How long should underpants last?

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Dear ILE,

The day before yesterday, I threw out a pair of boxer shorts because they tore. Thinking about it, I have had them since at lest 1996, and they were part of my regular 10 day or so cycle.

I've also got some silk ones that I've had since about 1988, but I don't wear them very often.

Am I normal?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

i asked this in a chat one time and drove geeta from the room.

none of the "men" had any answers either.

a few that i've had for two or three years now have begun to develop holes.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

my underpants last until they get holes. i've got some that are about 6 years old, and don't have holes. for some reason, mum seems to buy all my undies and sox.

― di smith (lucylurex), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

boxer shorts are damn expensive for something two people tops see.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:21 (twenty-three years ago)

What Di said, to the letter.

They're too old by the following season, darlings.

― Mark C (Mark C), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

'til about nine o'clock.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't think I have any in current rotation that are older than 3 years. But then I tend to give them out as souvenirs so. . .

(j/k btw)

― That Girl (thatgirl), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:32 (twenty-three years ago)

how long does a bra last? how much should you pay for a bra? i am clueless.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:36 (twenty-three years ago)

i've got a sandpaper ass so i go through a few pairs a week

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:38 (twenty-three years ago)

bras - i'll wear them out in less than two years on average. price, it depends. I've had some cheapo ones that fit fantasictally and vice versa. One of my best bras is a wonderbra. great fit, looks wonderful. about $35.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Seinfeld did a bit on this. Men wear their underwear until they disintegrate into nothingness. Its true.

― fletrejet, Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:44 (twenty-three years ago)

It's not true. I throw them out when they rip or get holes. It's just that just takes a very long time.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

some of mine are becoming see-through...but they're really fucking comfortable--haven't been able to find the right cotton-poly blend/thread count.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 19 June 2003 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

pinko communist underpants last forever! come join us!

― Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Friday, 20 June 2003 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

should last - a couple of years at least. silk boxers feel great but tend not to last that long. i'm amazed nick that you've hadthose as long as you've had - guessingyou don't wear them that often.

actually last - well if in Ethioia where washing machines are unheard of and stuff is washed by hand using (i am convinced sandpaper/Jason D'a ass) they go in no time - as do jeans which devlop holes about 20 years before their time.

so what do most ppl go for, jockeys? boxers? boxer-briefs or whatever they are called these days? and are there particular brands that you have loyalty to?

― H (Heruy), Friday, 20 June 2003 00:06 (twenty-three years ago)

I wear underwear until it develops holes or starts to pill.

I wear bras until they lose their ability to support my bosom.

Then, with both types of unmentionables, they go into a bag and get resurrected as cut-up strips of soft bedding for my rodentia.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Friday, 20 June 2003 01:04 (twenty-three years ago)

If you buy the cheap crap from Wal-Mart or similar (i.e. the packaged cotton Fruit-of-the-Loom stuff), it's guaranteed they'll last only a year or two, and the two part is pushing it.

If you buy the more expensive boutique-quality undies, though, the ones that cost anywhere from $6 - $10 each, they will last you several years. My mother has undies that she's been able to keep in good shape for about ten years, and they're the more expensive kind.

I, um, speak from what I've heard. Yeah. Second-hand. That's the ticket.

― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 20 June 2003 01:21 (twenty-three years ago)

my underwear last for hella

― ron (ron), Friday, 20 June 2003 04:24 (twenty-three years ago)

I have some 10-year-old underwear. I haven't bought any or had any bought for me in a year. The largest theme among my boxers: Scooby-Doo (four different pairs, all psychedelic as hell).

Mine get tossed when other interested parties discover embarrassing holes. To me, that's just well-needed ventilation.

― Neudonym, Friday, 20 June 2003 04:36 (twenty-three years ago)

My underpants last until the elastic goes, basically.

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 20 June 2003 04:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Which is usually about every couple of years, I think?

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 20 June 2003 04:41 (twenty-three years ago)

my underwear is so worn it's practically a vapour.

if i know i might be, uh, having to impress someone – i'll wear my 'good' boxers.

― dyson (dyson), Friday, 20 June 2003 05:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I like new ones for variety, some boxer shorts are very badly designed though, I tend to throw away based on comfort or lack thereof.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 20 June 2003 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)

what a serious sounding answer

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 20 June 2003 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)

I like to throw old knickers away every year or so, but only if they are starting to fray or get holes in. Bras are diff tho. My current bras are about £22 each. However, the underwire has started to poke thru & it's scratchy! boo!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 20 June 2003 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

For well endowed men who can't wear boxers and require support, underpants last until the elastic gives out and they become loose and floppy. Apparently.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Friday, 20 June 2003 11:59 (twenty-three years ago)

once you make boom in them then its time to retire the drawers.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 20 June 2003 12:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I am really bad at guessing - but I'd say my oldest undies are 3 or 4 years old... I throw them away if they start looking stretched out and faded or ripped.
My bras would last a lot longer if I handwashed them all the time, but eventually I get lazy and throw them in the machine. Then they get miscolored and the wires get bent. Blah.
Then I buy new ones. Fun.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Friday, 20 June 2003 12:56 (twenty-three years ago)

The gold lamé ones seem to wear out right quick. I toss mine though when fashion dictates; twice a year or so. I sure wish I had some of those feathered briefs from the '80s back now though, when they're so in again!

Seriously though I hate doing laundry (sorry Cheryl Mendelson!) so I have acquired a three- or more-month supply of undergarments, which results in greatly reduced wear on any given pair.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't realise how many pairs I had until I moved house, there seem to be hundreds. I don't think any of them are more than two years old, however neither can I remember throwing any out.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:23 (twenty-three years ago)

You suspect someone is stealing your pants?

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Also see: underwear

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:27 (twenty-three years ago)

we must get to the bottom of this N

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Well maybe somebody is N. but they seem to be replacing each one they take with two more.

Maybe I have amoebic pants.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I got all into buying socks and pants a couple of years ago, so apart from a couple of pairs in my reserve collection*, they're either newish bought by me, or newish given by my mum.

I prefer the snug, stretchy type of boxer. I think I look cute in them (at times) and they combine the comfort and support of briefs with the not-looking-ridiculousness of shorts.

*my spares have a separate drawer, and are only worn in times of desperate need, as they are scratchy and uncomofrtable (unelasticated boxers are so 1986)

― Mark C (Mark C), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:29 (twenty-three years ago)

I think that Tom's pants have formed their own little community in the pant drawer, spawning young and destroying the old and incapable. It is quite a harsh community.

I have regular knicker-drawer audits where I brutally chuck out sensible pants.

― Emma, Friday, 20 June 2003 13:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Also see the bestest thread ever on bras.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:32 (twenty-three years ago)

It is extremely funny the way men have emergency / last resort pants. It's as if they were still in nursery school and had to have a pair in case they have an accident. oh dear. that's what they are for isn't it? ick.

― Emma, Friday, 20 June 2003 13:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Emma's natural pant selection would explain why quite so many of them are navy ones too, clearly a strong gene.

Surely by now the bras thread should just be on the ILXOR front page.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I've had several pairs of pants stolen in various situations. God knows why.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Sold to Japanese businessmen on ebay, maybe?

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Boxers are not expensive! You can get those Hanes 3-packs that last forever like at any dollar store (for like $6 or something).

I usually keep wearing 'em long past the sell-by date. But that's me, I hate shopping for clothes.

(reminds me, I need some new sox ASAP)

― hstencil, Friday, 20 June 2003 13:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Surely emergency pants are for changing into when you're wearing five year old M&S Mr Blobby boxers with holes in them and someone offers to have sex with you?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 20 June 2003 13:48 (twenty-three years ago)

People wear Mr. Blobby boxers???? Obv. your country is in even worse shape than I thought.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:05 (twenty-three years ago)

thank you for that enduring image Matthew

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:08 (twenty-three years ago)

In any case, I usually keep my pants until I either:

a - Need to post them to a girl I'm stalking, or
b - Fall down paralytic and foul myself

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:10 (twenty-three years ago)

I find my kecks tend to last for about a month or so before falling apart.

They might last longer if I washed them, I dunno.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Do kecks keep getting harder to find?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:13 (twenty-three years ago)

by the end of the month they are quite easy to find.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:19 (twenty-three years ago)

The questions is How long should underpants last, the answer to which is obviously that in an ideal world, underpants would last until right before you're about to get it on, at which point they would magically dissolve. Yes, and I realize that this means you wouldn't have any underpants when you're ready to get dressed the next morning. This is why you should carry an extra pair in your lapel pocket like a dandy fop. OK, maybe this isn't the ideal situation after all. Nevermind.

― NA. (Nick A.), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Dude if I ever sneeze around you and you reach for your lapel, I'm just gonna blow a snot rocket.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 20 June 2003 14:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Does anyone actually know an adult that carries emergency underwear that is not incontinent?

― Sarah MCLusky (coco), Friday, 20 June 2003 19:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't like doing laundry, so generally underwear last about one wearing for me these days, because I go, "Ok, buying new underwear vs. actually going to laundromat, taking sides?" and then take the side of throwing underwear in the garbage, buying new underwear. Credit card companies, they love me.

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 20 June 2003 19:51 (twenty-three years ago)

How does that relate to this? Provide diagram if necessary.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 20 June 2003 19:55 (twenty-three years ago)

I actually already have a diagram for it!

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 20 June 2003 19:59 (twenty-three years ago)

neat!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 20 June 2003 20:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Whoa. < /Keanu>

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 20 June 2003 20:10 (twenty-three years ago)

every time i go back to visit my parents (2-5 times a year), i stock up on the mervyn's special 10/$20 underwear in that season's colors/patterns, which means i never really run out. they're my faves.

― colette (a2lette), Friday, 20 June 2003 22:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't realise how many pairs I had until I moved house, there seem to be hundreds. I don't think any of them are more than two years old, however neither can I remember throwing any out.

Have you seen any characters like this lurking around your dresser?

http://www.oasa.asn.au/news11/Image452.jpg

― j.lu (j.lu), Friday, 20 June 2003 22:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I couldn't resist.

[In the gnome's cave]
Gnome 1: This is where all our work is done.
Kyle: So what are you gonna do with all these underpants you steal?
Gnome 1: Collecting underpants is just phase one. Phase one: collect underpants.
Kyle: So what's phase two?
[Silence]
Gnome 1: Hey, what's phase two?!
Gnome 2: Phase one: we collect underpants.
Gnome 1: Ya, ya, ya. But what about phase two?
[Silence]
Gnome 2: Well, phase three is profit. Get it?
Stan: I don't get it.
Gnome 2: (Goes over to a chart on the wall) You see, Phase one: collect underpants, phase two-
[Silence]
Gnome 2: Phase three: profit.
Cartman: Oh I get it.
Stan: No you don't.
Kyle: Do you guys know anything about corporations?
Gnome 2: You bet we do.
Gnome 1: Us gnomes are geniuses at corporations.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Saturday, 21 June 2003 01:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally, you really shouldn't wear clothes w/out washing them first. They have all kinds of nasty chemicals on them, like formehyldahyde, which you wouldn't want rubbing up against yr pink bits. would you?

(*note I may or may not follow my own advice)

― That Girl (thatgirl), Saturday, 21 June 2003 07:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah yes, there was a famous court case about just this thing, That Girl. It was called The Dirty Doctor Case. All I remember about it is that the court proceedings said that the underwear which the doctor in question wore without washing "...seriously endangered his wife". This was a typo. It should have been "endangered his life".

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Saturday, 21 June 2003 07:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Thinking back on it, the past several times I've purchased underwear has been out of state. Usually on a road trip or something and I can be bothered to do laundry.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 21 June 2003 08:13 (twenty-three years ago)

I get boxers a few packs at a time, but this has only happened twice since I started wearing boxers, and quite a few pair from the first set are still in rotation. Those boxers must be 8 or 10 years old and just now starting to wear out.

― Stuart (Stuart), Saturday, 21 June 2003 11:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I wear briefs, generally black, mostly Calvin Klein (or, as I strongly suspect, fake CK). They are quite sturdy and have lasted for ages, and still look perfect. Except when on my body, of course.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 21 June 2003 16:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Until Paul Frank comes out with a new 7-pack design, so er 3 months or so maybe.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 22 June 2003 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

(H, you'll be glad to hear that some expat entrepreneurs over here have a plan to bring landromats to Addis. I'm not sure why they have laundromats in mind, because given the level of underemployment there I doubt it'd cost a bit to have people actually run the laundry through for you. But in any case: they have plans, laundry-wise.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Sunday, 22 June 2003 20:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I hate buying underwear - so I have Glenn and David do it for me (under strict instructions that it has to be practical and comfortable) - it's made me a lot less aware of changing underwear fashions and I have enough pairs to go for three weeks, easily, without running out (and that's changing twice a day).

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Monday, 23 June 2003 02:36 (twenty-three years ago)

WHY DO YOU CHANGE TWICE A DAY?

― Mark C (Mark C), Monday, 23 June 2003 10:10 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to retract that question.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 23 June 2003 10:14 (twenty-three years ago)

this thread is pants.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 23 June 2003 11:29 (twenty-three years ago)

I used to change underwear multiple times a day too! Go to gym-->you change your clothes cos they are nasty-->you have new underwear. Also I wear just underwear to bed but NOT the underwear I wore all day because boy short underwear is more comfortable for that purpose. This is way too much "sharing" isn't it?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 23 June 2003 12:57 (twenty-three years ago)

In the summer, I wear multiple pairs of underwear a day because I have no A/C at home and I start feeling sweaty and sticky. I take another shower, I change undies... In the winter, this happens because I get cold and take hot baths and I ALWAYS put on fresh undies afterwards.
I can't put on undies that I've taken off completely. It just feels wrong.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Monday, 23 June 2003 13:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyone have military underpants? Are they indestructible?

― Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Monday, 23 June 2003 14:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Sarah, if you stop wearing multiple underwear you might sweat less!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 23 June 2003 17:02 (twenty-three years ago)

ha ha, Martin. :)

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Monday, 23 June 2003 18:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Fresh pair in the morning, after the shower and then another pair in the evening, after exercising and showering. I dislike wearing sweaty underwear.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Tuesday, 24 June 2003 00:21 (twenty-three years ago)

"foul myself" is one of the funniest phrases in the world

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 24 June 2003 05:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Heck - I used to write that "fowl myself" - which has such a different meaning, I came to realize.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

i usually change my underwear every few days, once its well soiled its kinda nasty to put back on again in the morning, but i dont see the whole thing about having to change them all the time. they're just pants, no one else has to smell them. generally i get holes in my boxers quite fast too, why is this?

― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 11:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Whats the deal with thongs? Do those things hurt your crevice? All that rubbing between the cheeks has to cause some chaffing. Do men wear thongs? God, I would look attrocious in one of those fuckers.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 11:08 (twenty-two years ago)

i guess it saves you getting itches right down between your cheeks, i mean you could just let the thong do the work rather than having to go for a deep bum scratch.

― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

show em yer nuts - up with boxer holes

― Dave M. (rotten03), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

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