- November 23, 2010 • 11:30 am PST
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This is special underwear. It's designed for travel, specifically to protect your health and your dignity at TSA checkpoints, according to the clothing company Rocky Flats Gear.
"For the first time, radiological shields are attractive, durable, affordable, fun, and comfortable to wear."
A special, lead-free powdered metal is decoratively affixed to men's boxers or briefs. When TSA screeners try to check your most personal space, the X-ray will reveal a less embarrassing natural shape, a fig leaf. You can pick these up in a "USA Patriot 3 Pack," one red, one white, one blue for $50. A one pack goes for $18. (Click through the sideshow to see X-ray views.)
Women have more choices. For undies, there's a clasped hand design in addition to the fig leaf. Upper body protection is proving popular. The velvet coated bra inserts are best sellers, while the sports bra, pictured in slide four, gets the job done in more athletic circumstances.
There's no word how much contraband you can hide under a scanner-scuttling sports bra, nor just how likely you are to make it through the security line without a pat down once TSA screeners come across your fig leaf X-ray shield. This might just be a way to ensure you get stopped. But, at least it's a (fashion) statement.
Let us know what you think about the new TSA scanners.
Pictured above: Men's fig leaf briefs.
