The sun is letting off more heat with each passing day, and soon, your salvation from the volatile rays will be waiting for you in neck-deep waters. You have to be prepared.
Water parks, beaches, pools, and other large bodies of water are the place to be when you need to keep cool; but looking cool while you’re there is the actual challenge. Miller Lite showed us the wrong way to do things in their commercial, but finding the right pair is still tough.
Since we can’t all emerge gracefully from the water with every body part sculpted to perfection, it’s important to be cognizant of the things that are within your control.
Don’t wear briefs
This point can’t be understated: You are not Michael Phelps and this is not a swim meet. This isn’t an issue of confidence; you might look fantastic in briefs. It’s that you also look like a jerk in them. There’s no need to be aerodynamic for a leisurely dip. Even Phelps knows the difference. Besides, there might be children around, man.
Do embrace freedom
If you’re on the fence about getting wet, or don’t want to commit to trunks for an entire day, your nearest H&M is loaded with casual swimwear solutions not offered online (not to mention friendly prices–$12.95 and up). They look like regular cargo shorts, but with all the innards of a standard swim trunk: thin polyester and interior mesh lining for support. Nothing is better than a versatile pair of shorts that will look good and feel good when you put them on.
Don’t dismiss Speedo completely
The Speedo brand is synonymous with the swimming brief, but it’s not their only design. The Speedo Volleys, priced anywhere between $25 and $48, are designed with Speedo’s Speedry® fabric—material that is water repellent and dries twice as fast as traditional shorts. Quick-drying trunks are of the utmost importance because lingering dampness ranks high on the frustration-o-meter for all guys. Better yet, the Volleys don’t look like basketball shorts from the 70s.
Don’t be lazy
Speaking of which, don’t wear basketball shorts. Showing up “too cool” for actual swim trunks makes you look stubborn and lazy. Basketball shorts aren’t practical since they’re best suited to handle light amounts of moisture like sweat, not complete water submersion. Every guy knows the struggle: you’re trying to get out of water, but your shorts feel the drag and nearly stay put. To that effect don’t go the super-economical route and use a pair of cut-off jeans either. Why? Same reasons for not wearing basketball shorts.
Do know your limit
“Nothing lasts forever,” is what a Burberry sales associate said when asked about the durability of swim trunks priced at $295. If money’s not an issue, the classic Burberry pattern makes a strong statement. But hesitation comes packaged with that price tag. Fear of getting snagged on a waterslide—or worse—can end the fun before it formally begins.