Stoic Merino Performance Boxer Brief Review

Generally, we were not overly impressed with the Stoic boxer briefs. We did like the merino wool fabric, but for some reason, it seemed less durable than the other wool underwear in the review. We think that with a redesign the Stoic skivvies could have scored a fair bit higher than they otherwise did.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

There were a few things that the Stoic does well. We like the design of the waistband; it's soft, supple, and feels nice on our hips. We also liked the merino fabric, as it's our preferred baselayer material for both its feel and functionality at the skin level. However, there are some flaws that took away from the underwear in this metric.

While we recognize all bodies are different, and that they may fit better on others, the fit did seem a bit off. The legs were disproportionally tight to the relaxed fit of the crotch, and we think it contributed to the tendency of the legs to roll up when doing anything active. Also, the fly was a bit small, and the cut of fabric made a double layer of merino all the way under the crotch, which bunched a bit. We can't say it's a terribly supportive pair of underwear either.

Breathability

Like all merino wool underwear, the Performance Merino breathes well, although the fabric seems fuzzier than the other pairs. The looser knit of the fabric made the boxer briefs feel a touch less breathable than the other wool underwear, but still better than the nonwool options.

Odor Control

Again, like the other wool underwear, the merino Stoic used for their boxer briefs performed well in keeping odor to a minimum. Perhaps the double layer of merino underneath the crotch kept odors for a touch longer than some of the lighter weight wool underwear, but it still far outperformed the synthetic and semisynthetic pairs.

Durability

We didn't see a ton of initial wear on the Stoic Boxer Briefs, but there were a few minor trends that signal some breaking down over the testing period. The waistband got progressively more wrinkled over time, indicating that the elastic inside is separating from the overlying layer of wool. Secondly, the knit seems to be a bit looser than the other merino wool boxer briefs and pilled a bit more.

After a year of extended testing, this pair actually faired the worst of the test bunch, sporting several holes where the fabric has worn thin and through. For the price, we wish we could get more mileage out of this pair.

Drying Time

Although they weren't the fastest drying underwear, they dried adequately both indoors and out. In the sun it took them about two hours to fully dry on a sunny winter day in Southern Utah.

Value

The Stoic boxer briefs are the most expensive underwear in the entire review, and we think that there are both better and less expensive options. For five dollars less you could get the Editors' Choice Award-winning Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief, and for half the price you could get the ExOfficio Give-N-Go.

Conclusion