The men’s thong is technically more advanced than ever. Yet, many men find the social pressure to conform to the norm too hard to ignore. I really wish this wasn’t the case, that men could feel comfortable trying a style of underwear that might work for them without feeling judgement, but currently, that can’t happen.
I choose to defend the use of men’s thongs because I firmly believe they are a superior product; they are just stuck behind outdated ways of thinking. So let’s break down some of these ideas and deconstruct the stigma.
For much of the 20th century, the thong was marketed almost exclusively as a feminine garment. Because of this, men who wear them are often unfairly labelled as “feminine” or accused of “cross-dressing.”
The reality is that the thong (or loincloth) was a primarily masculine garment, worn by everyone from Roman gladiators to Japanese sumo wrestlers. The idea that “less fabric equals less masculinity” is a relatively modern marketing invention. With the rise of gender-fluid fashion and athleisure clothing, it’s time the thong returned to its original status: a gender-neutral tool for anatomical support.
Many people assume that a man in a thong is trying to be “sexy”, “provocative”, or that it’s some sort of fetish. This creates a psychological barrier for the average man who just wants to go to the gym without his boxers bunching up. As a straight, married, male, I want to speak up and change the narrative. I want people to understand that the choice is usually utilitarian. Most men wear them for the support, unrestricted movement, and thermal regulation, not for an audience.
The fear of being found out in a locker room or if a shirt rides up is rooted in the fear of social judgment. But data from 2025 shows that 4-5% of men now regularly incorporate thongs into their rotation. The “reveal” is becoming less of a shock and more of a “so what?” In 2026, as men prioritise personal comfort over public opinion, the power of the “accidental reveal” to shame is rapidly evaporating.
Because thongs were sold for decades in “novelty” or “adult” shops, they carry a heavy sexualised subtext that doesn’t exist for boxers or briefs. High-end brands now design the thong as technical gear. I want people to realise that the modern thong uses technical fabrics for comfort and anatomically designed pouches for support. They have stripped away the “novelty” feel and replaced it with a “high-performance” identity.
I want people to stop calling it “daring” and “sexy” and start realising it’s a functional choice.
I want to discuss the thong in the context of sports, travel, and health, rather than a joke.
The more I can educate people on the practicalities of wearing thongs, the more men might treat the choice with matter-of-fact indifference rather than loaded prejudice, and the less power the stigma has.
I believe that with more positive attention and a greater focus on performance and mainstream visibility, the social stigma may relax. I would love to see men’s thongs be accepted enough to become available as an option to buy in a store, rather than hidden online.
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