Let's talk about jock straps - Straight Dope Message Board

I was checking out Cecil’s bit on bra sizes and it reminded me of a question that I’ve often pondered. If women’s bra sizes can comprehend that there are two components to the size (girth and load), why can’t men’s athletic supporters?

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Jocks come only in S, M, L, XL, and XXL (yeah, OK, maybe there’s an XXXL out there). All of these sizes are primarily a function of waist size. Now, when it comes to equipment, I think I’m basically average (Goldilocks sez it’s juuust right). Since my waist size is 34, I tend to have to go with the large. The only problem is, my goodies take up more room than is typically alloted to the pouch. It’s supposed to be an athletic “supporter” not and athletic “torturer”. I always get pinches and friction burns, on body parts that are overly sensitive to pinches and friction burns, because the pouch is too small and the edges rub and bite (yeah, I know, some guys like that). I tried an XL once, but it was too loose in the waist to be good for anything supportive.

What’s up with that? It seems, by now, someone should have invented a better jock strap. I can’t be the only one with this problem…

Well, this is what he said:

“because the pouch is too small and the edges rub and bite”

and:

“I tried an XL once, but it was too loose in the waist to be good for anything supportive”

You’d think he would be able to recognize the necessity of putting a bigger cup (or even a football helmet) in his jockstrap if that were the problem, eh Bear?

Gimme a break guys. I think I know how to wear a jock. Yes, I know the label goes on the outside. No, I’m not talking about a cup (actually I don’t have this problem with my cup supporter because it does stretch quite a bit).

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Who makes one of those jocks that “will stretch for days”? The standard jocks I have a very limited stretch in the pouch. Since the stretch is only minimal, I think this is the source of some of the pinching, as the edges want to clamp in tighter on… well, the contents. The effect is that the outer edge of the pouch rubs the equipment and I’m always having to adjust the contents. Maybe I’m just buying the wrong kind of jocks, but I’ve tried a number of different manufacturers.

In all fairness of comparison, my wife’s bras stretch in the cups too (I’ve checked… in the name of science, of course), yet bras are still sized by girth and cup size. And she doesn’t even have the necessity of accomodating expansion when that well built number walks by in the gymn, ‘flossing’ with her thong-like workout getup… [sigh] but I digress…

I’ve heard other guys complain about it, so I know I’m not alone in my plight. However, it doesn’t seem like anyone else on this board experiences the same ‘crowding’ problem that I do, so it must not be universal. I guess I’ll drop the subject.

Well, my stuff has a tendancy to bounce about without a supporter. I’ve jogged and done other sorts of vigorous exercise in just my underwear before, but frankly I don’t like it. More importantly, an athletic supporter prevents the testes from twisting in the scrotum. Testicular torsion is a real problem and athletic supporters can help eliminate the risk. Also, athletic supporters can be important to swimmers. The body has a natural tendancy to retract the testes when they become too cold, however some people’s retraction mechanisms don’t function correctly. Jocks will keep your testes near your body where they can be kept warm. Too cold, and you could be rendered temporarily sterile. They used to say that athletic supporters could help prevent herias - I don’t think reputable doctors believe this anymore…

Of course, there’s the important social aspect. When I see a guy getting ready for a workout in just his underwear, I think “wimp”. Serious atheletes wear serious equipment… [wink]

I used to run track in H.S., and used to practice and compete in (horror of horrors!) boxer shorts. My balls didn’t seem to have a problem with running, for the most part the physical/pyschological aspect of preparation meant that they often “went home” when it was necessary. They knew their place, and I never felt much of a need to give them any more support. I never had a problem with my balls flopping around too much when running. They just tightened up with a little physical activity, and I never gave it a second thought.

It amazes me that they even bother trying to sell jocks and cups labelled “small.” I don’t care how well it might fit, I sure as hell ain’t gonna stroll up to the checkout with one of those babies. I say they start with large, and go up from there. Like soft drinks in movie theaters. And maybe they could be more creative with the size designations. Grande? Super Big Gulp? Or like amusement park rides. The whip snake, the python, the anaconda!

As a boxers guy, I find jock uncomfortable just because it is tight - but I also find jockeys uncomfortably restrictive. Right here I have a Bike medium and a “The” Duke large, and the boys fit in both just fine. And much of my working out other than weightlifting is martial arts, so I always wear a cup. Think a cup is uncomfortable, try the alternative. For hoops I would be no more or less uncomfortable in jockeys, other than a jock is cooler, perhaps.

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