Guys' Underwear Blog

Today I’m wrapping up my series of posts on Groovin’ with a review of the Cotton Hip Brief.

Since my last review I’ve temporarily relocated to the fascinating city of Bangkok, Thailand, where I’m spending a few days vacationing. I think it’s only fitting that this last review (for now) of Japanese-based Groovin’s men’s underwear collection is written in the heart of Asia :)

The style I’ve been wearing is the Cotton Hip Brief which in terms of style and cut is identical with the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief. The main difference is – as it says in the name – that the Cotton Hip Brief is made from a classic cotton blend where the Low Waist Hip Brief was primarily Nylon-based.

What kind of implications this has on fit and the overall impression of the brief, you can read below.

Oh and I just want to throw in a little teaser… Remember to check back in over the next couple of weeks where I’ll be reviewing an abundance of great men’s swim wear, firmly tested on the beaches of South Thailand. This will include my ultimate guide to the best Aussiebum swim wear styles.

Now, all eyes on Groovin’.

Style
As mentioned, the cut and style of the Cotton Hip Brief is identical to its Nylon sibling, so go check out my review of that for an extensive account of the type of style we’re dealing with.

Pouch design
I was impressed by the pouch design of the Nylon version of this brief, and the pouch of cotton version is equally comfortable and has room enough for most men.

The pouch is double-layered with a subtle center seam. The double layered design is an important comfort factor to many, and it’s often a tell-tale sign of proper production quality.

Of course, cotton isn’t as stretchy as Nylon. This means that you can’t expect the fabric to mold and adjust to your specific package to the extent as was the case with the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief.

That said, I could find few flaws, it any, with the pouch design of the Cotton Hip Brief.

Back design
When it comes to the back design of brief, the fact that it’s cotton-based also means that you should be slightly more attentive when choosing the right size. This is a low-rise brief, and while it’s not skimpy, you should be make sure that you get proper back coverage.

An everyday cotton brief should cover the entire area of the butt and not reveal cracks nor crawl up, in, up, or down. I know I say this in almost every review, but to me failing to provide complete coverage can really easily squash the possibility of success for a pair of men’s briefs.

I found that I achieved proper coverage with the Cotton Hip Brief, but next time I get a pair, I would consider sizing up one size – more about that in the “Fit” section.

Waistband
The waistband is slim, measuring about 1,2 inches in width, with sets of Groovin’ logos embroided.

I wore the gray version of the Cotton Hip Brief and the waistband and leg openings were black, which complements rather than contrasts the gray base color of the brief. The waistband does have a thin orange stripe running across the top, which is a nice and subtle colorful addition to the overall dark and traditional impression.

The waistband is neither too tight, nor too loose, and this combined with the low-rise profile mean you won’t experience any muffin top effect.

The waistband has a production information flap stitched on the inside rear of the waistband, which can easily be cut off for optimal comfort.

Fabric quality
It comes as no surprise that the Cotton Hip Brief is made from a 95 % Cotton / 5 % Spandex fabric blend. Not so much fuss in that. The fabric feels soft against the skin and is an optimal choice for most everyday purposes. I’ve washed the brief a few times, and the colors and elasticity are still nicely preserved.

One note, though. As I am currently in an overly humid climate here in Thailand (it’s rain season – reminding me of when I lived in Florida) I prefer to wear the Groovin’ Nylon brief. It’s simply a more breathable choice when the weather is hot and sweat is desperately escaping from every part of your body.

Color
The gray and black variants of the Groovin’ Cotton Hip Brief is the perfect choice if you’re looking for classic colors that don’t draw too much attention. But rest assured that there are plenty of other colors to choose from if you want more spunk.

Go for the blue, orange, or green version to spice up your underwear drawer with some funky new underwear. See more color examples at the bottom of the post.

Fit
I touched upon it earlier. As I usually do, I wore a size M for a 32/33 inch waist. I would advise you to consider sizing up one size if you’re usually in the border area between two sizes. Other than this, I found the Cotton Hip Brief to be a great fit.

Price
Groovin’ is a value-for-money brand, and at a very fair unit price of US $16.99 you can easily get a few pairs. Get it at Groovin’s own web shop.

Remember Groovin’, the all new Japanese men’s underwear brand whose mission it is to inject fun and vibrancy into everyday lives of modern men?

I’ve been looking forward to trying on a pair of Groovin’ briefs because I’m quite the novice when it comes to Asian underwear design.

So now’s the time!

Over the next few days I’ll be reviewing two pair of hip briefs (made from different fabric blends) as well as a pair of trunks from Groovin’s current collection.

Check out my review of the Groovin’ Cup Boxer! And if you’re into cotton, check out my review of the Groovin’ Hip Brief.

Today, I’m taking a closer look at the Low Waist Hip Brief. And judging from the overall impression of this brief, I will happily endorse Groovin’ as a brand. Hopefully we’ll see more brands like this emerge from Asia in the future.

So far Groovin’ can be bought in brick stores in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand (where I’m headed in a few days – I’ll make sure to look for stores carrying Groovin’).

If you’re not stopping by any of these countries in the near future, and seeing how 60 % of you guys buy your underwear online, you’ll be happy to know that you can get all of their products from the official Groovin’ online shop as well as Deal by Ethan.

With that, let’s move on to the review of the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief.

Style
The style of this brief is exactly what it says on the packaging, a quite low waist/low-rise brief. I would say this cut is somewhere between a bikini and regular brief as the sides of the brief measure 2 ½ inches at its narrowest including the waistband.

I wouldn’t say the brief comes off as skimpy since in terms of front- and back coverage it does its job just fine. If you’re an experienced low-rise kind of guy, the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief will a be fine addition to your underwear drawer.

Pouch design
The pouch is very well-designed with a discrete center seam (which I actually didn’t notice until I took the brief off after having worn them a whole day). The double-layered, extremely stretchy and breathable fabric from which the pouch is made ensure an absolute pleasurable experience. My stuff was kept firmly in placed at a comfortable cool temperature all day. Well done!

Back design
With very low-rise underwear you have to be careful about the back design, especially with briefs. Again, the Groovin’ Hip Brief offers just the right amount of coverage. The stretchiness of the fabric (which I will get back to) certainly helps to achieve this effect along with the properly designed leg openings. Conclusion: The briefs stayed in place all day, didn’t ride up or down and I didn’t have to adjust them at any point.

Waistband
The waistband is slim and well-proportioned, measuring about 1,2 inches in width, with funky and suggestive Groovin’ logos embroided. The waistband is neither too tight nor loose and helped keep the briefs firmly in place on the hip.

The waistband has a production information flap stitched on the inside rear of the waistband, which can easily be cut off for optimal comfort.

Fabric quality
Here we go, the key feature of the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief. It’s made from an excellent and highly breathable 92 % Nylon / 8 % Lycra fabric blend. This is the secret behind the impressive stretchiness which does wonders for the pouch and back of the brief.

It also ensures a wonderful fit and makes the brief ideal for sports activities where it’s key to whip moisture from the body. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to also wear it for everyday purposes as an alternative to regular cotton-based underwear. Especially on hot days.

Color
I wore the bright blue variant of the Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief. It has a white waistband as well as white leg openings which create a nice contrast. No less than 9 color variants are available, including the all white traditional brief and a bright orange version for guys who enjoy a little more funk :)

Fit
I wore a size M for a 32” waist and the brief fit fine, though it looked a little small when I unpacked it. However, the stretchy fabric is very forgiving and I don’t think there should be a need to size up or down.

Price
The Groovin’ Low Waist Hip Brief is a true underwear bargain at just US $16,50. Compared to rivaling brands in that price range Groovin’ is great value for money. So try it out!

Get it at Groovin’s web shop.