The 12 Best Swim Trunks for Men 2023

It’s that time of year again, boys. Whether you love the beach and all of its sandy trappings, or you’re dreading the moment you get dragged there by a family member, friend, or significant other, the best time to stock up on some solid beach gear—and to invest in a good pair of swim trunks or bathing suit—is the off-season.

“Swim trunks” may sound a little infantile, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. A quick search informed us that the term has been around for a looong time, and it refers to the good ol’ days when grown men wore underwear that went up and around their torsos, or “trunks.” Which, nice. We should bring those back. (You first, though.) 

Unfortunately, full-body underwear went out of style many moons ago, so now we’re stuck with shorts that don’t even rein in the navel. Alas, we’ve gotta work with what we got, which is why we strung together a few of the best swim trunks for men that are sure to stay in style until early-1900s body trunks start lining the shelves of L-Train Vintage. [Shudders.]

Until then, enjoy the ride. 

You were a high school goth 

… And now you’re a RVCA stan. We see you—but for the record, there’s nothing wrong with going for that toned-down goth look. (Bangs, MCR T-shirt, and disaffected look not included.)

Bag it up

If you’re following along at all, you know we love Patagonia. The brand’s Baggies are a do-anything short that performs on the trail or in the city without skipping a beat. Offered in a suite of colorways, the only difficult choice is deciding between the 5-inch option or the 7-inch option (hint: You want the 5-inch).

Trunks, Swim Trunks. 

Diamonds might be forever, but these 007 swim shorts are for NOW. Live out your British secret agent fantasies as you splash around in some sleek skinnies. 

Your dad was wearing these when you were conceived 

Can’t you picture a hairy-chested dude diving off a cliff off the coast of France in either of these bad boys? We can. 

Subtle elegance

… Until you pass out near the pool. These trunks are super soft, quick-drying, and made with UPF 50+ fabric that blocks at least 97.5% of the sun's UV rays.

Tell people you’re a lifeguard

… But don’t come crying to us if you get in trouble. These classic red shorts feature a mesh lining, a drawstring waistband, and (thank god) side pockets.

Et tu, braj? 

You can go in one of two directions here: floral and tasteful, or dope and dope. (And by dope we mean a retro, cargo-short-style, over-the-knee masterpiece.) The choice is yours.

You want that OG look

All that’s missing is the hat. Not only is Abercrombie & Fitch having one helluva rebound, these simple striped shorts a great symbol of the brand’s classic style. (They also have a 5.0 rating , FYI.)

The “just got out of bed” shorts 

These washed-out, vintage-looking trunks from Nordstrom feature a back pocket for your GameBoy. (Are those waterproof?) You can also wear these on land, which is great for some post-beach bar hopping. 

1980 called, it wants its swimsuit back (and we answered)

These trunks are giving off Jazz vibes, and we’re here for it. They also have a Velcro pocket and come in a slew of different prints. 

Understated, not underestimated 

Simple, sleek, sophisticated. For the more refined swimmer. Yeah, we never really thought of ourselves as J. Crew people, but some of us are over 30 now, or shopping for Father’s Day. 

These shorts are anything but a lemon

Don’t let girls have all the fun, pricey athleisure-wear. Lululemon is for men, too! What else are you going to wear to the rooftop Mr. Purple, or literally anywhere in SoHo? 

Find your beach, folks. 

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.