The origins of the eye-catching style of underwear that we know as the jockstrap can be traced back to 1874. It was first produced by a Chicago sporting goods company called Sharp & Smith, who were looking for a bespoke underwear solution for the bicycle couriers working the cobblestone streets of Boston. At that time, the bicycle riding couriers were known as bike jockeys.
It was known as the Bike Jockey Strap, and it was the Bike Web Company who took up production, later becoming known as the Bike Company. Bike remained a market-leading manufacturer of jockstraps until 2016, when it was purchased by Russell Athletic.
The basic design of the jockstrap is fairly uniform - an elastic waistband, to which is attached a support pouch for the cock and balls, and two elastic straps fixed to the base of the pouch and to the left and right sides of the waistband at the hip.
The innovation of the jockstrap was that it cups and supports your cock and balls, helping to protect them and keep them out of harm’s way whatever you’re doing – for example, it protects your balls from being crunched on the hard seat of your bicycle as you clatter over cobblestones on a delivery run.
The jockstrap style of underwear quickly grew in popularity, and was widely adopted as a form of protective wear used in a wide range of sports. Additional protection or guards are routinely added for sports such as cricket, fencing, and lacrosse.
The sports teams of North American schools and colleges quickly became big enthusiasts of the jockstrap, the term ‘jock’ - commonly used in North America to refer to an athletic guy – emerged in the late 1950s, and is attributed to the jockstraps worn by sporty guys.
Today, the jockstrap has transcended beyond the sports-field and has now been incorporated into the everyday wardrobe of men – not just gay men, but mostly gay men. There’s a huge range of styles, all with subtle variations on the traditional construction.
As well as being practical, functional, and comfortable, the jockstrap also carries with it a strong sexual association. There’s probably a couple of reasons for that:
- – The fetishisation of locker-rooms and athletes has long been a staple of the sexual fantasies of gay men.
- – The construction of the jockstrap, by definition, leaves your ass not only exposed but prominently on display.
- – They’re quite convenient to wear while having sex - it can be a real turn-on wearing a jockstrap while being fucked.
- – It’s almost universally understood that, if you’re wearing a jockstrap, then you’re advertising to the world that you’re ready for action, that you’re ready to play.
Always keen for any excuse to talk about underwear, I checked-in with some of our favourite porn-stars to see if they were also jockstrap fans.
“In my day-to-day, I wear briefs or jockstraps. When I go to the gym, I prefer to wear jockstraps or just go commando - I like the guys to see me showing off my cock while I’m working out. On other guys, I’m very excited by jockstraps. I always like a good ass with a good jockstrap - if you’re down the street and you feel like playing a bit, it’s easier with a jockstrap.”
“I love underwear! I live in just underwear - unless I have to be social and leave the house. I must have over a thousand pairs at home. From briefs, tangas, and boxer shorts, to jocks and thongs. I usually wear loose boxer shorts around the house, so everything stays breezy during the summer – especially in shorts. Although I recently started to love jocks and thongs on me - it makes me feel sexier.”
“At the gym, I adapt my underwear according to what I’m wearing. Commando with loose longer shorts, jocks with short shorts, and thongs with compression pants. I don’t like to see the underwear mark in compression pants.”
“On other guys, I’m pretty flexible as long as it’s not something a teenager could wear, or old and ripped. Being a grown-up means having new and clean undies! If the guy has a nice bum, a jock is ideal, a thong can also be very hot.”
“The kind of underwear I prefer on other guys really depends on the guy. I love making a power-top wear my G-strings, and of course seeing a juicy big ass in a jock always makes me rock hard.”
“I’m actually a commando kind of lad. Recently, I have started wearing jocks in the gym, because commando in sweats is just a bit too revealing. I have to admit, wearing a jock in the gym is so fucking sexual – especially when doing squats.”
“Always jockstraps! A nice, classic mesh pouch with a little musk on it and a thin waistband is my all-time favourite. If I absolutely have to cover my ass, I love a button-fly, pleat-fronted boxer. I love to swap skivvies with other boys, so I’m not picky about what I pick up off the bedroom floor.”
“Day-to-day, I do love my Andrew Christians ‘almost naked’ – the way it positions your cock and balls and makes your bulge look good as well, and still feels like you’re wearing nothing.”
“To the gym, I like to go commando and have my cock just slap back and forth on my legs. I love the feel of my gym shorts. Sometimes I wear Underarmour boxer shorts – I like the way that they keep everything in place, and give you a great ass to display when you’re doing squats.”
“On other guys, I generally like something quite plain - I love white briefs, but the guy has to fill them well to pull that look off. Also, I do love a guy in a nice jock.”
“In terms of what I like on other guys, I love a sexy jock on a smooth muscle bottom - you can’t beat that.”
“On other guys, I like them in a jockstrap - to start…”
“I wear it all – jocks, thongs, briefs, leather, neoprene – you name it, I have it and wear it. My underwear drawer recently fell through my closet because it was so heavy.”
“I’m not a big fan of the oversized classic striped straight underwear, but as long as a man wears underwear then I’m fine with it. If he invests a moment to think his underwear game through, I’m heated up. If he buys the sexy brands, I’m on it!”
“I like a good brief, and can often be found in a cute Marco Marco situation. At the gym, I typically wear more of a boxer brief – I wear short shorts at the gym and have had a few slips, so I try to keep it all tucked-in now.”
“On other guys, I appreciate a nice jockstrap, cute briefs, and your classic boxer brief style. I like the type of underwear that will end up on my bedroom floor.”
“When I’m not performing, I wear just a basic and comfortable brief of any kind – from a boxer brief to a bikini brief, I like my goods kept close. When I’m performing, I like to change it up and be creative. I’ll look for options with sheer panels, cut outs, interesting textures and colours. Then, of course, I accessorise the whole look to completion.”
“At the gym, it’s either no underwear or I’ll wear a jockstrap. When it comes to other guys, I like them to wear anything that’s flattering to their body. But, if I could choose it for them, I’d pick a nice jockstrap.”
“I love bikini-cut with a pouch, or jockstraps - always in black. I love anything that cups my balls and lifts my cock up.”
“At the gym, I usually have gym shorts with a lining already sewn in. On other men, I like to see fresh clean underwear. Mine occasionally are musky from my balls. I like having a boy telling me that mine need to be changed.”
The world definitely became a more interesting place after the invention of the jockstrap.
