published on in Glamorous Persona

Bombas underwear features some of the brand's most clever designs yet. Here's what they're actually

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  • Sizing and fit
  • Men's Cotton Modal Underwear Review
  • Men's Active Underwear Review
  • Women's Cotton Modal Underwear Review
  • Women's Seamless Underwear Review
  • Women's Active No-Show Underwear Review
  • The bottom line
  • Redeem now

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    • Bombas is best known for its socks, but the brand also makes exceptionally great underwear.
    • For every pair purchased, Bombas will donate a pair to the homeless community.
    • Insider readers can save 20% on Bombas underwear by using the exclusive promo code  "INSIDER20" at checkout.

    Throughout the past decade, Bombas has become the internet's favorite sock brand. Then, when Bombas underwear was named one of Time's best inventions, we decided to see just how significant their design could be. Sure enough, we found everything we love about their socks to ring true in our Bombas underwear review.

    Between the comfy, durable designs and its social mission to donate a pair of socks for every pair sold, there's a lot to love about the brand. After socks, underwear are the second most requested item at homeless shelters, so it made total sense for Bombas to expand their mission in this direction. Bombas goes a step even further in this "Bee Better" initiative via the Take Back Bag, which allows you to make space for new pairs by recycling instead of sending old pairs to a landfill. 

    This collection has something for everyone, from comfortable cotton Modal boxer briefs to moisture-wicking, quick-drying active hipsters. Below, we break down our experience testing different material types and styles, and share why we consider Bombas to have some of the best underwear for women and best underwear for men.

    Insider readers can also save 20% on Bombas underwear by using the exclusive promo code  "INSIDER20" at checkout.

    Sizing and fit

    After testing Bombas underwear, we found that most styles ran slightly small. If you're in between sizes, we would recommend going with the bigger size. The one exception is Bombas seamless women's styles, which run true to size. 

    Men's Cotton Modal Underwear Review

    Bombas
    Bombas Cotton Modal Boxer Brief Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

    Sizing options: S-3XL

    Made from 46% cotton, 46% modal (a natural material made from beechwood tree fibers), and 8% spandex, Bombas Cotton Modal underwear deliver the breathability of cotton, the softness of Modal, and the right amount of stretch for comfort. Some of my favorite daily comfort and loungewear pieces, from T-shirts to lounge pants, use Modal for that silk-like feeling, so I was happy to see it used by Bombas for its underwear.

    Amir Ismael/Insider

    The material itself feels soft against skin, but other design elements like minimal seams, no tags, and a wide waistband also add to the comfort. I like my underwear to have a fly and Bombas' diagonal fly is unlike any other design I've seen; it provides easy access and gets the job done.

    I personally only wear boxer briefs, but you'll also find looser fitting boxers, trunks with a shorter inseam, and briefs with no inseam. —Amir Ismael, Insider Reviews style editor

    Men's Active Underwear Review

    Bombas
    Bombas Men's Active Boxer Brief Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

    Sizing options: S-3XL

    If you're looking for underwear better equipped for performance or you simply want a more sustainable design, the Active Underwear is the pair you'll want to go. They're made from 86% recycled polyester, and Bombas' Active Underwear has a significantly lower carbon footprint than the Cotton Modal blend. Using a quick-drying, moisture-wicking micro-mesh, the Active Underwear is designed to keep you cool and dry (because the last thing anyone wants is underwear soaked in sweat).

    While they don't have a fly like the Cotton Modal Underwear, the Active Underwear features an active support pouch to keep things in place and reduce friction in your groin. Other features like the active comfort waistband and snug leg opening help keep the underwear in place if you're working out or moving around.

    At $34, Bombas Active underwear cost a few dollars more than the Cotton Modal Underwear, but they're worth the extra cost for anyone that's active. —Amir Ismael, Insider Reviews style editor

    Women's Cotton Modal Underwear Review

    Bombas
    Bombas Women's Cotton Modal Brief Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Bombas Women's Cotton Modal Hipster Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

    Sizing options: XS-2XL

    You can't really go wrong with any of Bombas cotton Modal underwear. It's soft, comfortable, and doesn't fall apart in the wash. There's nothing super special about it, but that's all you can really ask of underwear. I'm also a fan of the lace waistband because it stays hidden under clothes. It's nice enough that I'd buy more, and it lives up to the quality you'd expect from Bombas. —Ashley Phillips, former Insider Reviews style and beauty editor

    Women's Seamless Underwear Review

    Sally Kaplan/Insider
    Bombas Women's Ribbed Seamless High Rise Hipster Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Bombas Women's Ribbed Seamless Hipster Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

    Sizing options: XS-2XL

    The seamless underwear from Bombas is really soft and comfortable, but I'll note that it's a thicker material so even the thong wouldn't necessarily be my first choice to wear under a fitted dress or pair of leggings. It's also really stretchy: I usually size up in all underwear, but the material makes it true to size. —Ashley Phillips, former Insider Reviews style and beauty editor

    I tested the high-rise version of these underwear and they're my go-to for wearing under flowy dresses. The material is thicker, as Ashley noted, but I appreciate feeling like I have some extra coverage under my flowy outfits. I love that there's no tag to bother my lower back, and the seamless nature means no annoying digging. The waistband is essentially an extension of the underwear, so it's comfortable and flexible but won't ride down. —Sally Kaplan, Executive Editor, Insider Reviews

    Women's Active No-Show Underwear Review

    Sally Kaplan/Insider
    Bombas Women's No Show Hipster Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

    Sizing options: XS-2XL

    The Active No-Show underwear comes in two styles, the thong and the hipster. They come with a grippy, textured detailing on the inside that's intended to keep the underwear from moving around when wearing under leggings or other activewear. I personally didn't find that the textured detailing was particularly helpful, but I do like the silky feel of the underwear. If you feel more secure with high-waisted styles, I wouldn't recommend this pair — but if low-rise is your usual go-to, these are a comfortable option I'd definitely recommend.  —Sally Kaplan, Executive Editor, Insider Reviews

    The bottom line

    Overall, Bombas underwear are just as impressive as the socks they're known for. They're thoughtfully designed to be comfortable and durable, both of which are equally important for essential garments we wear every day. While they're a bit pricier than some underwear we've tested, they're also not the most expensive, plus knowing of their recycling program and that Bombas will donate a pair to those in need makes every purchase worthwhile.

    Bombas Cotton Modal Boxer Brief Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Bombas Women's No Show Hipster Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Bombas Take Back Bag Shop at Bombas External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Editor, Insider Reviews Amir Ismael is an editor for Insider Reviews, Insider's e-commerce branch of the service journalism team. As a collector of sneakers and fashion, Amir is passionate about all things related to style. He's covered everything including the industry's shift to producing more sustainable clothing, the most comfortable loungewear, all of the best places to shop for affordable business casual attire, and more. He's used his expertise in footwear and the footwear industry to review all kinds of shoes from sportswear giants, well-known casual brands, and startups. Amir's coverage also includes eyewear, watches, and grooming products like electric razors and men's skincare. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Amir has led Insider Reviews' face masks coverage with thoughtful recommendations based on CDC guidelines, expert opinions, and his own testing. During his time at Insider, Amir previously handled deals of the day coverage, and worked as a generalist writing hundreds of reviews ranging from phone cases and headphones to bed sheets and blenders, and has also covered major shopping holidays including Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Before joining the Insider Reviews team in 2017, worked as a freelance writer for Complex Sneakers and Sole Collector where he contributed to daily sneaker news and release dates, feature-length articles, and interviews with artists, designers, and athletes. Amir graduated from William Paterson University in 2015 with a degree in journalism and public relations. Say hello to Amir at aismael@businessinsider.com or on Instagram @amirjismael. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test style and beauty products. Read more Read less

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    Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

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