There is something special about wearing new pants. That fresh feeling as you take them from your drawer, the firmness of the cloth, taught over your skin, the gentle thwack of the waistband. It sets you up for the day – whatever you are doing.

But it can so easily go wrong. There are so many different types of men’s underwear, choosing the best style for you is not necessarily the most straightforward task. And wearing the wrong pants can just as easily spoil your day. All that squirming and itching is very uncomfortable.

The dilemma is knowing where to start your search. PantsandSocks.com has an amazing website where you will discover all your favourite brands and their most popular styles, so we think we know a thing or two about how to choose the best male underwear styles.

Some of it depends on body shape, some on personal preference. Our basic premise is that there are five different types of underwear, and as you look through Pants & Socks you will find a wide variety of styles, edited into the following headings: Boxer, Boxer Brief, Trunk, Brief, and Thong. Once you understand this you can then think a bit more about the types of fabric available and even the colours best suited to you.

Pants are probably the most important item in your wardrobe. Worn every day, they sit close to your skin and cover the more sensitive parts of your anatomy, so read on to discover the difference between the main men’s underwear types and gain an insight into what will help you look good and feel great.

What are the main types of men’s underwear?

Boxer shorts are the classic underwear style – popular since your dad was a lad, if not before, and so-called because they are similar to the shorts worn by boxers. Simple really.

First marketed by Everlast in the 1920s, they still have a feel of vintage America, which is why we turn to Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger first. Boxers are normally made of pure cotton and are quite loose fitting; they let the air circulate and your moving parts, well… move. Often designed with a button fly, they generally sit on your hips and reach over the tops of your thigh.

Boxers are fine if you wear trousers that are quite loose – say a suit or something high-waisted – but anything too tight and the fabric will start to bunch, which will be uncomfortable and will show through your clothing. Generally, they are good for guys with thinner legs and with narrowness at the hips so they hang rather than cling… Allegedly, they are also good for your sperm count.

In many ways, boxer shorts have had a bit of a bad rap in recent years. They are often depicted as being a bit old-fashioned but we remain big fans – we prefer to see it as retro-chic – and think they are a great option if you have a tendency to overheat.

The boxer brief is the modern classic. The go-to pants for a generation. Of course, the benchmark is Calvin Klein, who started the stretch boxer revolution in the early 1990s, but most brands now have boxer briefs in their repertoire.

Boxer briefs are a variation on the original boxer but are made from stretch fabric – often cotton with a touch of elastane, or alternatively modal, which is softer, with a silkier touch, again with a touch of elastane. The cut is generally more fitted, though how much depends on the brand. The best styles provide more support where it matters, offer better definition behind, and are cut closer to the thigh. Usually are worn higher on the hips to show off the waistband and sit between the middle and the top of the thigh.

In truth, they work for most men, but if you have particularly well-developed thighs you might find them a bit constricting at the top of the leg and there is a possibility that the fabric will bunch up – this is both uncomfortable and unsightly.

Boxer briefs work best for taller, bigger men, especially those with more ample posteriors. The extra fabric, with an element of stretch, covers and defines while the higher waistband provides a better fit. The high waist is also good for the taller man who will often find their underwear slipping when they bend down. Best hide that crack, Jack.

The men’s brief is something of a catch-all title (and, as we will see, a bit of a catch-all style too!). As well as the modern brief – think of a Cristiano Ronaldo or David Gandy photoshoot – the term also includes hipsters and the contemporary take of the Y-front (yes, they still exist). But they all, essentially, do the same job

Made from stretch cotton, or its silkier cousin modal, with a touch of elastane in order to enhance definition and add extra comfort, with the brief, the cut and styling are key. Designed so the leg hole curves up towards the top of the thigh, this is perfect for the man with bigger thighs, as there is no likelihood of the fabric bunching (this is both unsightly and uncomfortable). But also, if you’ve been working on those thighs in the gym, the brief is the perfect vehicle for showing them off to the best effect. And as they sit lower on the hips, they’re quite good at enhancing a flat stomach as well.

But it is not just about aesthetics (well, not really). There is also the practical aspect of the pouch that cups and holds your privates – good if you are always on the move… or working out… or so endowed that the extra support is welcome…

Size is also important in other areas – before buying, check the fabric at the back as well. Often the high cut can mean there is not so much cloth at the rear, which isn’t great if you have more of an expanse to cover there as well.

The practical element also leads us to the enduring appeal of the Y-front. It is a classic, almost iconic. But of course, the design has been adapted so it no longer looks as it did in Grandad’s day. With a higher leg and a more fitted cut, there is some real style here, as well as the sensible bit about easy access.

The men’s trunk (also referred to as hipster) offers the best of many worlds: a pouch for comfort and to hold everything in place; a shorter leg, so there is no uncomfortable bunching; and a lower rise, meaning the waistband sits below the hips, all the better to show off your six-pack.