History

Vintage Marpage jockstrap and packaging, ca. 1920-1930.The jockstrap was invented in 1874 by C. F. Bennett of a Chicago sporting goods company, Sharp & Smith, to provide comfort and support for bicycle jockeys riding the cobblestone streets of Boston. In 1897 Bennett's newly-formed Bike Web Company patented and began mass-producing the Bike Jockey Strap. The Bike Web Company later became known as the Bike Company. Today, Bike is still the market leader in jockstrap sales.

 

The jockstrap was also influential in early 1900s medicine with the invention of the Heidelberg Electric Belt, a low-voltage electric powered jockstrap that claimed to cure kidney disorders, insomnia, erectile disfunction, and other ailments. Today, jockstraps are still being used for medical purposes, such as the suspensory and for the rest from injury or surgery such as hematocele, hydrocele or spermatocele. 

  

During the 1980s and 1990s, jockstraps slowly faded away to compression shorts and generally were not required by high schools and colleges. However, in recent years more and more athletes are turning back to the jockstrap for use in sports and athletic activities.[citation needed] This is reflected in the fact that new brands and companies are beginning to introduce their own line of jockstraps, such as Calvin Klein and Under Armour.

 

There is also an increase in the number of fashion jockstraps as an alternative to regular underwear. Jockstraps provide support to keep the wearer comfortable while efficiently keeping the genitals covered. They are also cooler to wear as they allow sweat to evaporate more freely.

Jockstrap styles

There are several variations of jockstraps:

   

Wide band with a cup
Jockstraps with pouches and cup inserts are generally worn by baseball, football, lacrosse and cricket players and others participating in full-contact team sports to protect their testicles and penis from injuries. These are a requirement in some sports such as baseball, especially for catchers.

Wide band without a cup
This is the most common "gym jockstrap" used for general support. It is common in football, soccer, track and field, cross country running, basketball and tennis, and often used in wrestling. It is often used in baseball by players other than those playing the position of catcher. It is good for lifting protection. It is thought to assist in the prevention of testicle torsion.

Narrow waistband
Narrow waistbands, or "swimming/running jocks" as they are commonly termed, are worn underneath swimming trunks and running shorts. They are sometimes worn under wrestling singlets. They provide protection and support while having only a 1" waistband that will not show as easily outside of shorts. If worn under Speedos, the leg straps will show.

Fashion jock
In addition to mainstream practical jocks, some manufacturers make specialty jockstraps for "fun and play". They fit in the "sexy" or even "fetish" (e.g. referring to popular role-play characters, such as soldiers, firemen) underwear categories and can be made with see-through mesh, leather, velvet, silk, rubber, Rayon, Lycra or even chainmail. Some fashion jocks feature slim waist and leg straps and a small but well-contoured "micropouch" that will accommodate a flaccid penis. This type of jock is called a "microjock." Other fashion jocks feature a roomy, generous pouch, known as a flopper, that will accommodate a large or erect penis. "Padded" jocks enhance the male anatomy. "Missile pouches" are designed for the more daring wearer of fashion jocks. Padded pouches, micropouches, floppers, and missile pouches can also be incorporated into "thong-style" underwear.

Hockey jock
A regular jockstrap with the addition of four adjustable elastic straps and garter clips that hold hockey socks worn over shin pads covering the entire leg up to the thigh in place. Another common jock in hockey is the goalie protector, a protector with genital and abdominal foam padding, but is very large and bulky. It includes, inner thigh guards with an upper puck bumper.

Windproof jock
Rather than a pocket to hold a hard, protective cup, windproof jockstraps have a special layer of fabric over the genitalia that protects them from wind and cold, similar to the protection offered by wind briefs. Nordic skiers and winter hikers are the primary users of this variety of jock, as the heat created by their physical activity, along with the freedom of motion they require, may make wearing heavy layers to protect against wind and cold infeasible. 

  
The following are not jockstraps or athletic supporters, but they are listed as related items

 

Jock brief
A jock brief, or support briefs, have a full seat instead in the back and a pouch in the front. They resemble normal briefs but have a wider, stronger waistband and are made of a more supportive material. They are available with or without removable cups.

Thong jock
A thong style jockstrap, similar to the athletic type, has only one strap attached to the bottom of the pouch, passing under the crotch, up between the buttocks and attaching to the waistband at the middle of the back. This style is often called dance belt, since it is commonly worn by male ballet dancers.

Compression short jock
They are compression shorts with a full or partial jockstrap sewn into the inside. They provide pockets for a cup and, in the case of the football variety, provide pockets for thigh and backbone pads.

Strapless jock
The strapless variation to the jock, called a sock for "strapless jock", has an elastic pouch that hooks behind the scrotum instead of being held in place by the normal leg straps. While fulfilling the same purpose of comfort and lift, this design is less secure and has a tendency to 'slip off' as a result of frequent intense leg movements such as running or jogging. Some strapless jocks feature a pouch with an internal fabric/elastic cock ring, or "c-ring," that either slides along the penis and encircles the base of the testicles or, alternately, simply snaps around the base of the testicles to snugly attach the pouch to the genitals. While this type of pouch permits the wearer to "go backless," c-ring pouches can be attached to either a thong or traditional jockstrap. C-rings enhance the size of the genitals.

Suspensory
Suspensories are similar to the jockstrap with one main exception; above the pouch that holds the testicles is a hole to put the penis through so that it hangs free from the constriction of the pouch. When worn under trousers with a fly, it allows easy access for urination without removing garments. This is used for medical reasons such as surgery to the groin or for catheter access.

  

   

    

Protective cups
Cup insert for a jockstrap.

 

Hard cup
Hard cups are currently available in three basic shapes, the classic shape, which lays flat and is approximately triangular when viewed from the front, a newer shape, the banana cup, which is an elongated and skinny triangle that wraps under the testicles for added protection, and a new design called the Nutty Buddy. The banana cup is named after its curvature shape and yellow color. These types have padded rims for comfort and are made of a hard plastic. Ventilation holes are common to promote fast drying and cooling. Cups are available in youth, teen, and adult sizes. Some cups are color coded to help distinguish the different sizes. One manufacturer makes a "PeeWee" size (smaller than youth) which is "Ideal for 1st time athletes ages 4-7 playing T-Ball, PeeWee Soccer and Football."

Padded cup
Padded cups are worn in mild to full contact sports. They are made out of a soft pad that can reduce some low impacts. They are worn primarily by youth and by people who find regular cups to be uncomfortable. These do not provide the level of support of hard cups and can become unsanitary due to the pad itself becoming full of moisture and lack of ventilation. The ventilation issue is also of concern due to overheating. These types are common in soccer.

Cup-only protector
Cup protectors that don't use a pouch are also available. The waistband and straps attach directly to the cup often in a one size fits all fashion. These are designed to be worn over a regular jockstrap or briefs, especially if the cup has holes in it, otherwise the scrotum can be painfully pinched in the cup hole. They are common in kickboxing and martial arts to protect against groin attacks.

Combined padded jock and cup
An oversized cup and jock combined into a single item. It has layered foam padding that protects the groin, kidneys and abdomen. Generally made from leather for high durability. Has a liner inside that absorbs sweat and prevents slipping. It has a hook and loop closure for convenience and adjustability with inverted hips for unrestricted movement. Used in boxing and Muay Thai.

Flex cup
Similar to the "Combined padded jock and cup", the flex cup combines the hard and soft cup. It features a hard cup melded into a soft cup. This results in hard cup protection up front but with a flexible and soft backing.

Thai Cup
Solid steel cup used for combat sports (i.e. Mixed Martial Arts, Kick Boxing and Muay Thai)

  

How to wear a jockstrap
The most common way to wear a jockstrap is to put it on immediately over the skin, as the bottom layer. However, one can wear the jock under a pair of compression shorts to avoid having the leg straps show if so desired. The pouch is placed in front and the legs go through the leg straps. Pull it up and adjust to comfort. Some men like their penis to point directly up, others like it pointing either to the left or the right, while still others bend it forward so that it points down, which can be more comfortable when wearing a cup as the penis will match the shape of the cup. It can cause problems in an erect or partially erect state while pointing to the side can cause hanging out the edge. Frequently, the penis shifts to one side or the other; and, should this occur, minor readjustment may be necessary. The cup can be inserted before or after the jockstrap is put on. Care should be taken so that the rim of the cup firmly comes in contact with the pubic bone without resting on the genitals; otherwise impact injuries can occur. Some baseball catchers remove the cup before going to the plate to bat because they feel they can run faster without the cup.

Because they absorb less moisture than regular underwear, Jockstraps are also worn in place of regular underwear during hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities to provide much needed cooling. Jockstraps can also help prevent scrotal chafing and impact while hiking long distances, because the scrotum is lifted away from the thighs. Since most jocks are a cotton, polyester, or spandex blend, they can easily be washed and hung to dry quickly each night. A jockstrap can also be worn under undershorts, as a third layer.

Care
Although jockstraps are easy to wash and dry easily, they are one of the least washed items due to the convenience of leaving them in a locker or gym bag after a workout and only worn for brief periods of time. It is advised that one should always wash and dry jockstraps after every use because they can spread jock itch (tinea cruris) which is caused by fungi such as Trichophyton rubrum and is commonplace in gyms. It is also advisable to take a shower after a workout and towel dry thoroughly. Using a powder or dermatophyte antifungal cream if there is any redness or itching in the groin area is recommended, as is always wearing sandals in showers and never going barefoot. Athletes foot (tinea pedis), caused by the same fungus as jock itch, which is very common in gyms and can be transferred to jockstraps, causing jock itch. To avoid cross-infection, one should try to make sure bare feet never touch the jockstrap or put socks on first before putting on a jockstrap.

The care instructions on the label are important to read. Since most jockstraps have wide bands comprised of mostly rubber, they may not be placed in dryers on high heat, which can cause the waistband to shrink and warp. The cups themselves should never be placed in a clothes dryer but are safe to be placed in a washing machine, then air dried. Usage of a high-fragrance detergent should be avoided because in a damp and hot environment the chemicals from the fragrance can seep into open sores caused by jock itch or chafing and cause more discomfort and irritation.

Replacement and disposal
Even with proper care, like any other clothing item, jockstraps will wear down and need to be replaced. It is crucial to maintain sports equipment and a jockstrap is no exception. The construction of a jockstrap will determine its life span. Many older jockstraps were made with natural rubbers and cotton which naturally break down. Newer jockstraps today incorporate many synthetic and natural materials that provide a longer lasting consistent product. Signs that a jockstrap will need to be replaced start with a looser fit, fraying ends, holes, wear on the pouch or other physical defects. These can create hazards or equipment malfunction.