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Summer is finally here, and it's time for a new pair of swim trunks. More than just something to wear in the water, your trunks can be an extension of your personal style. And with the wide range of styles, colorways, and cuts you'll find in this guide, choosing one that suits you should be easy. 

We've included retro styles with shorter inseams, boardshorts that end at or below the knee, and everything else in between, including swim trunks that can be worn as regular shorts. So whether you like a little coverage or a lot, we've got you covered (get it?) with the best swim trunks out there. 

Before we dive in, just a reminder that these trunks can work for anyone of any gender — plus, many of the brands have a wide range of sizing, from extra small to XXXL. 

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Dubbed by the brand as Life's Shorts, Patagonia Baggies are great for wearing casually, swimming, and everything else life has to offer.

If fleeces are Patagonia's cold-weather staple, then Baggies Shorts are its warm-weather equivalents. Although they're not marketed specifically as swim trunks, they're some of the best we've tested because of their versatility.

Patagonia Baggies are made using 100% recycled nylon, which is lightweight and durable. They're treated with a water-resistant coating to keep you dry when you wear them during activities like hiking, but also include many features designed for fully submerging as swim trunks. You'll find its vertical side pockets help to reduce drag when you're in the water, and the mesh interior helps water drain quickly when you get out.

With 5-inch and 7-inch inseams available, you can choose the Baggies that best align with your aesthetic — plus, there are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from. Read our full review on Patagonia Baggies shorts here.

The Everlane ReNew Swim Short looks like your average pair of shorts, but they're meant for long days in the water.

Looks can be deceiving with the Everlane ReNew Swim Short. At first glance, they appear to be basic shorts, but they're fully designed to be worn in water, too.

Made using a blend of 95% recycled nylon and 5% elastane, they're sustainable, lightweight, and stretchy. On the inside, you'll find a mesh lining made from 100% recycled polyester that's comfortable enough to be worn with or without underwear.

There are five colors to choose from, but our current favorite is the Dark Forest colorway. The subdued color is a wonderful choice if you prefer not to wear swim trunks with bright colors or bold patterns.

Birddogs Swim Shorts settles the great debate on whether or not you should wear underwear with trunks. Featuring comfortable, fast-drying underwear built-in, you can avoid mesh liners.

For some, mesh liners found in swim trunks are completely underbearable. For others, the idea of wearing underwear in the water just doesn't sit well. Birddogs Bathing Suits are the solution if you don't like mesh liners, but don't want to go commando in a pair of unlined board shorts.

All of Birddogs shorts and pants feature built-in underwear, but they're especially great in the swim shorts because of the quick-drying material. You'll have the support of comfortable boxer briefs, without them staying soaked well after you've gotten out of the water.

There are only three colors available right now, but they have funny names like Shark King (a play on Tiger King), Splashton Kutcher, and Inner Banks.

Outerknown's Nomadic Volley swim trunks combine classic looks with sustainable manufacturing for all the good vibes you could ask for. 

Pro-surfer Kelly Slater creates great clothing in tandem with designer John Moore through the brand Outerknown, which uses organic, recycled, or regenerated materials for 90% of its production.

The Outerknown Nomadic Volley is less about water sports and more about pool-side relaxing in style. They have a relaxed fit and a slightly shorter hem that hits just above the knee, but no mesh liner. The company produces them in a fair-trade factory from quick-drying recycled polyester, so there are good vibes all around with these volley shorts. 

Fair Harbor's Anchor Swim Short is eco-friendly, super comfortable thanks to a smooth built-in liner, and comes in 13 different colorways. 

Fair Harbor uses recycled plastic bottles to produce their swim trunks that are both soft and durable. 

The Anchor Swim Short is naturally odor resistant, fast drying, has a scalloped hem for a wide range of motion, side pockets that drain, and a back pocket with a hidden zipper. These are comfortable for all-day wear thanks to the addition of 12% spandex in the fabric for lots of stretchiness. 

Hurley's Volley Board Short is tough enough for any water sports and handsome enough for poolside meetups. 

The Hurley Volley Board Short is an unlined 17-inch short made from a water-wicking polyester that dries quickly. It has two slash pockets and a back pocket with a hook-and-loop flap closure and drain hole. These trunks are tough enough for whatever watersports you're into, but look great just hanging out by the pool, if that's your thing.

Mack Weldon's Board Shorts offer a sleeker look without sacrificing comfort thanks to the four-way-stretch material. 

A slimmer cut and slightly shorter inseam give the Mack Weldon Board Short a streamlined look that's still comfortable, thanks to the four-way stretch fabric. A lack of slash pockets also gives these shorts a sleeker look. They do have pockets, though — one zip pocket on the front left and another on the back right. These boardshorts have a velcro fly and an interior drawstring.

For a vintage-style swim trunk, check out this pair from Saturday NYC with a cool palm tree pattern. 

The Saturdays NYC Timothy Tahiti Palm Swim Short has a vintage boardshort look in a cotton-nylon blend that's both durable and comfortable. The flat felled seams (a way of stitching seams together most often seen in jeans) makes for a longer lasting garment. This swim short has a 6-inch inseam and standard fit, and a comfortable mesh lining. It has two side pockets and a back pocket with a velcro closure, a coated metal eyelet for drainage, and a small tab and bungee cord for keys. The pattern features a multi-colored pop-art inspired palm leaf design.

Beach weather is coming and that means it's time to show a little leg with the 2(X)IST Ibiza Swim Short.

The 2(X)IST Ibiza Swim Short shows a lot of leg with a 4-inch inseam that sits high on the thigh. But hey, it's for the beach and showing a little leg is totally okay. This style continues to be 2(X)IST's best seller, which proves they've been ahead of the curve. 

These are made from a poly micro twill that's quick drying, has a soft handfeel, but is sturdy enough for beach-related fun. They feature an interior webbing with a built in pouch that's very comfortable for all-day wear. The Ibiza Swim Short comes in four fun colorways. 

Tommy Bahama's Epic Ombre Board Shorts refines the style with a slightly shorter, 9-inch inseam, in a recycled polyester with 30 UPF. 

While many board shorts can make guys with thin legs look like they're swimming in the shorts instead of the water, the Epic Ombre Board Shorts have a slimmer look and shorter inseam that hits just above the knee. Made from recycled polyester, they dry quickly and have a mesh netting that's supportive without being binding. The material also offers an SPF of 30, which is a bonus. These shorts also feature two slash front pockets and a third pocket in back. The throwback colorway has a decidedly 80s abstract sunset that goes from aqua to orange. 

Tommy Bahama's Naples Swim Short is an upscale take on the classic floral, all-over print, and plaid swim trunks. 

The Naples Nassau Swim Shorts have a 6-inch inseam, an elasticized waistband with a drawstring, and three pockets. The 100% nylon material provides 30 UPF sun protection. The Naples Swim Short comes in an enormous range of sizes and patterns. The design feature floral prints, all-over prints, plaids, and fun colors.

J.Crew's Seersucker Swim Trunk are a classic option that always look great. 

Seersucker, that striped light cotton fabric, exudes summer so it makes total sense that J. Crew used this classic material for a modern slimmer fitting swim trunk that's not too long or too short. 

The Seersucker Swim Trunk has a six-inch inseam that hits at the mid-thigh and is slim without being clingy. It has a mesh lining and a drawstring waist. The trunks have two slash pockets at the sides and a back pocket with button closure. It comes in the two classic seersucker colorways: turquoise with white and pink and white. These are handsome enough to wear when you're nowhere close to a beach or pool. 

The Bonobos Riviera Recycled Swim Trunks come in three different inseams and 15 patterns to suit every style.  

Bonobos is known for its tailoring and variety of fits, and the brand's swim trunks are no exception. They're made from 85% recycled polyester, so they're eco-friendly. They feature a mesh lining, two slash pockets, and a back patch pocket with a hook-and-loop fastener. 

Happy Socks will do for your day at the beach what they did for your funky sock collection with the Palm Beach Swim Shorts. 

The Swedish company Happy Socks helped popularize funky and fun socks, and now they're doing the same for swimwear. They make the trunks from a fast-drying recycled polyester. They have a mesh lining and two slash pockets. The hem hits about mid-thigh. The company also offers a longer version that ends at the bottom of the thigh. Either way, the brand's swim trunks will add a dash of mirth to your day at the beach or poolside amusements. 

Bearbottom Recycled Stretch swim trunks are handsome, super comfortable, and eco-friendly.

The heart of Bearbottom Clothing is a desire to do good. The company ethically sources its materials and has donated more than 100,000 shorts and 200,000 protective masks to people in Bangladesh and India. 

The Recycled Stretch swim trunks are made from a 90% recycled polyester with 10% spandex which provides four-way stretch that's comfortable for extended wear. The material has a soft handfeel, is water resistant, and dries quickly. The interior mesh is light and even stretchier than the outer material. I wore these the entire day and forgot there was a lining at all. They have a 5.5-inch inseam and hit about mid-thigh on my six-foot frame. 

The 310 Skipper Gold Board Shorts are an updated classic from Birdwell Beach Britches, a California heritage brand from Southern California.  

The Skipper Gold Board Shorts, part of Birdwell Beach Britches' 60th Anniversary collection, have an early 1960s vibe with a gold colorway, multi-hued blue stripes across the bottom of the right leg, and a classic fit that hits around mid thigh. Made from Birdwell's SurfNyl, a nylon material made by the same U.S. mill since the 1980s, the shorts are hand-cut and have double- and triple-stitched seams for durability. The shorts feature a button fly, triple lace closures, and a back pocket with drain holes and a key loop. 

Quiksilver, which began as a small Australian brand in 1969, has been an icon of surfing style ever since. Its Original Arch Boardshort is a classic with its very recognizable Arch panel, the checkerboard fabric on the shorts' outseam. Besides providing some visual flair, the material follows the body's contours and provides extra stretch where you need it whether you're surfing or just walking on the beach. The company's entire line of boardshorts include fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, along with 8% Elastane and 6% Cotton. Quiksilver offers several outseam sizes and colorways, but the 18-inch version in Chive green is a favorite. It comes in a handsome green colorway and hits just above the knee (based on size 32) for a bit more coverage. These are light, have a good amount of stretch, wick water, and dry fast. There's a back patch pocket with a bungee cord for keys as well. 

The street-wear brand Vestige collaborated with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation on these stunning abstract-art inspired volley shorts. 

Vestige, the street brand known for its grown-up graphic T-shirts inspired by abstract art, has recently collaborated with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation on a capsule collection based on Josef Albers modernist masterpieces. The Chromatic Stripe Swim Short with its vertical stripes of varying widths in blue, yellow, white, and black is inspired by Albers' color theory. It's a striking design matched by the handsome silhouette of these volley-style trunks with a 5-inch inseam for a contemporary look.

They're made from quick-drying polyester and feature a comfortable mesh lining and a zipper back pocket. 

Whether you're swimming, hiking, or just hanging out, the O'Neill Stockton Hybrid Short has you covered. 

We love clothes that can do double (or triple) duty and O'Neill, the OG surf brand, doesn't let us down with their Stockton Hybrid Short. These ultra-lightweight shorts, made from a quick-drying stretch twill material (55% Nylon, 41% Polyester, and 4% Elastane), have you covered whether you're swimming, hiking, or just hanging out with friends. The Stockton Hybrid Short is also nicely tailored with a 20-inch outseam that hits just at the knee, and a slightly slim cut. It comes in eight colors, but we're partial to the Khaki for its original styling.

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