Cotton is often cited as the best underwear material and is used to make virtually all types of clothing. However, other natural materials have as good, if not better, properties as cotton. In the rest of this post, you will find out whether bamboo is better for underwear than cotton.
Bamboo is a better material for underwear than cotton. It is antibacterial, dries faster, is more durable and long-lasting, does not require insecticides to produce, and does not retain unpleasant odors. The only disadvantage of bamboo is that it costs more because the production process is longer.
Later in this article, you will find a more detailed comparison between cotton and bamboo underwear. I’ll also tell you the 5 advantages of bamboo over cotton and how to care for your underwear to keep it for longer.
Is bamboo underwear better than cotton?
In my opinion, bamboo underwear is better quality and more comfortable than cotton. Although you won’t go wrong by wearing cotton underwear, bamboo has some additional positive qualities compared to cotton.
Compared to synthetic materials, all-natural materials are a better choice (bamboo, cotton, wool, silk, etc.). Natural materials are more comfortable, absorb sweat and prevent the build-up of bacteria in intimate areas. This is especially important for underwear because we sweat a lot during the day, we can leak urine, and more. This builds up bacteria which is not good for our skin and private areas.
For women, protecting the intimate area is even more important than for men. You can read more about which underwear is best for women and men here.
Natural materials absorb and wick sweat better and are more comfortable than synthetic materials. You can read a full comparison between polyester and cotton underwear here.
As mentioned, cotton and bamboo have a number of positive properties that make both materials suitable for underwear. For a more detailed comparison, please see the table below.
| Cotton | Bamboo | |
| Breathability | Is a more breathable material than polyester. | Is a breathable material like cotton. |
| Moisture absorption | Absorbs and repels moisture but doesn’t dry quickly. | Absorbs and repels moisture and dries quickly. |
| Sweat repellency | Repels sweat away from the skin. | Repels sweat away from the skin. |
| Comfort | Light-weighted, warm, soft, and smooth material. | Light-weighted, warm, soft, and smooth material. Even more than cotton. |
| Odor resistant | Natural materials such as bamboo are odor resistant, which means you will not have a bad smell from sweating. | Bamboo is odor resistant. |
| Production | Insecticides and pesticides are often used for production. | Natural material that doesn’t require insecticides and pesticides for processing. |
| Antibacterial | Doesn’t have antibacterial activity. | Has antibacterial and antifungal activity. |
Is bamboo a good material for underwear?
Bamboo is one of the best materials used to make underwear. It is more comfortable and dries faster than cotton. It does not require insecticides and pesticides which are often used to grow cotton and has antibacterial activity on the skin.
These are the five qualities that make bamboo a better material for underwear than cotton:
- Bamboo absorbs sweat better than cotton, which means your skin stays drier for longer, breathes better, and feels cleaner than when wearing any other material.
- Bamboo dries faster than cotton. Cotton absorbs a lot of moisture but then becomes soggy, irritating our skin and accelerating bacteria formation. Bamboo, on the other hand, absorbs a lot of moisture and also dries quickly. So your underwear will stay dry all day long and is even more suitable for sports activities than cotton.
- Bamboo is a more comfortable material than cotton. There are several types of cotton, which vary in smoothness and softness depending on how the cotton is treated. The underwear that we usually buy in the shop is not the best quality cotton, as this would be reflected in the price. On the other hand, bamboo is very soft and comfortable in itself and does not need any additional treatment to achieve silky smooth softness.
- No insecticides or pesticides are used to produce bamboo. Bamboo has antibacterial properties, making the use of insecticides unnecessary.
- Bamboo is antibacterial, which is also a positive feature for wearing underwear, especially for people with allergies and sensitive skin. This feature is particularly positive for women, who need quality underwear to protect their private areas, which are more sensitive than men’s.
Does bamboo shrink more than cotton?
Bamboo shrinks more than cotton, so more care is needed when washing bamboo underwear. To preserve your underwear for longer, it is recommended to machine wash it at low temperatures and to dry it on a wire rather than in the tumble dryer.
Bamboo needs more care than cotton to prevent it from shrinking too much. The seller of cotton underwear advises hand washing in cold water. However, if you want to avoid this, you can also wash bamboo underwear in the washing machine on the delicate programme in cold water. Do not tumble dry bamboo underwear, but rather hang it on a wire or on a radiator.
