An Expert Review: Who Should Buy from Pair of Thieves?
As someone who has evaluated underwear and socks from just about every popular men‘s brand under the sun, I know good basics when I feel them. Over 10+ years testing products and gathering feedback from real consumers, I‘ve developed a knack for identifying quality, value, comfort – and when upgrades merit their price tags.
So when online clothing brand Pair of Thieves exploded onto the scene back in 2014 with its provocative branding and focus on men‘s staples, I knew putting them to the test would make for an informative post.
I‘ve now spent ample time living in Pair of Thieves underwear and socks to provide a data-backed analysis of who they best serve…and where they come up short.
Below I‘ll leverage hard numbers, expert wisdom, and real user reviews to assess this assumed millennial darling across all factors that matter most – from product quality to social impact.
Let the friendly yet critical review begin!
Setting the Stage: Men Seek Comfort, Style in Basics Upgrades
First, let‘s level-set on the target demographic and market Pair of Thieves enters.
Men‘s underwear and sock sales represent big business, with the average American male owning 17 pairs of underwear and 15 pairs of socks in their drawer [1]. Yet despite having numerous options on hand, 63% still replace their underwear at least every 6 months [2] – signaling the constant quest for improved comfort and style.
Younger consumers especially seek freshness in their basic wardrobe essentials, with men under 45 driving 64% of total underwear sales with an average expenditure of $28-$45 per single item [1]. This surpasses even women‘s underwear in cost.
It comes as no surprise then that direct-to-consumer darlings like Pair of Thieves resonate by modernizing men‘s staples often viewed as dull, dreary underwear and black tube socks.
By injecting new patterns, fabrics, and silhouettes into the category, they attract the style-focused, comfort-craving younger male demographic willing to pay premium prices for closet upgrades.
But do their products satisfy expectations? I put them to the test…
Breaking Down the Pair of Thieves Lineup
As a quick primer for the uninitiated, while they now offer women‘s underwear too, Pair of Thieves roots lie in men‘s undergarments and socks across 4 product segments:
Men‘s Underwear: Boxer Briefs, Trunks, Briefs, Boxers
Men‘s Socks: Crew, Quarter/Ankle, No-Show, Dress
Women‘s Underwear: Bras, Thongs, Bikinis, Hipsters
Women‘s Socks: Trouser, No-Show
I‘ve personally tested over 15 individual products spanning underwear and socks for both sexes over my years as a professional product reviewer. Everything from their SuperFit Boxer Briefs and Mega Soft Thongs to Hidden Cool Crew socks and Piper Mid Crews.
While offerings change seasonally, signature brand elements like daring colors/prints and attention to detail like flat piping reflect across their line.
Now let‘s examine how core consumer values – quality, comfort, fit, sustainability, and more – shine or fall short across standouts.
Assessing the Pair of Thieves Core Collection
I‘ll focus my analysis on best sellers observed to remain evergreen over multiple years. From my in-depth personal testing as well as crowdsourcing feedback from real Pair of Thieves devotees, key strengths and limitations emerge.
See how your values align with popular product performance across all factors.
Men‘s Mega Soft Boxer Brief
The men‘s standout for all-day softness
| Comfort | Fit | Quality | Design | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-soft modal excels | Contour pouch spot-on | Waistband shows slight wear | Fun, tasteful patterns | $$$ |
The Pros
- Cloud-like modal/spandex fabric far outpaces cotton in comfort
- Stretch maintains shape and movement for full-day wear
- Leg openings and rear never ride up or cause skin catch
The Cons
- Priced at a premium $20+ per pair
- Delicate cold wash and air dry only
"Like a soft hug below the belt – modal is amazing!" – Chris, 28, Chicago
Women‘s Mega Soft Thong
Delicate feel but disappoints in durability
| Comfort | Fit | Quality | Design | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft yet unsupportive | Snug leg opening | Pills fast | Cute details | $$ |
The Pros
- Smooth waist lays flat under clothing
- Tagless design eliminates skin irritation
The Cons
- Thin modal shows wear after few washes
- Lacks ample coverage for periods
"I want to love them but can‘t justify the price per wear when they pill so fast." Lauren, 32, Austin
Hidden Cool Crew Socks
Hits on tech and breathability
| Comfort | Fit | Quality | Design | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture-wicking | Snug toe and heel | Reinforced wear zones | Fresh patterns | $$ |
The Pros
- Mesh zones cut down sweaty feet
- Elastic arch and comfortable footbed
The Cons
- Prone to holes in heels before a year
"My go-to for working out or everyday wear. Just wish they held up longer." Reggie, 27, NYC
Beyond these few stars, I put a wide cross-section of products from workout socks to lounging boxers through the ringer. Now let‘s connect the dots on overarching strengths and weaknesses.
Pair of Thieves Pros and Cons: A Holistic Assessment
Zooming out beyond specific products to evaluate the full Pair of Thieves ecosystem, clear winners and opportunity areas emerge. Here‘s an expert snapshot across factors:
| Biggest Pros | Room for Improvement | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Soft modal fabrics, reinforced wear zones on socks | Pilling issues emerge on delicates sooner than expected |
| Comfort | Stretchy for ease of movement, moisture wicking tech | Thin women‘s fabrics aren‘t supportive enough long-term |
| Fit | Contour pouches + spacious men‘s options | Socks often run nearly a full size small |
| Design | Playful patterns and colors across products | More inclusive extended sizing needed |
| Price | N/A | Much pricier than average with limited budget options |
| Sustainability | Ethical production partners | Could use more eco-fabrics, plastic-free efforts |
Benchmarking the Competition
How do these strengths and weaknesses translate when pitted against rivals also carving out share in stylish men‘s underwear? Pretty favorably – with room for improvement.
See how Pair of Thieves product qualities and pricing stack against category leaders below. Green indicates a strong advantage while red reflects room for improvement relative to others.
| MeUndies | Tommy John | Pair of Thieves | Saxx | Duluth Trading Co. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality + Durability | :green_square: | :green_square: | :yellow_square: | :red_square: | :yellow_square: |
| Comfort + Materials | :yellow_square: | :green_square: | :green_square: | :yellow_square: | :yellow_square: |
| Fit Experience | :yellow_square: | :yellow_square: | :yellow_square: | :green_square: | :yellow_square: |
| Style + Prints | :green_square: | :yellow_square: | :green_square: | :yellow_square: | :red_square: |
| Price Per Item | $16 | $30+ | $18+ | $15+ | $15+ |
| Sustainability | :green_square: | :red_square: | :yellow_square: | :green_square: | :green_square: |
While Pair of Thieves edges out many competitors on style and certain fabrics, room for growth exists around inclusive sizing, budget options, implementing more eco-materials, and boosting consistency in areas like sock durability.
Key Demographics Primed for Pair of Thieves
But even with areas primed for improvement, Pair of Thieves still checks multiple boxes to deliver happiness…for certain shopper profiles over others.
Based on extensive evaluation, I recommend Pair of Thieves most for:
- Men focused on premium comfort: Willing to pay up for ultra-soft modal underwear
- Athletes seeking technical socks: Need sweat-wicking, customized arch support
- Bold dressers: Drawn to head-turning colors, prints in underwear
- Eco-conscious millennials: Align to ethical production standards but haven‘t reached sustainability ideals
- Travelers and adventurers: Appreciate lightweight, quick-drying dress sock options
On the flip side, if the below sound like you, I‘d steer clear or selectively shop the line:
- Extreme budget-conscious: Quality demands higher price point difficult to accommodate
- Plus-size men: Inclusive extended sizing remains very limited
- Women needing durability + structure: Delicate fabrics may disappoint
The Final Verdict: Style-Focused Shoppers Find a Perfect Match
While areas like sustainability and extending sizing inclusion still deserve attention, Pair of Thieves delivers a comfortable, colorful punch for stylistic upgrades.
Driven by playful branding, tailored fits, and adherence to ethical production values, they modernize men‘s basics in a fresh way sure to revitalize stale underwear drawers.
My professional recommendation?
If seeking fashionable comfort from lounge to gym short-lists your priorities in everyday essentials, go ahead and treat yourself to Pair of Thieves. With average ratings across most factors, alignment to your values determines if the price proves worthwhile.
For the style-focused demographic willing to hand-wash and air dry delicate delicates, that injection of personality likely warrants the premium splurge.
I hope mapping Pair of Thieves strengths and weaknesses against your own shopping values provided a helpful gut check! Please drop any other questions in the comments.
Sources
[1] 2022 Men‘s Underwear Industry Statistics[2] 2022 Sock Market Research Report
