The best board shorts

• We've tested nearly a dozen board shorts, and researched many more.
• After wearing them both in and out of the water, Patagonia's Stretch Planing Board Shorts win our praise for being lightweight, unrestrictive yet sleek, affordable, and the quickest drying pair we tested.

Shopping for a pair of men's board shorts is a notoriously cringe-worthy affair. They're often hideously flashy, baggy, long, or all of the above, and many are designed for little more than lounging around the pool deck. But alas, gentlemen, the line between board shorts and swim trunks is blurring.

Of all the board shorts we've tested and researched, Patagonia's Stretch Planing Board Shorts are our favorite. They're paper-thin, unbelievably quick-drying, and will accommodate most sunbathers and water sport enthusiasts alike.

Not everyone requires a surf-friendly board short, however. We took that into consideration and picked out alternatives for everyone, including those of you who want to migrate from the beach to the bar without having to don a pair of shorts with rash-inducing mesh linings, or change out of - and tote along - sopping wet trunks.

We also hand-picked a pair of shorter, more traditional mid-length board shorts as well as a newer, trendier short-length board shorts, which are like traditional trunks, but with a quick-drying material, no elastic waistband, and no uncomfortable mesh lining.

Throughout this buying guide, we've kept stretchiness, functionality, style, comfort, and drying speed in mind, as those are the factors we find integral to any good pair of board shorts.

Here are our top picks for the best board shorts:

• Best overall: Patagonia Stretch Planing Board Shorts
• Best for surfing: Patagonia Stretch Wavefarer
• Best hybrid shorts: Patagonia's Stretch Wavefarer Walk Shorts
• Best short length board shorts: Birdwell Beach Britches

Updated 10/29/2019: Updated prices and formatting. Our affordable pick, from Howler Brothers, is no longer available. We're currently testing other shorts for replacement consideration.

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