16 Best Mens Swim Trunks to Pack This Summer

Without going on too much of a polemic about it, it must be said that on the beach in the summer of 2024 there is no excuse for you as a man to wear a swimsuit that sits anywhere close to your knee. The five-and-a-half inch inseam is the longest acceptable inseam, and this is not just because giving the world a glimpse of your thigh is cheeky fun—although that’s part of it. The shorter the swimsuit, the taller you look. Board shorts, in addition to being ugly, are unflattering and swallow your silhouette right up with their greedy bulk. In the absence of a baggy shirt to even out the look’s proportions, the problem compounds (Remember that, unless you favor rash guards, you will at times find yourself shirtless in your swimsuit. That’s the name of the game.)

And I’ve heard it all before so don’t even try it—if you’re surfing or otherwise engaging in watersports, wear a wetsuit. Swimsuits must be functional, yes, and should be waterproof and stretch easily so that you can swim and do the Baywatch run. But they aren’t sunscreen. Nor are they armor. Fashion occurs at the intersection of form and function; below, find the suits that do both. Show off those knees and thighs. Be not afraid!

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Dan Q. Dao.

Todd Snyder Riviera swimsuit

I first delved into Todd Snyder—which should be every man’s first stop when seeking warm-weather wear for their excellent linens—after watching Jaws. That film, set in Martha’s Vineyard over July Fourth weekend but filmed on that island in a more frigid March, features an anxious Roy Scheider rather conspicuously bundled in a navy short-sleeve sweatshirt that took my breath away because I had to have it. In the months since, I’ve become devoted to the brand, and while none of their swimwear disappoints, the Riviera number in particular turns heads for its chic navy color and snappy clasp.

Our Legacy drap tech swim shorts

I’ve written about these shorts before—I brought them to Germany in mid-April having long mistaken them for athletic shorts. But it was a rainy trip as springtime in Europe often is and so they were quite perfect. In the months since I discovered the product’s true identity (when I went back to buy another pair), I’ve worn them on the beach and in the ocean and to the sauna and steam room and back again. I just love them so much for their sleekness—they are so simple but look like they’re from the future when you wear them. Their zip pockets do, however, bar you from riding water slides according to most manufacturers.

Orlebar Brown Springer

Oh baby, now these are some swim shorts if I’ve ever seen them! The Orlebar Brown Springer looks like a tailored short, and that’s because it’s cut from the same pattern as the brand’s cotton wares. But this fabric is 100 percent “quick-drying polyamide,” meaning the wearer can look incredibly dapper whilst walking into and out of the ocean. There are adjustable fasteners at the waist, three inches of inseam, and quite a few classic colors to choose from. Excellent.

Ralph Lauren 5.75-Inch Traveler Classic Swim Trunk

A little bit longer than my liking to serve my frumps, this Ralph Lauren trunk is lovely for its gingham and still short enough not to eat you up like a pigeon pie. I adore the maximalist styling of the model found in the picture behind the link—orange polo working with the blue like only a Mets fan would dare, mint green cable-knit slung around the shoulders. Who is this traveler? What country club is he terrorizing? Do you want to be him? I bet it would be fun if you were.

OAS capablanca swim shorts

It’s unclear whether any menswear brand within the realm of affordability is having as much tasteful fun with prints as the Scandinavian OAS, which was conceived by founder Oliver Adam Sebastian to manufacture espadrilles after one too many breaks to Barcelona revealed a dearth of whimsical vacation wear in his native Sweden. Now flourishing, the company has added everything from myriad swimwear to terrycloth T-shirts (I own a fabulous striped robe myself.) A scroll through its wares will reveal at least one pattern you’d want to wear yourself.

CDLP swim shorts

CDLP started out as an underwear brand, selling breathable lyocell basics from renewable wood sources. With such origins, it’s unsurprising that its venture into swimwear is barely there. In the above breezy white, I think of a beautiful marriage between boxer and running short by way of Greek Island white linen (it’s actually recycled nylon in a dry poplin, which explains the effect.) Look at that delicate seam. Consider the arching peek-a-boo on either side. Really nice stuff.

Bather solid baby blue swim trunk

Our neighbors at GQ love Bather, exalting its silhouette and 5.5-inch inseam as flattering for all body types. I see what they see—the brand has an excellent selection of colors and patterns (I like the sweet baby blue option above, which I wager would compliment just about any skin tone.) It also sits at a nice $90 price point.

Vilbrequin stretch swim trunks flat belt color block

I recently spotted a swimmer at my local YMCA (never stop looking for sartorial inspiration, look for it everywhere you go) doing laps in these trunks and found myself thinking, “Wow, what a debonair fella!” The James Bond-inflected look are as classic for their primary, Patriotic color palette as they are carefree and sexy. Reviews onsite flag that you should buy a size larger than usual if at all in doubt—unsurprisingly, these hot pants run slim.

J.Crew Katin Waterman swim trunk

As a sucker for a contrast stitch, these J.Crew trunks are an easy include. Whether you go for that sharp, firehouse Baywatch red or the olive drab you see above, the pop of white at the hem and along the seams is really playful and fun. I can see any type of guy wearing this at any type of beach—the Venice Beach surfer with a board in hand, a backwater fisherman in the Everglades, and so on. Bonus points are rewarded for the side pocket.

Rhone 5.5″ R&R Short

Activewear brand Rhone has some of the best tech in the game, its swimsuits being no exception. Available in a sleek navy blue as well as a litany of seasonal flavors. This suit has a mesh brief liner not unlike a compression short, so there’s a good amount of protection if that’s something you’re into.

Lacoste lightweight swim shorts

Tempting as it was to throw Lacoste’s huge crocodile logo-embossed option into the roundup (it’s a water-appropriate motif!), we opted for a tinier friend. Ever since Kristen Stewart donned a navy Lacoste polo in Personal Shopper, we’ve taken a personal shine to the little green guy when he pops up on the French brand’s otherwise super-classic, minimal offerings. This is a super lightweight, mesh-lined option that will serve you well at any of Europe’s beaches.

True Tribe active swim shorts

Like the Our Legacy shorts before them, these True Tribe swimmers could easily be mistaken for a pair of shorts you’d go jogging in. And why not run up and down the beach in these bad boys? Again, we are working with an embarrassment of fun colorways here, all of them iridescent, the best one being this flamingo pink number that would look right at home in Miami.

Lululemon Pool Short

Yay Lululemon! They put into words my above argument with much greater brevity, writing that the 5″ inseam “gives glutes and thighs breathing room.” The pocket is zippered, the perforations are bonded (for water drainage), the fabric is water repellant. What’s not to like?

Bear Bottom Stretch Swim Short

The most cost-effective of our selections, the Bear Bottom stretch swim short makes the list in part because they guarantee a “wedgie-free” experience. How great does that sound? The stripes are the most pleasing offerings here in terms of color, although there’s also a “current” illustration in a very Scooby Doo purple-green that the right guy could rock for sure.

Baggies shorts

Price and sustainability are the big draws here: Patagonia’s iconic Baggies are cut directly from recycled nylon. The shorts come in either a five-inch or seven-inch inseam and are available in a dozen different colors and designs—ranging from plain black, gray, and beige to cheeky prints of spoonbills, alligators, and sliced melons. Whichever you choose, this swimsuit offers everything you really need: a quick-drying nylon exterior, sun protection, and a supportive mesh lining.