. If you want the buttocks covered but as little fabric as possible at the sides, a bikini brief or tanga is a logical option.

If you want a familiar brief shape without legs, a brief is a logical starting point. If you want a close-fitting boxer shape with short legs, look at a boxer trunk. If you prefer more coverage around the upper thighs, a longer boxer is more suitable.

Then consider the size. The same letter size can fit differently depending on the brand. In what size men's underwear do I need?, you can read how to measure your waist and compare size charts between brands.

Frequently asked questions about types of men's underwear

What types of men's underwear are there?

Common types of men's underwear include suspenders, G-strings, thongs, jockstraps, bikini briefs or tangas, briefs, boxer trunks and boxers. There are also many low-rise, extra-open and brand-specific variations.

Is a tanga the same as a bikini brief?

Yes. Tanga and bikini brief are two names for the same type of men's underwear: a brief with very narrow sides, a covered rear and a front that can resemble a jockstrap because of the open sides.

Is a brief the same as a slip?

In Dutch, a brief is generally called a men's slip. The style has no legs and usually covers the buttocks.

Is a boxer the same as a boxer trunk?

Not necessarily. The term boxer is often used broadly, but a close-fitting boxer generally has longer legs than a boxer trunk. A trunk is cut shorter and ends higher on the upper thigh. Brands do not always use these terms in the same way.

Is the SUKREW Sprint a separate type of underwear?

No. Sprint is SUKREW's own style name for a long trunk with close-fitting legs to just above the knee. It is not a general category used by all underwear brands.

Is a thong the same as a men's string?

The terms thong and men's string are often used for the same type of underwear: a style with a narrow strip at the back that runs between the buttocks. The exact width and shape can differ by brand.

What is the difference between a thong and a G-string?

A thong generally has a narrow strip of fabric between the buttocks. A G-string uses even less material at the back and often consists of a very thin cord or elastic. Brands do not always use both terms consistently.

Does a jockstrap always have an open rear?

A classic jockstrap has an almost open rear with two elastic straps around the buttocks. This is one of the main features that distinguishes the style from a brief or thong.

Is a suspender the same as a jockstrap?

No. A jockstrap has elastic straps running from the pouch around the buttocks to the waistband. A suspender consists only of a waistband and pouch, with no connection from the pouch to the back.

Want to compare the styles yourself? View the full range of men's underwear.

Dave from GUNDERWEAR