If You Always Get Wedgies While Working Out, It's Time To Switch Your Panties

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You spend so much time (and, LBH, money) making sure you have the right sneakers for your stride and the best high-impact sports bra to keep everything strapped in. But what about putting on the best underwear for workouts? It's so simple to just slip into whatever is lying at the top of your drawer (or you know, whatever is clean...).

The best panties for any workout routine will be made of either cotton or a moisture-wicking synthetic, says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., author of The Complete A to Z for Your V. “Yeast and bacteria love dark, moist environments,” says Dweck, who suggests changing out of any wet clothes or sweaty leggings as soon as possible for this reason. Watch out for seams, too, as they could rub in all the wrong places and cause chafing (um, ouch).

Also, pay attention to size. “The tighter it is, the more it’s going to hold up against your vagina and potentially trap moisture, bacteria, and sweat that can lead to infection,” says Justin Shelton, D.O., an ob-gyn at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. If you put on undies and instantly feel restricted—rather than supported—or you see indentation lines in the skin after you take them off, they’re too small. Dweck adds that the best underwear for the gym is a pair you don’t even realize you’re wearing. “You shouldn’t be aware of your underwear when working out—comfort is key,” she says.

As for what brands to try out first, Women's Health tapped a few fitness pros who have strong preferences on what to wear down there—and were willing to open up about their favorites. WH editors themselves also tested a few pairs for themselves. Which came out on top? Keep reading to find out.

UnderEase Mid-Rise Thong

Andrea Speir, founder of SPEIR Pilates, loves a pair of seamless underwear that doesn't bunch up. That's why she loves the Lululemon UnderEase Mid-Rise Thongs. "This super soft, wet-wicking set has that barely-there feel," she says, adding that the bonded seams and delicate cut means no irritation or VPLs.

WH associate e-commerce editor Lily Wohlner is also a mega fan of the brand's underwear. "They're my go-to underwear when I know I'll be sweating because they wick away moisture and keep me feeling cool and dry," she says. "Plus, they're completely invisible under leggings."

Under Armour Stretch Thong

These undies are loved by three experts: Ariel Belgrave, Tone It Up trainer and creator of The L.E.A.N Method, Natalie Uhling, creator of NuFit, and Anna Kaiser, celebrity trainer and founder of AKT InMotion.

Because shimmying your way through a Beyoncé song requires bottoms that aren’t going to give you a wedgie every time you thrust a hip, Uhling and Kaiser both turn to these thongs. “They stay put so I don’t have to keep adjusting—or I just go bare,” says Uhling. And Belgrave agrees, saying, "This underwear was created for workouts—they are super soft, lightweight, breathable (thanks, sweat-wicking tech material!), and don't require adjusting during the workout."

Knix Seamless Boyshort

Kristin McGee, yoga and meditation instructor at Peloton, prefers briefs over thongs, but only if they're seamless. Her go-to for a barely-there feel with all the coverage? The super absorbent Knix Athletic Boyshorts. The company designed this specific pair of undies after surveying over 250 female personal trainers in an effort to ensure it could hold its ground against moisture and sweat. And let me tell you—they definitely passed the test.

Icebreaker Siren swimsuit

Travel influencer Priya Mareedu calls these underwear "magic," for good reasaon. The combination of merino wool and the super feminine cut (DW, it's not a thong!) makes them super comfy for workouts, sleeping, and everything in-between. Mareedu specifically loves wearing them on hikes, walks, or long travel days. Plus, they come in so many cute colors, so you never get sick of wearing them every day.

Tactel Thong

WH commerce editor Jasmine Gomez loves the Jockey Tactel Thong for workouts because they stay put, they're breathable, and they're easy to move in. "They also don't chafe, which is a major plus for me," she says. While they are a low-rise fit, they're not super constricting, so you don't have to worry about these panties causing unnecessary bulging under your leggings (phew!).

Cotton Jersey Dipped Thong

Looking for something that's 100 percent cotton? Skims has got your back. This specific pair has a dipped front so you never have to worry about them peeking through your leggings or shorts. Plus, they're super stretchy and never constricting. One online reviewer loves these panties so much, she said they're by far the softest cotton underwear she's ever found. "They're so stretchy, soft, and flattering," she notes.

Victoria's Secret No-Show Hiphugger

"The best underwear for workouts, in my opinion, should be relatively thin (quick-drying), soft on the skin, and seamless," says Judine St. Gerard, NASM-certified personal trainer and head coach at Tone House. She tells us that the Victoria's Secret no-show line—she likes both the Hiphuggers and thongs—does an amazing job when it comes to coverage all three of her workout panty non-negotiables

Seamless Thong

E. Taylor, PES/PNF specialist, NASM-certified trainer, and model, says Nude Barre has the best long-lasting seamless underwear. "They're perfect for yoga, mobility, and flow training," she notes. "Their underwear doesn't show any lines through stretchy fabric and they have a wide range of skin tone colors."

Super Leakproof swimsuit

If you're menstruating, you'll appreciate having undies that keep you comfortably dry, and these deliver just that. They can absorb up to eight teaspoons of liquid, whether it's blood, urine (it happens!), or sweat. So, if your tampon leaks, consider these your reliable backup—no need for extra pads. Plus, the best part is, you won't even notice any excess moisture; these undies seamlessly absorb it all.

WH assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture also loves Knix underwear. According to her, they're super comfortable and stay totally in place during her workouts.

Modern Micro Seamfree Hipster

WH editorial assistant Addison Aloian loves this seamfree underwear from Jockey. "It's my go-to underwear for most days of the week," she says. "They're unbelievably soft, making them perfect to workout, sleep, or run errands in," she notes. According to Aloian, the waistband also hugs her body perfectly and is nice and stretchy, so they never feel tight. "Plus, they look pretty cute on."

Brazilian Panties

These panties are so thin, you'll forget you're wearing them. And WH assistant social media editor Isabelle McMahon is agrees. "They're so lightweight and soft with their 100 percent cotton gusset," she says. Plus, she notes that they're super subtle under leggings, making them awesome for workouts. "I literally never have to worry about them poking through or creating any weird lines through my workout gear."

Microfiber Low Rise Thong Pantie

Talene Appleton, NASM, personal trainer and fitness commerce editor at Men's Health, says she wears these low-rise underwear when she hits the gym. "They're seamless and thin, which I always appreciate," she notes. However, she mentions that they don't hold up super well over time after washing them a bunch.

Invisible String Thong

I'm a personal fan of working out in string thongs because they're practically invisible, and this one from Alo Yoga has been my everyday go-to. As someone who likes to strength train, I move a lot during my workouts, and these never slip or slide during squats or leg raises. Since they're a G-string, they also never show through my leggings and there are no bumps in sight.

ComfortStretch Thong

"These don't show through any fabric, they stay put, and they never chafe," says WH fitness editor Jennifer Nied, who does all sorts of different workouts in them. Although they're nice and snug, you don't even feel like you're wearing anything as they have four-way stretch fabric and zero elastic lining, so they lay perfectly flat on your body.

How our team chose the best underwear for workouts

For the past year, Women’s Health editors, including associate e-commerce editor Lily Wohlner and former senior commerce editor Neha Tandon, researched the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated underwear for workouts. Our team consulted trainers and Ob-gyns for the story, consulted other editors for their favorite picks, and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best workout underwear for a wide range of preferences and sizes.

Meet the experts

• Alyssa Dweck, M.D., author of The Complete A to Z for Your V

• Justin Shelton, D.O., an ob-gyn at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia

• Andrea Speir, founder of SPEIR Pilates

• Ariel Belgrave, Tone It Up trainer and creator of The L.E.A.N Method

• Natalie Uhling, creator of NuFit

• Anna Kaiser, celebrity trainer and founder of AKT InMotion

• Kristin McGee, yoga and meditation instructor at Peloton

• Priya Mareedu, travel influencer

• Judine St. Gerard, NASM-certified personal trainer and head coach at Tone House

• E. Taylor, PES/PNF specialist, NASM-certified trainer, and model

• Talene Appleton, NASM, personal trainer and fitness commerce editor at Men's Health

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