Is Polo Ralph Lauren Underwear Worth It? An Honest Review

The Ralph Lauren brand has been a byword for great design and chic-living for more than 50 years. Its reputation for quality and style has been developed across a dazzling number of products, brands, sales channels, and international markets.

And they make some pretty great pants too!

Undoubtedly many of us will recognise the unique logo and preppy designs of Ralph Lauren on sight, but we may not be as clued up on its fantastic underwear collection.

So let us share our Polo Ralph Lauren underwear review, where we will consider its selection of boxer shorts, boxer briefs, trunks and briefs … all the underwear you could ever want! So, without further ado, let’s crack on with the review.

Is Polo Ralph Lauren underwear worth it? The short answer...

Yes, if you want soft, everyday cotton underwear with a wide choice of colours. Polo Ralph Lauren makes several superb cuts in a cotton-stretch fabric, sizes the same as Calvin Klein, and sells most styles in 3, 5 and 6-packs (for socks). If you like your underwear soft, very comfortable, and with a timeless classic look as opposed to a youth fashion look, then Ralph Lauren is the perfect alternative to Calvin Klein. 

• Versus Calvin Klein: the same fit and fabric. Calvin Klein's redesigned waistband now has the edge. Polo Ralph Lauren is the choice for a classic, timeless style over Calvin Klein's more fashion-led look.
• Sizing: true to size and the same as Calvin Klein. If you're a Large in Calvin Klein, take a Large in Polo Ralph Lauren.
• Fabric: trunks, briefs and boxer briefs are 95% cotton and 5% elastane, which makes them soft and breathable with enough stretch to fit close without feeling tight. Boxer shorts are 100% cotton and perfect for sleeping in or beating the Summer heat.
• Waistband: thick, with the Polo Ralph Lauren logo printed across it. Holds up well with repeated washing. We have customers who come back year after year for more Ralph Lauren trunks, validating their popularity. 
• Cuts: briefs suit men with larger thighs. Trunks cover about a third of the thigh and boxer briefs about two-thirds. Boxer shorts are loose and give little support, so they're best for sleeping, lounging or wearing under loose trousers.
• Packs: boxer briefs, boxer shorts and briefs come in 3-packs. Trunks come as single pairs and in 3-packs. 5-packs also available, and better value.
• Choice: the Classic trunk alone comes in many colours and patterns, from plain black and grey to stripes. Most popular are the all Black and all Navy options. 
• Socks: crew length, no show, ankle socks, in Egyptian cotton or mercerised cotton, which feels silkier and holds dye better. Sports socks in fluffy cotton with elastane. Great socks, and a top 10 seller here. 

The history of Polo Ralph Lauren underwear

Since 1967, Polo Ralph Lauren’s distinctive image has been developed across a constantly expanding and evolving range of products and markets, bringing international acclaim at every turn. 

Its wide range of products, including apparel , accessories and fragrances for men and women, as well as childrenswear and home furnishings, have cemented its position as one of the most well-recognised brands in the world, reflecting a distinctive, American preppy style.

Under the watchful eye of founder, designer and CEO, Ralph Lauren the business has become one of the most influential brands worldwide, inspiring the way people dress as well as how fashion is advertised and celebrated. 

But you’re here for the pants and socks. So, let’s start our review rounding up the very best pants and socks that Polo Ralph Lauren has to offer.

Polo Ralph Lauren underwear review

Polo Ralph Lauren has a truly vast range of underwear products available in an incredible variety of colours, patterns and prints. Let’s break them down in order from briefs to boxer shorts to socks, so you can judge which of Polo Ralph Lauren’s underwear products suits you.

Briefs

Polo Ralph Lauren’s men’s briefs come in two varieties:

First up, we have the premium variety of men’s briefs, available in a convenient 3-pack of either classically clean triple white, or a grey, black and white. Thanks to their cotton (95%) and elastane (5%) blended fabric, you can be assured of optimal comfort and the perfect dose of stretch when it comes to these briefs - generally a great choice of underwear for men with larger thighs who feel restricted in underwear with legs. Designed to keep everything tucked away in place, these briefs are designed with an understated, classic look and should fit snugly, close to your skin - they should never feel tight. The waistband is generously thick for added comfort, styled in black or white to blend in with the rest of the colouring and features the Polo Ralph Lauren printed logo in contrast across the band. These are great briefs for wearing day-to-day, providing you with lasting comfort, moisture wicking properties, breathability and the durability to keep you going day after day for dozens of wears. 

Next, we have the classic men’s briefs, which feature a similar material blend, overall design and contrast signature waistband, but are available in a much wider range of colours. From wine red, blue and yellow waistbands styled on navy briefs, to olive, tan and grey varieties that feature small polo player logos on the main body of the briefs, if you value a choice of colours and patterns in your briefs, these could be the ones for you. 

Trunks

When browsing our store, it’s immediately apparent that Polo Ralph Lauren produces trunks in a truly vast range of colours, prints, patterns. Let’s tackle them by availability in single purchases or multi-packs to help streamline your decision making and help you choose the right trunks for you. 

Kicking things off, let’s take a look at the Print trunks. Crafted from a lightweight cotton (95%) and elastane (5%) blend for a great combination of soft comfort, breathability, moisture wicking properties and durability, these trunks have bold Polo Ralph Lauren branding on their generously thick contrast waistband. Available in background colours of red or navy, they feature contrast polo player logos on the main body of the trunk for a distinct look. For an even more distinctive look, you can also pick them up in a grey camo print (with subtle red polo player logos dispersed within the camo pattern). 

The Solid trunks are available in solid block colours, classy white lettering at the band and sometimes a single, large polo player logo on the outer left leg. These trunks are almost identical, save for their colouring and band styling. They come in black, white, navy, grey and a few other colours as well, depending on the 3-pack selection. 

If stripes are more your thing, you can also grab a pair of Stripe trunks, which are a similar style as the Print trunks, save for the design - in this case an eye-catching navy, red and white striped pattern. They really are for the adventurous trunks-wearer. 

Finally, and available in a convenient 3-pack, we have Polo Ralph Lauren’s Classic men’s trunks. Featuring that same cotton and elastane blend with its comfortable fit, breathability, durability and moisture wicking properties, these trunks are the go-to everyday underwear for thousands of men all over the world. With a quality of construction, these trunks will fit snugly, keeping everything in place all day, every day. All of them feature the signature printed logo waistband that makes Polo Ralph Lauren underwear stand out. But the true standout feature of these trunks, is that vast array of colours, patterns and prints that you can find them in. Black and white stripes your thing? You got it! Like to keep it plain with black and grey? They’ve got you covered. In fact, these trunks, as of Spring 2026 can be found in a dizzying array of more than 17 colours and patterns! From wine red, to yellow, green, 3 shades of blue - and everything in between. We stick to the Navy, White and Black, for the most part, as these are timeless colours whose popularity endures regardless of trends. 

Boxer briefs

While Polo Ralph Lauren’s boxer briefs aren’t available as single pairs you can pick yourself up a 3-pack that does everything the classic trunks do - but with a longer-legged design. Boxer briefs are designed to extend to roughly ⅔ of the way down your thigh, while trunks should extend only 1/3 , providing less fabric coverage. Otherwise, that classic cotton and elastane blend of the Ralph Lauren trunks and briefs can be found here, along with all its benefits. Boxer briefs should also keep your package safely tucked away in a snug, but comfortable fit and these pants are yet another fantastic choice when it comes to all day, every day underwear (of course, we don’t recommend you wear just one pair all day, every day - you will need to rotate your undies!). Once again, a dazzling array of colours and patterns is available when it comes to Polo Ralph Lauren’s boxer briefs: olive, navy, black, grey, oat, striped… the choice is phenomenal here as well. If boxer briefs are your favourite type of underwear, these are a top notch choice. 

Boxer shorts

Once again, we have a couple of choices when it comes to boxer shorts with Ralph Lauren. Designed for a longer leg than the underwear we’ve mentioned before - and coming with a looser, more breathable fit designed for freedom of movement, while sacrificing supportive capabilities. Boxer shorts are perfect to wear as nightwear, loungewear, or underneath looser-fitting clothes.  

First up, we have the Open Boxers, also known as Cotton Boxers, available in a 3-pack and a range of colours that change every season. These specific boxer shorts are a classic design, available in navy, white and light blue for an understated and casual look, with a small signature Polo Ralph Lauren label sitting front and centre on the waistband. Crafted from a lightweight and breathable cotton (100%), these boxers will keep you feeling comfortable day or night. 

Meanwhile, these Men’s Boxers, also in a 3-pack, are designed with a slightly straighter, close fit. Crafted in the same lightweight cotton as the open boxers, they offer a variety of different colours and patterns including dense checks, pastel shades, stripes and more. The slightly closer fit, makes them more suitable for wear under clothing. 

Socks

When it comes to design, Polo Ralph Lauren certainly favours a crew style for socks, but they offer just about every other style under the sun - no-show, ankle, ribbed, you name it - with Ralph you're spoiled for choice!

The high-quality Ribbed Egyptian socks are crafted from a blend of ultra-soft Egyptian cotton and are perhaps the softest in the Ralph Lauren range - the rib design only enhances the comfort, providing a little extra cushioning with every step. 

Polo Ralph Lauren’s iconic Crew socks and Rib Crew socks are available in packs of two, three or six. Both styles are designed to be ultra-soft to the touch, making liberal use of both mercerised and Egyptian cotton respectively. Mercerisation imparts a silk-like texture to the cotton, while improving strength, durability and dye-uptake - which is perfect for Ralph Lauren’s Crew socks due to the wide array of colours they’re available in (just like their underwear). Meanwhile, Egyptian cotton is world-famous for its softness and quality, making it ideal for Ralph Lauren’s high-quality standards. Designed to be worn casually, with smarter outfits or anything in between, these socks are excellent for everyday wear and are sure to keep your feet feeling both comfortable and cosy all day. 

Polo Ralph Lauren vs Calvin Klein underwear

Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein fit the same and use the same fabric. The differences are the waistband and the style.

Fit and sizing. Your size in one is your size in the other. If you're a Large in Calvin Klein, you're a Large in Polo Ralph Lauren, so you can switch between them without re-measuring.

Fabric. Both use a cotton and elastane blend: soft and breathable, with enough stretch to fit close without feeling tight. There really is nothing to choose between them on comfort.

Waistband. Calvin Klein has improved its waistband, and in our view it is now the better of the two. If the waistband is what matters most to you, Calvin Klein wins here.

Style. Polo Ralph Lauren is (probably) the number one brand worldwide for classic, understated apparel, and their underwear is cut from the same cloth (haha): the polo player logo, preppy stripes and a style that doesn't date. Calvin Klein's bolder waistband colours and fashion-led designs suit a younger look. If you prefer timeless over trend, choose Polo Ralph Lauren.

Shop Polo Ralph Lauren Underwear Here

Is Polo Ralph Lauren underwear worth it? The short answer...

Yes, if you want soft, everyday cotton underwear with a wide choice of colours. Polo Ralph Lauren makes several superb cuts in a cotton-stretch fabric, sizes the same as Calvin Klein, and sells most styles in 3, 5 and 6-packs (for socks). If you like your underwear soft, very comfortable, and with a timeless classic look as opposed to a youth fashion look, then Ralph Lauren is the perfect alternative to Calvin Klein.