Microfiber Vs Modal Vs MicroModal Men’s Underwear: Luxury & Comfort
The choice of fabric has a pivotal role to play in determining the comfort you can expect from donning your underwear. Cotton and polyester blends were initially the predominant choice of underwear fabric courtesy of their wide availability and low cost. But a growing trend among consumers on the lookout for premium quality and eco-friendly options has led to the popularity of microfiber, modal and micro-modal underwear.
1. Microfiber
Microfiber is made from a combination of both natural and synthetic fibers. They are generally constructed from nylon, polyester, or rayon. It carries a diameter of fewer than 10 micrometers which is 100 times smaller than 1 millimeter. This diameter makes it finer than cotton fiber or even silk making it an incredibly comfortable option for skin. Microfiber being a synthetic material brings an array of benefits compared to its cotton peers:
- For starters, it is more absorbent and is better at wicking away moisture from your body so that you feel dry.
- The odor-resistant quality of microfibers prevents the underwear from getting smelly even if you tend to sweat profusely.
- You won’t have to worry about infection-causing bacteria lingering on your innerwear as microfiber fabric dries out quickly so that you can wear them more often.
Pros:
- Can help you stay cool while exercising or if you reside in warm climates.
- Dries quickly after washing.
- Offers the right level of support and shaping to the undergarments.
Cons:
- Microfibers are infamous for causing itching which can lead to discomfort in your private parts.
- Might not suit people suffering from skin sensitivities given the presence of various plastic or polyester compounds.
Most Popular Microfiber Underwear For Men
2. Modal
Modal is a semi-synthetic fiber curated from natural sources such as wood or plants. To be more specific, this textile is made from beech tree pulp and is often mixed with other fibers to create hybrid fabrics having tremendous strength. It falls under a group of fabrics called ‘rayon’ but has the highest quality in this group. This fabric feels very smooth to the touch and carries a light sheen having a silk-like resemblance. In one word, the soft, comfortable, and lightweight underwear made from modal fabric are a pleasure to wear.
Pros:
- Modal fabrics can define the look of your pouch by draping and hanging very well.
- It offers greater resistance to wrinkling to render a smooth appearance that doesn’t look empty in places.
- Modal is 50% more absorbent than cotton as its micro pockets help absorb any sweat or water it comes in contact with. You can stay dry and comfy whether you reside in a warm climate or engage in heavy workouts.
- The wear-resistant modal fabric can last for a long and serves as an excellent investment.
- You won’t require whitening agents or fabric softener for cleaning your modal underwear making it an eco-friendly choice.
Cons:
- Modal fabric often succumbs to issues like piling and stretching. This can be avoided by hand washing your underwear.
- This type of fabric doesn’t do a great job of retaining body heat and it turns yellow on being exposed to too much heat.
Top Trending Modal Underwear For Men
3. MicroModal
You can think of MicroModal to be the microfiber variant of the modal fabric offering a unique combination of durability and softness which adds to your comfort quotient while wearing the underwear. This fabric is derived from the European beech wood tree whose pulp is treated and processed to dissolve the cellulose. Next, it gets spun into fibers which are then dyed and blended with other fibers for being used in textiles. Producing MicroModal fabric requires less water compared to cotton making them the ideal choice for consumers who wish to reduce their carbon footprint.
Pros:
- Being derived from natural fibers, micro modal feels softer against the skin compared to other fabrics. It is touted as the softest material available and is often compared to silk.
- Being highly durable, MicroModal underwear doesn’t lose its softness even after multiple washes and several wears.
- MicroModal fabric strikes the perfect combination of breathability and a secure fit that can absorb moisture while keeping you comfortable.
- This fabric when mixed with the right level of elastane holds its shape properly while retaining elasticity. You also won’t have to worry about pilling and shrinkage even after multiple uses.
- Beech fibers found in the composition of MicroModal fabric retain color vibrancy even after several wears and multiple washes.
- Excellent moisture-wicking properties help in quickly moving sweat off of your body so that you feel cool and dry at all times.
Cons:
- Nothing as such.
Microfiber Vs Modal Vs MicroModal: Which is Better?
MicroModal is finer than Modal and feels more comfortable to touch and more durable. Higher breathability has led to its popularity in the undergarment industry as it can keep you cool throughout the day. MicroModal fabric is made from European yarn and features a tight weaving than average making them the most luxurious choice of undies. Unlike microfiber which has been around for quite some time, Modal and MicroModal are relatively new entrants in the field of intimate wear.
Since the onset, both Modal and MicroModal have been preferred by global customers for their supreme softness which can be comparable to sturdier silk. However, Modal fabrics retain their strength unlike silk on getting wet. This stellar combination of durability and softness makes these fabrics the perfect choice for underwear. Greater advancement in technology has paved the path for the production of these fabrics cost-effectively.
Modal is famous for its fine knit and silky touch. The fabric is opaque and feels like a second skin. MicroModal uses finer ground cellulosic fiber leading to a finer knit with a denser concentration of fibers in a single garment. All this is done without adding to the weight of the underwear which is why you can expect sleeker undies compared to their modal peers.
MicroModal is technically a type of microfiber. Both Modal and MicroModal fabrics are derived from the cellulose of beech trees but the difference lies in the size of the fabrics produced and the extent to which the cellulose is processed. MicroModal is finer compared to Modal as the fabric is smaller and making textiles by spinning thread leads to tighter weaving. Being the more refined of the two, MicroModal is truly the best fabric for your below-the-belt regions.