7 Best Swim Trunks for Men | Skip The Mesh, Not The Beach Day

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Two quick-dry pairs in one order, so there is always a dry set waiting.

If you swim more than once a week, one pair is never enough — you end up pulling damp trunks from the bag. This KBVOT set hands you two pairs with a 7 inch inseam and a compression liner, which is the reason it lands so high on this list. The cut sits mid-thigh, shorter than the 9 inch Goodstoworld above, so you get more leg freedom for laps.

The look is what wins people over. Bright, fun patterns draw compliments and questions about where to buy them, and the inner lining adds support without the mesh scratch. Fit runs true to size in most hands, and the quick-dry fabric comes back into rotation fast after a swim. One detail worth flagging: the grommets — the metal eyelets on the waistband — came apart on one set after the first wearing, so check those before you commit a pair to the pool bag.

A handful of wearers find the hip area snug and the inseam starting a little low, which can pinch movement on fuller builds. Try one pair on before you pack both. Otherwise this is the pair to stock the drawer with when you want two colors without doubling the spend.

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Flamingos holding a beer — and a liner that actually supports you underneath.

Half the fun here is the print. The other half is the liner, which runs more like a boxer brief than traditional mesh — the difference buyers call out most. You get a 9 inch inseam that lands at the knee on a 5 foot 10 frame, with a thin, non-absorbent fabric that stays light and cool once wet. The compression shorts underneath never ride up, and the elastic waist plus drawstring keeps everything locked when you dive in.

What wins people over is the fit and the quality of the build. Reviewers call it true to size again and again, with a size large doing the job for one buyer who now owns three pairs. There is even a phone pocket tucked into the liner, an extra most trunks skip. Machine washing handles it fine — just hang dry to avoid shrinkage.

One quirk: the pockets are still mesh, which lets water drain through quickly but does not protect a phone from the wet. If you need a sealed pocket, the Viodia below does that job better. The print also splits opinion — flamingos are not for everyone.

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Cargo pockets and a full size run, built for surfing and long beach days.

HODOSPORTS makes the widest size range on this list, running from S through 4XL, which matters if you usually fall outside the middle of the rack. The 9 inch inseam and compression liner give you the coverage and support a surf or beach-sport session needs. The maker’s own note says the liner runs tight, so if you dislike a snug fit, size up — that is the single most useful thing to know before ordering.

Build quality and fit draw the top marks, the look rates close behind, and the inner short guards against chafing. It holds up through wash and wear, dries well for most, and the drawstring keeps it planted. The fit is the more divided part of the story — some find it true to size while others say it runs small, so measure rather than assume.

There is a real drying catch. One buyer chose these specifically for a quick dry and found they did not dry as fast as hoped, so plan to hang them rather than rely on them drying in minutes. Durability also splits opinion, with some units drawing a cheaply-made note. Treat them as a solid mid-tier surf short and they deliver.

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Water beads off instead of soaking in, so you are not hauling a soggy short around.

This difficort pair is the travel companion. The fabric sheds water rather than absorbing it, which means no saggy, heavy shorts hanging on you after a swim, and a zip rear pocket that kept a phone dry in the ocean on one buyer’s trip. The 9 inch cut sits at knee length and the compression liner stays put without riding up. Costa Rica rafting and snorkeling are the kind of workouts this pair was worn through.

Comfort, color and durability all rate highly, and it works as an all-day short once you leave the water. There is a phone sleeve in the inner lining and a zipper pocket for keys. One small note: the rear has just one pocket on the right side, so if you like matching back pockets, adjust expectations.

Sizing is the part to watch. The fit can land between sizes with medium the safer call, and other wearers found it runs large enough that their usual size came up loose. A first wash and dry tightened one pair up nicely. Buy the fit you measure, not the tag you usually grab.

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A hidden thigh pocket sized for a phone, plus zips that keep a hotel key safe.

Most trunks give you pockets that dump their contents in the surf. This Viodia pair builds in two side zipper pockets and a back cargo pocket with drainage, and the liner carries two thigh pockets of its own. One of those hidden pockets fits an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case, which is the detail that makes this the pick for anyone who lives on their phone at the pool. The 7 inch inseam keeps the hem at mid-thigh for easy movement.

The fabric is chlorine resistant, water resistant, quick drying and lightweight, so it stays cool and dry through a full day. The brief-style liner keeps scratchy seams off your skin and sand from itching. The drawstring and elastic waistband keep the shorts from sliding down when you surf or swim. These held up through surfing, boogieboarding, snorkeling and swimming on one vacation, and the colors draw compliments.

The honest note is durability: it sits as a mixed point, so treat the fabric as a summer short rather than a lifetime investment. The look is not heavily fitted, which is the point for some builds and less flattering for others. It rewards the lighter-duty user rather than a hardcore daily swimmer.

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The short-leg, spandex-lined pair that frees your thighs and skips the mesh entirely.

If you want your swim short to sit high and let your legs do the work, this is the one. A 5 inch inseam is the shortest on this list, so the hem rides high for maximum movement — great for lap swimming and hot-weather lounging, less your thing if you like coverage. The liner is a soft spandex compression short instead of mesh, which cuts the chafing that mesh creates after a long walk.

Build quality draws the loudest praise, with fit and appearance close behind. Colors hold up after multiple washes without running in the pool, and the material stretches while staying true to size. A 6 foot 1, 250 pound wearer found the XL great, and the phone pocket in the compression shorts is a favorite touch. One buyer wore these through the washer and dryer multiple times and would buy more, while another calls them a proper fitted short with a smooth, sturdy texture.

Sizing is where opinions divide — some find it true to size, others say it runs small, so check your measurements. Durability is a smaller mixed point, so these are best treated as a seasonal favorite rather than a permanent one. The short hem is the whole appeal, so commit to that look before you order.