The evolution of the men's swimsuit is a surprisingly recent and rapid phenomenon. In America, up until the Depression Era, it was not only uncommon but also illegal for men to be shirtless on most beaches, thus the prevalence of those awesome one-piece romper style suits that were often striped and ideally accompanied by a sublime mustache. A few decades into the 1900s, men's swimsuits shed their sleeves and instead featured tank-style shirts, but swimmers were still wearing significantly more fabric than they do today.
The most precipitous change in the style of popular men's swimwear came during the 1930s. Not only were men finally free to be shirtless at the beach, but in fact, the most popular swim trunks of the day were small and snug. Suddenly, men's bodies were on almost full display during a day at the beach. Short, tight men's swimsuits would remain in vogue for the next four decades. In the 1980s, men's swim trunks began to grow longer and looser again, and by the 1990s, baggie trunks were in style.
Today, a moderately snug, mid-thigh men's swimsuit is the standard pool and beach apparel for many men, though short and tight suits aren't going to get you any cross-eyed stares, nor will longer and baggier shorts. So what's the best swim trunk for you? The one that feels, fits, and looks the best based on your own preference, really.
The bottom line is that we're living in a golden age of open-mindedness when it comes to swim trunks. Whether you're hitting the beach, lake, or pool this summer, you can have your own sense of style while enjoying the water.
While finding the perfect pair of trunks is largely based on preference, the main requirement I made sure each pair met was having at least one pocket that zips, snaps, or velcros shut, as losing important items like a hotel or locker key can be a nightmare.
Before you go on to our top picks, it's also worth highlighting the difference between swim trunks and board shorts, which are commonly referred to interchangeably, but they're in fact different. Swim trunks feature an interior lining that's usually made of mesh, while board shorts do not. Board shorts are also typically longer and looser than swim trunks. The longer length and looser fit are mostly intended to protect surfers' knees from their board and provide extra mobility while surfing.
If you're looking for board shorts specifically, you'll find our top picks here.
Here are the best swim trunks you can buy in 2020:Updated on 6/29/20 by Amir Ismael. Included the difference between swim trunks and board shorts, added all new category picks, and added what else we considered.