Review: Smartwool Wind Brief

A cold day of skate skiing or winter running can make a guy question his decisions. Especially on those bitingly bitter mid-winter days, when the extremities tend to go numb—and more than just the fingers and toes, that is. That’s where Smartwool’s Wind Boxer Briefs come in. These comfy, Merino-wool briefs have a soft weave throughout, with the addition of a windproof front panel for protection against the elements. They work wonders in terms of cutting through the chill, and keeping everything intact and functioning properly when you get home. Before discovering ’em, I would shove whatever I could find—a hat, a shirt, a pair of gloves—in my pants, especially when cruising on long downhills, into the wind. So, while Smartwool didn’t invent the idea of windproof underwear, they certainly make one of the best, most streamlined versions on the market today. Available at smartwool.com; $60.