The best women’s underwear on the high street, according to over 100 panellists (and it's not M&S!)

Overall score: 89/100

The female-founded British brand claims it makes ‘the world’s comfiest knickers’ and after testing three of its signature styles, we can see what all the fuss is about. Its hipsters (also available to buy individually) were particularly popular with panellists, who rated them highly in terms of performance and aesthetics, resulting in a score of 90/100. “These pants are going on my Christmas and birthday lists for the rest of time!” said one satisfied customer.

Not your bog-standard beige basics, Stripe & Stare’s pants come in a range of stylish designs, with bold colourways and pretty, frilly trims. “They turn the everyday knicker into a stylish piece of clothing,” commented one tester.

They also excelled on the comfort front. Everyone agreed the Tencel fabric felt lovely and soft against the skin, and it was highly breathable, even on long, busy days. There were no visible panty lines, the generous gusset stayed in place and they didn't need constant readjustments under clothing. Just note, a couple of our more petite testers said the shorts were a bit long on their legs.

We also tested:

• Stripe & Stare Thongs; 90/100
• Stripe & Stare High Rise Knickers; 88/100

Overall score: 89/100

Spanx is best known for its sculpting shapewear, but its knickers are worth shouting about, too. Our panellists were big fans of its SPANXsmooth™ shorts (score: 93/100), which provide ‘light compression for barely-there smoothing’.

They come in a range of neutral tones and are designed to disappear under clothing, so you don't have to worry about VPLs. The brand claims the shorts are made with quick-drying, breathable fabric that stretches up to 400% (!).

And our panellists raved about silky smooth, lightweight material – “These are one of the most comfortable pairs of pants I’ve ever worn,” one told us. Everyone liked how breathable and flexible they were, and they held up well after washing, too.

Another major highlight was the seamless construction, delivering a smooth, flattering shape, even under tight clothing. Despite the one-size design (with a plus-size option for larger bodies), the majority of our panel members said the fit was just right.

We also tested:

• Spanx Supima Cotton Thong, Score: 93/100
• Spanx Supima Cotton Brief, Score: 82/100

Overall score: 88/100

Made with a bamboo and viscose blend, our panellists were seriously impressed with how breathable Step One’s underwear was, saying it was perfect for active days and exercise.

Its SmoothFit thong in particular was a big hit, scoring an impressive 97/100, which means these are our top-rated pair of pants across all the options tested. Everyone praised the thoughtful high-rise design, which provided a supportive, streamlined fit, without rubbing or digging in.

There were no VPLs, with testers saying they loved the soft, stretchy material and the sizing was on point. Crucially, the pants washed well, too – they retained their softness, shape and overall feel after multiple cycles in the machine. “There was absolutely nothing I didn’t like, I’d be happy to purchase again,” said one panellist, while another commented: “The quality overall is excellent.”

Best of all, Step One offers a ‘30-day first pair guarantee’, so you can get a full refund on your first purchase if you find they’re not right for you. The packaging is biodegradable and compostable, too.

We also tested:

• Step One SmoothFit Full Brief, Score: 87/100
• Step One SmoothFit Boyleg, Score: 80/100

Overall score: 84/100

Next’s range of knickers aren't the fanciest, design-wise, but they’re comfortable, dependable and offer excellent value for money. The brand's classic cotton thong was the standout, scoring 90/100 with our panellists, with one saying: “I’m very happy I found this underwear.” Another told us: “These are by far the most comfortable thongs I’ve ever worn.”

Crafted from a 95% cotton blend, testers found the soft fabric extremely breathable and it didn’t cause any itching or irritation – a good choice for those with sensitive skin. They didn’t ride up, cause wedgies or slip down either, and they were seamless under outfits. Unlike many thongs, panellists found the gusset was wide enough for sanitary pads, too.

If all that wasn’t enough, they aced our wash tests, maintaining their size and softness after several cycles. If everyday comfort is key, and you don’t want to spend over the odds, these are a serious contender.

We also tested:

• Next Full Brief Cotton Lace Knickers, Score: 84/100
• Next Short Cotton Rich Knickers, Score: 79/100
  

Overall score: 82/100

Looking to spruce up your lingerie collection with some fancy pants? Freya offers flattering silhouettes and delicate detailing across its range of shorts, thongs and briefs. Our panel loved its tailored Brazilian (aka cheeky) knickers, which are the perfect middle ground between full briefs and thongs. They scored 88/100 individually.

Our panellists loved the “flattering” cut and “premium” design details, and said they felt confident when wearing the high-leg pants thanks to the neat, VPL-free fit. The fabric, which testers found impossibly soft and smooth against the skin, was a pleasure to wear throughout the day. Most were happy with the fit, although a few taller testers found they sat a touch too low on the hips.

The pants maintained their quality through multiple washes. The only minor quibble is that they’re hand-wash only, but that’s often the case with lingerie (and you may be able to get away with using the delicate cycle).

We also tested:

• Freya Tailored Short, Score: 87/100
• Freya Hallie Brief, Score:, 72/100

Overall score: 79/100

It wouldn’t be a knickers round-up without good old M&S. The beloved high street brand is all about practicality, comfort and affordability, making it a reliable choice for refreshing your everyday underwear wardrobe.

Its high-rise shorts were a favourite among our team of testers (score: 86/100), with one saying: “There’s nothing I disliked” and another commenting: “I will be ordering more.”

Testers said they fit true to size, offering a secure, comfortable feel with plenty of coverage and no slipping down throughout the day. The soft fabric was also a highlight – it was still smooth and gentle on the skin after repeated washes, with no reports of irritation. The pants also retained their shape, softness and colour in both our lab and at-home testing.

They're not the fanciest on the market, but if you're after pants that are comfy, durable and affordable for everyday, M&S delivers.

We also tested:

• M&S Cotton Rich Thongs, Score: 76/100
• M&S Cotton Rich Full Briefs, Score: 74/100

Overall score: 79/100

If you're on a budget, consider George at ASDA's selection of briefs, shorts and thongs. The designs are simple and come in generous multipacks that make it easy to stock up on your supermarket shop.

Testers were surprised at how much they liked the brand’s short briefs (score: 84/100), saying the quality exceeded their expectations. “I would continue to wear and recommend,” said one, while another told us: “They’re surprisingly good for a basic underwear brand.”

The cotton-rich fabric earned top marks for comfort and breathability over long periods – it was soft to touch, and the elastic didn’t rub or dig in. Panellists appreciated the wide gusset, which is practical for use with sanitary pads, and liked the flat seams around the legs to reduce visible lines under clothing. A few experienced some riding down, but this was down to sizing issues rather than overall design. We recommend choosing the smaller option if you’re in between sizes.

Look to one of our other options if aesthetics is priority, but if you’re after a new pack of pants for everyday, add these to your basket.

We also tested:

• George at Asda Thongs, Score: 77/100
• George at Asda Lace Top Full Brief Knickers, Score: 75/100

Overall Score: 79/100

The British lingerie and loungewear brand is known for its comfortable and well-fitting pieces, and its thongs, in particular, were a hit with our panel for this reason, scoring 84/100 – the highest of the three styles we tried from the brand. Made with smooth, ribbed organic cotton, they’re designed to minimise VPLs and come in three shades, including mocha.

“The fit was perfect and they were comfortable to wear no matter what I was doing,” said one impressed tester. Others told us that the thong felt soft against their skin, with no digging in, while several noted (and appreciated!) the wider gusset for extra coverage.

The thong didn’t feel uncomfortable during exercise either. “I wore them hiking twice and I forgot I was wearing them,” one person told us. There was some slight stretching after washing, but most panellists praised the high-quality fabric and construction and called out the brand’s sustainability credentials, which includes using natural or recycled fabrics.

We also tested:

• Nudea Organic Cotton Midi Brief, 78/100
• Nudea Organic Cotton Mini Brief, 76/100

Score: 71/100

We’re big fans of H&M’s activewear here at Good Housekeeping – the brand features in our best sports bras and best yoga leggings round-ups – so we had high hopes when we came across its sports undies. They’re made from a moisture-wicking polyamide material, with a cotton lining on the crotch for comfort.

Our panel confirmed they were effective when it came to absorbing moisture (no sweaty bottoms here) and testers rated the seamless design for avoiding camel toe when you're wearing sports leggings. Everyone was impressed by how well they washed and their speedy drying time, too. “I loved these pants,” commented one satisfied panellist, while another said: “There were absolutely no lines, making them perfect to wear under clothes.”

Feedback on the overall design and comfort was a bit hit and miss, however. While some were impressed on both fronts, others thought the cut was too low and the fabric was too thin, causing some discomfort. Ultimately, it’s about finding what works best for you.