When you bought your last pair of gym shorts, you probably checked the fit, maybe the length, definitely whether it had a pocket. It’s unlikely you checked the fabric makeup of the liner. A lot of guys train commando, relying on that built-in liner to handle everything… cue the chafing! Some guys reach for Body Glide. Others pull on a pair of anti-chafing underwear for a smoother contact layer. But neither is a full fix.
Most athletic underwear is made of the same thing as the liner itself: polyester and spandex. So whether you’re going commando or layered, there’s a good chance that in your attempt to protect your skin, you may be exposing it to unwanted toxins. When you’re moving and sweating, you’re creating conditions that may increase that chemical exposure even more. You’ve likely never considered heated plastic against your man-bits, but now that I’ve got you thinking…
Petroleum on Your Privates
Polyester is a plastic. Manufacturers spin it from petroleum-derived chemicals into fibers, weave those fibers into fabric, and sew that fabric into the liner of your gym shorts. It became the default because it was cheap, held its shape, and didn’t add bulk. It has been the industry standard for decades and has gone largely unexamined since.
Polyester carries chemical additives from the manufacturing process, including phthalates and antimony, a heavy metal used as a catalyst in polyester production that has been found to release into sweat from polyester textiles. It also sheds. Research on polyester textiles has found that these fabrics release microplastic fibers through normal wear and mechanical friction.
Most of your skin is built to handle the outside world. It’s thick and tough and manages a reasonable amount of chemical exposure without much consequence. The skin in your groin is a different story entirely. It’s thinner, more permeable, and far more absorptive. Research on percutaneous absorption has found the scrotum to be the highest-absorbing site on the body. Even more reason to be protective of the boys.
The Workout Problem
At rest, the concerns above are relatively low-level. During exercise, the conditions shift considerably. Body temperature rises, friction increases with every rep and every stride, and sweat production peaks.
Each of those conditions does something specific. Friction increases microplastic fiber shedding from polyester fabrics, and a workout generates constant friction between the liner and your skin. Higher temperatures may increase chemical leaching from polyester fabrics, and your core temperature climbs with every set. Research on sweat and dermal absorption has found that sweating skin absorbs significantly more chemical residue from fabric than dry skin. The material against you during a workout isn’t a passive presence. It’s reacting to your body, and if that material is polyester, the reaction is worth reconsidering.
A Better Option
NADS
Organic Cotton Compression Boxer Brief
NADS built its product line around the simple premise that organic cotton belongs between your skin and everything else. The Organic Cotton Compression Boxer Brief, nicknamed the “No-Fly Zone” on the NADS site, is the anti-chafing underwear that puts 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton between your skin and whatever apparel you decide to work out in.
GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, covers the full supply chain from cotton growth to manufacturing and finishing. Every NADS product also carries OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, meaning an independent lab tested every fiber and dye against more than 100 substances linked to hormone disruption. Both certifications come from third parties, not the brand itself.
The compression brief covers every functional requirement an athlete expects from a contact layer:
Long-leg design for full inner thigh coverage (no raw skin by mile three)
Stay-put leg openings that don’t ride up during squats, lunges, or lateral movement
No-roll, fabric-wrapped waistband
Flat, tagless back
GOTS and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100-certified throughout
Available in sizes S–XXL
For men who prefer to skip the underwear layer entirely, NADS also makes an Organic Cotton Commando Short, a liner-free gym short built with the same cotton-first construction.
Trusted by Serious Athletes
NADS has built a following among athletes who are particular about what they put on their bodies. NADS counts five-time Ironman Eric Hinman, former World’s Strongest Man and pro-athlete Mark Bell, and endurance and CrossFit athletes among its regulars. Hinman puts it plainly: “Super comfortable. I like wearing them under my athletic shorts. Organic cotton is the best to wear to help protect your nads.”
The numbers speak for themselves, too, with over 1,000,000 pairs sold and a 94% customer satisfaction score.†
Five Days. One Set.
Training four to five days a week means one or two pairs of workout underwear won’t cut it. The Tactical Set solves that problem. Five Organic Cotton Compression Boxer Briefs, all black, all GOTS and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100-certified, come bundled at $149.60, which is 12% off the per-pair price of $34, with free shipping included.
That works out to just under $30 per pair and covers a full training week without coordinating laundry around the schedule.
Under Your Shorts
NADS
The Tactical Set
You put thought into what you eat, how you train, and how you recover. Your fellas deserve the same consideration with a proper pair of anti-chafing underwear. The Tactical Set is built for the gym and everything that comes with it. If the fit isn’t right, NADS offers a 90-day fit satisfaction guarantee. Try them, and if they’re not the best-fitting underwear you’ve trained in, they’ll make it right.
Answer the call of your balls.
NADS underwear is designed to reduce chemical exposure but is not a medical treatment. Consult a healthcare provider for concerns about testosterone, fertility, or reproductive health. Individual results may vary.
† 94% customer satisfaction score as reported by NADS. Individual results may vary.
Product details, pricing, and availability were verified at the time of writing but are subject to change. Please visit the official NADS website for the most current information.
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