The 11 Best Men's Swim Trunks for Every Type of Guy: Our 2021 Picks

October 03, 2024

Summer’s is here and hot as hell. For most that’s an exciting prospect, but for others, it may be more of a gulp moment, especially if you don’t have a pair of flattering men’s swim trunks. You know the drill: Warm weather means barbecues, day drinking, beaches, and pools. You don’t want to be sitting on the sidelines in a pair of baggy cargo shorts for that, do you?

Let’s face it, many guys are not emerging from spring into the warm summer sun with a killer gym bod. If you’re a little hesitant about taking a shirt off, you’re not alone. Still, just because you might have a little spare tire it doesn’t mean you need to skip out on the fun. The right pair of men’s swim trunks can help your body put its best foot forward.

Here, we lay out what to look for with each kind of body type—and a few options that could work for you.

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Short and Stocky

Guys on the shorter side should opt for less length—4 to 6-inch inseams. You’ll also want to go for slimmer leg openings that hug your thighs for a more tapered look, but not be skin-tight. Lastly, you’ll want to keep the waistband reasonably tight so it all comes together seamlessly.

Big and Tall

If you’re a big dude, the biggest consideration when shopping for a swimsuit is the length. While shorter swimming trunks are the trend the last few seasons, anything too short won’t look right on a bigger frame. Look for shorts with a 6 to 8-inch long inseam. With colors, bigger guys should avoid anything too flashy—it’ll draw eyeballs to your midsection. Darker shades of blue, green, or red work best. You can have some ironic fun with patterns, but keep the background color on the darker side.

Lean and Mean

Being trim is great, but it does come with a few headaches of its own—namely, getting a good-fitting pair of swim trunks. So if you’re on the leaner side, look for trunks that have an inseam around 6-inches. This helps make everything look kept together. Also like your stockier brethren, trunks cut slimmer with narrower leg openings, are a better option. The good news? You can get creative with patterns to add the illusion that you’re actually bulkier than you are.