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Stance Poly Blend Review

While these are seriously stylin' boxer briefs, we think there are better options out there for travel underwear
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Stance Poly Blend Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $20 List
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Manufacturer:   Stance
By Ethan Newman ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Sep 10, 2019
47
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 35% 6.0
  • Breathability - 20% 3.0
  • Odor Control - 20% 3.0
  • Durability - 15% 3.0
  • Drying Time - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Stance Poly Blend is one sharp-looking pair of boxer briefs, and while they might be great for a night out that may involve one or more layers coming off, they aren't as well suited to travel applications. We like the array of patterns they come in and the fit, and while hanging out they are comfy. However, when we wore the Stance boxer briefs in active situations, they weren't super breathable, and like most synthetic underwear, they retained stink. We also began to see some wear at the seams between the legs with six weeks of regular and active usage.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Easy to use fly
Good waistband
REASONS TO AVOID
Seams aren't super durable
Doesn't breathe well
Holds odor

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Poly Blend boxer brief is a polyester and elastane pair of underwear from a company that mostly makes synthetic and lyocell/modal fabric socks that we thought might be an interesting take on travel underwear. Unfortunately, it's not particularly well suited for traveling.

Performance Comparison


stance poly blend - our tester wishing the stance pair breathed more effectively in the...
Our tester wishing the Stance pair breathed more effectively in the desert heat while scrambling up Lady Mountain in Zion National Park.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Comfort


There are a few things that go into comfort; fabric feel, fit, and how well the boxers move with your body. We generally liked the fit, as these were a pretty flattering cut on all sides, although for those with longer torsos and shorter legs, the seven-inch inseam might seem a bit long. The fabric is soft and doesn't have that weird synthetic feel that some polyester clothing does, although it's not overly breathable. We liked the waistband, as it was thick enough to feel durable without feeling like an elastic belt. The fly was also big enough to use without being loose and laid flat enough not to be noticeable.

stance poly blend - the flat texture of the polyester fabric in the stance made the...
The flat texture of the polyester fabric in the Stance made the underwear feel sticky when hot.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Breathability


Unfortunately, despite the light feeling fabric, the Stance boxer briefs breathe like a two-pack-a-day smoker walking uphill in a Mississippi summer. The untextured polyester fabric clung to our tester's skin to the point of swampiness. This was the only pair we tested that we actively noticed the lack of breathability without prompting.

stance poly blend - synthetic underwear dries faster than most wool, due to synthetic...
Synthetic underwear dries faster than most wool, due to synthetic fibers' hydrophobic qualities.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Odor Control


The Stance boxer briefs are made of polyester, not nylon. Although they feel similar, the former is a poor choice for odor control. Nylon and polyester are both petroleum products, and made similarly, but have a different chemical makeup and structure that makes them act differently. Nylon fabrics absorb a slight amount of water, up to about 3-4%, whereas polyester is completely hydrophobic and does not absorb water, which makes it dry a bit faster. This is why they are good wicking fabrics because the capillary action of the fabric draws water away from the skin, but the material doesn't absorb the water.

However, polyester, unlike nylon, is oleophilic and will hold on to skin oils, where some body odor comes from. This is why polyester clothing can retain the stink of your last trip even after repeated washings. This is also why the Stance scored lowest on the odor control category, as it now is fully imbued with our tester's body odor forevermore.

Durability


Again, these boxer briefs seem better suited for looking good than they do working hard. The seams began to wear quickly and fuzz out, and we could see the ragged edges of the fabric through the seams get more ragged as we wore them. The waistband did seem to hold up, though, and the rest of the fabric hasn't pilled up yet.

stance poly blend - some wear and fly-aways at the seams between the legs.
Some wear and fly-aways at the seams between the legs.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Drying Time


Due to the hydrophobic quality of polyester, the Stance boxer briefs dried out faster than almost any other pair. They are easy to wash and do dry quickly (especially with the towel roll trick).

Value


The Poly Blend from Stance is the least expensive option in the review, but if you're looking for a high quality pair of underwear to travel, we think your money is better spent elsewhere.

stance poly blend - the poly blend boxer briefs are certainly stylish and come in a lot...
The Poly Blend boxer briefs are certainly stylish and come in a lot of designs if you're feeling less floral, but they aren't great for extended travel applications.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Conclusion


We had hoped that the Stance Poly Blend boxer briefs would be one snazzy pair of underwear to wear around the world, but we just can't really recommend them due to the breathability and odor factors. For high-quality underwear, we'd rather something made of a better synthetic mesh or wool.

stance poly blend - sweating it out on the summit of lady mountain in the stance.
Sweating it out on the summit of Lady Mountain in the Stance.
Credit: Ethan Newman

Ethan Newman