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Wool boxers sound scratchy.

It conjures up images of old-school wool itching skin and making for an incredibly uncomfortable time in a sensitive area.

But that isn’t the case with popular merino wool that’s as soft as cotton but still contains the beneficial properties of wool – namely antimicrobial, quick drying and wicking.

During the last few months, I’ve tested a handful of wool boxers while running and biking as well as just daily use. Performing as I expected – which included no chaffing unlike many other “performance” boxers I’ve used – no one pair stood out well above the rest. But, if you go this route be prepared to drop a decent bundle of cash.

Here are my thoughts on the merino wool boxers that I tested:

Icebreaker Beast 150 Boxer with button fly – $48

With the heftiest price tag of the three, the Icebreaker Beast 150 Boxer with button fly are made from 150-grams per meter squared of 100-percent New Zealand merino wool.

Indeed, these were soft no matter how long I had them on and no matter how many times I wore them without washing (about three or four at the most).

To my dismay, they smelled like sweat after one day of activity – though if I wore a different pair at night, the Beast’s would air out enough to not stink in the morning.

The semi-lose-fitting boxers have a three-button fly for easy access as well as to make sure everything’s covered when you need it.

But, like the I/O pair, the Icebreaker boxers have a tag attached to a side seam that continually made me itch. Why the company doesn’t put it at the back, I’m not sure.

- Bottom line: While the Icebreakers were comfortable and performed as they should, I wouldn’t pay nearly $50 for them – perhaps $30-35.

SmartWool Microweight Boxer Brief – $45

Just as comfortable as the Icebreakers and I/Os but sans the scratchy hip tag, the SmartWool Microweight Boxer Briefs were perhaps my favorite – albeit marginally.

Made from 150 grams per meter squared of 100-percent merino wool, the SmartWool boxers have a traditional flap-type fly. They also have a fabric-covered waistband that I didn’t find more or less comfortable than the exposed elastic one  on the Icebreaker or I/O.

The boxers, at least for me, weren’t too tight nor too lose no matter what I was doing.

As with the other two, they still smelled after a day of active use, but if I gave them a chance to air out, the stench was gone. And these, like the others, also have flat stitches to prevent rubbage.

- Bottom Line: The SmartWools were a hair above the rest in terms of comfort, but I  likely wouldn’t spend much more than $35.

I/O Bio Contact Boxer Brief – $35

As the least expensive and loosest fitting wool boxers of the bunch, the I/O Bio Contact Boxer Brief were more boxer than brief.

While the others stretched out a little after the initial wearing, the I/O didn’t because they didn’t hug my legs like a true boxer brief.

Unlike the others, the Contacts are made from 96-percent merino and 4-percent elastane (spandex).

The elastane is there to give it a little more stretch, but I never noticed a difference while wearing them – likely because, as I stated above, they didn’t hug my legs. However just tugging on the fabric, they do stretch more than the other two boxers I tested.

Despite the loose fit, I didn’t experience any chaffing, and there wasn’t too much bunching – a problem some boxers have if there’s too much fabric. I was disappointed, though, when, like the Icebreakers, I found out the I/O boxers have a tag attached to a side seam that made me itch.

- Bottom Line: If you’re looking for something that has the basic principals of wool but don’t want to spend a considerable amount, the Contact Boxer Briefs should be your first look.