Review: C-IN2 bamboo army trunk

When I learned that bamboo fibers are three times more absorbent than cotton and softer than cashemere, I had to give bamboo a try on my derriere. So, I bought myself a pair of C-IN2 bamboo army trunks. Like the Ginch Gonch Bull Rider sports brief, I wore the C-IN2 army trunks in a couple of different situations: 1)  A full day at the office under blue jeans, and 2) during a 13 mile morning run. Here’s how they performed:

The Look: 6/10

I don’t think the look of the army trunk is anything too special. They’re really average in that department. I’ve got a black pair with white details.  The waistband is quite thick (which I like) and white with the C-IN2 logo repeated all the way around. There are white cuffs around each thigh (which I don’t like). The C-IN2 army trunk also features the “trophy shelf”, a pouch like area in the front that holds the “male package” up and out for an optical enhancement. This works very well. There is an obvious enhancement with no pants on and a moderate one while wearing khakis or jeans.

The fit: 7/10

Like the Ginch Gonch sports brief, the C-IN2 army trunk is shorter than I expected. The army trunk is light and form fitting. It clings to the skin well. The trophy shelf is surprisingly comfortable. In fact, I think the trophy shelf makes these more comfortable than “regular” briefs. Even while running 13 miles, the trophy shelf held everything up and out of the way of my thighs, eliminating the small amount of chafing I normally get with a regular pair of boxer briefs. My main qualm with the fit of the army trunk is that the white cuffs around the thighs seem to slip up over time, causing the rear of the army trunk to infiltrate the crack area like a thong. This occurred after about 8 hours at the office and after about 8 miles of running.

The feel: 10/10

It’s very true that bamboo is soft. The C-IN2 army trunk is a pleasure to wear from this standpoint. It grew even softer after one wash. The fabric is also quite absorbent. During the 13 mile run, it pulled moisture away from my body and held onto it. I couldn’t believe how wet the army trunk was when I took it off because it didn’t feel wet while I was wearing it. The army trunk is so soft, I’m tempted to cuddle with it like a baby with his “blankey”.

Overall: 8/10

To me, the C-IN2 bamboo army trunk is just average, but the softness of the fabric bumps it into the realm of a good pair of underwear. If you like briefs or thong underwear, then many of my reservations about the fit won’t apply to you and you’ll probably love this underwear. If you haven’t tried bamboo underwear yet, give these a try. They’re a good introduction to the fabric.