TL;DR: If speedos and square leg suits aren't your thing, you're not alone. The modern swimwear market offers far better alternatives — from tailored comfortable swim shorts with a 5-inch inseam to versatile all-day swim trunks that double as summer shorts. The key is finding a pair built with the right fabric, the right fit, and the right construction so you can skip the awkward briefs and still look sharp in and out of the water. Our top pick: Blauw's sustainable swim shorts, made from OceanKnit™ fabric — buttery soft, ultra quick-drying, and designed to be worn all day long.
Let's be honest. Most men have stood in a store, scrolled through an online shop, or stared at a suitcase the night before a trip and thought the same thing:
"There has to be something better than this."
Speedos have their place — competitive swimming, European beaches, and the confidently unbothered. Square leg suits offer a bit more coverage but still feel like underwear with ambition. For most guys, neither option is something they'd want to wear to lunch afterward.
The good news? You don't have to compromise anymore. Modern swimwear for men has evolved dramatically, and the alternatives to traditional briefs and square legs are not only more comfortable — they're better looking, more versatile, and in many cases, more sustainable too.
Here's your complete guide to finding the right pair.
Why Men Are Ditching Speedos and Square Legs
Before diving into alternatives, it's worth understanding why so many men are looking for something different in the first place.
Limited versatility. A speedo is swimwear, full stop. You can't walk into a café, grab a drink at a beach bar, or stroll through a coastal town without feeling dramatically underdressed. The same applies to square leg suits — they're marginally more covered, but they're still clearly "pool-only" garments.
Comfort concerns. Tight-fitting briefs and square legs can dig, ride up, and restrict movement in ways that make extended wear genuinely uncomfortable. If you're spending a full day by the water, that matters.
Style limitations. Bold logos, racing stripes, and athletic cuts can feel out of place when the rest of your summer wardrobe leans toward clean, casual, and refined.
The "change of clothes" problem. Perhaps the biggest issue: wearing a speedo or square leg suit means you always need a second outfit. You're packing extra shorts, finding somewhere to change, and planning your day around your swimwear instead of the other way around.
The modern solution? Swimwear that works beyond the water.
The Best Alternatives: What to Actually Look For
Not all swim shorts are created equal. Swapping a speedo for a random pair of board shorts from a supermarket isn't an upgrade — it's a lateral move into different problems (heavy, slow-drying, unflattering fabric that hangs past your knees).
Here's what genuinely separates great alternative swimwear for men from the mediocre stuff:
1. A Modern, Tailored Inseam
The single fastest way to upgrade your swimwear game is to get the inseam right.
- Too long (7–10 inches): You're back in 2008 board-short territory. Heavy, baggy, and looks like you borrowed them from someone much taller.
- Too short (2–3 inches): You've essentially circled back to a speedo with extra steps.
- The sweet spot (5 inches): A 5-inch inseam hits the perfect balance. Short enough to look modern and flattering, long enough to be functional for swimming, sitting, walking, and everything in between. It gives you a clean silhouette that works just as easily at a beachside restaurant as it does in the waves.
2. Fabric That Actually Feels Good
This is where most swimwear falls short — literally. The fabric determines everything: how the shorts feel against your skin, how quickly they dry, and whether you'll actually want to keep wearing them after you leave the water.
What to look for:
- Fine yarn with a tight weave: This creates a smooth, soft surface that doesn't feel scratchy or plastic-like. It also means the fabric sheds water quickly instead of absorbing it.
- Lightweight construction: Heavy fabric traps water and creates that soggy, clingy feeling nobody enjoys.
- Matte finish: Shiny, crinkly polyester screams "I'm wearing a swimsuit." A matte, refined texture looks and feels closer to everyday clothing.
What to avoid:
- Thick, loosely woven fabrics that hold water for hours.
- Paper-thin material that goes see-through when wet.
- Anything that makes a rustling noise when you walk.
3. Quick-Drying Performance
This is the feature that transforms swim trunks from "beach gear" into "all-day summer shorts." If your shorts dry in minutes rather than hours, you eliminate the single biggest reason men feel the need to change clothes after swimming.
Walk out of the ocean. Towel off. Sit down for lunch. No soggy seat, no damp discomfort, no awkward puddle on the restaurant chair. That's what genuinely quick-drying comfortable swim shorts deliver.
4. A Breathable, Well-Designed Liner
The liner is the unsung hero of great swimwear for men. Get it wrong and you'll spend your day adjusting, chafing, or overheating.
- Ultra-fine micro-mesh liners are the gold standard: they provide support, drain water instantly, and allow airflow so you stay comfortable for hours.
- Heavy compression liners hold water like a sponge and take forever to dry. They might work for a 30-minute pool session, but for all-day wear, they're a dealbreaker.
- No liner at all means you're wearing underwear underneath (which gets soaked) or going commando (which creates its own set of problems).
5. Clean, Versatile Design
The best alternative to a speedo isn't just a different shape — it's a different mindset. You want swim trunks that look intentional and refined, not like you grabbed whatever was left on the clearance rack.
Design details that matter:
- Minimal or no branding: Clean, logo-free designs feel mature and versatile.
- Solid, muted colors: Rich navy, olive, black, stone, and teal will always outperform neon prints and novelty patterns.
- Thoughtful details: A signature drawstring, quality stitching, and a tailored waistband signal that someone actually designed these shorts rather than just manufacturing them.
The Three Styles Worth Considering
Now that you know what to look for, here are the three main alternative categories — and who each one is best for.
Tailored Swim Shorts (Best Overall Pick)
What they are: Modern, mid-thigh swim shorts with a clean cut, premium fabric, and versatile styling. Think of them as the everyday summer short that also happens to swim beautifully.
Best for: Men who want one pair of shorts that handles everything — the beach, the pool, a coastal walk, lunch, drinks, and beyond.
Our top recommendation: Blauw. Blauw's comfortable swim shorts are built from OceanKnit™ fabric — an innovative material developed with the SEAQUAL Initiative using recovered ocean plastic. The result is a buttery-soft, ultra quick-drying short with a tailored 5-inch inseam, a clean silhouette, and a signature teal drawstring. The fabric is salt water and chlorine resistant, and the basic clean colorways mean they pair effortlessly with a linen shirt, a simple tee, or nothing at all.
These are comfortable swim shorts engineered for all-day wear. Morning walk → ocean swim → seaside lunch → evening drinks. No outfit change required.
Hybrid Shorts
What they are: Shorts designed to blur the line between casual wear and swimwear, often featuring belt loops, zip pockets, or chino-style construction with swim-friendly fabrics.
Best for: Men who want their swim trunks to genuinely pass as regular shorts in non-beach settings — think travelling through a city with a spontaneous swim stop.
The trade-off: Hybrid shorts can sometimes sacrifice quick-drying performance for aesthetic details. All those extra pockets, zips, and layers of fabric mean more material holding onto water. They look great dry, but they don't always perform as well post-swim.
Shorter Board Shorts (Modern Cut)
What they are: A more streamlined, shorter version of the classic board short — usually 16–17 inches in outseam, with a slimmer leg opening and less bulk.
Best for: Men who prefer a slightly longer cut but still want something far more modern than the knee-length board shorts of the early 2000s.
The trade-off: Even the best modern board shorts tend to use heavier, woven fabrics that dry slower than knitted alternatives. They're a step up from traditional board shorts, but they rarely match the comfort and quick-drying speed of premium recycled swim trunks with engineered fabrics.
Why Sustainable Swimwear for Men Is the Smartest Choice
Here's something that surprises a lot of guys: the most comfortable, best-performing swim shorts on the market right now are often made from recycled materials.
There's an outdated assumption that sustainable swim shorts mean rough textures, dull performance, and an eco-guilt tax on your wallet. That couldn't be further from the truth.
High-quality recycled swim trunks — when the yarn is properly processed and the fabric is expertly engineered — perform identically to (or better than) shorts made from virgin plastics. The material is structurally the same. The difference is where it comes from: recovered ocean waste instead of newly produced petroleum-based plastic.
Blauw's OceanKnit™ fabric is a perfect example. The yarn begins as recovered marine plastic — actual ocean waste like discarded fishing nets — which is cleaned, processed, and rebuilt into ultra-fine premium yarn. The resulting fabric is softer, lighter, and faster-drying than most traditional swimwear on the market. You're not making a sacrifice. You're making an upgrade.
How to Transition Away from Speedos Gracefully
If you've been a lifelong speedo or square leg wearer, the switch to comfortable swim shorts doesn't have to be dramatic. Here's a practical approach:
- Start with a 5-inch inseam. It's the closest you'll get to the freedom of movement you're used to, without the full-coverage feel of longer shorts.
- Choose a solid, dark color. Navy, black, or charcoal makes the transition feel natural and understated.
- Prioritise soft fabric. After years of fitted briefs, stiff board-short fabric will feel like wearing cardboard. Look for recycled swim shorts with ultra-fine yarn construction — like OceanKnit™ — that deliver a genuinely soft, smooth hand feel from day one.
- Wear them all day. The moment you realize you can go from the pool to a restaurant without changing is the moment you'll never look back.
Key Takeaways
- Speedos and square legs aren't your only options. Modern swimwear for men offers far more versatile, comfortable, and stylish alternatives.
- The 5-inch inseam is the sweet spot. Short enough to look sharp, long enough to be functional — it's the modern standard for a reason.
- Fabric determines everything. Fine yarn, tight weave, and quick-drying performance are the non-negotiables for all-day swim trunks.
- Sustainable doesn't mean sacrifice. The best recycled swim shorts — like Blauw's OceanKnit™ range — outperform most traditional options in softness, drying speed, and overall comfort.
- Versatility is the goal. The right pair of comfortable swim shorts replaces both your swimwear and your casual summer shorts. One pair, all day, no compromises.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the most comfortable alternative to a speedo for everyday swimming?
Tailored swim shorts with a 5-inch inseam and an ultra-fine micro-mesh liner offer the best combination of freedom, support, and comfort. Blauw's sustainable swim shorts are specifically engineered for all-day comfort with a buttery-soft OceanKnit™ fabric that feels premium from the first wear.
Will I lose performance in the water by switching from a speedo to swim shorts?
For recreational swimming, absolutely not. Modern comfortable swim shorts with fine, lightweight fabrics create minimal drag and allow full range of motion. Unless you're competing at a timed event, you won't notice any difference — and you'll gain enormous versatility outside the water.
Are recycled swim trunks as durable as traditional swimwear?
Yes. High-quality recycled swim trunks use regenerated nylon that is structurally identical to virgin materials. Blauw's OceanKnit™ fabric is salt water and chlorine resistant, meaning it holds up through an entire summer of heavy use without fading, stretching, or breaking down.
Can all-day swim shorts really replace regular summer shorts?
That's exactly what they're designed to do. The best all-day swim shorts feature matte, soft-touch fabrics, tailored cuts, and clean designs that are indistinguishable from casual everyday wear. You get the quick-drying swim performance without looking like you're wearing swimwear.
What inseam length should I choose if I'm used to wearing briefs?
Start with a 5-inch inseam. It provides the most freedom and the least amount of excess fabric, making the transition from briefs feel natural. Pair it with a lightweight, quick-drying fabric, and you'll get a similar sense of lightness without the full exposure of a speedo.
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