The Best Swim Trunks for Men: 8 Options for Getting Wet and Wild

For a few sweet months each year, we all get to walk around in what basically amounts to our underwear, and no one seems to mind. For this delightful season of pool, beach, sun, and flashing more thigh than we’d normally dare, you want swimwear that checks all the right boxes (pockets? Check. Flattering length and color? Check. Doesn’t become transparent the second it gets wet? Very big check.) We dove deep to come up with the best swim trunks for men, so let’s jump right in.

Our picks for the best swim trunks for men

The most stylish men’s swim trunks: Commas Surfer-Artwork Print Swim Shorts

Show some leg this summer, guys! You should, of course, go with whatever makes you feel comfortable, but it’s true that the days of most shorts trailing past the knee are long gone. It’s time to bare those thighs, so for best results, try these flattering and beautiful Australian shorts, fitted at the waist while hanging a little looser over the legs and hips. They might not have all the bells and whistles of some of the other trunks on this list, but who needs flashy features when you’ve got the only accessories you need—flip flops and a smile. Get ready to turn some heads.

Specifications:

• Price: $280
• Sizes: XS-XXL
• Fabric: Polyamide
• Colors: 1

Pros:

• Made from recycled materials

Cons:

• Very expensive

How we selected the best swim trunks for men

We made our picks based on expert opinion, personal swimming experience, and overwhelmingly positive customer reviews.

How to choose the best swim trunks for men

While swimsuits for women have endless variations, men’s swimwear choices seem limited to maybe two variations (shorts or briefs). However, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to finding your best option. “When considering a new swimsuit, you should first consider purpose and mental comfort,” says Retail Executive Todd Hanshaw. “If you want the best tan, the briefer the better; if you’re going surfing, probably a boardshort is best. What fits for the environment you will be in? Looser and longer is better in a more conservative environment and if in a more creative environment, you might prefer a brief or bikini.”

“Comfort, for sure,” says Michael Murray, president of the American Swimming Coaches Association and head coach of Victor Swim Club, of his first consideration. “The suit shouldn't be restrictive, it should feel comfortable and allow for relaxed mobility.”

Whatever you go for, though, you should feel confident in rocking whatever style you like. “In the last few years there have been a couple of big changes in this realm,” says Hanshaw. “The body positivity movements have really taken hold and changed many mindsets. The suit you choose has really come to be about your own comfort level and not a body shape. The single thing that looks best on everyone is confidence!”

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why do swim trunks have mesh?

“Mesh is really a modesty and support function,” explains Hanshaw. “When you wear swim trunks or shorts, the mesh holds the jewels in place so that they don't reveal themselves to the outside world.”

“It’s certainly okay to cut out the mesh, and most male lifeguards will do this,” adds Murray. “Mesh allows for some support in the suit, but it's definitely not a requirement.”

What is the best length for a men's swim trunk?

This all depends on what feels good for you. “There isn’t a best length for a swimsuit unless it’s for a function—this again goes back to the comfort level of the person wearing it,” says Hanshaw. That said, he recommends taller guys “might want to avoid a mid-thigh length,” as showing more thigh actually looks good on most tall guys. Likewise, he suggests shorter guys will likely want to “stay away from anything too long, as it only makes you look shorter.”

What is the best color for men's swim trunks?

“The best color of the suit really depends on your own skin tone and what looks best with it,” says Hanshaw. “This is a personal choice for each person. However, as a rule, brighter colors look better on darker skin tones and paler or muted colors look better on paler tones. I have olive and light blue for the beginning of the season and pink, orange, and neon for when I have a better tan. I also have black for all season long.”

Are swim trunks, swim shorts and swim briefs all the same thing?

“A trunk is a looser fit,” says Hanshaw. “It’s styled to look more like a traditional short and has a much more varied length. A brief is a more body-conscious, tighter-fitting swimsuit that just goes over the hip. It’s basically always the same length with the only variation being to the rise.”

“The difference between swim trunks and shorts has become a lot more muddled,” Hanshaw continues. “But a swim trunk is more for recreation and a swim short for function, where you need a sturdier short to hold up for surfing and the like. In the past, that was always a knee-length short, but that also varies now.”