Nylon Underwear
Once upon a time, nylon – a purely man-made fabric, made using a chemical reaction - revolutionised a generation and gave an alternative to standard cotton. It was cheaper, more functional and more could be done with it in terms of colour than had ever been seen before. It is associated primarily with the 1970s, when you couldn’t walk three paces inside the average UK home without seeing something made of nylon, but it still exists today. It isn’t as popular as it was in the 1970s, but then again neither are vinyl records – it doesn’t mean they were bad, just that times have changed somewhat.
In the modern era, the greatest thing about nylon underwear is it’s price. It is, quite basically, ridiculously cheap, even when 100% nylon. It is primarily used for men’s underwear – with cotton still being the favourite amongst women – and it has many benefits.
Nylon underwear is particularly suitable for anyone with an active lifestyle, be it outdoors or in the gym, as it dries very quickly. It is therefore ideal to be worn under wetsuits or similar when indulging in watersports and many use it just for this purpose. It will also not absorb the smell and wetness of sweat like cotton or cotton-based underwear, giving it an extra edge when it comes to use for any physical activity – but the benefits of it as sportswear don’t end there. Nylon underwear is also incredibly lightweight, meaning it won’t hamper performance and is easy to transport. When it comes to packing, it can be scrunched into extremely small spaces and will not crease or lose shape, making it incredibly versatile. If you are going on some kind of beach holiday, packing at least some nylon underwear will stand you in good stead for the duration.
Outside of the sporting life, nylon underwear continues to have many benefits. Anything over 90% nylon will be very soft and smooth against the skin, with some men claiming they prefer it to even the softest of cottons. Some people incorrectly assume nylon to be scratchy and uncomfortable, but if cared for properly and made from a high percentage of pure nylon, there is no reason why this should be the case.
There are some care issues that should be considered when purchasing nylon underwear. It is a very thin fabric, designed and popularised before the onset of modern detergents. It is therefore better to hand-wash it using a simple detergent – hand soap is recommended – to prevent excessive damage before it’s time. Although putting nylon underwear through a spin cycle will not harm it initially, continued use of modern conveniences will see it have a shorter life cycle than standard cotton underwear. Wash and soap it gently and leave it to naturally dry for the best effects. It is worth remembering that nylon underwear is slightly more temperamental than it’s cotton counterparts, but all in all, the benefits of it far outweigh the downsides.