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Memorial Day Weekend is fast approaching (just a little over a week away!), so take this as a sign to pick up a pair of new swim trunks. I know, MDW weather can be a crapshoot depending on where you live. As someone who vacations on the East Coast, I’ve had warm, sunny beach days and full-on monsoons. Still, next weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and you should be prepared to debut a brand-new swimsuit in the coming weeks.
A swim trunk that’s stylish and functional. One you can feel secure and comfortable in, whether you’re catching rays or waves. A swim trunk, preferably, that’s affordable.
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Tight, dark and handsomeI’d encourage you to have a few elevated pairs in your rotation, but, understandably, you don’t want to pay $100+ for each one. Thankfully, there are a ton of wallet-friendly swim trunks on the market that don’t sacrifice performance, comfort or fashion.
I’ve done my due diligence and tracked down 10 of my favorite affordable swim trunks from our favorite reputable retailers, from seersucker trunks from J.Crew to a retro-inspired pair from Flint and Tinder. Not only are all of them sub-$100, but they feature the design elements I want to see you, a man, sport on the beach this summer. These are trunks that can take you from water to land at a moment’s notice and that pair exceptionally well with your linen button-downs, resort shirts and tees. They also bear a decent chunk of thigh, which is always welcome at my beach.
Below, the best affordable swim trunks for men, as chosen by a woman.
The Best Affordable Swim Trunks for Men
Abercrombie offers a classic 5″ swim truck in a whopping 32 colorways. They pull on easily, bear a sexy amount of thigh and are one of the more affordable options on this list. You really can’t go wrong.
This retro-style swim trunk features old-school design elements, such as a drawstring waist, and is specially dyed to fade gently over time.
Vuori’s hybrid shorts feature moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, so you can keep it functional from the beach to the bar.
I’m a sucker for seersucker, and these quick-drying trunks double as a pair of summer-ready shorts.
Did you know Lululemon offers swimwear? Quite functional pairs, too. This is the ideal all-around swim short with chlorine-resistant fabric and a very flattering fit.
With a crinkled texture, these shorts from one of our go-to mall brands take an otherwise basic pair up a notch.
Huckberry’s in-house brand is revitalizing the old-school swim of the ’60s and ’70s. The result is a durable hybrid short reminiscent of the ones worn by watering hole hunks back in the day.
Maybe you need a swim trunk that can handle more rigorous water-based activities. Proof’s performance short is designed with four-way stretch fabric for surfing, rafting, training and more.
If you’re really ballin’ on a budget ahead of summer (I get it, you’d rather spend money on Daiquiris and airfare), you can cop a pair of $40 trunks at Quince.
Go bold this summer in a sunset-colored short.
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