Brief -- knit underwear with an elastic waistband. Briefs provide good support, which may exclude the need a jock strap for sports. The brief has a side length average of 4 inches, and the bottom follows the contours of the top of the thigh.

Boxer -- Copied from pugilists wear with square cut bottoms, and a high elasticized waistband. The length can vary from 8 to 16 inches at the side. Boxers have an advantage in that they won’t ride up. They are looser with less support, but you may forget you’re wearing them

Boxer-brief -- Made from knit cotton and tighter fitting like a brief, but in the style of a boxer.

Bikini, a very brief underwear patterned after the swim trunks of the same name. Usually about 2 inches side length average. The swim trunks were invented in 1946 by French civil engineer, Louis Reard, and named for the tiny atoll in the Pacific Ocean that the U.S. had pounded the same year in a series of atomic bomb tests. The swimsuit caught on with women in the 1950’s on the French Riviera, thanks to French actress, Bridgitte Bardot who was often photographed wearing one.

Commando --The underwear-less man is a free-spirited one who is rebellious, carefree and cocky

Pouch -- Similar to a brief, but the front is contoured to perfectly fit and hold a man’s "private package".

Thong – Originally designed as swimwear in 1974 by Rudi Gernreich (1922 – 1985), who also gave us the ladies topless swimsuit. It featured a Ban-Lon string to be worn in the style of a sumo wrestler’s strap.