Submitted by Ninja_Pollito t3_10geonj in BuyItForLife

I am weary of buying underwear that develops holes quickly or the stitching continually unravels after a few washings. Trying to slowly upgrade my wearables, and this is an area that especially needs addressing. Not truly BIFL, I know, but any suggestions?

Edit:

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Much appreciated!

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Comments

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lovepansy t1_j52ka9n wrote

Commando! They are expensive but worth it especially if you find them on sale

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Ivy_pie_puss t1_j52vrwv wrote

I've had cotton Jockey for yeeeeaaars. I bought more and that's all I have now. Love them.

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verbal_tangerine t1_j530z1t wrote

KicKee Pants! It’s a brand I originally bought our baby’s clothes from, but they have fantastic bamboo underwear for adults. Just make sure to wash them in a garment bag but other than that they’re great and so so soft and comfy! They last a crazy long time, too.

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Quail-a-lot t1_j53b0mr wrote

Patagonia! My oldest ones are going on ten years old and the only reason I can tell them apart is some were sale colours. Changed all of mine to them over time.

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Feltrider t1_j53z91n wrote

Go all natural fibers for your lovelies

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MadamAndSteve t1_j542n6l wrote

TIP- I have a mesh/garment bag for undies and bras when I do laundry. I also air dry them instead of using the dryer (I do this for my outside clothes too). This way they last longer and look new.

Victoria secret had mad sales on undies and I have so many of them. And Of course Jockey.

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VariegatedMonster t1_j54y6uk wrote

Thunderpants undies made in New Zealand. They last forever and are amazing.

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Level_Dragonfly_9632 t1_j558l70 wrote

The warranty will apply to underwear but it’s frowned upon by the staff. And honestly, if you try and return a pair of underwear after 10yrs of use because of a hole or lack of elasticity, then maybe your expectations are too high or you’re taking advantage of the warranty in place.

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ItalianMama94 t1_j569zsl wrote

Just avoid Victoria’s Secret lace undies. They suckkkkk. Even in garment bags. I swear they last like 1 wash before the lace starts to separate and turn into gaping holes. Thanks for posting this! I’ve been looking for good quality undies and it looks like Jockey is the way to go!

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complywood t1_j585rhn wrote

There's an inherent trade-off here between durability and function (comfortable, antimicrobial). Denim would last forever, but would you want to wear it?

With any delicate fabric, how you care for it makes a difference in how long it lasts:

  • Hang dry
  • Wash cold, gentle cycle, or hand wash
  • Wash with other delicates, or in a mesh/garment bag
    • Rubbing up against rougher fabrics is what causes damage, you can think of the rougher fabrics like sandpaper.
  • Use gentle detergent, and less of it.
    • Most important for silk, since many detergents have enzymes to break down proteins (e.g. egg yolks), which helps get out tough stains. However, silk is a protein, so it also gets broken down.
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Ninja_Pollito OP t1_j58c1np wrote

Thank you for your input! In posting this, I became aware that I also need to change the way I launder these items in addition to find a better quality, in general. Going forward, I will do both.

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Level_Dragonfly_9632 t1_j5y5drk wrote

Patagonia stands behind the product and their warranty. I was stating that individual employees don’t always appreciate when a customer walks in with a decade or older pair of underwear with holes and says their unsatisfied because it lost its elasticity or some other dumb reason when they really just want a new pair of underwear for free.

But you as a consumer can do whatever works for you.

Most companies use the term “Lifetime Warranty” as lifetime of the product, not lifetime of the purchaser. People read that and automatically think, “this pair of socks must last until my deathbed!”

It’s marketing, but the good companies (Patagonia, Darn Tough, etc…) will stand by their products and repair or replace because they understand the relationship with their customers is important.

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