Mack Weldon and Tommy John. Two US based brands, with a common goal: to create quality products with an unbeatable fit, both specializing in underwear. This Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review will focus on men’s lines. Let’s take a look at each brand’s origins and what they’re all about.
Mack Weldon was founded in 2012 by Brian Berger and Michael Isaacman. These men came together with a common mission to reinvent men’s basics, starting completely from scratch. This meant developing their own fabrics and implementing a strict manufacturing process to ensure that the fit of each garment would always be the same.
Berger and Isaacman placed a huge emphasis on every last garment being perfect. We’re talking down to every last stitch. While Mack Weldon began purely as an e-commerce store, they opened their first-ever physical store location in 2019, inside the The Shops at Hudson Yards in Manhattan’s West Side.
Tommy John was founded in 2008 by married couple Tom Patterson and Erin Fujimoto. Tom and Erin took a huge risk by starting a clothing company. They both left their full-time jobs to start Tommy John, and neither had any experience in clothing design or manufacturing.
The married couple shared a mission to reinvent men’s undergarments, having seen a gap in the market for men’s undergarments that were fashionable and tailored fit. The idea of underwear bands that scrunched up or socks that rolled down would never exist for their brand. Tommy John has since expanded into underwear for women. The brand is available online and in over 1000 retailers worldwide, as well as having four retail stores across the US.
When it comes to men’s underwear, both Mack Weldon and Tommy John have a strong game. So, having said this, which brand should you opt for if you’ve set out for the perfect pair? After all, both brands claim that they’re the absolute best. I’m going to take you through a Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review, to help you decide where you should spend your hard-earned money.
Mack Weldon vs Tommy John Boxer Briefs
Mack Weldon
First up in this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review is Mack Weldon’s Silver Boxer Briefs, coming in at $34 per pair. The Silver Boxer Briefs are boasted as the most luxurious briefs that Mack Weldon has to offer. These high-quality briefs are made of 84% Supima Cotton, blended with 10% antimicrobial Silver XT2. This means that Mack Weldon uses pure silver in their clothing. Impressed? We definitely are.
Mack Weldon is one of the first brands to use a blend of pure silver in their clothing. This was originally only used in situations when the wearer would be subjected to seriously harsh environments (think NASA, Olympic athletes, and the U.S. Special Forces). The pure silver blend offers additional softness and coolness to mesh zones in the fabric. The Silver Boxer Briefs feature a no-roll waistband and stay put legs, with 12 colors and patterns to choose from.
Mack Weldon’s AIRKNITx Boxer Briefs come in at $28 for a standard pair and $32 for an 8” leg. These are known for being Mack Weldon’s lightest pair of briefs. The AIRKNITx briefs are ideal for all day wear and excel in keeping you dry and comfortable. These briefs would be more than ideal for someone who lives in a warm climate or is active or outdoors all day.
The AIRKNITx fabric is responsible for maximizing airflow with targeted cool zones. These boxer briefs are a blend of 50% Polyamide, 33% Polyester and 17% Elastane and have a moisture wicking and odour fighting finish. They provide exceptional four-way stretch and flexibility. The AIRKNITx fabric features a flyless pouch, stay put legs, and no roll waistband, with 10 colours and patterns to choose from.
Tommy John
First up for Tommy John is the Second Skin X Air Boxer Briefs. These high-quality briefs come in at $39 per pair and have a longer inseam than your average briefs. What’s interesting about these briefs, is they contain the first ever patented Horizontal Quick Draw-Fly, which is convenient for easy access for those bathroom emergencies.
These boxer briefs are made out of 90% Micro Modal and 10% Spandex, designed to be silky and incredibly soft. This material is also anti-microbial and quick drying. The Second Skin X Air Boxer Briefs feature a no-roll waistband and contour pouch, available in 7 colourblock variations.
Next up is the Air Invisibles Boxer Briefs by Tommy John, which are sold for $42 each. The fabric of these high-quality boxer briefs is 78% Nylon and 22% Elastane and is meant to be exceptionally light and quick drying, on top of being anti-microbial and anti-odour.
The major selling point that Mack Weldon is pushing for is the fact that they include their VUL (visible underwear line) guarantee. These briefs feature a contour pouch, stay put waistband and patented quick draw fly, available in 6 colours and patterns.
Winner: Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon is the hands down winner for this round. Both of these brands place emphasis on a lot of the same qualities: anti-microbial, anti-odour, lightweight fabric. However, Mack Weldon has an edge when it comes to its material choice and features, as well as the fact that they are more cost effective.
All of Tommy John’s boxer briefs come with an 8” seam, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. Mack Weldon offers their boxer briefs at a shorter, more traditional seam, giving the option of the 8”.
Mack Weldon vs Tommy John Trunks
Mack Weldon
The Silver Trunk by Mack Weldon will probably be the most expensive, basic-looking pair of trunks you’ll ever own, at $32 per pair. These trunks are incredibly high quality and do include the same 10% polyester silver blend seen in the Silver Boxer Briefs, with 84% Supima Cotton and 6% Lycra for that necessary stretch.
The Silver Trunks by Mack Weldon are for you if you enjoy a short seam, high quality trunk with some cool features including antimicrobial, anti-odour, and cool mesh zones. The Silver Trunks have stay-put legs and a no-roll waistband and are offered in 17 different colours and patterns.
The AIRKNITx Trunks by Mack Weldon are the most affordable pair yet, at $26 per pair. If you’re looking for a high quality, standard pair of trunks that are great for working out and/or everyday wear, these may just be for you. These trunks feature four-way stretch and a flyless pouch, available in 9 colors and patterns.
Like the AIRKNITx Boxer Briefs, these trunks are exceptionally lightweight, comfortable and keep you fresh and dry. The exact same blend of 50% Polyamide, 33% Polyester and 17% Elastane as the AIRKNITx Boxer Briefs provides moisture-wicking and anti-odor features. You’re essentially getting the exact same underwear in a shorter style.
Tommy John
First up in this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review for trunks is the Second Skin X Air Trunks, coming in at $37 each. When you think of what the perfect pair of trunks looks like on an aesthetic level, I’d say these come in pretty close. These trunks have Tommy John’s patented horizontal quick draw-fly, a stay-put waistband, and a contour pouch, with 7 colourblock variations to choose from.
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Just like the Second Skin X Air Boxer Briefs, these trunks are made of 90% Micro Modal, 10% Spandex. The primary composition of Micro Modal gives that “second skin” feeling that seems to be incredibly popular amongst Tommy John underwear buyers. The second skin material is incredibly light with anti-microbial, anti-odour, and quick-drying capabilities.
Next up is the Air Invisibles Trunks by Tommy John. These trunks come in at $40 per pair, which seems pretty expensive. These trunks boast the same No VUL (Visible Underwear Line) Guarantee as the boxer briefs. The bonded legs of these trunks also seem to contribute to the No VUL Guarantee, as they are marketed as virtually disappearing under clothing.
The Air Invisibles Trunks are also made of 78% Nylon and 22% Elastane. The Air Invisibles are quick drying, anti-microbial, and anti-odour. They feature a contour pouch, four-way stretch, the patented quick draw fly, and a stay-put waistband. You can choose from 5 different colours and patterns for these Tommy John trunks.
Winner: Tommy John
Tommy John has the edge when it comes to their trunks. Both the Second Skin X Air Trunks and Air Visibles Trunks are the ideal material for a high quality pair of trunks, both having a second skin look and quality. While yes, Mack Weldon does gain some points when it comes to colour selection and a slightly cheaper price, Tommy John just seems to have more to offer.
Mack Weldon vs Tommy John Briefs
Mack Weldon
Next up is briefs in this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review. The 18-Hour Jersey Brief by Mack Weldon comes in at $20 per pair and is a bit of a confusing concept. The first thing you wonder is, what exactly are they referring to when they say 18-Hour Jersey Brief?
Mack Weldon calls these the 18-Hour Briefs, due to the fact that the particular fabric (47.5% Cotton, 47.5% Modal and 5% Spandex), sits for 18 hours before it’s cut. The fabric then naturally expands, resulting in a softer feel and fit that’s consistent every time. The 18-Hour Briefs have a no-roll waistband, cool mesh zones, a functional fly, and are offered in an impressive selection of 30 colours and patterns.
Next up is the AIRKNITx Brief by Mack Weldon, sold at $24 per pair. These briefs are for those who prefer a true lightweight, classic brief, that will keep you both comfortable and dry all day. This is an option that’s great for those who don’t like to wear a whole lot of material under their clothing while still feeling supported.
The AIRKNITx Briefs do of course feature Mack Weldon’s breathable, moisture-wicking, and anti-odour microfiber consisting of 50% Polyamide, 33% Polyester and 17% Elastane. They’ve got a flyless pouch, a flexible 4-way stretch, and no-roll elastic waistband, available in 6 colours and patterns.
Tommy John
When it comes to briefs, Tommy John does not disappoint. First up is the Second Skin Briefs (otherwise known as Second Skin 2.0), costing $30 for one pair. They naturally have all the same capabilities of the original Second Skin fabric, including the patented horizontal quick-draw fly and contour pouch. The Second Skin 2.0 briefs are offered in 12 colours and patterns.
Next is the Cool Cotton Briefs by Tommy John, which are $27 for one pair. These are probably Tommy John’s most basic pair of briefs, but seemingly one of their most popular. They feature an attractive contour pouch and Tommy John’s signature horizontal quick draw fly, available in 10 colours and patterns
These briefs are designed for daily wear and are made from breathable 86% Pima Cotton and 14% Spandex. Tommy John claims that the Pima Cotton blend actually keeps you 3 times cooler and dries 5 times faster than regular cotton due to their moisture-wicking capability – and their customers seem to agree.
Winner: Mack Weldon
When it comes to the winner for the briefs section of the Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review, Mack Weldon wins by a hair. Mack Weldon’s briefs do boast a much more casual look to Tommy John’s, so it really comes down to the look you prefer.
Both the 18-Hour Jersey Brief and the AIRKNITx Brief by Mack Weldon are meant for everyday wear regardless of the activity you’re performing, while the Second Skin Briefs by Tommy John specifically are not recommended to be worn during exercise.
Mack Weldon’s briefs are also more cost effective for an everyday brief. The 18-Hour Jersey Brief also comes in a whopping 30 different shades and patterns, which is more than Tommy John’s selection put together.
Mack Weldon vs Tommy John Boxers
Mack Weldon
The 18-Hour Jersey Knit Boxer by Mack Weldon comes in at $28 per pair and is arguably the most casual underwear they sell. They’re mainly targeted towards lounging and sleeping in, but can also be worn every day.
The Jersey Knit Boxers are made out of a blend of super soft 47.5% Cotton, 47.5% Modal and 5% Spandex. The boxers sit for 18-hours before it’s cut, just like their 18-Hour Jersey Brief. They feature a covered waistband, comfy stretch gusset, and button fly. The Jersey Knit Boxers are available in eight colours and patterns.
The Woven Boxer by Mack Weldon is also $28 per pair and looks more like your traditional boxers that you’d pick up pretty well anywhere. They do contain some additional features to your average boxers, including a button fly and a covered waistband.
These boxers are a blend of 98% Cotton and 2% Spandex, have a 2-way stretch and a tailored fit. They still maintain the look of traditional boxers and are offered in 7 colours and patterns.
Tommy John
First up in Tommy John’s boxer line is the Second Skin Relaxed Fit Boxer, which costs $34 per pair. How can a pair of underwear both be considered “second skin” and relaxed, you ask? Well, it’s basically slightly baggier than any of their other Second Skin garments. They feature a stay-put waistband and contour pouch, available in 10 colours and patterns.
These Relaxed Fit Boxers are made from 90% Non-Pilling Micro Modal and 10% Spandex, so you won’t get any unappealing lint balls or fuzz on your expensive underwear. Tommy John specifically mentions that these boxer briefs are not meant for exercise, but are recommended for daily wear.
Next up is the Cool Cotton Relaxed Fit Boxer by Tommy John, also coming in at $31. These boxers are meant for daily wear and contain the same blend of 86% Pima Cotton and 14% Spandex as the Cool Cotton Briefs. These Relaxed Fit Boxers also keep you up to 3 times cooler and dry up to 5 times faster than regular cotton. The Cool Cotton Relaxed Fit Boxer features a stay-put waistband and contour pouch, available in 7 colours and patterns.
Winner: Mack Weldon
When it comes to boxers in this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review, I definitely prefer Mack Weldon. When you think of a relaxed fit boxer, you don’t think of an ever so slightly baggier version of a skin tight boxer. When it comes to the aesthetic of Tommy John’s relaxed fit boxers, they seem to be way off.
Mack Weldon’s boxers are not only cheaper, but they fit with the traditional look of a relaxed fit boxer, while still being high quality and aesthetically pleasing.
Mack Weldon vs Tommy John Long Underwear
Mack Weldon
We’re down to our last Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review comparison. First up is the WARMKNIT Long Underwear by Mack Weldon, coming in at $58 per pair.
The WARMKNIT Long Underwear are a blend of 43% Modal, 38% Thermolite Polyester, 15% Wool and 4% Spandex, made into a micro-waffle knit. What does this mean for you? Well, it keeps you warmer for longer than the average long underwear. This style features a no-roll waistband and a lightweight material that is also moisture-wicking and anti-odor. The WARMKNIT Long Underwear is available in 7 colours and patterns.
Tommy John
Next up is the SleekHeat Long John Bottoms by Tommy John, which costs $60 for one pair. These long johns contain a “smart fabric”, that’s composed of 57% Polyester, 37% Rayon and 6% Spandex. This fabric is feather light, keeps you warm outdoors and yet won’t have you overheating indoors.
The non-pilling material is silky-soft and the fabric closely hugs the body while still allowing full, comfortable movement. The smart stretch fabric prevents moisture buildup and is only available in black.
Winner: Mack Weldon
This is a bit of a tricky one, but I have to give the slight edge to Mack Weldon, for a few reasons. The first is the available colours and sizes – Mack Weldon’s WARMKNIT Long Underwear has four available colours, while Tommy John’s SleekHeat Long John Bottoms only have one. Mack Weldon’s long underwear also appears to be slightly looser while still being warm, while Tommy John’s appears to be spandex-like and skin tight.
Quality
In this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review, we’ll take a look at where each brand manufactures their products and compare the quality of materials that each brand uses.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon is designed in New York with a fulfillment center in Massachusetts. Their products are manufactured in multiple different locations, including South America, Asia and the US. Mack Weldon products are made in WRAP certified factories, meaning you can be sure that all products are ethically manufactured.
Both brands focus on producing items of the utmost highest quality. That being said, Mack Weldon is known for creating their own unique fabrics if they can’t find exactly what they’re looking for. The brand custom blends high quality fibers to create fabrics that perform even better than they did before, including the 18-Hour Jersey, Silver and AIRKNITx.
Tommy John
While Tommy John used to import all fabrics and manufacture them in Los Angeles, products are now manufactured where the material is sourced. This means that your garment may have come from a variety of locations, including Sri Lanka, China and Egypt. Tommy John made this change in order to reduce its carbon footprint by streamlining the process.
Tommy John also uses the highest quality materials, including Pima Cotton and Non-Pilling Micro Modal. As far as I can tell, none of Tommy John’s fabrics have been specifically altered to create a fabric that is unique to the brand.
Winner: Mack Weldon
Although Tommy John does use some incredibly high-quality fabrics, the winner has to be Mack Weldon for this one. Mack Weldon goes above and beyond to create their own fabric blends that perform exactly how they want–and they still manage to keep their prices slightly cheaper than Tommy John.
Customer Ratings
When it comes to customer ratings, both brands have been heavily reviewed by customers. Let’s take a look at the general consensus on each brand in this Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review.
Mack Weldon
Generally, the reviews on Mack Weldon’s website are overwhelmingly positive. Customers have boasted numerous times that Mack Weldon underwear is the most comfortable and high-quality underwear they’ve ever owned. Certain reviews off of the Mack Weldon website say differently. Multiple customers have experienced the waistband unravelling from the brief, while others claimed that they were not as comfortable as they should be for such an expensive pair of briefs.
Tommy John
You will see a similar customer review experience when it comes to Tommy John. Reviews on the Tommy John website show that customers believe their underwear is the best out there, with a great fit, quality and feel. However, reviews off of the Tommy John website have shown quick tearing in the crotch, unravelling seams and a waistband that does in fact roll down, despite their no-roll waistband claim.
Winner: Mack Weldon
Unfortunately, reviews for both products can certainly seem disheartening. However, Mack Weldon does have fewer negative reviews than Tommy John. There have been a few complaints of the waist band unravelling from the brief, but this doesn’t compare to the number of outside complaints in regards to Tommy John underwear. According to reviews, visible tears and rips after a few weeks to a couple months of wear is a genuine problem and more than a few customers are not happy.
Promotions & Discounts
It wouldn’t be a Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review without including deals offered by each brand. Let’s take a look at the specials you can find with Mack Weldon and Tommy John.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon has a Buy More, Save More policy:
- Save 10% on orders of $100 or more
- Save 20% on orders of $200 or more
Tommy John
Tommy John offers several compelling discounts:
- Sign up for Tommy John’s newsletter and save 20% off your first order
- Automatically get 20% off orders $125 or more
- Multi packs of Tommy John underwear are currently 15% off
- A 20% military discount
- A 20% teachers and college students discount (US only)
Winner: Tommy John
Tommy John wins hands down when it comes to promotions and discounts. Besides Mack Weldon’s Buy More, Save More policy, they don’t seem to be big on promotions. With Mack Weldon, customers receive 20% off just by signing up for the newsletter, and the discounts for military personnel, teachers, and college students are especially generous.
Shipping & Returns
When it comes to shipping and returns, the brands do have a few notable differences.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon only ships within the US and Canada, so their shipping range is limited. They do offer free shipping over $50 and a next day shipping option for the US. Most orders are shipped the same day or the next business day.
When it comes to their socks and underwear, Mack Weldon has a Try on Guarantee: If you don’t love your first pair of Mack Weldon underwear, they’ll either send you a full refund or send you a different style or size of your choosing. There is no return required for this option.
Beyond your first pair, you can only return underwear within 30 days if it has been unworn and unwashed, which seems fair. This goes for all of their other products as well. In this case, you can get a full refund or exchange.
Tommy John
Tommy John delivers both domestically and internationally, so you can receive their products anywhere in the world. They offer free domestic shipping on orders of $75+ and free international shipping of orders of $150+. Tommy John will make “reasonable efforts” to ship your order out within two business days.
Similarly to Mack Weldon, Tommy John has a Best Pair Guarantee. This means that they will issue a refund or exchange for your first pair of underwear only. Otherwise, their return policy is within 30 days, unwashed and unworn with all tags attached and in original packaging.
Winner: Tommy John
While Mack Weldon does have its perks when it comes to shipping, Tommy John wins this one. Mack Weldon will only ship within North America, whereas Tommy John ships anywhere in the world. Tommy John also has multiple free shipping options, which go beyond standard delivery, depending on how much you spend.
Price & Value
| Item | Price | Value |
| Boxer Briefs | ||
| Mack Weldon Silver Mack Weldon AIRKNITx Tommy John Second Skin X Air Tommy John Air Invisibles | $34$28$39$42 | FairFairPoorPoor |
| Trunks | ||
| Mack Weldon SilverMack Weldon AIRKNITx Tommy John Second Skin X Air Tommy John Trunks Air Invisibles | $32$26$37$40 | FairGoodPoorPoor |
| Briefs | ||
| Mack Weldon Jersey Mack Weldon AIRKNITxTommy John Second SkinTommy John Cool Cotton | $20$24$27$30 | FairPoorPoorPoor |
| Boxers | ||
| Mack Weldon Jersey Knit Mack Weldon Woven Tommy John Second Skin Relaxed Fit Tommy John Cool Cotton Relaxed Fit | $28$28$34$31 | PoorPoorFairFair |
| Long Underwear | ||
| Mack Weldon WARMKNIT Tommy John Sleek Heat Long John | $58$60 | PoorPoor |
Winner: Mack Weldon
When it comes to purchasing a basic pair of underwear, I am of the belief that both brands are somewhat overpriced. That being said, Mack Weldon does ring in slightly better than Tommy John in the value for money department.
Although Mack Weldon does have a more casual vibe than Tommy John, they also custom blend their own materials, which cannot be incredibly cost effective for them. It seems that Mack Weldon is trying to sell their products at a somewhat reasonable price for what it costs to make them.
We Choose: Mack Weldon
| Category | Mack Weldon | Tommy John |
| Boxer Briefs | ✓ | |
| Trunks | ✓ | |
| Briefs | ✓ | |
| Boxers | ✓ | |
| Long Underwear | ✓ | |
| Quality | ✓ | |
| Customer Ratings | ✓ | |
| Promotions & Discounts | ✓ | |
| Shipping & Returns | ✓ | |
| Price & Value | ✓ |
The results are in – and Mack Weldon wins 7/10 categories. It has to be said that Mack Weldon is a more casual looking brand when it comes to aesthetics. What really sets them apart from Tommy John is that they stick to the look of classic underwear that men already know and love, yet amp them up to be something better.
Mack Weldon never settles for material: if they can’t find a fabric that fits expectations, the brand will make its own blend. This process takes considerably more thought, time and money than ready to use fabrics that have been used so many times before. The only difference may be the exact combination of fabrics they choose to blend together.
Mack Weldon still aims to keep their products at a somewhat affordable price, regardless of production cost (although for most of us, purchasing a very basic-looking pair of briefs for $20-$30 can be difficult to wrap our heads around). It has to be said that Mack Weldon could do better when it comes to their limited shipping locations and their lack of promotions and discounts. No brand is perfect, and overall, Mack Weldon seems to be better quality for your money and more innovative than Tommy John.
For these reasons, I hand the crown to Mack Weldon for coming up on top in the world of men’s undergarments. We hope you’ve found our comprehensive Mack Weldon vs Tommy John underwear review informative!For a closer look at each brand, check out our reviews for Mack Weldon and Tommy John.
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