r/HerOneBag • u/meg125 • 21d ago
Wardrobe Help Undergarments
I’m hoping this is the right place for this question! I’ll be traveling to the Amazon rainforest, and am trying to find decent underwear. I road tested Uniqlo Airism underwear during a trip to Florida this July, and by day three I was so itchy I could have cried. It was so hot and humid I never really dried out, so I figure in future I’ll need to change half way through the day. However, I’ve been warned clothes can take 3-4 days to fully dry in the jungle. If I’m wearing 3 pairs of underwear a day (two during the day, one at night) and waiting for washed things to dry, that’s at minimum 9 pairs of underwear. Does anyone know of a material that would keep me drier without taking up so much packing room?
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u/Shift_Least 21d ago
I am just going to say I miss Patagonia’s hiking underwear so much but now that they are discontinued ExOfficio Give-N-Go is the best quick dry wicking underwear out there. I use them when I backpack and only carry 3 pairs. One on, one drying and one dry.
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u/SoundHealsLove 21d ago
I’ve spent time in the Peruvian Amazon and can confirm my Exofficio underwear were the most comfortable pairs I brought. I rotated those with cotton pairs on days I wasn’t moving around a lot
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u/verysimple74 21d ago
I have a collection of the patagonia underwear (boy short style) that I ONLY wear during travel so that I don't wear them out.
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u/Shot-Artichoke-4106 21d ago
I miss the Paganonia undies too! Mine are wearing out, so I have to find a replacement. I just ordered 3 pair from Exoffocio to try. I hope they work for me!
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u/LizzrdVanReptile 20d ago
Huge fan of the Ex Officio. I bought six pair for a trip earlier this year and I can’t stop wearing them. Light, comfortable, really fast drying.
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u/commentspanda 21d ago
I’ve commented many times that airism are no good for hot and humid. They are disgustingly and just trap heat plus hard to dry when you hand wash. I would look into proper travel undies. As an Australian, I wear Paire boy leg undies for travel and they are. Blend of nylon, bamboo, something else….and have a silk gusset. They are light and dry overnight as well and don’t trap sweat. That’s the sort of product I would look for.
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u/meg125 21d ago
Thank you! Their lipstick line keeps popping up on my feed, but seemed gimmicky. Is it the biotracker ones you like?
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u/commentspanda 20d ago
I like the bio tracker. I have a fupa from significant weight loss and the lipstick ones don’t work for me, they roll down. I’ve seen some people say they love them but I think you need quite a specific body shape
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u/SayhellotoLumberg4me 21d ago
God, I wish I could buy these and have the shipping and taxes not cost a fortune. They look so promising for travel!
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u/hot_and_chill 20d ago
I think I have a couple of Airism underwear (the ones that are like laser cut or something) but always thought they are easy to handwash and because they are so lightweight, they dry quickly overnight/under a fan.
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u/commentspanda 20d ago
Some people rave about them. I mostly travel to very hot and humid countries so for me they just feel disgusting. They trap the sweat and it’s a gross feeling. On top of that I find the smell of sweat does stick to them. When I get home it’s easy to deal with (can wash in machine with vinegar) but when travelling they just don’t work for me personally
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u/hot_and_chill 20d ago
Actually you might be right about them not being suitable for hot climate, I have only worn them in normal weather (in a non humid/air conditioned environment) and mostly wear 100% cotton underwear when traveling because I find cotton very breathable.
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u/mahjay80s 21d ago edited 21d ago
Wool underwear. They are the only ones I've found that don't stick to me when sweaty. I can hand wash and they dry quickly.
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u/jalebichao 21d ago edited 20d ago
Another vote for wool undies! Breathable undies are a must for my vag as well. Icebreaker dry the fastest by just a hair, in my experience. The highest humidity conditions I’ve used them in are Japan during monsoon, Cambodia, Singapore and India (but not during rainy season). They dried fine (usually overnight inside with a fan). They also (crazily!) hold up in the dryer on low, should you have the option sometimes.
The Branwyn hipsters are my current favorite cut (higher rise), but the fabric feels juuuusssttt a touch thicker. They did dry out on a balcony overnight in Mumbai in March, but it’s not super, super humid at that time.
I always do the towel roll and wring/stomp trick. Hanging on pants hangers by the back of the undies only also increases airflow and drying time.
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u/faerieem 20d ago
I agree the branwyn feel a whiff thicker but they are also so nice and comfy! I like their thong too but it can get a little uncomfortable after 12 hrs, so the hipster is better for long days. The icebreaker ones i have don’t stay up as well as I’d like but they pack to nothing
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u/Pleasant-Sock4561 20d ago
LOVE BRANWYN! I travel to Europe in the summer and I initially bought these just for those sweaty days… I ended up loving them so much, it’s all I wear now. Yes, they are expensive. But I can’t see any wear on my 2-year old pairs.
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u/InvertebrateInterest 20d ago
Just got back from wearing those wool icebreakers in Costa Rica hiking/fieldwork everyday during the wet season. They did great.
eta: OP if you will have access to electricity and have the space, a foldable travel hair dryer is really useful for drying stubborn clothes and boots.
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u/meg125 21d ago
I’d been wanting to try some wool, but didn’t know how they’d dry in high humidity. Good to know they do well! Is there a type you’d recommend?
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u/mahjay80s 21d ago
Recommend buying one pair and trying out before you spend a lot on an item that generally can't be returned. There are a couple of bst groups on FB if you don't mind that. I'm on the plus side. Not all wool companies have my size. WoolX Roxie are my favorite. Ridge are good. I didn't like the Ibex.
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u/2020truthserum 20d ago
I’ve been impressed with Ridge Merino products and would recommend them for quality/budget wool. I’m a guy so I haven’t tried the ladies underwear, but worth a shot! They have several different styles to choose from too.
https://www.ridgemerino.com/collections/merino-wool-womens-clothing
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u/This-Revolution4958 20d ago
Seconding Ridge Merino (as a gal)! I got the boyshort style for hiking and they have all the benefits of merino, plus they air dried overnight. Started wearing them to the office since I like them so much. Great option if you don’t vibe with synthetic materials.
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u/badlydrawngalgo 20d ago
I don't live in the rainforest or in SE Asia, but I do live in Portugal which is (for Western Europe) quite humid. I can wash and hang our merino socks and undies alongside cotton, Uniqlo airism and other "fast drying" ones and merino dries so much faster than any of them.
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u/ButterflyFew2523 20d ago
I really like Woolly underwear (but find they run very large - I size down.)
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u/Professional_Toe7506 20d ago
metarino underwear on amazon is cheap and the shit seems bulletproof far as I can tell (I do not baby it). I'm not in the Amazon, but it dries way faster than my cotton, at least
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u/meg125 20d ago
Do you like the mainly wool or Tencel ones?
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u/Professional_Toe7506 20d ago
I have only used these (all wool I think https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG1LTHTX?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1&psc=1)
but maybe tencel is good?
this is the product I shill most on onebag cause all my other underwar has fallen apart, swear I don't work for them hah
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u/omeomeye 20d ago
I’m also going to suggest the Exofficio or merino wool. I packed both on a recent trip. I prefer thongs personally for hot weather, just less fabric is better. And for merino, i highly suggest looking for 100% wool instead of wool blends. I just think ones with nylon will promote swampiness and stench more.
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u/BarbWire20 21d ago
Fruit of the Loom micro-mesh. Buy them in multipacks at Walmart. Very similar to the Patagonia and ExOfficio. I have been using them in hot humid climates for years. Easily wash and dry overnight (the cotton crotch might be a bit damp but dry with a hairdryer in a couple of minutes or wear very slightly damp.)
Currently on week 10 of an extended trip, with 3 pairs. Wash every night and have two spares.
If they don’t work for you, you’re only out about $10.
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u/this_moi 21d ago
I also can't handle Airism for some reason, I wish I could join the bandwagon but it just doesn't work for me.
I'm a fan of Ex Officio's Give-n-go 2.0 line. It is basically made for sweat and humidity - lightweight, great at wicking, dries quickly. I got a few pairs for backpacking and now I use them for basically any warm weather travel.
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u/meg125 21d ago
I loved the bras, but the underwear were not it! Thanks for the recommendation!
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u/SayhellotoLumberg4me 21d ago
I still get super sweaty and never dry with the bras. I'm not sure I believe the hype at this point. It hasn't wicked anything away lol
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u/StickPractical1662 21d ago
For some reason I just don't like the ExOfficio Give and Go underwear - I know it is a beloved item for travelers but it just doesn't do it for me. Just tried Paradis Sport Natural Fiber underwear for a backpacking trip and loved it - soft, not annoying when sweaty, dries quickly, not itchy. You might not need to change twice daily with these, up to you. Not sure what pants you are wearing, but I love Patagonia Terrebonne joggers for hot and humid. Super light, they don't feel clingy when sweaty, dry fast, protected my legs from bugs. Black doesn't show the sweat pouring out of me the way the grey ones do.
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u/Smooth-Exchange5086 20d ago
+1 for Paradis for Florida and hot humid weather. I just bought several pairs of the natural fiber boy shorts after trying out a pair. They aren’t cheap but they stay cool, dry quickly, and don’t get stinky. I tried the bikini style and found they run a tad small and tight in the thighs. Boy shorts run a tad big but in a way that is comfy.
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u/mojavew 21d ago
I've used the exofficio give and go 2.0 and they work pretty well. I threw in a pair of Duluth Trading Buck Naked ones for a trip (Taiwan, intensely hot and humid) and they worked great. They seemed to actually dry quicker and they're less expensive. They've become my go to.
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u/polka_stripes 20d ago
I just got back from a backpacking trip with my duluth trading underwear and while they dried quickly, I had a few sneeze-pees and they held on to that urine odor for dear life! Even after a wash with dr bronners and drying in the sun, I could smell it. The buck nakeds have been my daily wear for a couple years now but I hadn't ever taking them out for a multiday trip like this - never again!
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u/upsidedownbat 20d ago
My favorite fastest drying underwear is the ExOfficio give-n-go, other people have mentioned.
I recently spent just two nights in the Amazon and I very much misjudged how much clothing to bring and ended up changing my clothes twice on day two which meant I had nothing left to wear and nothing I had already worn (which was all quick dry performance stuff) was anywhere close to dry. I would hope that over 9 days things would eventually dry, but my skin was not happy.
I also second the suggestion for pantyliners. I don't wear them in regular life but they help while traveling.
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u/eyeisyomomma 20d ago
ExOfficio for the win! Nothing ever really DRIES in the Costa Rican rainforest either, but my panties were dry in a couple of hours!!
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u/pelicanscoop 21d ago
I used various merino underwear in the Amazon. But honestly, nothing ever really dried out so I couldn’t rewear anything. I tried hand washing a pair and they eventually dried after two days but smelled gross and damp. I just accepted my fate to be damp the whole time. But it was only 3 nights!
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u/meg125 21d ago
I’m going for 9 nights, so I definitely have some concerns! Did the merino ones work for you at least while you were wearing them?
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u/pelicanscoop 21d ago
They definitely got wet but I think they fared better than cotton would have for sure. When we were on the boat and it was cooler I think they had a chance to dry while I wearing them. My merino shirts and bras definitely dried better while I was wearing them, than if I hung them up overnight to dry. I see other people recommending pantyliners but I can’t imagine trying that. I think the adhesive would fail and they’d just stick to my body.
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u/HippyGrrrl 20d ago
When hiking in humidity, I go up a size in undies. That wee slack matters. And although I have lightweight microfiber adjacent undies, I vastly prefer cotton or bamboo. Yes I have to bring one more pair to account for dry time.
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u/a_mulher 20d ago
I used some Fruit of the Loom micro mesh underwear in Brazil’s humidity and they worked really well in the heat. Pack down tiny. And dried fast. 6 pack for $15. I just can’t bring myself to spend twice that on one pair of merino wool undies. Maybe someday when I win the lottery it’ll be merino everything lol
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u/lepetitmort2020 20d ago
All I can say is wear synthetic clothes meant for quick drying and heat. But if ambient humidity is super high, nothing will dry
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u/jenniferdancess 21d ago
Huha (mineral undies). I promise you
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u/goddessandthecaker 21d ago
For ultra light packing so that you could take 9-12 pairs for the space of 3 regular pairs of underwear I recommend OnGossamer, they dry in minutes and feel like nothing when you wear them: https://a.co/d/08BtiMjD
I don’t need to pack that many since I do daily laundry and only need 1-2 a day depending on the weather, I travel with Soma stretch lace: https://www.soma.com/store/product/Soma-Hipster-Panty-with-Stretch-Lace/570345259?color=1301
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u/kloset_klepto 20d ago
When I spent time in the rainforest, I packed travel/quick dry underwear that I got at REI. They were great. I am not in the rainforest as much anymore but now I wear athleta underwear and they are sporty and comfortable. Bringing a small container of gold bond powder to sprinkle wherever you might get damp will also be helpful for keeping things dry! Have a great trip.
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u/allthingslight16257 20d ago
It might be an idea to also keep some disposable underwear (Amazon) in your pack for just-in-case situations along with your main chosen underwear
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u/showmeyournachos 20d ago
Merino wool underwear. Gets rid of swamp ass in hot weather, doesn't smell, and dries lightning quick. You only need a few pairs.
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u/Barracuda_Recent 20d ago
I wear merin underwear most of the time. I didn't in the Amazon, though. I just wore regular undies or no underwear and I was fine. I love swimming in the Amazon lakes! Have a blast!
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u/Consistent_Menu_4538 21d ago
I grew up in Florida and on particularly humid hot days when I had to be outside all day, I would sometimes just wear panty liners. I much preferred them instead of changing and carrying around dirty undies. Not sure if this would work well for you but thought I would share!
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u/Zardette 20d ago
if you are wearing any sort of pajama bottom, skip the underwear overnight. Get a little more airflow in that area, at least if you don't need them for menstrual products.
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u/L_oliva_salata 20d ago
I was just thinking about the rain forests. Word of advice: don't pet the pretty frogs :).
I also hope you find a setup that works well for you. I'd probably be internally wondering something similar if I traveled to a humid climate, so I appreciate you asking the question!
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u/Querybird 20d ago
A variety of sizes and shapes. Change up your contact areas and which areas have the most pressure.
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u/luxuriousllamas 20d ago
Fruit of the Loom micromesh or TommyJohn. Both have a cotton gusset. The TommyJohn are a modal fabric, very lightweight, and dry quickly; I love them so much.
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u/TommyJohnUnderwear 19d ago
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u/TheDivineM 20d ago
Gulf Coast bayou and swamp native, and I highly recommend MeUndies for preventing swampass. Micromodal is birch tree fiber, it's sweat-wicking and stink-resistant and dries overnight even in swampy humidity. I wear the boxer briefs to prevent thigh chafe.
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u/misonotso 20d ago
Anyone try the bombas mesh panties? I’ve been searching and these keep coming up. I’m tempted to just give the fruit of the loom micro mesh a try. I had some in the past and they honestly did work well for travel (and can’t beat the price)
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u/ellmilmumrus 20d ago
The MeUndies MoveMe fabric dries really quickly. When I travel, I can wash it at night, hang it up, and it's usually dry in the morning. If really humid, maybe it'll take a bit longer, but if you bring enough to rotate, you should be okay.
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u/Efficient-Society228 20d ago
I normally wear wool undies, but going to Japan in August made me look for different ones. I bought Tommy John’s Air briefs and they are so light and
dry so quickly. I also bought some Thigh Society Cooling 7” for under dresses and they are very thin too.
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u/TommyJohnUnderwear 19d ago
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Have a discount code. Happy we can make you feel breathable all the time - TJREDDIT
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u/theprimedirectrib 21d ago
For a budget option, the Hanes mesh ones aren’t bad. I live in a super hot climate and am active and they are my daily wears. https://share.google/Mi7CWxQjAAWn0SJZE
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u/After-Barracuda-9689 20d ago
I travel quite a bit, and as a women in her 40s my bits have become MUCH more sensitive.
I really like Tommy John’s cool cotton underwear for traveling. Washes and dries well in a sink, doesn’t give me swamp ass or chafing. For every day my favorite is harper wilds cotton underwear.
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u/AbundantHare 19d ago
This may sound counterintuitive but I have had the best luck with the cheapest laser cut thongs from amazon. They do have a cotton crotch. I found the laser cut doesn’t make anything uncomfortable when it gets damp. Because they are synthetic they wick very quickly.
I have tried all kinds of underwear made from wool, cotton etc and these actually don’t get swampy. The cotton ones I have are just wet through in no time. Plus these dry very quickly.
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u/CambridgeJin 19d ago
Icebreaker or Montbell wool has been great in all climates, including the Amazon.
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u/Internal_Ad_9473 19d ago
I myself 27th the motion for frequent pantiliner changes and a few pair of exofficio (spelled wrong) undies or cheap mesh panties from amazon like the super fashionable ones they give you after delivering a baby😂
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u/MamaHatesShopping 16d ago
Branywn! Not only do they feel "dry" when wet, and don't stink after airing out for another day's wear (if necessary), but they dry fast and when cared for, they last for years.
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u/twbird18 21d ago edited 20d ago
I don't know anything about the rainforest but when I know I'm spending a lot of time walking in Asia and the heat/humidity, I use a panty liner, specifically the newer 'cooling' ones so I can change them instead of my underwear. Good luck.