Looking for a new pair of swim trunks to wear this summer? Here are our top picks right now.
Summer is fast approaching. Do you have your swimwear ready?
To help you get prepared for summer fun in the sun, we’ve collected a baker’s dozen of the best swim trunks around — with options in a wide range of styles, patterns, and inseam sizes (including board shorts). Take a peek and see if there’s one that’s the perfect fit for your summer wardrobe.
Quick Take
Here are our top three recommendations from the list:
Vilebrequin is our premier choice for high-class swim trunks. They put huge attention to detail into every pair of their trunks.
Goodfellow & Co Swim Trunks are as classic and easygoing as it gets, with a built-in mesh liner and UPF 50 sun protection to keep your skin healthy all summer long.
Orlebar Brown Bulldog Swim Shorts are our favorites, with a mid-length cut and adjustable side fasteners to dial in your perfect tailored fit.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
Best Swim Trunks for Men
Here are the best swim trunks for men in no particular order…
Vilebrequin Flat Belt Solid Swim Trunks
Vilebrequin is one of our premier choices for high-class swim trunks.
Attention to detail goes into every pair of their trunks, like tone-on-tone stitching and embroidered designs on the back pockets.
With a jean-cut 5-pocket design and a more tailored fit than your classic board short style, these trunks are comfortable enough to wear all day long.
Orlebar Brown “Bulldog” Mid-Length Swim Shorts
Orlebar Brown is another name you should know in the swim trunk category, as they make some of the widest variety of premium swimwear available today.
Their Bulldog series shorts are our favorites, with a mid-length cut and adjustable side fasteners to dial in your perfect tailored fit.
Bonobos Throwback Swim Trunks
There are plenty of good options for swimwear from Bonobos, but none quite as eye-catching as their Throwback line.
They’re cut with a curved hem and short inseam for a retro style and are available in more than a dozen true-to-the-70s colors and patterns.
Quiksilver Waterman Suva Board Shorts
You can’t get much better than Quiksilver for classic surf style at an affordable price.
Their Waterman Suva Board Shorts have a long inseam and generous fit and are made with a water repellent coating that helps them to dry off quickly after you hop out of the water.
Better yet, they’re made almost entirely from recycled materials, making them as good for the planet as they are for your summer wardrobe.
Onia Calder Swim Trunks
Lightweight and colorful, Onia’s Calder Swim Trunks are a bold option for summertime wear.
They’re adorned with a front snap closure and elastic banding at the back of the waist, making it easy to get a comfortable fit even after you’ve gorged yourself at a beachside barbecue.
Goodfellow & Co Swim Trunks
Target’s house clothing brand, Goodfellow & Co, has long been impressing us with its blend of fit and affordability.
Their swim trunks are as classic and easygoing as it gets, with a built-in mesh liner and UPF 50 sun protection to keep your skin healthy all summer long.
Outerknown Nostalgic Volley Swim Trunks
Kelly Slater’s Outerknown brand takes sustainability to the next level while making some of the most handsome swimwear you’ll ever find.
Their Nostalgic Volley Swim Trunks are a blast from the past, with Atari-colored vertical striping on the outseams and a relaxed fit that’s great for kicking back and relaxing on hot summer days.
Everlane ReNew Swim Shorts
Water-repellent active stretch fabric and a built-in mesh liner make Everlane’s ReNew Swim Shorts a great choice for any hot day, not just afternoons at the beach or the pool.
They boast a medium-length 7-inch inseam and are made entirely from recycled materials and bluesign-approved eco-friendly dyes.
Lululemon Pool Shorts
Streamlined and minimalist, Lululemon’s Pool Shorts are perfect for when you want to showcase your best summer bod and eschew any bright colors or distracting patterns.
They’re made with a water-repellent, quick-drying fabric that’s also highly abrasion-resistant, making them good for wearing all summer long.
Goodlife StretchTex Volley Short
Looking for essentials to stock your summer wardrobe? Look no further than Goodlife’s excellent selection of thoughtfully designed staples.
Their StretchTex Volley Short is made from a lightweight 4-way stretch fabric, complete with a mesh boxer brief lining for simplified comfort no matter where your day takes you.
Fair Harbor Anchor Swim Short
Twelve plastic bottles go into each pair of Fair Harbor’s Anchor Swim Short, ensuring that you’re doing your part to keep plastic waste out of the waterways you love.
A little bit of spandex gives them enough stretch for all-day comfort, which is further emphasized by a lightweight and breezy mesh liner. Read our review of these shorts for further details.
Wellen Lined Swim Trunks
Simple and casual but with a jeans-like fit, Wellen’s Lined Swim Trunks are made for summer days that turn into unpredictable beach barbecue nights.
Wear them on their own while you go for a dip in the pool, then let them quick-dry and toss a polo on before you head out to dinner — they’ll look good no matter what.
Frequently Asked Questions About Swim Trunks
To wrap things up, let’s take a closer look at the questions we’ve heard guys asking most often about swim trunks.
Who Makes the Best Swimming Trunks?
Our favorite swim trunks come from Vilebrequin, a high-class manufacturer of dressier swim trunks.
Do You Wear Anything Under Swim Trunks?
Most swim trunks have a liner that takes the place of underwear. So no, you usually won’t have to wear anything underneath your trunks.
Why Do Men’s Swim Trunks Have Netting?
The mesh netting in swim trunks helps give your boys the support they need without having to add another layer.
What Is the Difference Between Board Shorts and Swim Trunks?
Board shorts and swim trunks are essentially the same thing. Swim trunks have a mesh lining more often than board shorts, though.
Which Swim Trunks Will You Wear This Summer?
Whether you’re planning an exotic tropical vacation or just going to be taking your kids to your local water park, start off the summer right with a pair of new swim trunks.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Ask Me Anything