Under-Ease:

July 30, 2002 9:09 AM

Under-Ease: Say hello to flatulence filters—kinda like Brita technology for the other end.
posted by mosspink (23 comments total)

You may be walking around looking like you've got a load in your drawers, but at least you smell good. Great link, mosspink.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:22 AM on July 30, 2002

I dunno, I think that dietary change would be desirable compared to wearing silly looking and likely uncomfortable anti-flatus bloomres.
posted by shagoth at 9:23 AM on July 30, 2002

A triangular "exit hole" for the flatus to be expelled is cut from the back of the air-tight underwear, near the bottom. [my emphases]

I'd hate to be the poor hack who had to write the press release. Release. Heh.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 9:25 AM on July 30, 2002

Do they muffle the sound as well? The smell can always be blamed on someone else.
posted by rotifer at 9:32 AM on July 30, 2002

These are great, but do they come in any other colors?


Uh, a friend was wondering.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:35 AM on July 30, 2002

Also this.
posted by brownpau at 9:39 AM on July 30, 2002

The inventor later won the 2001 Ig Nobel Prize (in the field of Biology) for his efforts. It's good to see this kind of work properly recognized.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:40 AM on July 30, 2002

If this weren't for sale, it could probably find another home here.
posted by Fabulon7 at 9:43 AM on July 30, 2002

These underwear "are made from a soft air-tight fabric (polyurethane-coated nylon). To maintain the air-tightness, elastic is sewn into the material around the waist and both legs." This breaks the cardinal rule of yeast infection prevention:

Always wear white cotton panties. Nylon and Lycra may trap air and create a breeding ground for yeast.

I'd rather subject myself and those close to me to occasional malodorous flatus than create my own personal perfect yeast infection breeding ground.

Also, the word "flatus" really cracks me up. Flatus flatus flatus. tee hee
posted by jennyb at 9:45 AM on July 30, 2002

malodorous flatus... wasn't that another name for the coyote?
posted by mss at 9:48 AM on July 30, 2002

I don't believe this item covers up the sound, and that's half the battle right there. I tend to agree that dietary changes and maybe some Bean-O would be a more practical solution to the problem, though not nearly as sexy looking as plastic padded diaper-pants.
posted by catfood at 9:55 AM on July 30, 2002

Here's a (really gross) addendum... don't you consume what comes out the other end of a Brita filter? Sorry...
posted by krewson at 10:00 AM on July 30, 2002

krewson - Well, we certainly breathe what comes out of these flatus filters.

Oh, and speaking of Beano...
posted by brownpau at 10:02 AM on July 30, 2002

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the post, my first FPP. Hee!

rotifer: I'm glad I'm not the only one who was wondering if they could also muffle sound. I was thinking about whether or not they could add white noise filters to these things, too, but then you'd be emitting sounds from your nether regions even when you're not emitting gas. Hmmm... {scurries back to drawing board}
posted by mosspink at 10:07 AM on July 30, 2002

From the testimonials it sounds like this product isn't just for your average "Oh, oops: I had too much baba ganoush for lunch" incident. It seems to be most useful for folks with Crohn's or those who have had colon surgery.
posted by arielmeadow at 10:21 AM on July 30, 2002

So with these, it's safe to let it rip. (BLRRRT) Hey, did you just fart, no way I just freshened the air with my filtered underwear. ooooooooh!
posted by thomcatspike at 10:21 AM on July 30, 2002

my first FPP

Oh no, mosspink! Not the F-word on your very first post! ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:23 AM on July 30, 2002

omg what an item... it surely needs a better name... how 'bout:

Defends®, or BlunderWear® :-D
posted by t r a c y at 10:24 AM on July 30, 2002

Flatus - The Greek God of internal combustion.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:27 AM on July 30, 2002

Do they come with an air-freshener option? If not they could team up with Bath & Body Works...it would be neat for one's gas to smell like Sun-Ripened Raspberry or Freesia.
posted by catfood at 10:28 AM on July 30, 2002

Apparently this idea has been around for a while.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:35 AM on July 30, 2002

Goddamnit. I was enjoying my lunch until I read the testimonials. Apparently, it's not just for the ladies! Surprised?
posted by Quixoticlife at 10:52 AM on July 30, 2002

Speaking of the testimonials... I expected them to be a fine source of amusement, but was instead just really, really depressed. What the hell is Crohn's Syndrome? Poor, poor Crohn. And poor Crohn's wife, I suspect.
posted by jonson at 10:34 PM on July 30, 2002