California-based sock and underwear brand STANCE (Stance) conducted a nationwide survey of 400 men aged 30 to 50 on the 'realities of minor stress related to summer underwear and groin areas' (survey tool: QiQUMO).
The results revealed that nearly 90% of men experience discomfort (minor stress) in their feet and groin areas before the peak of summer. Additionally, many men continue wearing underwear past its 'expiration date'—having missed the ideal replacement time—and are dissatisfied with the functionality of their current underwear.
To help men overcome this summer innerwear challenge, STANCE is launching a special campaign starting Thursday, June 18, on its official online store, offering free trial functional underwear to the first 100 customers who meet the eligibility criteria.
Detailed Survey Results
① Nearly 9 in 10 men experience subtle stress in their intimate areas during summer
When asked, 'Do you experience minor stress related to your summer underwear or groin area?', combining responses of 'Yes (66.5%)' and 'Sometimes (23.0%)', a full 89.5% of men reported experiencing some form of discomfort.
② The two major stressors are 'moisture' and 'odor'. Are over 60% ignoring 'expired' underwear?
In terms of specific discomforts (multiple responses allowed), 'feeling sticky from sweating (55.5%)' ranked first, followed by 'concern about odor (42.5%)', highlighting issues typical of Japan's hot and humid summer. When asked about satisfaction with their current summer underwear, 33.5% of men (1 in 3) responded that they are 'dissatisfied'.
On the other hand, when asked how much of their daily rotation underwear they feel has 'reached the end of its life' due to wear and stretching, only 37.5% answered 'less than 10% (almost all in clean condition)'.
This reveals that over 60% of men continue to wear underwear that has reached its 'expiration date' in terms of wear, stretching, and reduced functionality, missing the opportunity to replace them, thereby exacerbating summer discomfort.
③ What’s needed is an upgrade to 'breathability' and 'moisture-wicking'
When asked what they would like to adopt to reduce discomfort around summer underwear and the groin area, 'choosing underwear made from highly breathable and moisture-wicking materials (43.5%)' ranked overwhelmingly first. It was confirmed that many men wish to refresh their innerwear environment by upgrading material functionality.
Solution: STANCE’s Functional Underwear to Solve Men’s Summer Woes
From these survey results, it is clear that the absolute requirement for men to comfortably endure summer is choosing underwear with 'exceptional breathability' and 'moisture-wicking properties'.
For Japan’s summer, STANCE’s Functional Underwear with FreshTech is ideal
To comfortably endure Japan’s hot and humid summer, we recommend STANCE’s high-performance underwear featuring FreshTech Technology—a proprietary fabric that excels in moisture-wicking, odor resistance, and durability, made from lightweight stretch mesh. The 3D pouch structure keeps everything securely centered, while high breathability ensures comfort without moisture buildup. The waistband features the CoreFlex Waistband, designed to resist slipping and sagging. Flat seams further reduce skin irritation.
BLOCKED PERFORMANCE WHOLESTER
¥6,050 (tax included)
POISON PERFORMANCE WHOLESTER
¥6,050 (tax included)
COMPRESSION NYLON UNDERWEAR
¥6,600 (tax included)
COMPRESSION NYLON UNDERWEAR
¥6,600 (tax included)
STANCE Underwear Product Lineup
Supporting your summer underwear upgrade! Launching the 'Get 1 Free Underwear' Campaign!
The survey revealed that while many men aspire to 'choose high-performance fabric underwear (43.5%)', they have not fully resolved their dissatisfaction with current underwear—meaning they haven’t yet taken action. Since underwear touches your skin daily, investing in a higher-tier option can dramatically improve your summer performance.
Additionally, 'I hesitate to buy premium underwear priced over ¥3,000 myself (20.0%)', 'I’d like to try it if given the chance (14.5%)', and 'I’m very interested (10.8%)'—revealing that nearly half (45.3%) of men are genuinely interested in premium underwear.
In response to these findings, STANCE is launching a special campaign to help working men in Japan enjoy a more comfortable summer and experience premium comfort. During the campaign period, customers who spend a total of ¥13,200 or more (tax included) in a single purchase on the STANCE official store will receive a free trial STANCE underwear—limited to the first 100 eligible customers! This is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your everyday essentials from socks to underwear to premium quality before summer fully arrives.
Campaign Period: June 18 (Thu), 2026 – June 30 (Tue) ※ Ends once 100 customers are reached
Eligibility: Customers who make a single purchase totaling ¥13,200 or more (tax included) on the STANCE official online store
Benefit: One complimentary STANCE underwear (non-sale item)
Participating Store: STANCE Official Online Store
For more details on the campaign, click here >>
About STANCE
STANCE (Stance) is a sock brand originating from California, USA. Known for its unique designs that blend fashion, sports, art, and culture, and products that prioritize comfortable wear, it has gained support from fans worldwide. It also supplies official socks for sports categories such as MLB and NBA, and is widely loved by both athletes and lifestyle users.
Official Japanese STANCE Online Store URL: http://stance-jp.com
STANCE Rakuten Store URL: https://www.rakuten.co.jp/stance/
【Survey Overview】
Survey Title: Survey on the Realities of Minor Stress Related to Summer Underwear and Groin Areas
Survey Period: June 2026
Survey Target: Men aged 30–50 across Japan (n=400)
Survey Method: Online survey (conducted using QiQUMO)
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Survey|キャンペーン
- Organizations: QiQUMO
- Products / services: BLOCKED PERFORMANCE WHOLESTER / POISON PERFORMANCE WHOLESTER