J-ware odor-free underwear could hit Targets, midsections soon

Truthfully, there's just not enough work being done in the area of advanced underpants, so we're absolutely elated to hear that textile experts at Japan Women's University in Tokyo are picking up the slack and moving forward with an amazing development. Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, is current testing the "odor-free" clothing, and it's said that he can rock the same drawers without any pungent smells for a solid week. The garb is designed to "kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly," and as if that wasn't awesome enough, they're also flame-resistant and anti-static. The best news? There are already talks of bringing this stuff to the commercial realm. Don't deny it -- you're already thinking of how stellar it'd be to wash clothes just once per month.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:23PM]

hmm...thatll make my life A LOT easier, lets just say

[PlatinumSkeet Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:37PM]

So if you fart... Will the odor spread or will your underwear not stink?

[NeoJew Posted Mar 25th 2009 9:47PM]

It might make YOUR life easier, but not for me. I use my underwear to tell me what day of the week it is.
Pull down my zipper and a fresh clean smell = Sunday, oddly erotic musk = Wednesday, vomit inducing stench = Saturday.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 11:21PM]

We all want to know... Does it kill Crabs?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 11:27PM]

The only question I want to know is... Do these drawls kill crabs?

[Phenoum Posted Mar 26th 2009 2:44AM]

I already only wash once a month - 30 (25?) pairs of underwear and 30+ pairs of socks.....

Gotta love college :)

[DustinM Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:23PM]

You'd think the Japanese would be one of the last people wanting to get rid of the smell of women's underpants.

[Spiny Norman Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:29PM]

Gee, thanks a lot, Dustin! I just blew Pepsi out my nose and all over my keyboard.

[kjb434 Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:31PM]

Dustin has it right. Any country where they sell pre-worn women's panties in vending machines wouldn't necessarily be where you think this invention would come from.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:51PM]

Haha, it least I don't feel too weird thinking the same thing while reading the article.

[MPearson Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:56PM]

That is possibly the best comment I've read on Engadget. Ever.

[The Habbler Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:04PM]

Sadly I thought the exact same thing when reading this, but then again it is a Women's University that did the research.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 6:29PM]

Actually, Japan is the only county that would give THAT much thought to underwear...

[lakingsgeek Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:26PM]

Sold!

[wvcaver Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:30PM]

When will you be able to buy these at Walmart ?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:32PM]

Sweat and bacteria?!!?

Who cares.

When are they gonna figure out a way to deal with the other smell that seeps out of my underpants. After my taco bell lunch, I could use a different kind of odor-free underwear.

[kjb434 Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:33PM]

How much will it be? Couldn't just by a bunch of extra pairs of standard Hanes. That means you wash every week or two weeks?

So how many WoW users will be buying these?

[robotrock Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:33PM]

if they make wifebeaters and gym shorts outta this stuff I'm on it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:35PM]

"Don't deny it -- you're already thinking of how stellar it'd be to wash clothes just once per month."

- Nope. Just glad I didn't choose Astronaut for a career.

[nelagster Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:40PM]

you don't choose it, they choose you

[Sibuna Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:35PM]

Now if they have skin specialties, I may actually opt for a surgery of this kind...

[Ksult1 Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:35PM]

Now I'll think of this every time I see an astronaut. :(

[timmy2000 Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:38PM]

he said underpants

[nelagster Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:40PM]

see. and people thought NASA didn't do anything

[The WC Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:17PM]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is an invention by the Japanese, not the US, where NASA is based.

[nelagster Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:28PM]

true you make a good point. I guess I meant that space exploration in general is good for society

[MioTheGreat Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:28PM]

Yes, but Japan is part of the world, and the world belongs to the US.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:43PM]

duuuuuuuuuuude. I want these. when I fart, I don't people to smell it and still have some pride. haha

[kevout Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:00PM]

They're odor resistant, not odor containing. It just means that your natural stank wouldn't build up in them, but a good cabbage rocket will still be noticeable.

[Derbeste Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:25PM]

Kevin:

EPIC win

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:44PM]

As a hunting geek, I could see where this would be very helpful in the woods. Nothing like the smell of wearing the same camo for a week long hunt in the back country.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:52PM]

May I introduce you to merino wool? Already has all these properties... nothing beats it when you're spending multiple days in the field.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article4538169.ece?print=yes&randnum=1232132247503

[MAS Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:51PM]

So, when did astronauts graduate to "big-boy" pants?
I thought they were still wearing diapers.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:56PM]

Only the crazy ones still wear diapers.

[forex Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:39PM]

Such old news... The outdoor/travel industry has had this stuff for years. Check out ExOfficio underwear, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, quick drying, and oh so comfortable. These are the only thing I let come between me and my levi's. And they trounce the PataGucci boxers everyday!

But perhaps these target boxers won't cost $20 a pair...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2009 5:32PM]

ExOfficio is actually having a really big sale on their high-tech underwear now.
Try the technology out at 25% off.

http://www.exofficio.com/product_results.aspx?page=LIST&free_text=give-n-go

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:56PM]

Great. I'll no longer smell my own ass after a 3-day stint.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 8:13PM]

thanks for sharing

[darklighter Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:56PM]

While it's fun to joke about, if this material enters widespread use, it could mean a significant reduction in laundry, which in turn means a significant reduction of water, power, and detergent use. That sounds pretty good to me.

[Blacklight Posted Mar 26th 2009 1:15AM]

Dude, .

OT: I'm not so sure I would do any less laundry with those.. Granted, no smell and no bacteria, but there's still that weird substance that always appears on my underwear after one night. Not comfortable with it.

[Hoot Posted Mar 26th 2009 12:48PM]

@ DarkLight

Get a girlfriend, then that mysterious substance appears on them at night.

[forex Posted Mar 25th 2009 4:58PM]

This sort of tech has been out for a long time in the outdoor/travel world. ExOfficio makes anti-microbial underwear. Quick drying and comfortable, the only thing I wear. But they do run $20 a pair, I wonder if these Target WonderWears will be any less...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2009 5:30PM]

ExOfficio is actually having a really big sale on their underwear now.
Try the technology out at 25% off.
http://www.exofficio.com/product_results.aspx?page=LIST&free_text=give-n-go

[scooterbaga Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:01PM]

Wait... you mean I'm supposed to wash my clothes more than once per month?

[Sibuna Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:03PM]

What is this 'wash' you speak of?

[troyallen Posted Mar 25th 2009 5:07PM]

Do women wear underwear?

[rcappo Posted Mar 25th 2009 6:20PM]

The women got tired of having to wash their boyfriend's/husband's underwear every week.

And don't you guys have enough pairs of underwear to last a month between laundry days anyway? With these, I would have enough to last a year between having to do the laundry.

[arkansized Posted Mar 25th 2009 11:55PM]

Wash 'em? I burn 'em. After a week on the fishing vessel they stink worse than 3-day old fish.
And if they ever make jeans in these, I'm on it.
He likes to wear them until they stand up in the corner.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2009 8:43PM]

@Granny Down East
Wearing jeans 'till they stand up on their own is actually a really good policy for fades on jeans.

Nudie makes a fortune with "don't wash for six months" as their basic principle for marketing.

[arkansized Posted Apr 1st 2009 11:20PM]

@Tang-- true that on the fade.