My Hunt for Non-Boring, Non-Corny Swim Trunks

I have owned Cos swimsuits I‘ve loved, but this one missed the mark for me. I was relying on the blue stripe detail on the sides to do a lot of heavy lifting design-wise, but it’s more subtle in person than in the photos. A sewn stripe draws your eye right toward it so you want it to be straight, and this one shows some waviness. The cut is also quite short and boxy, which I don’t mind in theory but was not my favorite proportion once I got it my body.

This one is on me — Nu Swim’s Moon shorts are well-made from a substantial, shimmery nylon taffeta, but like the Cos trunks above, these were too short and baggy for my taste. They’re unisex and I’d say the cut skews more feminine (keep reading for a masc pair from I loved from the same brand), although I’d love to see them on a guy who wants to show off rugby thighs.

Old Navy has a lot of great swimwear, and I really liked this pair of geometric patterned trunks. A few quibbles that kept these from the top spot: There are some small sewing errors along the waistband; the trunks are made of a polyester-spandex that is on the thinner side; I wish the pattern was smaller and more precisely printed — but all in all, a solid option for the price.

Bather makes ourBest in Class swim trunks, and while I agree that they’re high-quality and thoughtfully designed, I am not a huge fan of their patterns, which tend toward the preppy whimsy I’m avoiding. The closest I found to my criteria was this gray-green seersucker pair, but in person, it looks more gray than green and did not win my heart.

There is something charming about these aggressively lemon-yellow Zara trunks. I really like the red lattice pattern; I am confused why it is supplemented with tiny blue flecks that are almost imperceptible and look like pen stains, which I had to use flash to pick up on camera. They may be too lemony to become my go-to trunks, but they make me smile. Like the more sedate Zara pair below, I also really like the fabric, a substantial polyamide with a matte finish. The details are also well-considered — I especially like their waist closure that combines board short-style lacing with elastic.

A more normal pair from Zara, with similarly good fabric and detailing. (These have a board-short-style lace front but no elastic in the waistband, so double-check measurements before ordering.) The color combination of chocolate brown, off-white, and cobalt is solid, and unlike the Cos shorts above, these stripes are sewn straight and true. There is a small line of pink piping that I wish were a different color; other than that, a nearly perfect pair of trunks.

These Nu Swim shorts are my Goldilocks pair, a perfect balance of stylish and wearable. They’re made of an easy-breezy ultra-lightweight nylon with a crinkled texture and silvery sheen, and they’re lined with the softest mesh I tried (tied with the Bather trunks above). The trunks seem simple, but each detail is thoughtful and well-executed — a side notch, elegant narrow hems, seams that sit flat against the skin and won’t chafe. And they’re made here in New York City, something I can yap about next time I go to the beach.

Between the time I requested a sample of Buck Mason’s plaid shorts and this article went live, they sold out — which is a shame, because out of all the trunks I tried, I was the most impressed with their quality. I tried this tattersall plaid pair woven from cotton-nylon yarn, which feel substantial enough to wear as shorts out of the water. Every detail is well-considered and well-executed, from pocket placement to metal aglet caps. The brand isn’t planning a restock this year, but I’m linking some in-stock options from the brand below.