Hiking is already a sweaty activity. So when it comes to hiking without underwear, it may seem a bit gross. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably at least a little curious. So, is there actually some utility to going commando on the trail?
Hiking commando is a comfortable choice for many experienced hikers. Hiking without underwear helps with airflow and can prevent chafing. Compression shorts and running shorts are popular attire. Products like body glide and baby powder also prevent chafing.
Why Some Go Commando
Surprisingly, a lot of experienced hikers leave the underwear behind. Proponents of this attire, or lack thereof, say the main benefits are airflow and less chafing. This may seem a bit counter-intuitive. After all, skin on skin rubbing is often the main cause of chafing in the first place. So what’s the deal?
Chafing on the trail is caused by a combination of heat, moisture (sweating), and friction. By not wearing underwear, you help eliminate heat (which also causes sweating) and depending on the person, friction. If you have a larger body type or lots of muscle, your thighs can rub against each other. In this case, wearing underwear may be a better choice.
Here’s what a few experienced hikers had to say:
It all depends on your anatomy, oiliness of your skin etc. I have large adductor muscles, which causes chafing issues when I have tried going commando.
I hiked the majority of the AT in running shorts with a liner. You sweat a lot on the AT. The liner allowed more ventilation in the groin area.
I went commando for my thru hike as did many I met, but I’ve also been commando for the last decade or more.
Another benefit of not wearing underwear, especially on thru-hikes, is the simplicity. You don’t need to worry about changing your dirty underwear or carrying extra pairs in your pack. It’s one less thing to worry about and will save space and weight.
So there is certainly some merit to hiking without underwear. However, there’s a right way and wrong way of doing it.
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How to Hike Commando
Alright, if you’re hiking commando, you’re going to need to do it right. I’ll give you a few tips to make your hiking commando-style much more pleasant.
The first thing you should know about going commando are the risks. Primarily two – ticks and more chafing.
Preventing Ticks
Depends on where you live, ticks my be a real concern for you. I thankfully can’t speak from personal experience, but getting ticks on your dirty bits probably isn’t fun.
If you’re wearing pants, there are easy solutions to this like tucking in your pant legs. Many hikers though tend to swear shorts. What I would recommend then is to practice good habits. Wearing bug spray and checking yourself regularly and thoroughly will help. And carrying a tick remover like the Ticked Off Tick Remover should be carried. Other versions like Tick Key I think would be harder to use in tight spaces, which is why I like Ticked Off.
Preventing Chafing
Chafing is one of the more common concerns when you’re not wearing underwear. There are lots of ways this can be prevented.
The most popular remedy for chafing is Body Glide. Body Glide is a balm that you apply to your “chafe zone” to prevent chafing. It’s that easy!
Here’s what some hikers had to say:
Commando and Body Glide were awesome for me. Body Glide was awesome. I applied it everywhere that there was any kind of friction below the belt.
And it even works for the ladies:
Lady here. I went commando the entire hike. Body glide works like a charm. My husband also went commando and used body glide with zero issues.
And as a bonus, Body Blide is vegan-friendly and keeps your pours clog-free. You can pick up your own pair on Amazon.
Another popular product is baby powder. Baby powder also feels refreshing so it has a nice psychological benefit too. Some people like certain brands like Gold Bond and others. If you have sensitive skin, make sure you read the reviews first.
Regular washing will help as well. You can carry some soap and give your sweaty spots a little wash with a washcloth.
And the last tip I have is to keep your bush down there. Hair is nature’s lubricant and you’ll be much better off by not shaving.
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What to Wear
When you decided to ditch the underwear, it’s important to wear the right kind of shorts. Many hikers prefer lightweight shorts that breathe. Running shorts and even bathing suits are good choices.
Running shorts, in particular, are designed to be worn without underwear. They have a built-in liner that makes them much more comfortable. Check out the BALEAF shorts on Amazon and see the reviews.
Another way to prevent chafing is wearing compression shorts. Many hikers had success wearing these:
Might I recommend compression shorts? I didn’t start wearing them until Massachusetts and they were a game-changer. I had wore running shorts commando to that point.
Even now, when I go running I wear compression shorts underneath my short shorts. I cannot remember the last time I was chaffed!
But you might not need to ditch the underwear at all. ExOfficio boxer briefs are pretty much everything you’d want in a pair of underwear. They are breathable, odor-resistant, quick-drying, snug, and stretchable. You can wash them in the sink with soap and water and let them hang out to dry.
The Actual Hygiene Case (and Counter-Case)
The people who hike without underwear usually cite these reasons:
- Less fabric = fewer friction points. Chafing is primarily caused by seams rubbing skin. Remove one seam layer, reduce chafing.
- Faster drying. After a river crossing or heavy sweat, one layer dries faster than two.
- Less pack weight. A week of hiking undies weighs 6–10 oz. Small, but UL thru-hikers count every gram.
- Better airflow. Genital-area skin is prone to heat rash and fungal infection. Extra airflow reduces that risk.
- Dry stays dry. Soaked cotton underwear stays soaked for hours. No underwear, no wet-cotton situation.
The counter-case:
- Shorts-on-skin chafing. Many hiking shorts have interior seams or rougher fabric that chafe worse than modern synthetic underwear.
- Hygiene in a dirty environment. Your hiking shorts will get dirty, sweaty, and share contact with your skin for days. An inner underwear layer keeps the shorts cleaner.
- Group camping realities. Changing clothes, swimming, general camp life often means other people seeing your bottom half. Underwear is a dignified safety net.
- Irritation risk. Without underwear, grit, sand and pine duff work their way into the shorts and against the skin. Saddle sores follow fast.
The Middle Path: Modern Hiking Underwear
The reason most hikers stopped debating this is that underwear got really good. Modern technical underwear eliminates most of the anti-underwear arguments:
- Merino wool boxer briefs. Smartwool, Icebreaker, Wool&Prince. Anti-microbial, odor-resistant even after 4 days, chafe-free flat seams, dry fast.
- Synthetic performance underwear. ExOfficio “Give-n-Go,” Saxx, Patagonia Capilene. Quick-drying, tagless, mesh panels where heat builds up.
- Seamless compression shorts. Under Armour, 2XU. Reduce thigh chafing on long hot hikes.
- Zero-seam bikinis / briefs. Women’s options from Patagonia, Icebreaker, Arc’teryx.
A single pair of merino boxer briefs can be worn for 3–4 days in a row without odor. That’s why thru-hikers typically carry two pairs, not a week’s worth.
When Going Commando on the Trail Makes Sense
- Hiking shorts with a built-in liner. Running-style shorts (Patagonia Strider, Ron Hill, Brooks) have a mesh inner that functions as underwear. Adding another layer is redundant.
- Hot, humid conditions. If you’re hiking in the tropics and sweating heavily, skipping underwear reduces heat and moisture.
- Swim-and-hike days. If you’re crossing rivers or swimming in shorts, no cotton underwear to stay wet for hours.
- Solo or small-group trips. Nobody around to care.
When Going Commando Is a Bad Idea
- Long backpacking trips with rough pants. Multi-day pants-on-skin is how saddle sores and chafing start.
- Zippy shorts. Metal teeth near bare skin is the kind of mistake you only make once.
- Cold weather. Underwear is a base layer. In winter, you want the extra warmth and moisture-wicking.
- Group camping, festivals, guided tours. Social context where underwear is the courtesy.
- Periods. Obvious but worth stating — menstrual hygiene generally requires a close-to-skin layer.
Preventing Chafe Regardless of Underwear Choice
Chafing is the #1 reason people get this question wrong. Tools that work:
- Body Glide or Squirrel’s Nut Butter. Applied to inner thighs, undercarriage, nipples. Lasts several hours per application.
- Diaper cream (Desitin). Heavier, lasts longer, better for overnight/multi-day use.
- Loose-fitting technical shorts. Tight cotton shorts are the common factor in every bad chafing story.
- Keeping the skin clean and dry. Baby wipes at lunch break dramatically reduce chafing on long hot hikes.
- Don’t wear cotton. Cotton underwear on a long hike is a chafing guarantee. If you wear underwear at all, make it merino or synthetic.
