Tommy John

Tommy John is one of the most frequently recommended underwear brands in the r/BuyItForLife community, consistently praised for exceptional comfort, fit, and anti-chafing performance. Most users report 3–7 years of solid use, particularly from the Second Skin and Cool Cotton lines. The primary caveats are the premium price point and occasional reports of quality inconsistency, with most users acknowledging underwear is rarely truly BIFL.

Tommy John earns strong community consensus as among the best underwear available for comfort and longevity, but the premium price, occasional durability complaints, and near-universal acknowledgment that underwear isn't truly BIFL make it a conditional rather than unconditional recommendation.

Community members overwhelmingly praise Tommy John for unmatched comfort, a functional horizontal fly design, and a fit that stays in place without riding up. The Second Skin and Cool Cotton lines in particular earn repeated endorsements for durability and softness.

• Second Skin and Cool Cotton lines praised as most durable options
• Stays in place all day without riding up or bunching
• Excellent anti-chafing performance, even in heat and humidity
• Soft, breathable fabrics comfortable against sensitive skin
• Unique horizontal fly design considered highly functional
• Multiple users report 5–7 years of use with proper care

The most consistent criticism is the high price, though most users feel it's justified. A minority of users report quality decline over time, waistband separation, or holes developing, and at least one commenter noticed a drop in quality in recent years.

• Significantly more expensive than most competing brands
• Some users report waistband separation around the two-year mark
• Reported quality decline in recent years, especially for women's styles
• Synthetic fabric may not suit those preferring natural materials
• Target store version reportedly lower quality than direct or Nordstrom

One long-term user reported their Second Skin boxer briefs lasting over five years without holes or elastic stretch, recommending that line and Cool Cotton as the most durable Tommy John options.

A tall user with larger thighs said Tommy John is the only brand that makes underwear long enough to prevent riding up, and credited them with eliminating chafing entirely.

One commenter noted that trying the Second Skin for the first time was so dramatic it felt like switching from HD to standard definition — and described buying other underwear on a trip as a major downgrade.

A women's underwear buyer observed that pairs purchased in 2020 were noticeably softer and higher quality than newer pairs bought recently, while also being cheaper at the time — raising concerns about ongoing quality consistency.