Nylon and polyester are materials that are widely used for clothing and underwear due to their quality and ease of production. In this article, I will show each material’s advantages and disadvantages. I will also give my opinion on whether nylon or polyester is better for underwear.
In principle, nylon underwear is better than polyester underwear because nylon absorbs and wicks away sweat. Whereas polyester just repels sweat away from the skin. Nylon will make you sweat less, and your underwear will be less wet. That will make your private areas cleaner and healthier.
Continue reading this post if you are deciding between nylon and polyester underwear. I will tell you the pros and cons of each material and which is better for use in underwear.
Is nylon underwear better than polyester?
Nylon and polyester are both synthetic materials that are pretty similar in terms of how they are made and their properties. Both materials are widely used for clothing and underwear because they can be mass-produced in factories at a low cost. This is their advantage over natural materials (cotton, wool, bamboo), as natural materials are often more expensive because their production depends on the agricultural harvest.
If you are a man, I suggest you read this post about what kind of underwear is best for you. Certain types of underwear can reduce fertility (check if you wear this type of underwear).
The table below is a quick comparison of polyester and nylon properties for underwear use. Below I will go into more detail on each material separately.
You can also read this post in which I compare polyester and cotton underwear, as I did here. You can find the comparison here. The result may surprise you.
| Polyester | Nylon | |
| Breathability | Is more breathable than nylon and as breathable as natural materials (cotton). | Is breathable material, but not as polyester, because it is made to keep out cold and heat. |
| Moisture absorption | Doesn’t absorb moisture and is quick drying material. | Absorbs moisture and is quick drying material. |
| 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 resistance | Synthetic materials such as polyester are NOT odor resistant, which means you may have a bad smell from sweating. | Synthetic materials such as nylon are NOT odor resistant, which means you may have a bad smell from sweating. |
As you can see, polyester and nylon are quite similar materials. The difference is that nylon absorbs sweat and is more comfortable to wear. Now we come to what is important in quality underwear.
We wear the same underwear almost all day. During this time, we sweat a lot and may leak urine, which causes wet underwear. In such underwear, bacteria can start to build up, which is not good for the health of our intimate areas. The build-up of bacteria in underwear is also the main reason why you need to change your underwear regularly. Check out this link where I reveal how often you should change your underwear.
That’s why it’s important to have underwear made of breathable materials that absorb and wick away sweat. In my opinion and experience, it is better to wear underwear made of nylon than polyester. Nylon is a better choice if cotton underwear is not available.
Is nylon a good material for underwear?
Nylon is a synthetic material that is very durable and almost completely impermeable to air and moisture. This is good when we want to stay warm/cool and don’t want our clothes to get wet quickly. This is why nylon is often used in sports and tactical clothing.
This may make it a less suitable material for underwear than cotton, but it still satisfies the basic criteria that comfortable underwear should have.
These are the pros and cons of nylon in underwear:
Pros of Nylon in underwear:
- Nylon absorbs moisture, so it doesn’t build up on the skin, keeping it drier for longer.
- Nylon is a fast-drying material that can absorb more moisture during the day than cotton, which dries more slowly. Quick-drying materials prevent soaked underwear, which can cause irritated skin due to chafing.
- It wicks sweat well away from the skin before absorbing it to keep the skin as dry as possible for as long as possible.
- It 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.
- Nylon is a durable material that doesn’t rip very quickly.
Cons of Nylon in underwear:
- It is not as breathable as cotton.
Is polyester a good material for underwear?
Polyester, like nylon, 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.