Published June 8, 2026 08:22AM
We live in a golden age of swim trunks for men. You can now buy hyper-specific trunks for almost every conceivable activity: surf trunks with welded seams and compression waistbands, ultra-short lap swimming trunks, beach workout shorts, pool loungers, and fashion-forward resort wear that will chafe the dickens out of you on a long surf session. You could absolutely build a full quiver of trunks if you wanted to. But most people don’t actually want to pack five different pairs of shorts every time they go on vacation or head to the beach for a long weekend.
That’s where hybrid swim trunks come in. The best swim trunks for men balance quick-drying performance, mobility, comfort, and style well enough that you can surf in them all morning, do a beach workout in the afternoon, and wear them to dinner later that night without feeling like you’re still dressed for a pool workout. The trick is finding a pair that lands in the middle without becoming mediocre everywhere. The best hybrid trunks dry quickly, stretch naturally during movement, avoid chafing, look good outside the water, and include practical features like secure pockets, drainage systems, and waistbands that stay put in surf. There was a winner in this test, but depending on your preferred need, the others offer do-it-all performance with a lean in one direction. Read on to find the perfect single pair of swim trunks for your next multi-day water-based adventure.
Best Hybrid Swim Trunks for Men: At a Glance
Best Swim Trunks Overall
Patagonia Hydropeak Sideshore Boardshorts
Pros and Cons
+ Exceptional freedom of movement thanks to the four-way stretch fabric and lightly scalloped hem
+ Dried incredibly quickly after surf sessions, helping prevent chafing during all-day wear
+ Thoughtfully designed pockets carried essentials without ballooning or feeling waterlogged in surf
– Clearly reads as a swim trunk despite its around-town versatility
– Tailored fit may feel slightly trim for people who prefer a roomier boardshort
The Patagonia Hydropeak Side Shore Boardshorts rose to the top of this stacked group because they absolutely nailed the “one trunk instead of five” idea. Patagonia makes more purpose-built trunks for specific activities, but the Hydropeaks hit the sweet spot between surf performance, mobility, comfort, and everyday wearability better than anything else I tested.
One of the biggest reasons these trunks won was due to the fabric and cut. The trunks use a lightweight recycled polyester and spandex blend with four-way stretch that moves incredibly naturally both in and out of the water. I especially noticed that mobility while popping up on my surfboard during longer sessions at Surf Synergy Surf Camp, but also during yoga flows, mobility work, and beach workouts. The lightly scalloped hem gave the trunks even more freedom of movement, and the tailored 18-inch outseam helped them wear more like a normal pair of shorts than traditional boardshorts. That fit mattered. While the patterns and materials clearly read as swim trunks, I still felt comfortable throwing on a collared shirt and wearing them out to dinner around Jacó without looking like I had just arrived sandy-footed directly off the beach.
The Hydropeaks also dried absurdly quickly. I’d estimate they were fully dry within five to ten minutes of getting out of the water, which matters more than people think. The faster a trunk dries, the less likely it is to turn into a damp chafing machine during all-day adventures or multi-session surf days
The pocket layout might seem like a minor detail, but it played a surprisingly big role in why these became my favorite overall swim trunks. The two side pockets and rear pocket were large enough to comfortably hold my wallet, keys, and assorted little treasures my daughter forced me to carry around town, but they never became annoying or waterlogged in the surf. Credit the super lightweight pocket bags, which shed water extremely quickly and never ballooned awkwardly during longer paddle sessions. Just as importantly, the trunks never chafed—not during two- and three-hour surf sessions, not during ab workouts, and not during long walks around town afterward. The low-profile waistband and carefully placed seams stayed impressively invisible throughout testing.
Best Around Town
Cotopaxi Brinco Short
Pros and Cons
+ Retro styling and colorful details made these the easiest trunks to wear casually around town
+ Elastic waistband, hem slit, and lightweight fabric created excellent everyday comfort
+ Practical pocket layout worked surprisingly well for travel and daily use
– Built-in mesh brief caused significant chafing during surf sessions longer than an hour
– Less action-oriented overall than several other trunks in the test
The Cotopaxi Brinco Short was the pair I reached for most when I wasn’t actively in the water. While plenty of trunks in this test leaned heavily toward performance, the Brinco struck a balance that made it genuinely enjoyable to wear around town. The retro styling, relaxed five-inch inseam, and colorful tipping details gave it more personality than most hybrid trunks, while the lightweight recycled nylon and spandex blend kept it comfortable in the heat.
The elastic waistband and built-in mesh brief made these trunks feel closer to everyday adventure shorts than traditional boardshorts, and the hem slit noticeably helped mobility while walking around town or hopping in and out of the water. The mesh did not do the Cotopaxi shorts any favors during surf sessions, creating significant chafing when I was out for over an hour. But I forgave them because of the practical details like the drop-in hand pockets and rear snap pocket with drainage. Some hybrid trunks try too hard to look technical. The Brinco just looked cool.
Most Comfortable Swim Trunks
Dakine Mavericks Performance Boardshort
Pros and Cons
+ Silky four-way stretch fabric delivered the softest next-to-skin feel in the test
+ Comfortable waistband and lightweight material disappeared during all-day wear
+ Balanced 18-inch outseam provided a strong mix of mobility and coverage
– Waistband loosened during longer surf sessions
Comfort ended up being one of the biggest separators in this test, and the Dakine Mavericks stood out immediately for the silky next-to-skin feel. The four-way stretch fabric had a noticeably softer feel than many of the more surf-specific trunks I tested, and the 18-inch outseam landed in a sweet spot that balanced coverage with freedom of movement. Dakine also nailed the fit around the waistband, which stayed comfortable during long surf sessions and all-day wear but did need some adjustments during longer sections to prevent mooning sunbathers on the beach while I surfed frontside.
Some performance trunks can feel stiff or overly compressive once they dry out. The Mavericks never did. They remained lightweight and easy to move in whether I was surfing, stretching, or hanging around camp after sessions. The overall feel was smooth, flexible, and easygoing in a way that made this pair one of the least distracting in the entire test.
Best for Movement
NRS Eddyline Short
Pros and Cons
+ Extremely lightweight fabric and heavily slit hem created unmatched mobility
+ Quick-drying construction transitioned seamlessly between workouts and water activities
+ UPF 50+ protection added legitimate all-day sun performance
– Shorter athletic cut may feel too minimal for some users
The NRS Eddyline Short felt engineered for movement from the second I put them on. NRS built these with an ultra-lightweight performance fabric and a streamlined athletic fit that consistently stayed out of the way during surfing, yoga, mobility drills, and beach workouts. The shorter cut, minimal bulk, and heavily slit hem made a huge difference during deep squats and dynamic movements, while the quick-drying fabric helped the shorts transition seamlessly between water and land activities. NRS also added UPF 50+ sun protection, which became a nice bonus during long hours outside in Costa Rica (especially when paired with a swim shirt). The company’s paddlesports background clearly showed up in the design philosophy here. Everything about the Eddyline felt purpose-built to move efficiently in and around water without excess material slowing you down.
Best Surf Trunks for Men
Outerknown Apex Evolution
Pros and Cons
+ Welded construction and flexible fabric eliminated bulk and friction while surfing
+ Waistband and drawcord system stayed impressively secure during aggressive surf sessions
+ Ridiculous stretch performed equally well during yoga and mobility work
– More surf-specific than truly all-purpose compared to other trunks in the test
– Premium construction comes with a premium price tag
The Outerknown Apex Evolution were the trunks that most clearly prioritized surfing, and they excelled because of it. Developed alongside Kelly Slater, the trunks use a highly flexible performance fabric and a welded construction that eliminate a lot of the bulk and friction points found in traditional boardshorts. The lightweight material disappeared once I got in the water, and the waistband and drawcord system kept the trunks secure during long sessions, keeping my butt fully covered on deep bottom turns without feeling restrictive when I recovered them. Pop-ups felt smooth, straddling my board between sets felt natural, and the overall fit stayed incredibly dialed even during more active surf sessions.
The Apex Evolution’s ridiculous stretch was also super appreciated during a particularly challenging, bendy yoga session. At the same time, the clean silhouette and premium construction gave these a more refined look than many technical surf trunks. If surfing is your primary focus and you want trunks designed around performance in the water first and foremost, these was the clear standout in the test.
Best-Looking Performance Trunks
SPC/LST Solstice Short
Pros and Cons
+ Elevated tailoring and understated styling looked noticeably sharper than most performance trunks
+ Four-way stretch fabric handled workouts and surfing without sacrificing comfort
+ Versatile enough to transition directly from beach sessions to dinner
– Mesh pockets became visible and awkward while straddling a surfboard
– Rode up on the legs more than several other trunks in the test
A lot of high-performance swim trunks still look aggressively technical. The SPC/LST Solstice Short stood out because it delivered legitimate performance while maintaining a noticeably elevated aesthetic. The tailored fit and understated styling gave these swim shorts a much more refined look than most hybrid trunks, but the technical details stood up to every test. SPC/LST built the Solstice from four-way stretch nylon with a weather-resistant finish, breathable mesh pockets, and quick-drying fabric that handled the toughest mobility exercises like a purpose-built workout short.
During testing, the lightweight material moved naturally during surfing and workouts while still feeling polished enough to wear to dinner afterward. The trunks also struck a nice middle ground in terms of structure; they looked cleaner and more intentional than many surf trunks without sacrificing comfort or mobility. They rode up on my legs when I straddled my surfboard and the mesh pockets became visible, which felt surprisingly intimate and embarrassing, but this felt like a minor gripe when they looked so sharp and stylish when dressed up with a linen shirt.
How We Tested Hybrid Swim Trunks for Men
To test these swim trunks, I brought them to Surf Synergy Surf Camp, where I spent more than 20 hours surfing in everything from mellow longboard conditions to heavier beach break. I also wore each pair through pool workouts, yoga sessions, mobility work, beach runs, bodyweight strength sessions, long walks around town, and casual dinners to evaluate how well they transitioned between activities. Because hybrid trunks are supposed to replace multiple pairs of swim shorts, versatility mattered just as much as pure water performance.
During testing, I paid particularly close attention to waistband security, fabric stretch, drying speed, liner comfort, pocket design, breathability, and how restrictive each trunks felt while paddling or moving dynamically. I also evaluated aesthetics heavily because trunks that technically perform well but screams “cross-training swimwear” lose points in a category built around versatility. The best swim trunks for men blended technical performance with enough style that I genuinely wanted to wear them outside the water.
