It’s a question that plagues many men: Go cheap or go fancy? If the item in question is beer, the former is usually the winner. What kind of underwear to buy is not always such a clear choice.

Different colors, patterns, brands, styles and price all must be taken in account. How much money to spend, it seems, is a driving force for some men when it comes to buying underwear.
“I want good quality,” says materials engineering sophomore Matt Riccitelli. “But I don’t want to spend too much.”

For the more miserly student who doesn’t want to blow all of his trust fund check on underwear, Kohl’s offers boxer shorts by Croft & Barrow for only $12.00. For a more frugal approach, head straight to hanes.com. They offer a three-pack of cotton boxers for only $9.00. College budgets don’t usually allow for a single pair of boxers — at least not at $12.00.

For that student who doesn’t mind dropping $30.00 on underwear, American Apparel offers what they call the Baby Rib Men’s Brief. It’s available in a wide array of colors, and comes in a three-pack. They can also be purchased one pair at a time, for $12.000.

For those who like the security of a brief, but the length of a boxer, it seems logical to invest in a boxer-brief. “I’ve been wearing boxer-briefs for about five years,” says Riccitelli. “I like Fruit of the Loom. It’s a good brand.”

Hanes.com appears to have the edge in price, offering a package of 4, for only $12.00. And again, those who want to class it up a bit can invest a little more and go for the designer stuff. Calvin Klein offers a classic pair of boxer briefs for $19.50. For the man who likes flash and flamboyance, American Apparel offers a very nice boxer brief, in many (many) different colors, ranging from the basic black and white to the more obscure teal and purple; a three-pack can range any where from $30.00 to $42.00.

To choose underwear with the bank account in mind, or to choose whatever looks the best — the dilemma rages on. “I really think it’s more about the pattern and how much variety a guy can pull off,” says materials engineering sophomore S. R. Markowitz.

The choices are there. That trust fund check is in hand. Go forth and spend.

Reach the reporter at mel.flores@asu.edu.