The Best Men's Swimwear Brands in 2026: 8 Labels Worth Packing
Good swimwear does more work than most men give it credit for — it's worn for hours at a stretch, photographed constantly, and, done right, doubles as genuine daytime wear rather than something you change out of the moment you leave the pool. Whether your taste runs toward roomy tailored shorts or something considerably briefer, these are the brands actually worth packing this year.
What to Look for Before You Buy
Fabric and dry time matter more than the print. Quick-dry synthetic blends (often recycled polyester or nylon) are standard across nearly every brand on this list — the real differentiator is how the fabric feels against skin once dry, which varies more between brands than the marketing copy usually lets on.
Liner type changes comfort considerably. A mesh liner is lighter and more breathable, generally preferred for genuine swimming; a compression liner offers more support and structure, often preferred by brands leaning into an athletic fit. Neither is objectively better — it's a genuine preference worth knowing before you buy rather than discovering after.
Inseam length determines how "tailored" a pair actually reads. Shorter inseams (5–7 inches) lean toward a more fitted, contemporary look; longer inseams (7–9 inches) suit a more relaxed, traditional board-short silhouette. Several brands below explicitly design for the shorter, more tailored end of that range, which is worth knowing if boxier board shorts aren't your style.
"Doubles as daywear" is a genuine design category now, not just marketing language. A growing number of brands on this list build swim shorts with a slightly more structured waistband and fabric that holds its shape once dry — genuinely wearable from beach to lunch without needing to change, which is worth prioritising if you're packing light for a trip.
The Brands
Frescobol Carioca
Frescobol Carioca bring genuine bossa nova energy and the spirit of Rio to every collection — prints inspired by the mosaic boardwalks of Rio's most famous beaches sit alongside solid block-colour options for anyone who wants the brand's quality without the pattern. Built from quick-dry, sustainable materials and genuinely light on the body, designed as much for laid-back lounging as for actual swimming.
Standout piece: the Porto Classic Ipanema swim short
Best for: distinctive print with real cultural identity behind it
Shop Frescobol Carioca →
The Resort Co
Chase the never ending summer with The Resort Co, a Swedish brand with an artisanal approach to swimwear, with an eco-conscious philosophy built into fabric sourcing rather than bolted on for marketing purposes. The range includes both tailored shorts with side adjustors and simpler drawstring versions, generally in subtle prints or solid colours rather than the boldest end of the category.
Standout piece: view the current swim short collection directly, as prints rotate seasonally
Best for: understated, artisanal resort style
Shop The Resort Co. →
CDLP
CDLP is another Swedish label bringing genuinely contemporary, minimalist design to swimwear across a wider range of cuts than most competitors — swim briefs, swim shorts, and swim trunks all sit within the same considered colour palette. Made from recycled fibres across a range of weaves and finishes, with functional storage details built in rather than added as an afterthought.
Standout piece: the swim trunks in Chocolate
Best for: minimalist Scandinavian design and a genuinely wide range of cuts
Shop CDLP →
Orlebar Brown
Orlebar Brown is probably the brand most responsible for making tailored swim shorts a genuine category in the first place, rather than an afterthought to board shorts and briefs. Every pair is built to transition seamlessly from water to lunch table, with a structured waistband and fabric quality that holds its shape considerably better than most competitors once dry. have been a personal favourite of mine over the years and has seen me take a pair of OB shorts on most of my holidays. High quality fabrics in great timeless shapes that you can keep going back to holiday after holiday.
Standout piece: the Bulldog swim short
Best for: the single most versatile pair on this list, worth the investment if you're buying only one
Shop Orlebar Brown →
Vilebrequin
Vilebrequin is a genuine heritage name in men's swimwear, founded in the early 1970s and still producing some of the boldest, most recognisable prints in the category. Beyond the colour and pattern work, Vilebrequin has committed seriously to ocean-aware production — recycled and recyclable materials, and a supply chain genuinely overhauled to reduce waste rather than simply marketed as sustainable.
Standout piece: the Timeless collection, for anyone who prefers solid colour to print
Best for: bold pattern with genuine heritage credibility behind it
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Patagonia
Not a dedicated swimwear specialist, but genuinely excellent for anyone who wants a pair of shorts that performs as well in the water as it does on a hike or a paddleboard the same afternoon. Patagonia's broader sustainability and durability standards carry directly into its swimwear line, making it a strong pick for anyone whose "summer" involves more than lying by a pool.
Standout piece: the Baggies collection
Best for: genuine multi-activity durability over pure style
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Ripa Ripa
A Milan-founded label, launched in 2015 by two friends who couldn't find swim shorts that split the difference between overpriced luxury and forgettable mass-market basics — so they built their own, manufactured in Italy near Naples with a genuine eye for sartorial detail. The brand's signature fabric solves a real problem: a brushed, ring-spun synthetic that avoids both the plasticky feel of standard swimwear and the heaviness of cotton, giving it a soft, almost shirt-like hand-feel that's rare in the category. Vibrant 1960s-Mediterranean-inspired prints and a distinctive drawstring, made by a nautical rope manufacturer outside Milan, round out the detail-obsessed approach.
Standout piece: the classic tailored drawstring swim short
Best for: genuine Italian craftsmanship and retro Mediterranean styling
Shop Ripa Ripa →
Tailored Shorts vs. Board Shorts vs. Briefs: Which Suits You
Tailored swim shorts (Orlebar Brown, The Resort Co., Sunspel) suit anyone who wants a pair that genuinely doubles as daywear, and who prefers a shorter, more fitted inseam.
Printed or block-colour classic swim shorts (Vilebrequin, Frescobol Carioca) suit anyone happy to lean into a bolder, more distinctly "vacation" look, generally with a slightly longer, more relaxed fit.
Minimalist trunks and briefs (CDLP, Bondi Joe) suit a more contemporary, European approach to swimwear — shorter, closer-fitting, and generally the least "board short" silhouette on this list.
Performance-oriented shorts (Patagonia) suit anyone whose beach day might turn into a hike, a paddle, or genuine water sport rather than purely lounging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between board shorts and swim trunks?Board shorts generally run longer in the inseam and looser through the leg, originally designed for surfing and genuine water sports. Swim trunks are shorter and more fitted, generally designed more for swimming and lounging than active water sports specifically.
Are tailored swim shorts actually good for swimming?Yes, provided you choose a genuine swimwear-specific fabric rather than a pair styled to look like swimwear without the technical construction — brands like Orlebar Brown and The Resort Co. build genuine quick-dry performance into their tailored silhouettes, not just the look of one.
How many pairs of swimwear should I actually own?Two is a reasonable minimum for anyone traveling for more than a few days — one to wear while the other dries, and ideally in two different styles or colours to avoid every holiday photo looking identical.
Is expensive swimwear actually worth it?The genuine difference at the higher end is fabric quality, colour retention after repeated chlorine or saltwater exposure, and construction that holds its shape rather than sagging after a season of wear — real, noticeable differences over time rather than purely a branding premium.
The Verdict
If you're buying one pair and want the most genuinely versatile option, Orlebar Brown remains the standard the rest of the category gets measured against. If bold print and heritage matter more to you than tailoring, Vilebrequin is the better fit. And if you want the most distinctive craftsmanship story on this entire list, Ripa Ripa's Italian-made construction and genuinely thoughtful fabric development are worth the closer look before you default to one of the bigger names.
