Even though I don’t have much experience with that type of underwear, half of the population use them daily.
So, it’s only natural to wonder what on Earth the gap is for.
Perhaps it’s a lipstick holder for your girlfriend, or a ventilation tactic the manufacturer created?
There’s a reason for the gap in your boxers (Getty Stock Image/Fadyukhin)
As it turns out, the question is regularly asked on Google, Reddit and Quora – and many people are perplexed and curious about the origin of the little gap in the front.
While you might prefer to wear the tighty whities that have no holes in the front, a lot of brands continue to create them, so there must be a reason as to why it’s there.
So, does it serve a purpose or is it purely a stylistic decision?
Well, wonder no longer, as underwear brand Sheath has given us the answer: “The hole in your boxers is also called a fly.
“You’re free to call them whatever name you want, but the functional term is still fly.”
Fair enough. And what’s the point?
Well, according to Sheath: “The purpose of the fly is to make it easier for you to pee while wearing boxers.”
Despite this, the brand also states that 80 percent of men actually never use the hole in their underwear to pee.
Pulling them down is generally a whole lot easier.
In fact, some blokes on Reddit consider the hole a useless addition. One wrote: “Who actually uses it though? It seems so inconvenient.
“I hardly even undo my pants anymore, I just push em down and whip it out. Saves a lot of time when I have to wear a belt.”
Sheath’s website states: “Today’s modern underwear is nothing like what men wore even a few decades ago.
It’s to pee (Getty Stock Image/Chris Collins)
“The actual pouch where the fly is located has also been changing drastically.
“In the past, this area used to be flat. This design does not give the man a natural way for his penis to be contoured. Thankfully, men today have a better option.
“New boxer briefs and men’s briefs have a design that actually has a roomier pouch.
“This new pouch design gives the man more definition, comfort, support, and freedom.”
So there you go – probably more information about boxers than you’ll ever need.
