Types of Men’s Swimsuits | Complete Style Breakdown

Whether you’re hitting the pool for laps, the beach for surf, or the lake for a float, the right swimsuit changes everything. Picking wrong means constant adjusting, chafing, or soggy fabric that never dries. Here’s how the major styles stack up and which one fits your actual activity.

Swim Trunks vs. Board Shorts: The Casual Favorites

Swim trunks and board shorts cover the largest market share—they work for almost any beach or pool situation where serious speed isn’t a priority. The real difference comes down to length and waist closure.

Swim trunks land mid-thigh with a 4-to-8-inch inseam and feature an elastic waistband with a drawstring and built-in mesh liner. Made from lightweight nylon or polyester, they dry fast and pack small. The 5-inch and 7-inch inseams are the most popular modern lengths as of 2025.

Board shorts run longer, hitting around the knee with an 8-to-9-inch inseam. Designed for surfing, the longer cut reduces rash from the board, and the waistband uses a flat drawstring closure rather than elastic to stay secure under a wetsuit. They’re slightly heavier when wet but offer more sun coverage.

Performance Swimwear: Briefs, Jammers, and Racing Suits

If you’re swimming laps or competing, loose fabric is a drag penalty. Competitive swimmers need streamlined, body-hugging suits that reduce drag and support full range of motion.

Swim briefs—often called by the brand name Speedo—are the minimal-coverage, tight-fitting classic. They offer the least drag and most freedom of movement, standard for competitive swimming and triathlons. The trade-off is very little coverage, making them not a lounging or beachwear style in most North American settings.

Jammers give the same tight, low-drag fit as briefs but extend to the knee, providing muscle compression and extra modesty. Many competitive swimmers and triathletes prefer jammers over briefs for reduced leg drag and security in the water; they’re also common for water polo.

Square-cut shorts split the difference between briefs and trunks—body-hugging with a straight-cut leg opening for more coverage than briefs but less than trunks. They’re less common in North America but popular in Europe and growing in surf-and-fashion crossover markets.

Specialty and Protection Styles

Hybrid shorts look like casual shorts but perform as swim trunks, with a quick-dry liner and mesh pocket drains. With belt loops and zippered pockets, you can wear them to brunch after the beach without changing.

Rash guards and swim shirts are looser, UV-reflective shirts with a UPF rating that block most solar radiation. Surfers, kayakers, and paddleboarders wear them under trunks or board shorts.

Wetsuits serve cold-water insulation. Made from neoprene, they trap a thin layer of water against the skin that your body warms. They’re close-fitting for a proper seal at wrists and ankles, used for cold-water surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

How to Choose the Right Swimsuit for Your Activity

Match the swimsuit to where and how you’ll wear it. A racing suit that feels great in the pool leaves you uncomfortable at a beach barbecue; board shorts that save your skin surfing create drag in the lap lane. For a direct comparison across brands, lengths, and price points, check out our tested roundup of the best bathing suits for men.

One more rule: read the care tag. Chlorine and saltwater wreck elastane and spandex quickly. Rinse your suit in cold fresh water after every wear, and air dry in the shade. Heat from dryers and direct sun degrades fabric faster than use does.