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Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > UNIQLO AIRism Boxer Briefs > Owner Review by Shawn Chambers

UNIQLO Co LTD - Men's AIRism Boxer Briefs
By Shawn Chambers
OWNER REVIEW
September 05, 2014

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Shawn Chambers
EMAIL: sound_foundation AT yahoo DOT com
AGE: 43
LOCATION: Lexington, Kentucky, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
WEIGHT: 177 lb (80.30 kg)

Backpacking Background: I love Appalachian hikes and being in the woods. My preference is for a hike that leads to a stellar view. Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina are my usual stomping grounds. I am a mid-weight kind of guy, but increasingly find myself enjoying longer, multi-day hikes and I am conscious about shedding some pack weight, but in a fiscally responsible way. I also climb and prefer clothing that can pull double duty.

Product Information

IMAGE 2
As seen on UNIQLO Co Ltd. website

Manufacturer: UNIQLO Co LTD
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Manufacturer's Website: www.uniqlo.com
MSRP: US $12.90
Listed Weight: n/a
Measured Weight: 1.5 oz (42.5 g)
Material: 85% polyester and 15% spandex
Size Tested: Medium, Waist 30" - 33" (76 cm - 84 cm)
Sizes Available: S - 3XL


Initial Impression

The AIRism boxer briefs (referred to hereafter as briefs or AIRism briefs) arrived promptly and well packaged from UNIQLO Co LTD's website. This was my first experience with the company and I was pleased with the turnaround time. The briefs were a bit darker than shown on the company site, but this was not an issue for me. The weight of the briefs was impressively light and registered a scant 1.5 oz (42.5 g) on my digital scale. So far, so good! The fabric had a nice sheen and felt smooth to the touch. The elastic waistband felt a little "looser" than I am accustomed to, but the waistband was wide and soft. There is a seam up the front panel adjacent to the traditional right side vertical fly. This seam creates a pouch, which would appear to allow for a more natural fit. The interior of this seam was nicely tailored and it felt to my fingers like it would not rub or chafe. The leg length was as expected and the styling is fairly streamlined.

In the Field

DATE: August 15 - 17, 2014
TRIP LOCATION: Looking Glass Mountain and Calloway Peak (Grandfather Mt.), North Carolina
TYPE OF TRIP: Successive Day Hikes
DISTANCE COVERED: 13+ miles (21+ km) combined with approximately 2000 ft (610 m) elevation gain each day
LENGTH OF TRIP: 4 Days, 2 Days wearing the AIRism briefs
PACK WEIGHT: 15 L Day Pack - 10 lb (4.5 kg)
WEATHER: sunny and humid, daytime highs 85 F - 88 F (29 C - 31 C)

IMAGE 1
Cool and dry on the Nuwati Trail
I packed these briefs for a three day hiking trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains and put them through their paces. On successive days, I hiked Looking Glass Mountain and Calloway Peak with the AIRism briefs as the only base layer. The days were muggy and the trail steep and it required both scrambling and high-stepping. Even with some exaggerated movements the briefs moved with me and did not ride up or shift awkwardly. The stretchy polyester/spandex fabric flexed and moved nicely the entire two days.

There is no question that I was sweating throughout both days, but I never once felt uncomfortable so the wicking action was clearly working. Best of all, the odor at night in a cramped tent was negligible even on the second night.

Pros

The price is a definite plus. I purchased them on sale, but the full retail price is US $12.90.

The AIRism briefs weigh in at 1.5 oz in size Medium. At less than half the weight of the cotton boxers I used to wear, these briefs will certainly not add much base weight to my pack even if I choose to bring multiple pairs.

These briefs also allow for a full range of motion. Much of my gear pulls double duty for rock climbing and I have worn these on several days at the crag without feeling restricted on any climb.

Cons

So far I have found nothing disappointing. I have worn these on five different hikes now and everything is great.

Summary

For me the brutal humidity in the Bluegrass State combined with the summer sun means sweat and lots of it. I have been using synthetic wicking briefs ever since an unfortunate day when I was caught in an unexpected shower which soaked my hiking pants and underwear. The nylon pants dried quickly, but the cotton briefs stayed damp the rest of the day. Yuk!

I began looking for affordable briefs that do not skimp on performance. I was concerned that switching to synthetics might be expensive, but I knew it would be worth it for added comfort. For me, the AIRism briefs were a great find since they provided the synthetic performance I wanted at a wallet friendly price. I am very pleased with this pair of AIRism briefs.

SIGNATURE:

Thanks for reading and happy hiking!

Shawn Chambers

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
Read more gear reviews by Shawn Chambers

Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > UNIQLO AIRism Boxer Briefs > Owner Review by Shawn Chambers



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