I Wore Only Breathable Pants For A Fortnight, These Are My Sweat-Proof Favourites

Ladies and vulva owners, I get it: the appeal of a matching lingerie set is simply too alluring. 

But often, they’re not made from breathable materials. During the warmer months in particular, I find myself constantly pulling my pants out of my cooch (for lack of a better word) and looking like a maniac trying to get the right placement. Look, it’s not my fault no one can get sizing right.

Then, of course, there’s the smell. We all know by now (I hope) that it’s natural to have a smell down there, but you know better than anyone else when that’s off.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened during the summer more than ever – but honestly, they can get uncomfy and chafe during the winter, too.

This year, I’ve simply had enough. Get ready for some TMI, but a combination of recurrent UTIs and various other gynae conditions (don’t ask) means I am desperate to do anything that gives my vulva some reprieve. 

More than that, I will do basically anything to make sure I don’t have to change my pants every time I leave my house during the heatwave. I mean, the amount of laundry I do every week is insurmountable.

Recently, I’ve been making a conscious effort to wear cotton undies, but unfortunately for my bank account the H&M multipack I’ve been wearing for years has started to give way.

So I decided it was time to test breathable undies.

The best breathable underwear at a glance:

What kind of fabric should your underwear be made from?

In case you don’t already know, cotton and natural fibre are the ideal fabrics for your pants.

“Ideally you want to be looking for at least an 80% cotton or natural fabric mix” when buying pants, according to Priya Downes, founder and CEO of Nudea.

“These fabrics are much better for quick drying, and will help with things like chafing, which can be quite painful, or sweat accumulation and feeling uncomfortable.” 

Tencel, hemp, and bamboo are also great options for underwear. On the other hand, man-made fabrics like polyester and elastane dry much more slowly than natural fabrics, which might be why you get recurrent thrush or BV, or generally feel not right down there.

“As well as sweat comes bacteria, which can also be really unhealthy,” Downes adds. “You do have a natural biome down there, so wearing natural fabrics is really important. Having quick-drying materials that can wick away moisture accumulation is healthier for your skin.”

What should you think about when buying knickers or briefs?

As well as the fabric, shape is important to consider when buying underwear.

“You want to be comfortable, and not everybody loves thongs,” Downes notes.

“Sometimes in hot weather thongs can be particularly uncomfortable, so look for shapes that are comfortable, and that aren’t visible under your clothes.

“In hot weather, people are wearing more see-through and skimpier things, so you’ve got to be mindful about visible panty lines.”

My review of natural fabric underwear

For the last few years, I haven’t thought much about what kind of pants I wear, but while testing these pants I realised I’ve been missing out on a lot. 

I decided to reach out to a range of brands that intentionally use natural fibres, from bamboo viscose, to tencel, and cotton.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this fortnight has been the comfiest I’ve been in years.

As someone who lives in a white skirt or dress of some description during summer, I need pants that are seamless and won’t show beneath a skirt.

But considering I also rarely wear a thong, it was a difficult standard to meet. 

The best natural women’s underwear to shop now

All of the products below passed the test. 

How to wash and care for natural underwear

When you’re spending a good chunk of money on some nice undies, you’re going to want to take good care of them.

Of course, natural staining is going to happen, but it’s all in how you care for them, according to Downes.

Cool (ish) wash

“The best way to to wash them is in the washing machine and on not too high a temperature, so 30 to 40 degrees is absolutely fine,” she says.

No dryer

“Absolutely do not put them in the dryer because natural fabrics will degrade at high temperatures, so you should always, always line dry your your knickers.”

Stains are inevitable

“It’s probably better to go with a darker colour because they are a little bit more immune to stains,” Downes suggests.

“Nudes are great because they they hide stains a bit better. White is very hard to get away from staining, and you will probably have to replace white knickers more often than any other colour.”

Final verdict

Switching to breathable underwear has increased my comfort levels by tenfold over the past couple of weeks.

Not only do I not sweat as much, which means less chafing between my thighs (thank god) but I’ve also noticed I smell less down there (thanks for asking) and actually have to do less laundry. Thank god! 

If you’re after pants you can reach for every day, Nudea has a range of shapes and fabric mixes that feel lighter than air. However, Stripe and Stare is maybe just that bit softer, and comes in tons of fun candy box colours, if you like a pink pant like me.

Uniqlo and Boux Avenue are solid budget options, but you will forfeit that buttery feeling.