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The best men’s swim trunks to wear (for both style and comfort)

The weather is finally warm enough for outdoor water time — here are the best swim trunks to enjoy that time

Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Trunks
Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Trunks
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Saturdays NYC Leonard Boardshort
Saturdays NYC Leonard Boardshort
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Polo Ralph Lauren Traveler Swim Short
Polo Ralph Lauren Traveler Swim Short
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Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys
Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys
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CDLP Swim Shorts
CDLP Swim Shorts
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David Gandy Wellwear Short Length Swim Shorts
David Gandy Wellwear Short Length Swim Shorts
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Outerknown 19" Apex Trunks
Outerknown 19" Apex Trunks
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Hurley Phantom Boardshorts
Hurley Phantom Boardshorts
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Ten Thousand Set Short
Ten Thousand Set Short
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Meriggi Solid Swim Short
Meriggi Solid Swim Trunks - Citron Yellow
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Gusari Deia Swim Trunks
Gusari Deia Swim Trunks
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Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks
Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks
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Howler Bros Buchannon Boardshorts
Howler Bros Buchannon Boardshorts
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The weather is warming up and summer is here. That means getting into the outdoors and hitting the pool is in order — and that means the proper apparel. These days, swim trunks are a must to wear as much in the water as they are out. There are performance-centered and quicker-drying fabrics now, and thus we've been launched into an age of blissful swimwear versatility.

From the beach to the dive bar up the road, these shorts have design, function, fit, price point, and style in mind. Quality shorts come in all shapes and sizes, but they share a few core characteristics: maximum life span, moisture-wicking tech, and performance functionality for water sports — because getting active in the water is one of life's greatest enjoyments. Get ready for the hottest season of the year with these best men's swim trunks to wear on your next trip to the beach or as you lounge around poolside.

Orlebar Brown setter swim in sky blue.
Courtesy of Orlebar Brown

Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Trunks

The quintessential epitome of swim trunks when it comes to the most stylish pair you can own — they also have performance that can match. When all others kept making styles with drawstring and elastic bands, Orlebar Brown decided to bring the tailoring world to swim suits, revolutionizing swimwear as we know it. James Bond worthy that any Bond girl will be sure to love.

Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Trunks
Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Trunks
Saturdays NYC Leonard swim Shorts in khaki color on a white background.
Courtesy of Saturdays NYC

Saturdays NYC Leonard Boardshort

Don't be fooled by the functionality of this Leonard Boardshort. Saturdays NYC has upped the ante on the construction so they can handle all surfing and outdoor activities. Laser-cut and bonded side seams, 3M reflective details, an inner waistband sporting soft microfiber — the Leonard Boardshorts have everything you need to track down that wave — or the ice cream truck that just rolled by.

Saturdays NYC Leonard Boardshort
Saturdays NYC Leonard Boardshort
Model wearing the Polo Ralph Lauren Swim Shorts in black in front of a white background.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren Traveler Swim Short

A simple Ralph Lauren swim trunk that taps a worn vintage look, these Traveler shorts are made with 100% nylon and come with a polyester mesh brief. But, to be honest, our favorite detail is the subtle pink logo.

Polo Ralph Lauren Traveler Swim Short
Polo Ralph Lauren Traveler Swim Short
Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys
Courtesy of Quicksilver

Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys

Quiksilver has built a legacy in West Coast culture for a reason. These Volley shorts take it all the way back to the brand's roots in surf and skate culture. If we were to recommend the best swim trunks to kickflip in, these would be the ones.

Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys
Quicksilver Beach Please 17" Volleys
CDLP Short swim trunks in navy on a white background.
Courtesy of CDLP

CDLP Swim Shorts

CDLP makes our favorite 3-inch inseam short. These twill weave shorts almost glisten when out in the sun thanks to them being made with Econyl — a regenerated nylon fiber made from salvaged plastic waste found in oceans and landfills. Couple them with a comfortable mesh liner, and you'll hardly notice you've been wearing these trunks for 12-plus hours.

CDLP Swim Shorts
CDLP Swim Shorts
David Gandy swim trunks in navy on a light gray background.
Courtesy of David Gandy Wellwear

David Gandy Wellwear Short Length Swim Shorts

One of our favorite brands that incorporate fabrics to improve the well-being of its customers with each product it makes, David Gandy Wellwear makes a classically styled, performance driven pair of trunks designed by the worlds foremost male supermodel, David Gandy. Need we say more?

David Gandy Wellwear Short Length Swim Shorts
David Gandy Wellwear Short Length Swim Shorts
Outerknown Boardshort in navy block color on a white background.
Courtesy of Outerknown

Outerknown 19" Apex Trunks

Kelly Slater, the surf master, owns the awesome apparel company Outerknown. These Apex boardshorts are quite literally the best for surfing. They're made with recycled polyester and feature moisture-blocking seam tape, four-way stretch, and a double-bonded butt seam for added strength.

Outerknown 19" Apex Trunks
Outerknown 19" Apex Trunks
Hurley Boardshort in black color on a white background.
Courtesy of Hurley

Hurley Phantom Boardshorts

Hurley has been around for a while, to say the least, and its boardshorts are one of the main reasons why. Made almost entirely out of polyester — with a little bit of spandex — the Phantom boardshorts will give and stretch like no other before coming back to shape. It's all in a day's work when surfing barrels.

Hurley Phantom Boardshorts
Hurley Phantom Boardshorts
Ten Thousand Set Short in all black on a white background.
Courtesy of Ten Thousand

Ten Thousand Set Short

These swim shorts will adapt to your active lifestyle. With their water-repellent shell and lightweight fabric, you can guarantee that your movements from land to water will remain seamless when you wear these shorts. Get ready to conquer the pool, sea, or ocean with these high-performance shorts.

Ten Thousand Set Short
Ten Thousand Set Short
Meriggi solid swim shorts in citron yellow
Courtesy of Meriggi

Meriggi Solid Swim Trunks - Citron Yellow

Go for this classic yet lightweight choice. These citron yellow swim shorts are tailored with neat embroidery detail for a modern look. The Italian fabric that they are made of is also quick-drying, which gives you more time to have fun in the sun.

Meriggi Solid Swim Short
Meriggi Solid Swim Trunks - Citron Yellow
Gusari Deia Swim Trunks in a micro-checked print on a white background.
Courtesy of Gusari

Gusari Deia Swim Trunks

Another pair of tailored-like swim trunks reminiscent of Elvis Presley circa Blue Hawaii, these shorts give off those classic 50s beach vibes, with some modern day engineering designs that have incorporated a partially elasticated waistband to enhance durability. This ensures the proper level of support for ideal comfort.

Gusari Deia Swim Trunks
Gusari Deia Swim Trunks
Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks in powder blue on a white background.
Courtesy of Vilebrequin

Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks

Functional yet elegantly Italian styled, Vilebrequin is the product of a couple who fell in love in the 70s en route to St. Tropez — the result is a designer swimwear brand. This pair is the brand's bestselling model that uses 100% ECONYL regenerated polyamide for an extremely speedy, fast-drying pair of trunks. With numerous colorways to consider, we love the daring "divine," powder blue ones.

Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks
Vilebrequin Solid Swim Trunks
Howler Brothers Buchannon Boardshorts in gray navy on a beige background.
Courtesy of Howler Brothers

Howler Bros Buchannon Boardshorts

Howler Bros is another great surf apparel brand. These Buchannon Boardshorts feature unique destinations in the Gulf, which means they can even double as a travel planner. They're made with quick-drying polyester and cut in an 8-inch inseam.

Howler Bros Buchannon Boardshorts
Howler Bros Buchannon Boardshorts

How to buy swimsuits for men

  • Check the length

The first thing people notice about a swimsuit is the length, which is indeed the most important factor — and not just for your tan lines. The golden rule is to find a swimsuit that hits two inches above the knee so it's long enough to cover the goods but short enough to elongate the legs, no matter how tall you are. Feel free to go even shorter if you dare to show off extra skin.

  • Wear prints with caution

Swim trunks are a place to have a little more fun with your wardrobe in terms of bright colors and fun prints. We’re all for sartorial expression here, but it’s easy to go overboard with prints that could look childish or fratty. When seeking the right print, opt for more artsy patterns and colors and stay away from anything with the emoji appeal. Vintage-inspired patterns work really well here. It’s also important to think about your closet. This can be a statement piece, but it should be versatile and work with what you consistently wear.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeff Turbett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jeff Turbett is a health and wellness coach with over three years of experience transforming clients lives and physical…
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