Pouch underwear is an undergarment designed specifically for men. The front of the clothing is constructed in a soft cup, allowing more room for a man's genitals. Instead of being held in or squeezed against a man's body, his genitals are supported in the pouch to provide a more comfortable fit. Some people prefer the feeling of this underwear to other styles — many feel that it is not as constricting as briefs, without being quite as loose and unsupportive as boxer shorts.
The purpose of pouch underwear, also often called pouch briefs, is generally to provide more comfort, but the appearance of the clothing is typically important, too. Some people may prefer the way they look wearing underwear with a pouch than with other styles such as briefs, boxer-briefs, or boxer shorts. Buying underwear with a pouch that fits properly may be a challenge for some, however. Most pouch models are still classified only by waist size. Those who want a larger or smaller pouch for comfort may have to try different brands to find the right fit.
There are many different styles of underwear with a pouch, with differences in materials, shape, size, color, and construction. The most notable difference between the styles is probably the way the pouch is built. Some have only a small cup of extra material in the front, while other styles have pouches that start behind the scrotum. Brands that have a pouch that begins that far back often have larger, padded pouches that tend to enhance the groin area.
Some pouch underwear contains features such as mesh nets inside the fabric for further support. These are usually designed to pull the scrotum forward and lift it, bringing all of the genitalia higher in front into the specially made pouch. There are also some brands that focus on the male enhancement feature of the underwear. Those styles tend to place an emphasis more on how the underwear looks than on how comfortable it is to wear.
Wearing this style of underwear can be quite different than wearing any other type. Aside from the pouch, an additional main difference is that these briefs do not usually have a fly. The underwear is one piece, which some may find inconvenient when using a urinal. In some cases, it might also be difficult to find the right sized pouch — buying underwear in more elastic and stretchy materials can help prevent problems from pouches being too small or big to be comfortable.