If you’re looking for a beach trip or beach vacation, it’s a deliberate move that requires you to plan, pack and dress, well, with purpose in mind. For a menswear fan like me, that means paying attention to even the most unusual items, like swim trunks designed to be worn all day at the beach or in the water.
It’s easier than ever to find a pair that is as stylish as your favorite shorts, yet has all the performance features of high-quality swimwear.
The best men’s swimming trunks, if anything, are an absolute must. Think of hitting the water like hitting the links or the trail: The right gear makes all the difference in terms of comfort and appearance.
There is more than meets the eye with today’s crop of top men’s swimming titles. The men’s swimwear range is an engineered swim trunks designed like shorts, made from smart fabric and designed to look just as good on land as it does in the water. Leave the days of wearing athletic shorts to the pool behind you–and upgrade from your current pair.
With the right choice, you can even add subtle color and print to your wardrobe, without going overboard. Hitting the pool or taking a walk to the beach should be a time to relax, unwind, have fun and yes, style. The best men’s swimming trunks will help you get there.
Also check out our list of the best men’s shorts.
Why did I choose it?
From quick-drying fabric to a versatile 7-inch inseam and a variety of carefully designed prints and colors, I’ve found it hard to find a more reliable swim trunk than Proof Lined Swim Trunks. They go well with everything from a tank top to a pocket square, and look just as stylish on the beach. They include swim shorts and active shorts.
Evidence Performance Lined Swim Trunks
Think of shopping for swim trunks as going through a quick checklist, which is what I did when looking for the best men’s swim trunks.
The fit should be on point, above or above the knee for most guys, and even if you’re a little taller (like me, at 6’3”), an inseam length of 7 or 8 inches should work just fine.
Of course, color and pattern are fun and, of course, necessary when shopping for swimming trunks. Naturally, that’s where the Huckberry Wellen brand started. And the fabric should be light and quick drying, ideally with a useful lining.
You check all those boxes with these Wellen swim trunks, made with an easy-to-wear elastic waistband for all-day comfort.
LLBean Classic Supplex Sport Shorts
Shopping for men’s swimming trunks on a budget doesn’t mean cutting corners entirely. We’ve considered the right combination of price, quality, longevity and performance to narrow down the best budget option for summer swimming trunks.
As luck would have it, LLBean shines in summer and winter. Hard-to-find under $35, these versatile “sport shorts” are made from 100 percent durable nylon and feature UPF 50+ sun protection technology. They are also water repellent and have handy side hip pockets.
Todd Snyder Montauk Tight Swim Shorts
Todd Snyder often draws inspiration from cool coastal locations, be it for his hard work. cool linen pants or pocket tees are washed with clothes, and Montauk Swim Shorts are a great addition to yours weekend bag to escape to the next sea.
In fact, I’ve found that most of the time, when I’m packing for vacation, I choose to bring a bunch of Todd Snyder men’s clothing – from shirts to pants, watches and swimwear like this one.
The five-inch inseam is a tasteful throwback, while the metal-tipped drawcord and fine mesh liner make this what the designer calls a “luxury upgrade” to the classic boardshort. As with all things Todd Snyder, the final design is definitely worth the extra investment on your part.
Vuori Cruise Boardshorts
Boardshorts are a very useful design for swimming trunks, designed to provide more coverage and durability during water sports.
Vuori goes the extra mile here, too—they modeled this pair after their most comfortable workout shorts, using fabric made from recycled plastic bottles for sustainability and style. The vintage style pattern also goes well with the functionality.
Ten Thousand Set Shorts
If you’ve tried Ten Thousand’s approved and tested gym shorts and shirts, you know they’re as durable and well-designed as any gear on the market. I’m a big fan of the brand’s tough yet stretchy workout shorts, which pack a lot of durability into a flexible design that’s built to withstand repeated wear and tear.
In my experience, the same performance characteristics should be involved with the brand’s swimwear. If you’re new to the company, consider trying the Set Shorts, which are made with a quick-drying four-sided shell.
The fabric itself is also resistant to chlorine and water, and helps keep the waistband organized and small. Go bold with Pacific Blue or go a little bolder with the color Black.
Howler Brothers Stretch Bruja Boardshorts
The Howler Brothers built their brand on a combination of both work and play: The kind of rugged Western shirts you can wear out fishing on the water, then back on the town for a night of live music and cold beer. Also look to take over your beach wardrobe with a classic cut pair of 8.5-inch boardshorts in a quick-drying cotton and polyester blend.
They’re tailored to look cool in the dry world, but it’s the stretchy fabric that elevates them into a pair of trunks perfect for a stream or day of casting lines.
Outerknown Nomadic Volley Shorts
It makes sense that surfing legend Kelly Slater would step in to develop the volleyball swimming trunks with the stable, stylish brand she started.
The quick-dry recycled polyester twill drives home that point well, with both functional fabric and a relaxed fit that make them a great mix between lounge shorts and swim trunks.
Make no mistake: They still boast a comfortable elastic waistband, as well as useful details like a rear zip pocket for EDC storage. Pair them with an Outerknown tee for a super stylish day at the beach.
Chubbies Gravel Roads Classic Swim Trunks
You might know Chubbies for their thigh-skimming shorts, but the brand is also making waves when it comes to the best men’s swim trunks – after all, finding the right fit in terms of shorts often means you can find the right details in swim trunks, too.
The 7 inch inseam shorts featured above sport a bright blue color with a contrasting belt for a nice touch of color. As an added bonus, the sub-$70 price tag is more than reasonable.
Bearbottom Clothing Volley Shorts
Volley shorts are especially useful if you like to work out on vacation, dive into watering holes or hike to a waterfall – they’re cut for ease of movement and athletic performance. Bearbottom hits the right marks with quick-drying, lightweight swim shorts that are, as the brand says, “perfect for any adventure.” Choose from an inseam length of 5.5 inches or 7 inches, it’s best to find the perfect fit for your body type.
Fair Harbor Bayberry Swim Trunks
Fair Harbor starts with sustainability and comfort and sense, and builds brand swimwear from there. I’ve had the opportunity to try on many pairs of the New York City brand’s trunks, and each one delivers on the issues of function and style.
The end product is a very soft pair of stretch swim trunks (taken from this writer’s personal experience), with a backstory you can feel good about – they use 80 percent recycled polyester, after all. We also appreciate the Green Floral print with subtle touches of pattern and color, and the 7-inch inseam works for most guys.
James Perse Yosemite Split Hem Boardshorts
Although they are usually known for skinny jeans and super soft t-shirts, each type needs to keep things simple and catch a few rays from time to time.
Helpfully, the Yosemite Boardshorts from James Perse stay true to the brand’s planned take on California cool. Water-repellent nylon is an innovative fabric that makes them more suitable for a higher price, while the split edge brings mobility to water sports of all kinds. Use the Velcro back pocket to store a small selection of EDC while on the go, too.
Bonobos Riviera Redesigned Swimming Trunks
Over the years, Bonobos in NYC has expanded into more than just pants that fit well, and that’s great news if you have designs on getting your new favorite swim trunks.
The Riviera is another stylish, sustainable option, made of 85 percent polyester and with a clean design and your choice between 5, 7 or 9-inch inseams for a perfect match according to your height.
Volcom Lido Solid swim trunks
Sometimes it’s good to turn to a brand that has some experience in making durable swimming trunks for waterports, especially if you’re planning a lot of beach trips this season. Watersport adventure gear turns out to be a specialty at Volcom, resulting in polyester swim trunks in new colors like Cayenne. Portable pockets for your everyday essentials make it easy to go from sea to land.
Vilebrequin Men’s Swimming Qualification
If you’ve been thinking of swimming trunks as one area where you can save, don’t splurge, think again about a carefully considered splurge. We looked for style and fabric durability, quality production and proper fit, and flexibility.
Vilebrequin swim trunks go above and beyond, using a unique sewing process for a secure waistband, and a short inner design made from cotton and polyester. You will also enjoy different but fun patterns.