Boyshorts and Girltrunks 101: Your Queer Underwear Guide

Boyshorts and girltrunks are increasingly common in the drawers of women and otherwise-identified people. I’m very passionate about always having cute underwear in general and this specific style of underwear specifically — especially these days when a solid boxer-brief can completely eliminate the need to ever wear pants! My underwear drawer is half thongs and half “girl trunks” — two styles that also meet my other intimate need, which’s no panty lines. Boxers for women are where it’s at.

Now, as a lesbian, I find myself often surrounded by others with similar preferences for boxer-briefs and boyshorts because LGBTQ Women and non-binary people have, historically, been especially inclined to wear boys/men’s underwear or “boy” cuts from the women’s section — and these days, unisex items produced by gender-expansive clothing brands. Back in 2015, we asked our readers what style of underwear they wear: 12% said boxers, 22% said boxer-briefs and 33% said boyshorts. I have no data to compare this to but I feel like this is probably more than the heterosexual and/or cisgender population.

What are Boyshorts and Girltrunks?

For years we’ve seen boxer-briefs or “Girltrunks” made for people who are not adult cis men (as in; no pouch for external genitalia) consistently get discontinued, but a new awareness of the market for this style has transformed the field in recent years. Especially of course TomboyX.

Also, I know that gender is a spectrum and a solid quarter of you likely don’t identify as female, but those words will come up a lot in this post because that is how fashion describes itself!

Underpants who identify as “boyshorts” run the gamut, especially with respect to coverage, so when I say “girltrunks” I’m referring to “boyshorts” (and sometimes men’s boxer-briefs) that cover your whole entire butt and then some. Here, I made you a graphic to explain the different types of underpants!

As you know, we like to diversify the imagery as much as possible here, but unfortunately underwear vendors prefer to focus on skinny white cis girls exclusively, even when modeling plus-size underthings! So that’s how that is.

Let’s begin!

Traditional Medium Coverage Boyshorts

The most common style of boyshorts stops just short of full ass-coverage. What makes this style different from traditional women’s underpants is the cut — they generally reveal less of the thigh and ass than traditional women’s briefs and have short, straight-cut legs and usually a lower waist. They’re exceptionally flattering and also very sporty/sexy. Sportysexy, if you will.

1. TomboyX Black Boy Shorts ($25) XS-4XL
2. Skims Smooth Essentials Boyshort ($24) XS – 4XL
3. Savage X Booty Short ($12-30) XS – 3XL
4. Third Love Pima Cotton Boyshort ($15 or 2 for $25) XS – 3XL
4. Lane Bryant Cotton Boyshort Panty with Wide Waistband ($10.50) 12 – 28
5. True & Co True Body Boyshort ($8 – $16) XS – 2XL
6. Calvin Klein Underwear Women’s Modern Cotton Boy Shorts ($15.80 – $31.50) XS – XL
7. Tommy Hilfiger Women’s Boyshorts (assorted colors) ($10 – $30) S – XL
8.Hanky Panky Signature Lace Boyshorts ($32) XS – XL
9. Maison Lejaby Nufit Boyshorts ($58) (XS – L)

High Coverage Boyshorts

Depending on precisely what you’ve got going on w/r/t your body and butt size, these boyshorts might cover up your whole damn butt!!!

1. MeUndies Women’s Boyshort Women’s Boyshort ($18) XS – 4XL
2. RicherPoorer Femme Boxer ($26) XS – XL
3. Hanes Premium Women’s Boyfriend Cotton Stretch Boxer Briefs ($17.99) S – 2XL
4. Tommy John Women’s Cool Cotton Boyshort ($24) XS – 2XL
5. DKNY Women’s Cozy Boyfriend Boxer Brief ($19-$21) S – 3XL
6. Zig Zag Minishorts With Optional Compression (for tucking) ($38+) (made to order)
7. Thinx Boyshort (Heavy Absorbency) XXS – 3XL%
8. Third Love Pima Cotton Boyshorts ($15) XS – 3XL

Girl Trunks / Boxer-Briefs for All Bodies

But the fullest coverage of all — a pair of underpants that will encase your entire butt and encircle the tops of your thighs — are boxer-briefs. Boxers for women! For centuries, intrepid lesbians have been scouring mens/boys underwear offerings in search of something that’ll do the trick. In addition to being super comfortable and nixing bunching up or panty lines that divide your buttcheeks on a diagonal plane, this style enables you to safely slip on a banana peel in a dress without letting the whole world know whether or not you wax your bikini line. Over the years, many women’s takes on this men’s classic have come and gone, mostly from Hanes and Calvin Klein, but it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and we’ve got plenty of options.

At the top of the pack is, of course, lesbian-owned TomboyX, who sells the exact style of underwear I’ve always dreamed of in a variety of colors and cuts. But they are not the only horse in the race anymore!

1. Hanes Premium Women’s 4-Pack Cotton Mid-Thigh Comfortsoft Waistband with Cotton Mid-Thigh Boxer Briefs $17.99 S – XXL
2. TomboyX Trunks ($25) XS – 4X (Leakproof ($32)
3. Skims Cotton Rib Boxers ($32) XXS – 4XL
4. Stud I Am $18 (S – 3XL)
5. Women’s Buck Naked Performance Boxer Brief Underwear ($22.50) XS – 2XL
6. TomboyX 6″ Fly Boxer-Briefs ($27) – XS – 4XL
7. Fruit of the Loom Women’s Fit for Me 4-Pack Microfiber Slip Short Panties (4 for $12.44) – 9 – 14
8. Girls Will Be Boys Signature Boxer Brief ($18.99) S- 2XL
9. Lucky Skivvies Gender-Neutral Boxer Briefs ($16.99 – $24 each) S – 2XL

Mens / Boys Boxer Briefs for Women

Prior to TomboyX entering my life, I got my underpants from the H&M boys section (size 12-14Y) because they’re completely a men’s style, but were spandexy enough to wear under leggings. Unfortunately H&M appears to be OUT OF STOCK of this item. Other longstanding favorites from the other side of the aisle, like Uniqlo’s seamless boxer-briefs and Target’s Mossimo boxer-briefs, have vanished from the earth. American Apparel had a very popular boxer-brief situation we even printed our own words upon, but apparently under new ownership, quality has degraded, and the new owner’s shop is currently sold out of the item. But we’ve still got American Eagle boxer-briefs, a consistent staple of a masc lesbian wardrobe, remains tried and true!

Some styles of men’s boxer briefs basically count as shorts as long as you never leave the house (which, these days, well). Depending on your between-the-legs situation, you may or may not be looking to avoid a generous penis pocket. I personally eschew boxer-briefs that offer “enhancing” or “sculpting” or even “support,” which means I generally stick to 95%-100% cotton boxer-briefs. Again I tend to loot the boy’s section for these (Fruit of The Loom), but here are some grown-up sized options:

1. Hanes Men’s Boxer Brief with ComfortFlex Waistband ($15.95) S – 2XL Mens
2. American Eagle 3″ Classic Trunk Underwear ($22.46) XS – 3XL Mens
3. Tommy Hilfiger Cotton Boxer-Brief 3-Pack $23.70 (These colors of that style of boxer-brief goes up to size 5XL for $29.63 for two pairs.)
4. Old Navy Soft Washed Built-In Flex Boxer Briefs 3-Pack $19.97 XS – 3XL Mens
5. Calvin Klein Men’s Cotton Stretch Low Rise Trunks (assorted sizes and colors, $19.99 – $64.50) Mens Small – XL
6. American Apparel Men’s Baby Rib Boxer Brief ($14) S – XL
7. Lucky Brand Moto Multi Boxer Briefs $36.50 S – XL Mens
8. H+M 3-pack short boxer shorts ($9.99) XS – 2XL Mens

Funderpants

Who doesn’t love fun? Everybody loves fun, and that’s a fact!

Fun Patterns and Graphics: Trunks and Boxer-Briefs

1. Mens Multi Tropical Leaf Print Trunks 3 Pack ($12.50) XS – XL Mens
2. Tomboyx 4.5″ Cry Freedom Trunks ($25) XS – 4XL
3. Paul Smith Dog Print Low-Rise Boxer Briefs ($30) S – XL Mens
4. Nick Graham Floral Boxer Briefs ($18) 2XL – 3XL Mens
5. MeUndies Women’s Boyshort in Slater ($16.99) XS – 4XL
6. Zine Art Boxer Brief ($14) S – XL
7. DC Batman Boxer Briefs 3-Pack XS – 2XL Boys ($36)
8. AEO Bolt 3″ Flex Trunk Underwear ($11.16) XS – 3XL Mens

Funderpants: Boyshorts Edition

1. MeUndies Cheeky Brief ($18) XS – 4XL
2. MJ Bloom Boyshorts Marijuana Bee Marijuana Flowers ($20) XS – XL
3. Glazed Galaxy Hipster Underwear ($8) XS – 3XL
4. Pool Party Boy Shorts ($20) XS – 4XL
5. Fruit of the Loom Women’s Wonder Woman Boyshort Panty 3 Pack ($13-$14) S – XL
6. Torrid Logo Mint Blue Pups and Stripe Cotton Boyshort Panty ($14.50) M – 6XL
7. Calvin Klein Women’s Ultimate Collection Boyshorts ($12) XS – XL
8. Pact Boyshorts ($12) XS – X

Rainbows!

1. Lucky Skivvies Unicorn Boxer Brief ($24) S – XL unisex
2. Diesel Damien Three-Pack ($42) S – 2XL
3. TomboyX MicroModal Rainbow Waves ($32) XS – 4X
4. MeUndies Color Scale Collection ($16 – $32) XS – 4XL
5. Torrid Purple & Rainbow Pride Heart Seamless Boyshort Panty ($11.55) M – 4XL
6. Levi’s Pride Two-Pack ($34.50) S – XL
7. Calvin Klein Pride Micro Low Rise Trunk ($24) (S-XL)
8. Next Gen Boy Shorts Black Rainbow ($20) XS – 4XL

 Okay what are you waiting for, TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS!!!!