You don't need to break your wallet for some quality board shorts. Take this swimsuit from Old Navy, which comes in four flattering colors and is available in regular and tall sizes. And we vouchsafe their quality after testing them in water and taking a long walk in them too.

Boardshorts designed for Men | Blue Tomato Boardshorts designed for Men | Blue Tomato

If you like Alex Knost, Costa Rica and slow-moving point breaks have a squiz at RVCA’s top models. Anti Chafe Hurley has been designing and developing surfwear since 1979. The company was responsible for distributing Billabong in the USA during the Australian company’s early years and it wasn’t until 1999 that Hurley International was born. Sports giant Nike acquired the brand in 2002 before letting it go in 2019, but it hasn’t stopped the brand from producing high-quality and well-designed surf apparel. Lira could be a brand you’ve not come across before. Being relatively young, having only been founded in 2007, the Southern Californian label has made it its mission to “bridge the gap between streetwear and action sports”. By this, the company means it wants to take the conventional action sports apparel and inject it with a bit of creative flair, taking inspiration from a community of athletes, musicians, photographers, artists and designers.

If you go with a pair of boardshorts without a lining, you can wear them as-is, though some may want to opt for an additional layer for better support and to fend off chafing. Options include compression shorts, a brief-style swimsuit, or boxer-brief-style underwear. Fans of long board shorts, look no further than Hurley’s signature One & Only shorts. With 22 inches in length, they give you the coverage you love and need. If you've got thighs like a rugby player's, these shorts also come in extended sizing for big guys who are looking for a reliable swimsuit. First thing first: you won't find any cotton-heavy fabric in board shorts since it will get too heavy when soaked with water and thus weigh you down. Mission Workshop is a San Francisco-based company committed to designing and developing a complete range of durable, waterproof apparel and accessories. It started life producing bags, with its original model still going strong today, and all products are designed and manufactured in the US.

Boardshorts of 2023 - TripSavvy The 10 Best Boardshorts of 2023 - TripSavvy

Quiksilver was founded in Australia in 1969 but has since moved its headquarters to Huntington Beach, California. The company is regarded as one of the largest surfwear and board-related sports companies in the world, with it being a prominent favourite of snowboarders, too. With a classic board short waistband and the length of a traditional swim trunk, this option is the best of both bathing suit options. Bonus points for several versatile, cool prints that'll have you standing out in style at the beach, bar, rooftop party, or on the waves. Vissla was founded by Paul Naude, former head of US Operations at Billabong, in 2013. The company puts a heavy focus on producing products by sustainable means and promises to be one that “represents creative freedom, a forward-thinking philosophy, and a generation of creators and innovators”. Length: The main difference here is the length. While swim trunks generally hit at the thigh, men's board shorts tend to be longer, usually ending right at the knee or slightly below it. This helps provide more coverage in general, and it protects you from the sun. Traditional board shorts tend to be baggier in shape and are known for being less restrictive—one of the many reasons they are recommended for highly intense activities, such as surfing, wakeboarding, and beach games. Lining: Swim trunks almost always have mesh linings to provide more support. Boards shorts, on the other hand, do not usually have linings; in fact, surfers and sailors avoid liners because that extra fabric can cause abrasion against the skin. Instead, board shorts offer a free, less restrictive fit that helps air circulate to keep you cool on those hot summer days, and give you more wiggle room and space for movement on the waves. Really, if you're performing heavy activities in water, no lining is the way to go.They fixed it with their not-so-secret secret: all Bonobos’ pants have a curved waistband that conforms to the natural shape of men’s waists. Bonobos then expanded into producing awesome shirts, suits, swimwear; you name a piece of men’s clothing, they do it! From fit, lining, waistband, fabric, and occasion, board shorts actually differ from swim trunks in many ways.

Board shorts vs. swim trunks: What’s the difference? Board shorts vs. swim trunks: What’s the difference?

Howler Brothers was founded by two friends, not brothers, in Austin, Texas. They practically became brothers, however, after meeting and realising they shared much of the same interests, thus becoming inseparable. The company’s products are created with “soul and passion”, with products that only provide purpose rolling off the production line. While Patagonia may be associated with outdoor hiking gear, it also has its fingers in the surf apparel pie. Like with its outdoor gear, surf clothing also utilises recycled materials and other sustainable, eco-friendly production methods which only boost its B-Corporation credentials.

If you are a man of creature comfort (and 8-hour shred sessions), you would do well to make sure your boardshort of choice has anti-chafe technology. We could go into Swiss Army Knife comparisons and boring technical details, but let’s be honest. It’s pretty simple what makes the best boardshorts.

Mens Board Shorts - City Beach Mens Board Shorts - City Beach

Consider the occasion where you will wear the swimwear. Some activities are more suited for board shorts, while swim trunks are better for others. What are swim trunks? Board shorts aren't known to be, well, short—7 inches is usually the shortest one goes. But, in the spirit of breaking the rules, J.Crew made these 5-inch board shorts that I just had to try on. The result is rather satisfying: the slim fit makes it look tailored like chino shorts, but the stretch allows me to move easily. Prana – styled ‘prAna’ – is a Californian-based clothing brand that started life in 1992. The company originally set out to revolutionise clothing designed for yoga and climbing, employing sustainable methods in the process and has since expanded into other areas, including surfwear. It’s now owned by Colombia Sportswear. Better for activities like surfing and wakeboarding because board shorts allow for better range of motion and won't ride up. Volcom started life in 1991 after two friends went snowboarding in Tahoe, USA and decided to start a clothing line for women. The company expanded its offerings to include guys too, and then even further to design clothing and accessories for other boardshorts. Volcom is currently a sponsor of a long list of surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders.If you don’t need a lot of length, these short swim trunks make a comfortable and classic choice. They come in an array of solid colors, too. Bonobos was born because founders, Andy Dunn & Brian Spaly, couldn’t find men’s pants that fit (they were either too tight or too boxy) and wanted to fix this common problem men face while shopping. Imagine: board shorts made with cotton—the comfort is guaranteed to be off the chart; and, as I’ve tested and found, an adjustable waistband and breathable fabric allow comfort to reign supreme in these gnarly shorts from the Howler Brothers. While cotton isn’t the most water-friendly, these only get a little bit heavy when drenched in water—the poly/cotton blend in fact dries quite fast. (I was even able to lightly jog in them while wet, thanks to the added stretch.) A lightweight and durable board short that won’t stretch out over use. Popular for its long length, these shorts hit the knee on men over 6’ tall. Saturdays NYC was founded in 2009 in SoHo, NYC by three friends and is one of those ‘cool’ brands. It produces all the usual menswear essentials, but ones of high-quality, with manufacturing split between countries such as Portugal and the US. The company has physical stores in the US, Japan and Australia and actually used to be called Saturdays Surf NYC, as boardshorts were one of its first major product lines.