Surf Boardshorts Guide: Everything You Need to Know! | Surf Learner (2023)

FAQs

Do surfers wear anything under boardshorts? ›

The choice of what to wear, or not to wear, under your boardshorts is, in the end, entirely up to you. But as a general rule of thumb, if your boardshorts have a mesh liner, you can skip the underwear.

You'll have more mobility as the boardshorts sit above the knees, and there is no mesh lining to restrict your movement. There's a key loop in the back pocket (with velcro closure) so you can take your car or house key with you while surfing.

To recap, yes you can learn to surf on a shortboard, but doing so will typically cost you a lot of extra time and effort vs getting started on a longer surfboard with more volume.

The design of board shorts includes a longer length with a drawstring waist and typically a hook-and-loop front fly closure. They are most often made of smooth polyester or nylon, so they are appropriate to use in water. They are breathable and provide coverage without restricting movement.

Our boardshort and wetsuit liners called Watermen Compression Shorts are very comfortable and prevent rashes. These are the best option to wear under your wetsuit and meet both your performance and comfort needs.

Ideally, you want to be able to pinch between a 1/2″ to 1” on either side of your thigh. You can go up a little bit if you must but any more and you're right on the edge of looking a little bit baggy and sloppy. The waist should fit perfectly around without too much sagging or tightness.

Board shorts are typically used by surfers to wear while they are out catching some waves, however, they can also be worn as casual wear. They are a bit longer than swim trunks because they usually come down past the knee, and are one of the most popular swimwear options out there for the beach or pool.

The netting design allows your skin to breathe and helps your shorts and body dry more quickly after being submerged in the water or moistened by sweat or summer humidity.

Board shorts will perform best when they fit snugly below the waist but not too tight. Go for the same waist size in inches that you wear in pants. Thanks to the drawstring closure (that ties like a shoelace) your boardies will stay put and remain comfy for all-day wear in and out of the water.

What is the best length for board shorts? ›

Length: As mentioned, board shorts should be on the long side for surfing and sports. We think an inseam around seven inches is the sweet spot, offering enough coverage without too much bulk. You can go shorter, but we don't recommend going any less than five inches on the inseam.

Board Shorts for Casual Wear

You can easily pair tank tops, T-shirts, or long sleeve blouses with cute board shorts.

When it comes to learning to surf, it is totally feasible that with enough time and effort, you will be able to teach yourself. However, teaching yourself will require that you dedicate a lot of your time to the sport, even just to read up on the risks and surfing moves.

Longer boards are better for beginners or for surfers who prefer the style and grace of surfing a longboard, Longboards are more forgiving and stable allowing beginners the stability needed to learn how to balance on a surfboard.

Riding a longboard is a much easier journey for most, with the boards forgiving nature: length, width & volume making the progression from beginner to intermediate a much faster journey than riding an unforgiving high performance shortboard.

Boardshorts are worn as an overshort, such as over a one-piece swimsuit, bikini bottom, or women's swim trunk. Size-specific cuts come in lengths, with short inseams for free legs and long inseams for board rash protection. Whatever your preference, boardshorts are an ideal style for surf-prone shore lovers.

Remember, men's boardshorts are different from swim trunks in several ways, including not having a built-in liner. It's common to wear nothing under your boardshorts, but going bare under board shorts is not a wise choice if you're preparing to put in a long day in and out of the water.

The difference between board shorts and swim trunks is simple. While the swim trunk is considered leisure apparel made for recreational beach, lake or poolside usage, the board short is purpose-built product made for active performance for a wide range of water-based activities.

Needless to say, we are talking about peeing in wetsuits in the water. If you have to do it, do it at the beginning of the dive. The water will have time to rinse off the urine. Just before getting out of the water, open your wetsuit and let the water run inside.

At this point, cold water surfers are asking why shouldn't they be wearing drysuits? Well, the problem is that a drysuit will certainly restrict and limit movement. And you don't want to feel like a statue on a surfboard.

Where should board shorts sit? ›

On most bodies, there will still be a little thigh showing, but this is the short short for men who don't like short shorts. Most board shorts, though, are between 9 inches and 11 inches. Nine will be right at or slightly above the bend of the knee, meaning little to no real thigh exposure.

It can also depend on the style of a boardshorts eg. Most of the shorter retro boardshorts are a slightly slimmer fit, so you may want to get the larger size if you want a bit more room.

Unlike your traditional swim trunks, board shorts have no lining. The additional length was designed to protect surfers' legs from the wax on their boards. Board shorts are also extremely baggy and less restrictive than other swimwear options.

Shorts that are too small can look just as silly. If you think you may have a pair of shorts that are too tight, try this trick: if you can fit your index and middle finger between the skin and the shorts with ease, then they're likely not too tight. But if it's a struggle, then they're definitely too tight.

The name "boardshorts" is based on their use in aquatic sports that use a board, such as surfing. They may also be called boardies (first coined by Body Glove in 1953) especially in Australia, or baggies particularly in South Africa.

You can roll anything you can fold, including casual clothes like t-shirts, pants, shorts, and beach towels. However, you should avoid rolling delicate clothing or clothing that may get too bulky when rolled.

The belt loops are a signature detail found on hybrid swim trunks, along with fly and button closure. The intent is to provide a garment that has multiple end uses (looks like a flat-front short but you can swim in it).

Board shorts are longer and droopier at the waist, creating a more casual or sporty look. Swim trunks are a bit boxier with a wider leg, giving a more classic silhouette. If you prefer a modern, sporty look but like the fit of swim trunks, you can always go for a longer inseam on a pair of trunks.

It Can Cause Chafing

Another common problem of wearing board shorts without underwear is the potential for chafing.

Shorts With an Inseam of 5 to 7 Inches

For people with more self-confidence in their thighs, the 5″ inseam is the best option. If you have a 5-inch inseam, you're likely to have a mid-thigh gap. 5 to 7-inch inseam shorts are excellent for men between 5'5″ and 6'1″ in height.

What is the best material for board shorts? ›

Polyester is the preferred material for making board shorts because these are durable and quick drying. But wet board shorts tend to stick to the skin, which can restrict your movements. The best board shorts are made from polyester and spandex, which gives them their quick-drying and flexible characteristics.

boardies – short for board shorts. cossie or cozzie – from "swimming costume"; usage of this name is generally restricted to New South Wales. speedos – generic term for men's swimming briefs which originated in Australia, from the brand name (see Speedo).

Put simply, a short with a 7-inch inseam (equivalent to around 18cm) means the length of the fabric down the inner thigh is 7 inches long. Most casual shorts will be around a 9-inch inseam and sit just on the knee.

Mens Elastic Waist (Lined) Swim Trunks - 17" Outseam / 4.5" Inseam.

In general, it's totally OK and even the norm to wear swim trunks as shorts, primarily because so many styles look like they came out of your regular shorts drawer anyway and no one will even notice. But there are a couple of rules to follow to make sure you're not taking this trend too far.

The short answer to your question is—absolutely! Whether you're rocking a trendy pair of overalls or your favorite worn-in cut-offs, the amount of sleeve included on your top is unlimited.

Learning to surf requires between two hours and one month of practice. If you're struggling for more than two months to ride a wave, then there's something wrong with you. The first thing you'll need to master is lying and balancing on a surfboard - that could take you between half-an-hour and two or three hours.

Surfing is one of the most challenging sports. It requires a great deal of effort, perseverance, passion, and patience. On a scale of 1 to 10, learning to surf has a difficulty level ranging between 4 and 7. It all comes down to your dedication and ability to check off a few critical boxes.

In theory, yes. Given the timeline above, many people can learn to surf in a day. It is impossible to predict precisely how long it might take for you to ride a wave, but with the right equipment, guidance and attitude, between five and twenty hours should see you on a wave.

Is 50 too old to learn how to surf? ›

Just like there is no age limit for surfing, there is no age limit for learning how to surf. It's never too late to start! Regardless of your age, learning how to surf can be achieved with enough time and determination.

But how many surfboards does an average surfer need? Well, the answer to that is FOUR. Yes, an average surfer needs four surfboards but for first time surfers and beginners having one will be enough for now, you can even hire a surfboard from local shops.

Surfing may seem unattainable for those of us who have done nothing more than body surf, especially if you're on the north side of 50. But if you're in good shape and are willing to work hard, it's never too late to learn.

The pros are lucky enough to travel in search of good waves and catch enough of them to be able to surf most boards in most conditions. That is why for a majority of professional surfers around the world, the shortboard is their weapon of choice.

They generally have smaller dimensions, therefore grant surfers perfect mobility to carry out tricks and sharp cuts. Thanks to their small size, they're harder to stabilize thus mostly used by advanced and pro surfers. The fish board is a short (less than 7 feet long), stumpy board with swallow tail.

The funboard is a go-to option for small to medium size surf. Longboard Surfboards– The longboard is probably one of the easiest surfboards to ride. Its extra length and width give it tons of stability and paddling power. When the surf is really small, you should always grab a longboard.

So, should you wear underwear underneath swimwear? In general, you should never have to wear any underwear under your swimsuit. If it is a one piece, you don't need to wear a bra or panties. If it is swim trunks, swim shorts or swim briefs, you usually shouldn't wear underwear underneath those either.

The Swimwear and Underwear Myth

Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Hence, let this be a new general rule: from boys' swim trunks to the adult version, you're good sans underwear as long as everything is covered up down there.

To remain balanced and stable, surfers crouch, keeping their center of gravity low. Surfers can also change their position on the board. If a surfer stands in the middle of the board where buoyancy and weight are balanced, the board will be flat.

Unlike your traditional swim trunks, board shorts have no lining. The additional length was designed to protect surfers' legs from the wax on their boards. Board shorts are also extremely baggy and less restrictive than other swimwear options.

Are beach shorts supposed to be baggy? ›

Ideally, you want to be able to pinch between a 1/2″ to 1” on either side of your thigh. You can go up a little bit if you must but any more and you're right on the edge of looking a little bit baggy and sloppy. The waist should fit perfectly around without too much sagging or tightness.

Going commando refers to not wearing any underwear under your clothes. Why do men want to do away with underwear? Underwear adds one more layer and thus some men prefer to do so to reduce sweat. Not wearing underwear can also mean some more air circulation down there and does add to the feel good.

Some swimmers find it uncomfortable or experience chafing. So, it's more recommended to try swim trunks without netting or cutting the netting out of them. For these reasons, many men see a more reasonable alternative: cutting down the mesh liner in swim trunks.

Rinse your swimwear after swimming – wear in the shower when you get out (but don't use any shower gels!) Hang to dry in the shade or inside to dry naturally and ensure fully dried before wearing again.

As mentioned, black is still the most preferred wetsuit color today, as it keeps surfers warm and protected from UV rays. Many surfers also go for black due to its slimming effect and higher resistance to wear and fading.

There a few different purposes of a rash guard with the main ones being they offer warmth in the cool waters, sun protection, jellyfish protection, and of course rash protection, hence the name, rash guard; because surfers tend to lay flat and paddle more than they stand, and this constant movement causes friction, ...

The benefits of wearing undergarments with your wetsuit

So, when adding these extra layers, they will keep your body much warmer whether you're immersed in water or above the water.

A good general etiquette rule, until you become a skilled surfer, is to always paddle towards the impact zone, that place where the wave has already broken, instead of paddling across a surfer's path whose riding on a wave.

Light offshore winds are the most important reason for why the surf is better in the morning and evenings. As a basic rule of thumb, the winds are typically lighter in the morning, stronger in the afternoon and occasionally become light again just in time for a beautiful sunset session.

The first reason for getting up early to surf is quite obvious. If you're paddling out at 8 am, the chances of joining a crowded line-up are quite low. You may not have all waves for you, but the levels of stress in the peak will be considerably insignificant.