The 9 Best Board Shorts for Men in 2025, Tested by Style Editors

Believe it or not, our style editors have worn these boardshorts to backyard BBQs and coffee shops—and not a single person batted an eye. That’s because the seeksucker print blurs the line between swimwear and everyday shorts. The puckered, woven fabric is traditionally found in casual summer tailoring, so these read more polished than your average trunk.

The fit is dialed in too: tailored but not tight with a silhouette that flatters most builds, especially guys with bigger quads who still want some structure without feeling squeezed. One tester with sprinter thighs said they felt secure, never snug, even after hours on the move.

While many lined boardshorts start to feel too tight or swampy after a few hours, this pair stays breathable and lightweight, thanks to the polyester-elastane fabric. No bunching, no sticking, no chafing. The look is so relaxed, I’ve worn it with a camp collar shirt to a casual resort dinner and didn’t feel out of place.

Read More: Best Swim Trunks

Patagonia makes the best hybrid shorts on the market. While most boardshorts are strictly for beach duty and maybe passable for grabbing, this pair kept up with everything we threw at it. We wore it on hiking trials, casting lines off the dock, and hitting the beach, all in one day without ever needing to change.

It’s got a slim fit, but gives you room to move, squat, climb, or lounge without anything feeling tight. The durable water-repellent fabric was a standout. It repels water like a champ, but still breathes, so whether we were getting splashed or sweating through a long, humid hike, we stayed dry and comfortable for hours.

One tester even wore it for a three-hour paddleboard session and didn’t feel soaked or weighed down after. We also dig the gradient color, which is a fresh break from all the usual solids and tropical prints. And yes, this short run a little longer, but don’t give baggy, lifeguard energy. The cut is dialed in, so you still look sharp waist-deep in the lake or grabbing tacos right after.

This boardshort will never feel out of place, whether you’re wearing it today or five summers from now. Inspired by old-school surf culture, this pair has a relaxed silhouette that looks pulled from a 60s beach photo, but built with modern materials that dry faster, move better, and feel comfortable all day.

During testing, our editors noticed the Japanese nylon fabric has a subtle texture that looks and feels like a well-worn oxford shirt. It’s lightweight but sturdy, and unlike some tech-y swim fabrics, it doesn’t feel slick or shiny. The material also dries faster than expected, considering it looks like regular shorts. After a full swim, it was dry enough within 30 minutes to lounge in a cabana without leaving a wet seat behind.

One tester pointed out that the waistband stayed comfortable all day, with no digging or constant readjusting, even while treading water. Best of all, this pair look like regular summer shorts, but with a front tie closure. We’ve worn this pair straight from the pool to the grocery store with a polo, and no one guessed it was meant for the water.