If you read our previous Step One review, you’ll know that I have a thing for undies. I’m pretty picky when it comes to what I wear, mainly because I run a lot, hate chafing and place comfort ahead of everything else. So I jumped at the opportunity when I was asked if I wanted to try out the brand new Cloud Mesh bamboo underwear from Step One. If their claim to have ‘reinvented the underwear game’ was true, then I would have found my new go to lolly bags.
According to the website the Boxer Brief Sport Cloud Mesh range is made from 83% viscose made from bamboo, 9% elastane and 8% polyester. The new material is 7x more breathable and allows 5x more air to pass through than regular underwear. The new material is also 20% lighter, resulting in extreme comfort.
Being lighter weight, more breathable and with vastly more air flow are all good things for runners. Every gram counts, plus heat and moisture retention can be a real problem for comfort. But can you notice the difference? Well, after a couple weeks getting around in them in the heat and humidity of a Sydney summer, I can say that I certainly feel the difference when doing a direct comparison to the older model Step One’s in my drawer. It’s hard to gauge just how much an impact it makes, but any improvement is something worth investing in, especially when it comes at a similar cost to what you’re already getting.
The Sport range has all the standard Step One qualities that make them a great choice, but also the Boxer Brief Sport range is 4cm longer in leg length, so they don’t ride up during extreme movement, such as fast efforts or on steep and technical trails. I’ve raced in them, trained in them and worn them casually with jeans and they are always super comfy and I’ve never had any chafe, even on the most humid days and doing a long run.
Grab a pair here: https://stepone.life/products/cloud-mesh-boxer-brief-sport-black
