SAXX Quest Quick-Dry Mesh Boxer Brief Review

Overview

The SAXX Quest Quick-Dry Mesh Boxer Brief is a synthetic, mesh-paneled underwear built for exactly the kind of abuse backpackers and travelers dish out: sweaty days, sink washes, and the need to be dry again by morning. It’s not marketed as an “ultralight” product in the cottage-gear sense, but at 75g it’s light enough to disappear in your kit, and the quick-dry pitch is squarely aimed at the wash-and-wear crowd. This is a good fit for thru-hikers, warm-weather travelers, and anyone who wants one pair of underwear that can be rinsed at camp and worn again the next day.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	75.0 g (~2.6 oz)
Shell material	Nylon (77%), Elastane (14%), Polyester (9%)
Pouch lining	TENCEL™ Lyocell (64%), Polyester (31%), Spandex (5%)
Support	BallPark Pouch®
Temp regulation	DropTemp® Cooling Technology
Anti-chafe	Stop Drop Technology™, No-RideUp Leg™
Style	Boxer brief, mid-length leg
Manufacturer	SAXX

Performance

Breathability and cooling. The mesh side panels are the star of the show here. SAXX’s DropTemp branding is marketing-speak, but the underlying fabric choice does what it says — this is a noticeably airier pair than a standard cotton or even a non-mesh synthetic brief. One Zappos reviewer at 6’6” and 250 lbs said these boxer briefs are perfect for bigger guys, and the fit contours to their shape while staying cool and dry all day. That tracks with what I’d expect from the fabric blend — 77% nylon with mesh panels moves air well, especially compared to SAXX’s viscose-based Ultra line.

Quick-dry claims, put to the test. This is where the Quest actually differentiates itself from most of SAXX’s catalog. A side-by-side comparison from a Zappos reviewer found that the Quest style dries much more quickly, in only a few hours, and dried in half the time it took a pair of SAXX Ultra to dry. That’s a meaningful data point if you’re doing laundry-sink washes on a multi-day trip — half the dry time is the difference between damp underwear in your sleeping bag and dry underwear on your body. The same reviewer noted the trade-off with slower-drying styles: they can often take a day or more to dry in an unventilated hotel room, which can be a problem, especially if you need dry underwear to wear or don’t want to have them strung up across your room forever — the Quest avoids that problem specifically because of the mesh weave and synthetic blend.

Fit and sizing. This is the most common friction point in user feedback. SAXX’s own product page for this fabric family notes it runs form-fitting, but not restrictive around the butt, thighs, and leg, and recommends sizing up if you’re between sizes. That guidance shows up for a reason — an REI reviewer flagged that a newer version runs noticeably larger than the previous version even in the same size, and SAXX’s response acknowledged the issue and pointed buyers to customer service for an exchange. One Zappos reviewer split the difference on the pouch: if you are in between sizes, size down for support or size up for more airflow. My take: order one pair before committing to a multi-pack, especially if you’re between two standard sizes.

Support and chafe prevention. The BallPark Pouch and No-RideUp Leg tech are the same core support system SAXX uses across its lineup, and it holds up on the move. A reviewer doing hot yoga reported no chafing, quick dry, and comfortable, with a slim fit so the boxers do not ride around when you are working out. Another noted the leg bands specifically: very comfortable style, and underwear do not ride up leg even after hours of wearing. That No-RideUp Leg claim seems to be one of the more consistently validated features rather than pure marketing.

Where it’s not the most supportive option. Not every review was glowing. One REI buyer’s short but pointed critique: like the breathability, but it is not as supportive as your other fabrics — a fair trade-off, since the mesh panels that make this pair breathe well are inherently less structured than SAXX’s denser Ultra or Droptemp2 fabrics. If max pouch support is your top priority over breathability, this isn’t the pair to build your kit around.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely faster-drying than SAXX’s other fabrics — useful for sink washes on trail or on the road
• Mesh panels deliver real breathability, not just a marketing buzzword
• No-RideUp Leg tech holds up over long wear, per multiple user reports
• Light enough (75g) to be a non-issue in a pack weight spreadsheet
• SAXX’s satisfaction-guarantee return policy takes some risk out of a first purchase

Cons

• Sizing has been inconsistent between product generations — order a single test pair first
• Less structured support than SAXX’s non-mesh lines, per at least one reviewer
• At full price (~$36), it’s pricier than basic synthetic hiking underwear alternatives
• Long-term durability data is thin — most reviews found are short-term impressions, not multi-month wear reports

Who Should Buy This

This is a strong pick for thru-hikers and warm-climate travelers who plan to hand-wash and re-wear underwear on the trail, or anyone who runs hot and wants more airflow than a typical cotton or modal brief provides. If you’re chasing maximum pouch support for high-impact activity, or you’re extremely particular about fit, size cautiously and consider a single test pair before buying in bulk.

Verdict

The Quest Quick-Dry Mesh does what it says on the label — it’s noticeably more breathable and faster-drying than SAXX’s other underwear lines, which matters more than most gear reviews give it credit for when you’re doing sink laundry on day 4 of a section hike. Sizing inconsistency between production runs is the main asterisk, so buy one pair before you commit to a multi-pack. I’d put it at a 7.5/10 — a smart, if not groundbreaking, upgrade over standard hiking underwear.