The Best Men’s Swim Trunks, Tested & Reviewed
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Second only to T-shirts, swim trunks are some of the most ubiquitous pieces of clothing on the market. Just about every brand imaginable offers some version of a swim short as the temperatures start to rise and the seasons change. But not all trunks are created equal.
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Plus, it’s high time for an upgrade. This year’s options feature faster-drying materials, more flattering cuts, and various other features; bathing suits are in a better place now than they’ve ever been.
Due to the sheer dearth of options on the market, we’ve swum a path through the proverbial pool to help hone in on which trunks are the best of the best. We’ve also tested them accordingly to ensure top-tier quality. Read on for our picks.
How Did We Test Men’s Swim Trunks?
When testing bathing suits, I took a two-pronged approach: I wore them around the house — to see how they felt when they weren’t wet — before heading out to a local pool to swim some laps and wade around a bit. I observed how they felt in terms of comfort, as well as their look — how easy they were to style with other items of clothing — and how long they took to dry.
BEST OVERALL
Fair Harbor "The Bungalow" Trunk
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Design: Fair Harbor’s Bungalow trunk is our choice for the best pair of swim trunks, due in part to its incredible design. With a perfect 5-inch inseam, a bevy of patterns, and plenty of sizing options, the Bungalow’s best feature is the compression short-like lining that’s far more comfortable than traditional net linings. Overall, this swim trunk is inherently wearable, comfortable, and easy to love. Other key features include pockets, durable water-repellent fabric, and an eco-friendly recycled material construction.
Look: Like standard swim shorts. Some of the patterns naturally lend themselves to all-day wear, especially if paired with a more neutral short-sleeve button-down.
Fit: Extremely comfortable. The interior liner is superior to netting in every way — and, because it dries quickly, it never feels soggy or gets stuck in the wrong areas. Also, the 5-inch inseam provides good coverage without being too short or too long. It’s the Goldilocks of inseams.
BEST FOR MINIMALISTS
Everlane ReNew Swim Short
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Design: A perfect distillation of Everlane’s design ethos, the ReNew Swim Short is a clean, crisp, and decidedly no-frills execution of a swim trunk. The key features are here — an interior mesh liner for comfort, a back pocket with a drainage hole, and side pockets — but done in a way that doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself. The recycled nylon feels a lot like the nylon of an athletic short, which is complemented by the white drawstrings. The 7-inch inseam is a bit longer than I prefer, personally, but it’s a more universal length for some.
Look: Simple and clean! The black trunks we tested, in particular, looked like a pair of very stylish gym shorts. They also pair perfectly with a crisp white T-shirt for all-day wear.
Fit: The 7-inch inseam didn’t feel like it was that long on my 6-foot-6 frame, sitting decently above my knees when I had the shorts sitting around my waist. The mesh also felt comfortable to sit in — and walk around in — for extended periods.
BEST SPLURGE
Orlebear Brown Bulldog Swim Shorts
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Design: The favorite swim shorts of Daniel Craig-era James Bond, Orlebar Brown puts the shorts in swim shorts, with a silhouette that can go from the beach to the bar without skipping a beat. Made with fast-drying material that’s super comfortable to wear, it’s a great blend of form and function that’s well worth its higher price tag.
Look: This is where the brand distinguishes itself from the competition. The shorts are extremely flattering, thanks to design elements that pull from traditional men’s tailoring. The whole vibe is polished and refined. (It’s no surprise, then, why it’s a swim short worthy of 007 himself.)
Fit: On the slimmer side. Orlebar Brown uses traditional waist sizing, but there are generous sizing adjusters at the waist to help, well, adjust accordingly. Regardless, exploring the sizing guide before pulling the trigger is well worth it, as these are supposed to look and feel more like shorts than swim trunks.
BEST ALL-PURPOSE
Patagonia Baggies
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Design: With deep pockets, a super cozy mesh lining, and a quick-drying exterior, Patagonia Baggies have become the de facto, all-purpose summer short for yours truly. Capable of withstanding the sweaty mess of brutally hot temps while doubling as great swim shorts, it might be easy to slip on a pair of Baggies and then never take them off.
Look: Style-wise, Baggies tend more towards the outdoorsy side of swim shorts. But that’s not a bad thing. The look helps to convey their purpose: that Baggies can and will do just about any and everything related to the outdoors.
Fit: Baggies are, well, slightly baggy. But they’re still trim enough — I didn’t feel like I was wearing a pair of JNCOs. The pockets are deep enough to hold plenty of essentials, and the drawstring waist makes it easy to customize the fit. But the best part about the Baggies is their net lining, which feels great. Nets can be a bit of a dice roll, but the way Patagonia has constructed this one is great for soft and cozy wears.
BEST ATHLETIC
Ten Thousand Set Short Swim Trunks
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Design: There’s always that one guy at the pool who’s rocking a pair of gym shorts as swim trunks, so Ten Thousand took that idea to its logical conclusion. The Set Short is designed for those who want to lift and then jump into the pool, while still being well-suited for both activities. They also look pretty neat in the process.
Look: Less like a pair of gym shorts than anticipated! While this pair is pretty similar in style to some of Ten Thousand’s other pieces, the Set Short does look more like a traditional pair of nylon-based swim trunks, which helps make them look at home at the gym, at the pool, or on the street.
Fit: It’s just like a tried-and-true pair of gym shorts. The compression liner does a better job of moving with the wearer than netting and can take a lot of sweat (or water!) without discomfort. Plus, the shorts come in either a 5- or 6-and-a-half-inch inseam, depending upon personal preference.
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