Underwear for older women: what actually feels good after 50

Our pick after 50

Cool and soft.
Nothing digs in.

Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts are buttery soft and breathable, with a wide, flat waistband that does not dig in and a 6 inch leg, so thighs glide instead of rub. Every size from UK 8 to 30, at one price.

★★★★★ 4.7 out of 5 from 336 reviews

Choose my pair

£13.50 a pair, or £11.50 a pair in a 10 pack. Free UK delivery. 60 Day Wear Test.

Updated 10 November 2026. Every fact about the other six options was checked on each brand's own website on 21 October 2026.

Underwear for women over 50 has a reputation for being beige and baggy, and a search for underwear for older women mostly brings back full briefs: most of the knickers in the mature ladies underwear ranges we checked, at Chums and Adaptawear, are briefs. That still suits plenty of women. But heat at night, a waistband that digs where it never used to and skin with less patience for lace and seams are not all fixed by more fabric round the middle.

Mature underwear: the quick answer

The best underwear for older women is the style that fixes what has changed for you: a long leg if your thighs rub or you run hot, a high full brief if you want your tummy covered, and a side-opening brief if bending and reaching have got hard.

Our pick (we make them) is Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts, for women who want a long leg, buttery soft, breathable fabric and a waistband that does not dig. Three reasons you can check: a 6 inch or 9 inch leg, both in every size from UK 8 to 30; the same price in every size; and a 60 day guarantee with a full refund, worn or not (return postage at your cost). There is no tag, and the waistband is wide and flat rather than a narrow band of elastic.

If you want something different:

• A cotton full brief for the lowest price per pair: Chums Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs, from £24 for six.
• A branded cotton maxi brief with a high waist: Sloggi BASIC+ Maxi, £28 for three.
• Easy dressing: Adaptawear's Women's Side Opening Underwear, which opens fully at both sides.
• Warmth in cotton, with a longer leg: Adaptawear's Women's Cotton Long Leg Interlock Pants.
• A full brief in bamboo viscose: Boody Full Briefs, £14 a pair.
• A smooth synthetic brief: Damart Climatyl Maxi Brief, which Damart says helps you feel fresh “even on warm days”.

Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 336 reviews (Judge.me, 10 November 2026)

★★★★★

"Perfect anti-chafe shorts! Really soft, light weight boxer shorts, they come to a good length to prevent chafe and are a lot cooler than my sports shorts"

Verified buyer, United Kingdom, April 2026

★★★★★

"These boxers are brilliant as the leg doesn't ride up and nothing digs in."

Val, United Kingdom, verified review, December 2025

★★★★★

"I have now bought this style pants from 4 suppliers and these are by far the best. Extraordinarily comfortable, they don't ride up and fit so well...love them."

Verified buyer, United Kingdom, April 2026

★★★★★

"They never rolled up under my trousers and the waist band was unnoticeable"

P.O., United Kingdom, review, January 2023

★★★★★

"The material is very lightweight and breathable, and the sizing/fit is perfect. Love the colours!"

Amalie, United Kingdom, verified buyer, August 2026

★★★★★

"Fabulous once I got the right size!"

Marian, United Kingdom, verified buyer, May 2026

Some reviewers earned a reward towards a future purchase.

What changes after 50, and what it means for your knickers

Four things tend to change what feels good: heat, your waistline, your skin and, for some women, your bladder. All four are on the NHS list of menopause symptoms, which says symptoms “usually last for 7 to 9 years, sometimes longer”. The knickers in your drawer were not designed for any of that.

Heat and night sweats

What you wear underneath can add to the heat, or stay out of its way. The NHS describes hot flushes as when “your face, neck and chest suddenly feel very hot or cold”, and says they can happen “during the day or night (night sweats)”. What underwear can do is stay out of the way: a breathable fabric, nothing tight across the tummy, and a leg that keeps damp thighs from sticking together. More in Perimenopause, hot flushes and your underwear and, for nights, our comparison of menopause nightwear and cooling pyjamas.

One of our reviewers, on hot weather:

“I love hot weather undies and these are the softest I’ve tried...”

Linda, United Kingdom, on Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts

Waistbands that dig

If knickers that fitted for years now dig in at the waist, it is the narrow elastic that has stopped working. The NHS says weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is common and “often happens around the stomach and upper body”, and a waistband may also have to cope with a tummy that changes size through the day. Look for a wide, flat band and a fabric with stretch, rather than a thin band of elastic that has to grip to stay up.

Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts have a mid-high, wide, flat waistband that stretches without digging in; if you would rather it sat above a fuller tummy, size up.

“...I suffer from IBS and my abdomen can get badly bloated, but these stretch easily without digging in or feeling at all tight...”

Karen, United Kingdom, on Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts

Thighs that rub

A brief cannot help with thigh rub, because it stops at the top of the leg. A longer leg puts buttery soft fabric between your thighs, so they glide instead of rub. The 6 inch leg on Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts sits mid-thigh and the 9 inch sits just above the knee. Our guide to long leg underwear for anti-chafing compares five pairs with a leg.

Skin, lace and seams

If lace trims, raised seams and scratchy labels have started to bother you, that is reason enough to stop wearing them. The NHS lists dry and itchy skin among menopause symptoms, along with “dryness, a burning feeling, irritation or itching in and around the vagina”. If you have a vulval skin condition, Cambridge University Hospitals' NHS leaflet on caring for vulval skin says: “Wear only cotton underwear, loose if possible.”

Otherwise, choose what feels best against your skin. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts are buttery soft, with no tag and flat seams that do not dig or rub: seamless at the back and sides, with one flat seam at the front. The bamboo viscose is dyed to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, so the finished fabric is tested for harmful substances.

Full brief, long leg or boxer: which is best after 50?

A boxer short if your thighs rub or you run hot, a full brief if you want your tummy covered, a long leg knicker for warmth, and a side-opening brief if dressing has got hard. When you shop for mature underwear, choose by the problem you want to fix, not by what you have always bought.

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Want a brief? Our roundup of the most comfortable knickers in the UK compares eight.

Underwear for older ladies who find dressing hard

If stepping into knickers has got hard, a side-opening brief is the easiest option. Adaptawear's Women's Side Opening Underwear has “easy-to-use Velcro tab fastenings at both sides”, and the brand says the design “allows the briefs to be opened fully, making them particularly useful for anyone who finds traditional underwear difficult to put on or take off.”

Buying for someone else? Start with a specialist elderly underwear range: Adaptawear says its women's range is “perfect for the older lady”. Check the returns rules first (Adaptawear's product pages say underwear is non-returnable), and the wash label if clothes will go through a care home laundry: Sloggi says its BASIC+ Maxi can be washed at 95°C, while Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts are made for a 30 degree wash and an air dry, which keeps them buttery soft.

Bladder leaks: what to wear, and what we do not make

We do not make leakproof underwear: Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts have no absorbent layer. The NHS lists “feeling the need to pee more or not being able to control when you pee (urinary incontinence)” among menopause symptoms, and its page on urinary incontinence is clear: “See a GP if you have any type of urinary incontinence.” It adds that it “is a common problem and you should not feel embarrassed talking to them about your symptoms.”

For washable underwear with an absorbent layer, go to a specialist: Adaptawear's women's underwear range includes a Ladies Full Brief with Built In Absorbent Pad Reusable (400ml), and Chums lists waterproof pants in its older women's underwear range. Chums does not take back incontinence items, for hygiene reasons.

If you wear a liner or pad, a pad with wings sits best: adhesive pads may not stick well to the smooth bamboo viscose.

Mature underwear compared: 7 UK options

Seven mature underwear options, checked on each brand's own website on 21 October 2026. Ours is first because it is our pick; the other six follow from the lowest regular price per pair to the highest, with Adaptawear at the price it shows for buyers who qualify for VAT exemption. Where a brand does not publish something, the table says so.

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts: our pick for a long leg, cool fabric and no dig

Best for: a leg that covers where thighs touch, a breathable fabric and a waistband that does not dig, in UK 8 to 30 at one price.

We are Phillippa and Matthew, and we run Flissie from Derbyshire: about 2,000 customers and 8,000 pairs so far.

• Fabric: 95% Tanboocel bamboo viscose and 5% elastane: buttery soft, breathable, moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating, dyed to OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
• Leg: 6 inch, which sits mid-thigh, in all eight colours; or 9 inch, which sits just above the knee, in black and pine green. Both come in every size from UK 8 to 30.
• Waistband: a mid-high, wide, flat waistband; if you would rather it sat above a fuller tummy, size up.
• Seams: no tag, and flat seams that do not dig or rub: seamless at the back and sides, with one flat seam at the front.
• Price: £13.50 a pair, 4 for £54, 6 for £75 (£12.50 a pair) or 10 for £115 (£11.50 a pair), and every 10 pack comes with a free 30 day tub of our perimenopause supplement (worth £29). Free UK delivery on every order.
• Guarantee: 60 days from purchase, full refund, worn or not (return postage at your cost), and a free size swap on your whole first order, as long as you try one pair and send the rest back unopened.

Sizes run from S to 3XL (UK 8 to 30) at one price, with the leg openings and waistband width graded separately. Take your normal UK size, and size up if you are between two. As a guide, Karen, the reviewer quoted above, wrote that she is a UK 20 to 22 and bought an XL. See our sizes up to UK 30 or the Flissie size guide.

Why it is our pick for this page: of the two long-leg options here, it is the only one with a published leg length, 6 or 9 inches, when we checked on 21 October 2026. It runs to UK 30 at one price. And you can send it back for a full refund within 60 days, worn or not, where Chums and Damart take back unused items only; Boody's 30-Day Comfort Guarantee covers a pair you have tried, but only your first single pair.

Good to know:

• The waistband sits mid-high. It is wide and flat; if you would rather it sat above a fuller tummy, size up.
• Two leg lengths. The 6 inch comes in all eight colours and the 9 inch in black and pine green, both in every size from UK 8 to 30.
• Easy care. A 30 degree wash and an air dry keep them buttery soft.

Shown in Sage green, 6 inch leg

Also in black, pine green, taupe white and chocolate brown. The 9 inch leg comes in black and pine green. Pictured: Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them).

See the 6 inch leg

Wrong size? We swap your whole first order free, as long as you try one pair and send the rest back unopened.

The other six options, from the lowest price per pair

The other six mature underwear options, by regular price per pair: what the table above cannot tell you.

2. Chums Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs

Best for: a cotton full brief at the lowest price per pair on this page.

Chums sells the Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs in its range of mature ladies underwear, with a “Full brief cut”, leg openings “not cut too high” and a waistband that “comes up high”. The price is “from £24” for six; the page did not show the price for each size, so check yours.

3. Adaptawear Women's Cotton Long Leg Interlock Pants

Best for: a cotton long leg knicker for warmth in cold weather.

Adaptawear says the Long Leg Interlock Pants have a “longer leg length and supportive cuff leg for extra warmth and coverage”, but does not give the leg length. They are £7.50 a pair for buyers who qualify for VAT exemption: Adaptawear's VAT page says that means people who are chronically sick or disabled, not “a frail elderly person who is otherwise able-bodied”, and it shows no price for anyone else, so check yours at checkout. Its product page and returns page disagree on underwear returns, so ask before you order.

4. Sloggi BASIC+ Maxi

Best for: a branded cotton maxi brief with a high waist that can go in a hot wash.

Sloggi's maxi brief is a staple of mature ladies underwear ranges: Chums and Damart both list Sloggi Basic Maxi packs. Sloggi says the BASIC+ Maxi can be washed at 95°C, which matters if clothes go through a shared or care home laundry.

5. Adaptawear Women's Side Opening Underwear

Best for: easy dressing, if ordinary knickers have become hard to put on or take off.

The Side Opening Underwear has Velcro tabs at both sides, so the briefs open fully. Adaptawear recommends “ordering one size larger than your usual size”, and £35 for three is again the price for buyers who qualify for VAT exemption. The product page says “Underwear is non-returnable”, so measure your waist first.

6. Damart Climatyl Maxi Brief

Best for: a smooth synthetic maxi brief that Damart says helps you feel fresh “even on warm days”.

The Climatyl Maxi Brief has “bonded seams for a smooth shape”, the kind of brief that sits flat under sheer or clingy clothes. It is a synthetic, 67% polyamide, and the product page did not show which sizes it comes in.

7. Boody Full Briefs

Best for: a high-rise full brief in bamboo viscose, the fabric closest to ours on this page.

Boody describes its Full Briefs as having a “Full coverage fit, with a higher leg” and a “Soft, wide, flat-ribbed waistband”. It takes back only unopened underwear, but its 30-Day Comfort Guarantee refunds your first single pair bought online even after you have tried it (bundles are excluded).

If you came looking for mature underwear because your thighs rub, briefs ride up or you run hot, start with a breathable long leg: that is the job Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts were made for.

Underwear for older women: your questions

What underwear is best for older women?

The best underwear for older women is the style that fixes what has changed for you: a long leg for thighs that rub or for heat, a high full brief to cover your tummy, or a side-opening brief if dressing has got harder. Our pick for a long leg is Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them): buttery soft bamboo viscose with a 6 or 9 inch leg and a wide, flat waistband that does not dig, in UK 8 to 30. For a full brief, try Chums or Sloggi; for easy dressing, Adaptawear.

What is the best underwear for ladies over 50?

There is no single best underwear for women over 50: the best knickers for over 50s are the ones that fix what has changed for you, whether that is heat, a waistband that digs or thighs that rub. If your thighs rub, a longer leg such as Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) covers the inner thigh, with a wide, flat waistband that does not dig; if you prefer a brief, choose a high waist and a wide band.

What is the best underwear for women over 60?

Much the same as at 50: a fabric that does not trap heat, a waistband that does not dig and a cut that stays put. If dressing has got harder, Adaptawear's side-opening briefs open fully; if clothes go through a hot wash, Sloggi says its BASIC+ Maxi can be washed at 95°C. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) are buttery soft, with a wide, flat waistband and a 6 or 9 inch leg that stays put, in UK 8 to 30.

Which knickers for older women don't dig in at the waist?

Ones with a wide, flat waistband rather than a narrow band of elastic, in a fabric with stretch. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) have a mid-high, wide, flat waistband that stretches without digging in; if you would rather it sat above a fuller tummy, size up. For a high waist, a high-rise full brief such as Chums Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs or Sloggi BASIC+ Maxi sits higher than ours.

Where can I buy full briefs for older ladies?

Chums, Sloggi, Damart and Boody all sell them online: Chums Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs from £24, Sloggi BASIC+ Maxi at £28 for three, Damart Climatyl Maxi Brief at £13 and Boody Full Briefs at £14 a pair, when we checked on 21 October 2026. If you would rather have a leg, Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) come with a 6 or 9 inch leg.

Should older women wear cotton knickers?

If you have a vulval skin condition, yes: Cambridge University Hospitals' NHS leaflet on vulval skin says “Wear only cotton underwear, loose if possible.” Otherwise, wear the fabric that feels best to you: Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) are 95% bamboo viscose, buttery soft and breathable. If a clinic has told you to wear cotton, buy cotton.

Are long leg knickers good for older women?

Yes, if your thighs rub or you want more warmth, because the leg covers the top of the thigh. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) have a 6 inch leg that sits mid-thigh or a 9 inch that sits just above the knee, both in every size from UK 8 to 30; for warmth in cotton, there are Adaptawear's Women's Cotton Long Leg Interlock Pants.

What is the best underwear for elderly ladies in a care home?

Underwear for elderly ladies in a care home has to survive the home's laundry, so ask how clothes are washed before you buy. Sloggi says its BASIC+ Maxi can be washed at 95°C, while Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) are made for a 30 degree wash and an air dry, so they suit home laundry rather than a hot-wash laundry.

What size Flissie boxers should I buy?

Your normal UK size, or one size up if you are between two or would rather the waistband sat above a fuller tummy. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) run from S (UK 8 to 10) to 3XL (UK 28 to 30) at the same price, and if the size is wrong, we swap your whole first order free, as long as you try one pair and send the rest back unopened.

How much are Flissie boxer shorts?

Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) are £13.50 a pair, £54 for 4, £75 for 6 (£12.50 a pair) or £115 for 10 (£11.50 a pair). UK delivery is free on every order, and the price is the same in every size from UK 8 to 30.

Can I return Flissie boxers if they do not suit me?

Yes. Flissie women's bamboo boxer shorts (we make them) have a 60 day guarantee from purchase: a full refund, worn or not, with return postage at your cost. Chums and Damart take back unused items only, and Adaptawear's product pages say underwear is non-returnable.

Sources

• NHS: Menopause symptoms and Urinary incontinence
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Care of the vulval skin (approved January 2020)
• Chums: older women's underwear, Pack Of 6 Cotton Briefs and returns
• Adaptawear: women's underwear, Women's Side Opening Underwear Pack of 3, Women's Cotton Long Leg Interlock Pants, payment, delivery and returns and VAT page
• Sloggi: BASIC+ Maxi, 3 pack
• Damart: Climatyl Maxi Brief, delivery and returns and FAQs
• Boody: Full Briefs and Comfort Guarantee

All checked on 21 October 2026. We left out M&S and Cotton Traders, whose product pages did not show us a price and sizes, and John Lewis, whose full briefs were reduced to clear in a few sizes. Prices, sales and stock change often, so check each brand's website before you buy.

Related reading

• The most comfortable knickers in the UK: 8 pairs compared
• Perimenopause, hot flushes and your underwear
• Best anti-chafing underwear for women: 5 long-leg picks
• Menopause nightwear and cooling pyjamas: 8 UK options compared