Cotton and polyester are the two most commonly used materials for clothing. They are also often used by manufacturers to make underwear, so it can be difficult to decide whether to choose cotton or polyester underwear. Is cotton underwear better than polyester?
Cotton is a better material for underwear than polyester. Because cotton is a natural material that breathes, absorbs, and wicks away sweat, it is also very comfortable. Polyester breathes and wicks sweat well, but it doesn’t absorb sweat, making you sweat more than in cotton underwear.
In the rest of this article, I will show you the advantages and disadvantages of both materials. I’ll tell you which material is healthier for your skin and what kind of underwear I wear.
Is cotton underwear better than polyester?
In my opinion and in the opinion of the experts, cotton is a more suitable material for everyday underwear than polyester. Other natural materials (bamboo, merino wool, silk) are also suitable, but cotton is the cheapest and the most abundant, so cotton can be found everywhere.
Polyester is a synthetic material that, like other synthetic materials, is mass-produced in factories and is, therefore, cheaper. Polyester is also popular because it is breathable and durable.
You can also read this post in which I compare polyester and nylon underwear, as I did here. You can find the comparison here. The result may surprise you.
| Polyester | Cotton | |
| Breathability | Is more breathable than nylon and as breathable as natural materials (cotton). | Is a more breathable material than polyester. |
| Moisture absorption | Doesn’t absorb moisture and is quick drying material. | Absorbs moisture but doesn’t dry quickly. |
| Sweat repellency | Repels sweat away from the skin. | Repels sweat away from the skin. |
| Comfort | Light-weighted and smooth material. | Light-weighted, warm, soft, and smooth material. |
| Odor resistant | Synthetic materials such as polyester are NOT odor resistant, which means you may have a bad smell from sweating. | Natural materials such as cotton are odor resistant, which means you will not have a bad smell from sweating. |
Underwear accumulates a lot of bacteria during the day from sweat and urine leakage that ends up on your underwear. It is, therefore, important to have underwear like this:
- breathable so that your skin stays fresh,
- that absorbs moisture so that it does not stay on the skin and on our private parts,
- wicks sweat away from the skin so that bacteria don’t form on the skin but on the underwear (bacteria start forming when sweat comes into contact with dirt),
- that dries quickly to dry the sweat on your underwear as quickly as possible, so there’s less time for bacteria to build up.
Changing underwear as often as possible is important because of the bacteria that can form on underwear. Check how often you should change your underwear here.
Did you know that the shape of underwear affects fertility among men? Studies from Harvard University have confirmed that certain forms of underwear put pressure on the testicles and heat them up. Overheating results in a decrease in sperm concentration and sperm count. Men who wear this type of underwear are less fertile. To find out what kind of underwear I’m talking about, read this post.
Why is cotton underwear better for you?
Cotton is better for you because it is a natural material and, therefore, better for your health. It is very comfortable, soft, and smooth, so it is easy to wear. Cotton has many qualities that make it widely used for making clothes and underwear. These are the pros and cons of cotton in underwear:
Pros of cotton underwear:
- Comfortable and soft material that makes you feel comfortable, and you won’t even feel that you are wearing it,
- Absorbs and wicks away sweat, so you sweat less because sweat doesn’t build up on your skin,
- odors are not trapped in natural materials such as cotton, so you won’t smell unpleasant when you sweat,
- cotton is a stretchy and durable material that adjusts as you walk and doesn’t get in the way.
Cons of cotton underwear:
- The only disadvantage of cotton is that it is not a very fast-drying material.
Is polyester a good material for underwear?
Polyester is a synthetic material that can be produced cheaply and in large quantities in a factory. Its main advantage is that it is very breathable and dries quickly. However, compared to natural materials, it is not absorbent and not as comfortable as cotton. For this reason, polyester and cotton often find themselves as a combination material in clothing and underwear.
Due to its breathability and quick drying, polyester is most commonly used in sportswear.
These are the pros and cons of polyester in underwear:
Prons of Polyester in underwear:
- Polyester is a fast-drying material that prevents soaked underwear, which can cause irritated skin due to chafing.
- Polyester is a breathable material that keeps the skin fresh throughout the day.
- It is a comfortable material that does not distract us while wearing it and makes us feel like we are wearing nothing.
Cons of Polyester in underwear:
- It does not absorb moisture, so sweat accumulates on or around the skin, causing discomfort and accelerated chafing.
- It wicks sweat away, but sweat builds up on the skin again because it does not absorb it, further accelerating perspiration.