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Boxers or briefs?

It's the age-old debate over which style of men's underwear is the most comfortable.

Where do you stand?

Today is National Underwear Day a day to celebrate what underwear companies want consumers to think of as the most important thing people wear every day.

We asked two men with opposing views Joe Segretto, 30, of Kirkville (left) and Matthew Kormanec, 28, of Camillus to debate the merits of their favorite underwear. Here is their boxer vs. boxer briefs battle by e-mail.

Segretto: I once wore boxers, so I do have some recollection of how they feel. I remember that feeling of freedom.

The shorts are stylish. You can get them in all sorts of patterns, including your favorite team. I was really happy to be a boxer man once.

What is your favorite feature of the boxer?

Kormanec: Boxers are less constrictive, tight and allow easier access than briefs. This being said, you could consider the people who wear boxers an easier going person, someone who could be considered laid back.

Segretto: I can agree with that to a certain extent. Boxers are nice for lounging around the house, but what about the guy who is on the go? I am up and moving throughout the day, walking all over the building. I work out at lunch time and I play sports after work. The boxer brief works best for me and my active lifestyle.

If you had to give one reason, above all other reasons, that you are a boxer man, what is it?

Kormanec: Pure comfort, baby. The boxer allows for air to move throughout the man region, which cuts down on sweating and possibly having swamp butt.

Segretto: That easy access feature could allow the freedom you love to get out of control, at inopportune moments. I can't handle it, I need order!

I wore boxers up until the point that I was a caddy. Carry a couple of golf bags around the course and let me know how much the increased air flow helps.

The boxer brief keeps everything contained in a neat and orderly fashion, while providing protection to the inner thigh area to prevent chafing. If it is hot out and you have to be moving, the boxer brief is the only way to go.

Kormanec: So, I guess you're saying the boxer brief is the 'sports bra' of men's underwear. I've heard from girls that the sports bra works great when they're active, but I don't think you'll catch a girl wearing it out to dinner.

With boxers, you can make more of a statement than, "I'm wearing some tight underwear." Boxers allow you to pick a pattern or scheme that can even match your outfit. This allows for complete coordination.

Segretto: Very metrosexual of you, Matt. Have you set up an appointment for your next Brazilian waxing? I believe that underwear should be functional.

To wear shorts under shorts is redundant.

I also think you have the bra metaphor completely wrong. Wearing boxers is equivalent to not wearing a bra at all. How many times will you catch a woman at work with no bra on?

Kormanec: Very uptight of you, Joe, like your briefs.

Segretto: So, we can conclude that boxers work best for those that like to hang out and conduct leisurely business. They offer the comfort of freedom, while supporting your own personal sense of style.

Boxer briefs work best for those that conduct a more active lifestyle. They keep the packaged contents in place while the body is in motion and offer more inner thigh protection from unwanted friction. Can we agree to those terms?

Kormanec: I do agree with you about the lifestyle choice. The briefs help while active, and the boxers provide comfort when chilling. And since I love to chill more than anything else, I guess that's what makes me a boxer guy.

Segretto: And I, a man that likes to keep on movin', make boxer briefs my undergarment of choice. Enjoy National Underwear Day, and may your boys live free and happy!