I want to be upfront about something: this is a review of underwear. Not a luxury product, not a considered lifestyle purchase, not something I agonised over. I needed new briefs, I found these, I bought them, and they've been quietly excellent ever since. Sometimes that's the whole story.
I'm fifty-three. I've been wearing the same style of brief for about thirty years — classic fit, 100% cotton, elasticated waist, nothing complicated. I'm not interested in novelty underwear, I'm not interested in performance fabrics, and I'm not interested in paying £15 for a single pair of anything that goes in the wash twice a week. What I want is something comfortable, durable, and available in a multipack at a sensible price.
My previous briefs had reached the end of their natural life. You know the signs. I'd been putting off replacing them for longer than I should have, which is a very common and very human thing to do with underwear. Then I found the C&A 3 Pack Elasticated Briefs at £2.99 and ordered four packs immediately.
Why C&A
C&A has been making reliable everyday clothing for over a hundred years. They're not a fashion brand — they're a practical clothing brand, and there's a meaningful difference. The C&A 3 Pack Elasticated Briefs are exactly what they say they are: 100% cotton, classic design, elasticated waist and leg openings, casual fit, ideal for everyday wear. No claims beyond that. No lifestyle marketing. Just a well-made brief at a price that makes sense.
The sizing runs from S to 3XL, which covers a proper range. I ordered L, which fits my 37-38" waist exactly as the size guide says it should. The elasticated waist is firm without being tight — it holds its position without digging in, which is the main thing I need from a waistband after a long day.
What They're Actually Like
Soft. That's the first thing. 100% cotton at a decent weight, pre-washed so they don't shrink significantly in the first wash. The fabric is breathable in the way that only natural fibres are — I've tried synthetic underwear and I always come back to cotton. The leg openings are elasticated without being constrictive, which matters if you're on your feet all day.
The classic fit is exactly that — classic. Not too brief, not too long. The kind of cut that's been working for decades because it works. I'm not going to pretend there's anything revolutionary about the design, because there isn't. That's the point. When something works, you don't change it.
I've now washed all twelve pairs (four packs of three) at least twenty times each. The elastic is still firm. The cotton hasn't thinned. The colour hasn't faded significantly. They look and feel essentially the same as when I bought them, which is all I ask of underwear.
The Value Calculation
Twelve briefs for £11.96. That's under £1 per pair. I've paid £8 for a single pair of underwear that lasted six months before the elastic went. The C&A briefs are now six months in and showing no signs of deteriorating. The maths is not complicated.
I'm also aware that this is not a glamorous thing to write about. But I think there's something to be said for products that do exactly what they're supposed to do, at a price that makes sense, without any fuss. Most of what we buy is supposed to be like this. Most of it isn't. These are.
Who This Is For
Any man who wears briefs, wants 100% cotton, and doesn't want to think about it. The sizing is comprehensive (S to 3XL), the quality is solid, and at £2.99 for three you can stock up properly without it feeling like a significant purchase. Which is exactly how buying underwear should feel.
You can find the C&A 3 Pack Elasticated Briefs here. If you're exploring more, these collections are worth a look:
Unglamorous? Absolutely. One of my better decisions this year? Also yes.
— Pete Calloway, Nottingham
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