Mott & Bow Men’s Underwear Review: Comfortable, Minimalist Designs

Mott & Bow, the direct-to-consumer clothing company known for its elevated basics, is now making men’s underwear. The new line is called Second Skin, and it’s as comfortable as you’d expect from the brand famous for its soft and stretchy jeans. We’ve been fans of Mott & Bow’s denim and tees ever since they launched back in 2014, so when we heard they were branching out into men’s underwear, we knew we had to give them a test drive. They didn’t disappoint.

Design, style, and fit

The Second Skin line includes two different styles of men’s underwear, the Boxer Brief, which has a 6-inch inseam, and the Trunk, which has a 4-inch inseam. Both are made from modal, a bio-based fabric made from beech tree fiber that has a soft, supple hand feel with lots of breathability and a cool touch against the skin.

Modal is generally considered more environmentally friendly than cotton because its production takes less water (up to 20 times less) than growing cotton. The underwear also has spandex for added stretch. Both styles have a pouch design that provides a bit of structure, so everything stays in place. Each style comes in four colorways: Black, Navy, Steel Gray, and Gray.

First impressions

The first thing you notice is how light and stretchy the fabric feels. Both styles are airy, and really comfortable — as in you sometimes forget they’re there kind of comfort — and have a minimalist design that adds to this feeling since there are no itchy tags or anything else to get in the way. The colorways I tried (Steel Gray, Navy) matched the images on the website. The Steel Gray, which has a bluish tint, is a particular standout.

I tested out both styles while running, which for me is a true test of any underwear, and they both did a great job. They wicked away moisture and didn’t bunch or ride up. The pouch design does a great job keeping everything in place, even when running, and the material moves with your body. 

I’ve washed both pairs three times using the company’s instructions without incident. There was no shrinking or color loss or bleeding.

Cons to consider

The only con I can see is if you prefer underwear with a fly since neither the Second Skin Boxer Briefs nor the Trunk have that feature. But the design provides support and makes for a very comfortable wear so in my opinion doesn’t suffer for lack of the feature.  

The bottom line

Both the Boxer Brief and Trunk are worth the $30 price tag. They’re both incredibly comfortable and resilient enough for whatever you throw at them all wrapped up in a handsome, minimalist design you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in.