Tommy John Review: What to Buy & What to Avoid

In this hands-on Tommy John review, I’ll share my experience test driving this popular underwear brand.

If you’ve ever Googled “best men’s underwear” then you’ve probably heard of Tommy John.

It seems to be at or near the top of pretty much every list, but…

• Is Tommy John underwear any good?
• It’s pretty expensive…is it worth the price?
• And, if you’re going to buy Tommy John underwear, which ones should you get?

What about Tommy John’s non-underwear products? Are their t-shirts and lounge pants any good?

I’ll answer all of these questions (and more) in this in-depth, unsponsored review.

Quick Take

If you can stomach the premium price tag, Tommy John underwear is incredibly comfortable and durable.

I didn’t like every style, though. My favorites were the Second Skin Boxer Briefs. These weren’t too tight and didn’t ride up.

Tommy John’s lounge pants are also great. Surprisingly, they’re not too long and baggy on my 5’6″ 120 lbs frame.

Their t-shirts, while comfy, are way too big on me.

Check out Tommy John right here, or read on for my full review.

About Tommy John

Tommy John was founded in 2008 by Erin Fujimoto and Tom Patterson, a wife and husband team with no prior experience in apparel or e-commerce.

Tom, a former medical device sales rep who had been let go during the Great Recession, was always frustrated by his undershirts coming untucked.

The duo began selling undershirts out of their apartment before expanding into underwear, socks and loungewear.

Based in NYC and privately held, Tommy John now has 120+ employees and several noteworthy investors, including A-list celebrity Kevin Hart.

My Build

For reference, I’m 5’6” in shoes and about 125 lbs after dinner. I have a 35” chest and almost always order XS tops. 

My off-the-rack suit jacket size would be 34S, and my ideal pant size is usually 28×28.

What I Tried

Here’s what I’ve tried so far from Tommy John:

• Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs
• Cool Cotton Trunks
• Second Skin Boxer Briefs
• Second Skin Trunks
• 360 Sport Boxer Briefs
• Second Skin V-Neck Tee
• Second Skin Lounge Jogger

Let’s take a closer look at each item…

Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs

The Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs are the most basic of all Tommy John underwear styles. They’re 86% Pima cotton and 14% Spandex, so nothing too exotic.

If you’re used to wearing standard cotton boxer briefs, these will be a step up in terms of quality, but they aren’t noticeably softer or more comfortable than other brands.

I actually think that Hanes Comfort Flex Fit Boxer Briefs are just as comfy at a fraction of the price.

However, I do appreciate the horizontal “Quick Draw” fly. In my opinion, this is superior to a standard vertical fly or no fly at all.

Cool Cotton Trunks

The Cool Cotton Trunks are just like the Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs, only shorter. These were my least favorite of the styles I tried on.

They seemed to run a bit small compared to other brands; I may just need to size up for more room in the seat.

Then again, I prefer the longer boxer brief style over shorter trunks, even though trunks usually look better.

If you like trunks, you’ll probably like these more than I did.

Second Skin Boxer Briefs

Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Briefs are some of my favorite current favorite boxer briefs.

A Modal/Poly/Spandex blend, these remind me of lululemon’s AIM boxer briefs.

These have everything you look for in great underwear: they’re incredibly soft, and they don’t ride up.

If you’re trying Tommy John for the first time, I highly recommend going with Second Skin over Cool Cotton.

Second Skin Trunks

Like the boxer briefs, the Second Skin Trunks are soft and comfy. They’re shorter and, in my opinion, more flattering on pretty much any body type.

Also, the trunks’ fabric composition is slightly different (90% Micro Modal, 10% Spandex).

This gives them an even softer and silkier feel than their longer boxer brief counterparts.

They’re sort of like Tani Silkcut Trunks but with a more substantial waistband and horizontal fly (both of which are nice upgrades).

360 Sport Boxer Briefs

The 360 Sport Boxer Briefs aren’t quite compression shorts, but they are clearly meant for working out.

These Poly/Spandex blend boxer briefs are very stretchy and have a slot pocket on the right hip for small items like keys or headphones.

They’re still underwear…I wouldn’t wear these as an outer layer. But they’re great for wearing underneath pocketless gym shorts.

I’ve worked out in these and found that they don’t ride up during running or squatting.

Second Skin V-Neck Tee

As a brand, Tommy John may be best known for its underwear, but TJ makes undershirts, loungewear and casual knits too.

Their Second Skin Tees are made from a soft, lightweight Pima Cotton/Modal blend with 5% stretch.

They’re available in crew and v-neck. Unfortunately, the only go down to size Small, and their 6’2″ 41″ chest models wear Medium… 🤦🏻‍♂️

The Small is way too big on me. Using their sizing system and assuming no additional shrinkage in the laundry, I’d need a XS/Short tee.

It’s too bad because this t-shirt has a luxurious feel and seems like it’ll hold up well over time.

Second Skin Lounge Jogger

I also tried a pair of Tommy John pants from their men’s loungewear collection, the Second Skin Lounge Joggers in Charcoal Heather (Small).

Surprisingly, these aren’t way too long on me like most lounge pants. Sure, they could be a couple inches shorter, but they’re definitely wearable, as is.

These Acrylic/Modal/Spandex joggers are soft, lightweight and comfy. I have a feeling these will get plenty of wear during fall, winter and early spring.

Overall Recommendation

If you’re in the market for premium men’s underwear and can pay $40 per pair, you should check out Tommy John.

This brand is right up their with other TMM favorites like Mack Weldon and lululemon.

I don’t love all of Tommy John’s underwear styles. My favorites, by a long shot, are their Second Skin Boxer Briefs and Trunks.

Of course, you might prefer a different length or style, so take advantage of Tommy John’s free returns policy and order a few different pairs 😉

Questions About Tommy John

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Tommy John.

Tommy John Second Skin vs. Cool Cotton

Tommy John Cool Cotton boxers and trunks feel like your standard cotton underwear. Don’t get me wrong: they’re comfortable, just not anything special.

On the other hand, Tommy John Second Skin has a unique, premium feel. It’s softer, lighter and stretchier and (in my opinion) much better than Cool Cotton.

What is the Tommy John Hammock Pouch?

Like many brands (Saxx, Bn3th, 2(X)IST, Separatec, etc.), Tommy John offers a version of their underwear with a pouch inside the crotch area for your, well…you know what it’s for.

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of pouch underwear, but some guys swear by it. If you prefer having a pouch, Tommy John Hammock Pouch Boxer Briefs are a great choice.

Is Tommy John a Luxury brand?

Based on price alone, most people would consider Tommy John to be a luxury brand, or at least a premium underwear brand, but it’s not a “designer” brand like Gucci or Versace.

Is Tomy John Made in USA?

Tommy John used to manufacture their products in Southern California. Now, Tommy John products are made all over the world, including China, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Peru and other countries.

Who owns Tommy John?

Tommy John is a privately held company owned by Tom Patterson and his co-founder wife, Erin Fujimoto.

Is Kevin Hart involved with Tommy John?

In 2016, eight years after Tommy John was founded, Kevin Hart invested in the company (the details were kept private).

He’d been a fan of Tommy John underwear and wanted to get involved in the business. Since investing, Hart has launched several capsule collections with Tommy John.

Is there a Tommy John store?

Yes, there are dedicated Tommy John stores. You can also find Tommy John products in department stores and other retailers. Use their Store Locator to find a location near you.