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Obviously from the responses, the choice is totally a matter of personal preference. Some might even wear both since the compression shorts don't necessarily keep everything in place. If you regularly wear boxers you may find the coverage of compression shorts or lycra shorts more comfortable. If you're more of a briefs guy, you could just where those or buy ones specially designed for running - something that is not cotton which absorbs sweat and therefore keeps everything wet and hot. I'm not so sold on the jockstraps idea though, for me and my running friends we have never found them to be the best for running. At your age and under your mother’s watchful eye it will be difficult but you actually just need to try each to see what is most comfortable for you.

Do you run on a team? What do your teammates wear? I wouldn't usually promote blindly following the crowd but in the 7th grade sometimes that's important and it may be a way to bring up the topic with your mom - "Mom the other kids laugh at me wearing ....... to run in. They all wear ......, could you buy me some?" Or, do you have a birthday coming up? Decide what you want to try and just sneak it into your birthday wish list. The last thing you might try is just to tell your mother that you've been asking questions and you have found out that cotton clothes (including underwear) is not the best for running because it absorbs sweat and therefore gets heavy, chafes (rubs the skin raw), absorbs odor and generally feels uncomfortable. That should get the conversation going and you can suggest whatever you like.

Anyway, I can feel your pain, its an uncomfortable topic to discuss with your mom. All the best and keep running cool.

For me personally I use compression shorts. If you are a runner or any type of activity that a lot of running is involved it is the way to go. Aside from the support issue of the family jewels compression shorts also offer a great relief for chaffing that may occur during a long run.

Secondary, it may also offer support in your bigger muscles such as Glutes, Hams and Quads. When you run your muscles will wobble compression shorts help to prevent the wobble saving you energy on those longer runs. Studies show that at the elite athletes could see up to 2% different in there time, so while that may not help on a short 100yd run. It may make a difference for that long 42.2 km run.

Harry

Compression shorts dude there more comfortable and you can wear them for pretty much every sport

jock strap all the way! and just buy one without your mom knowing :P