Owner Review for ExOfficio Bikini Brief

November 11, 2004

Tester Info:

Name: Heather Oakes 
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Height: 5’7” (1.74 m)
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Email address: alekto-at-yahoo.com     
City, State, Country: Decatur, GA, United States

Backpacking Background: I have very little experience hiking and backpacking; only about three years and only on weekends or vacations from work. Day hiking and weekend backpacking comprise most of my limited experience. The most consecutive nights out has been three. I tend to backpack in warm, humid climates such as Georgia and Florida, with a good amount of hiking in the mountains of north Georgia and I have rarely hiked in below freezing or snowy conditions yet. I am moving towards lightweight backpacking as I get a better feel for what I really need on trips that are longer than a weekend.

Product Info:

            Manufacturer: ExOfficio

            Website: http://www.exofficio.com

            Year of Purchase: 2002

            Weight as listed: 1.3 oz (36.85 g)

            Weight upon arrival: 1.3 oz (36.85 g)

            MSRP: US $16

Description: Fast-drying, travel/sports underwear with an anti-microbial finish. This underwear is advertised as breathable, and with moisture-wicking fabric. Made of nylon and spandex. Purchased size medium in light blue.

Field Info:

Locations: The briefs were tested on hiking and backpacking trips primarily in various areas of Georgia, especially the mountains; then Western North Carolina, South Florida, and various parts of Arizona.

Descriptions and conditions: Used on and off trail from 5000 ft (1524 m) to sea level. Used in urban environs, seaside, desert, mountains, forest, and swamp. The weather is usually warm and humid, but I have used the briefs in warm/dry conditions, light to heavy rain, moderate winds, and slightly below freezing (high 20/30 F, or -1/-7 C temperatures) nights.

Reports:

My first backpacking trip out with the underwear was in August in the Cohutta Wilderness of north Georgia. While the elevation was between 2500-3800 ft (762-1158 m), and slightly cooler in the forest and mountains than the city, it was still August which meant 80 F (27 C) during the day and 40’s F (4 C)at night with over 90% humidity. It was sticky and hot, then sticky and cool. The underwear kept me noticeably drier than normal cotton underwear, and dried out overnight even in the humidity. There was no chafing after a 6 mile (9.66 km) backpacking trip. We camped near a spot in the river large enough to swim in and the first time I plopped my wet rear on a large rock, I came away from the rock with a big reddish brown stain all over my backside. A quick dunk into the water, then a short wash with Dr. Bronner’s soap back in camp did not budge the stain. While Dr. Bronner’s may be the soap du jour of conscientious backpackers, it in fact does not clean all that well. So upon my return to a proper laundry, I hit the briefs with Shout and non-hippie laundry detergent. No dice. The underwear still looked like I had met with some sort of bad curry accident.

A week long trip in Arizona during an unseasonably hot October (90-100 F, or 32-38 C) tested the briefs in non-humid conditions. After hours of walking I was dry but slightly chafed. I changed into a new pair for sleeping, but the Ex-Officios never got really stinky during the week and only required one wash which dried out so fast in the desert I barely knew they had even been wet.

Recently, a 4-day 3-night backpacking trip in north Georgia along the Appalachian Trail made for a good test of the comfort, and moisture-wicking abilities of the briefs. I used the Ex-Officio briefs during the day for the hiking, and changed into another pair overnight. Then I would lightly wash out the crotch with Dr. Bronner’s and let them dry out overnight. I came off the trail with no chafing, one day’s worth less of trail stink, and pretty dry undies.

Summary:

After 2 years, many miles, many washes, and encounters that ripped my pants but not the underwear; the Ex-Officio bikini briefs still perform as advertised. They consistently keep me pretty dry, keep the stink at bay, and dry out very fast. In high humidity or rain, the underwear is unable to work the miracle of keeping me dry, but in a day hike or backpacking trip the sweat build-up is managed light years better than cotton underwear. The underwear currently shows no signs of unraveling about the seams, or significant loss of elasticity along the waistband or crotch area. I own and have used two other brands of fast-drying hiking/travel underwear, and the Ex-Officios are the most durable being the only pair that has not lost elasticity or unraveled at any seams. Some pilling has occurred and I am still unable to get the bikinis back to light blue. While the butt stain has faded, the briefs are the color of grayish light blue in the front, and a light gray-red-brown in the rear.

The Good: Still strong after two years, dries out fast, chafe-free.

The Not so Good:   Color washes out easily, stains easily.