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PrAna has been on the “sustainable multi-wear” grind longer than most athleisure brands in the industry today. Since 1993, the Carlsbad, California-based label has stitched clothing with responsible fabrics in Fair Trade factories, the majority of it built for yoga, climbing and lounging.
With its new Metric E-Waist Zip trunks, though, PrAna proves it knows how to spend a day at the beach, too. We tested the boardshorts this Memorial Day Weekend, and found them more than up for the task.
Traditionally, swim trunks utilize polyester or Lycra, which keeps them fast-drying and slick. The fabric isn’t too subtle, though, and generally sticks to the skin once it’s taken on water. PrAna’s trunks mix recycled polyester with organic cotton and spandex, and they deliver on performance (no drying issues, and they were impervious to my many spills), while sitting way comfier on the ole thighs. (I’d honestly prefer to workout out in these than half of my gym shorts.) Other pros: they fit true to size, there’s a zippered back welt pocket, and they’re reinforced with UPF 50+.
You should definitely feel comfortable wearing these for any number of pursuits (yoga, beach, etc), but considering PrAna’s roots, we’d nominate them for a very specific task: a hike to a swimming hole. They’re perfectly suited for that sort of afternoon.
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