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Tommy John Review: What to Buy & What to Avoid

Published on August 23, 2021 by Brock McGoff · Clothing and Style, Product Reviews May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

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

Table of Contents

  • Quick Take
  • About Tommy John
  • What I Tried
  • Overall Recommendation
  • Questions About Tommy John
Tommy John underwear review
For this Tommy John review, I tried on five different pairs of underwear, along with a t-shirt and some joggers.

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.

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.

Tommy John Cool Cotton Trunks tag
Tommy John Cool Cotton fabric composition

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.

Tommy John Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs
Tommy John Cool Cotton Boxer Briefs

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.

Tommy John Cool Cotton Trunks
Tommy John Cool Cotton Trunks

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.

Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Briefs tag
Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Briefs fabric composition

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

Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Briefs
Tommy John Second Skin Boxer Briefs

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.

Tommy John Second Skin Trunks tag
Tommy John Second Skin Trunks fabric composition

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.

Tommy John Second Skin Trunks
Tommy John Second Skin Trunks

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.

Tommy John 360 Sport Boxer Briefs tag
Tommy John 360 Sport Boxer Briefs fabric composition

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.

Tommy John 360 Sport Boxer Briefs
Tommy John 360 Sport Boxer Briefs

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.

Tommy John Second Skin Trunks tag
Tommy John Second Skin Trunks Tee fabric composition

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… 🤦🏻‍♂️

Tommy John V Neck Tee front
Tommy John V Neck Tee back

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).

Tommy John Lounge Joggers front
Tommy John Lounge Joggers back
Tommy John Lounge Joggers

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.

Tommy John Lounge Joggers tag
Tommy John Lounge Joggers fabric composition

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.

Clothing and Style, Product Reviews boxer briefs, Tommy John, underwear

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About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

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    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Richard Scott says

    June 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    I’m been wearing Tommy John second skin boxer briefs for at least 10 years but I’m done with them. In the last few years their quality has gone down hill. I never know how they are going to fit,they start getting holes in the crotch area almost right away and for the money they are just not worth it. You have lost me as a customer.

    Reply
  2. Marisha says

    March 26, 2022 at 11:41 pm

    I love everything about the second skin line, I have every bit of 20 pair but after a couple of washes, I’ve noticed they don’t hold very well. I have holes in the seat of about 15 pair of them. I’m not any more or less rough with these particular ones than any of the other brand underwear but these seem to wear thin quickly and have these rip or snag type holes. It’s weird. That’s about the only thing I HATE and if that were fixed, I’d continue to buy otherwise, I won’t buy another pair!!

    Reply
  3. Evan says

    September 9, 2021 at 12:50 pm

    Between the Second Skins and the Lululemon AIM, which would get the nod from you?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      September 10, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      Ah that’s tough, really like both of them. Maybe lulu by a thin margin, but I think it comes down to which fabric feels best on your skin. Can’t go wrong with either!

      Reply
  4. George says

    August 25, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    I have several pair of Tommy John Second Skin Trunks. I agree they are incredibly comfortable especially for summer wear here i the hot humid Midwest (Indianapolis, IN). However, they are incredibly expensive (i got mine on special but don’t remember what I payed). I do find the waist band tends to roll.
    If you’ve not tried them I think the Duluth coolmax (I think) boxer briefs are just as comfortable, less expensive with a slightly narrower waist band and a vertical fly and the waist band doesn’t roll. They’re 93% nylon and 3% spandex.

    Reply
  5. Scott W says

    August 25, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    I love the second skin boxer briefs, my favorite. I wear them everyday. I agree the tee’s have a great feel but not really designed for us Modest Men.

    Reply
  6. Mario Martins says

    August 25, 2021 at 4:15 pm

    One of the worst underwear I’ve purchased.
    The cotton boxer briefs continuously ride up.

    Reply
    • Brock says

      August 25, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      If you’re talking about the Cool Cotton line, I’d agree that they’re nothing special (although mine didn’t ride up). The Second Skin line, though…those are really nice.

      Reply

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