The Greatest Women’s Swim Shorts That Aren’t Too Cheeky

I’ve been shopping for swimsuits from Aerie since I used to be a teen, so I used to be completely happy to see the model is making swim shorts too. I attempted these Mid Rise Boy Shorts, that are principally a less-expensive model of a pair from Wallein that I additionally tried, mentioned under. The match is analogous — extra scorching pants than bike shorts — however they’re barely shorter than the Wallein ones. I attempted a medium, which at Aerie correlates to a measurement 8 to 10, and felt they match me effectively. The cloth definitely feels thinner than the Wallein shorts’, however for lower than half the associated fee, the Aeries are a very good choice.

Sydney Sarokin, the social-media supervisor at Margaux, can also be a fan of Aerie’s boyshorts; she just lately shouted them out as a part of the swimsuit she’ll be carrying this summer time. While those I attempted are plain, Sarokin’s pair has a classic really feel, due to the white piping.

These Popflex shorts are a pleasant stability of a standard bikini backside and a brief. They definitely aren’t modest, if that’s your objective, however they supply way more full protection than any bikini backside I personal. I attempted these in my typical measurement massive and was proud of how they match — much like a motorbike quick, although clearly a lot shorter. The foldover waist band and again pockets add to the “shorts” really feel, regardless that they’re nonetheless extra revealing than a pair of board shorts. But the ties on the edges, with dangling starfish and seahorse charms, add a enjoyable element; you can even use the ties to regulate the match to be kind of revealing. The cloth is thick and feels substantial, which I at all times respect in swimwear. Plus they arrive in a variety of enjoyable and tropical patterns, and Popflex makes a wide range of tops that you could combine and match with the shorts. (I additionally tried Popflex’s Sand Dollar Surf Shorts with Pockets, however a minimum of for me, they match way more like a standard high-waisted bikini backside than an precise quick.)

For longer board shorts, Elly Ayres, author of the Late Bloomer newsletter, likes this Roxy pair. “Nothing conjures up Blue Crush levels of surfer-girl cool in my mind quite like these,” she says. With a five-inch inseam, they’re lengthy sufficient to double as daywear — good for a post-beach ice-cream run, Ayres says — and provide loads of protection for diving within the waves. She sometimes pairs hers with a white bikini prime for swimming; exterior the water, “I’ll lean into the retro vibe of the shorts and wear them with a raglan T-shirt repping my local surf shop — shout-out Lucky Dog Surf Co. in Sea Bright, New Jersey! — and some Vans slip-on sneaks,” she says.

[Editor’s note: Most sizes of these Roxy shorts are sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on the product page.]

Senior editor Jen Trolio was on the lookout for the least cheeky swimsuit backside she may discover to put on to her local people pool together with her children and located her excellent pair in Athleta’s Surge swim shorts. The shorts provide barely extra protection and a looser match than another types however aren’t so unfastened and saggy that they lean into board-shorts territory. They embody a built-in bikini temporary, too, so that you don’t must layer the shorts over one other swimsuit.

[Editor’s note: Most sizes of the Surge short are currently sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on Athleta’s website.]

I attempted Carve Designs’s Lorenzo Swim Short, which is analogous to Trolio’s Athleta pair however with a barely shorter inseam. Like the Athleta shorts, these embody a built-in bikini temporary in order that they don’t have to be layered; the bikini temporary is lined with a barely grippy materials, too, to maintain it in place. These shorts are undoubtedly quick on me — I wouldn’t possible put on them exterior of a swimming context — however the barely looser match makes them really feel extra like an athletic quick than the hot-pants types I attempted from Aerie and Wallein. I may simply see myself carrying them for water actions like kayaking or paddle boarding. The Lorenzo shorts even have entrance pockets and a zippered again pocket — helpful for adventuring!

If you’re on the lookout for shorts with enjoyable prints and a retro really feel, content material creator Zoë Venezio recommends the designs from Kitty and Vibe. “As an active mom, I prefer swim shorts because they never need adjusting,” she says, “I feel contained and secure but sexy all day long.” Venezio says her Kitty and Vibe shorts provide consolation and protection whereas nonetheless displaying off her curves. She particularly appreciates the excessive waist and “just the right amount of cheekiness” and provides that the shorts are thick and high-quality and have held up effectively after a number of seasons of damage to the seaside, pool, and lakes. She additionally loves carrying them for water actions like kayaking, boogie boarding, and cliff leaping.

In addition to the vary of prints, Venezio says Kitty and Vibe makes a pleasant number of tops to pair with the shorts. She additionally notes the inclusive sizing (XS to 6X), particularly for the tops: “They offer additional sizing for larger D–G cups with smaller band sizing, which is not common, and is what I need as a 34DDD,” Venezio explains.

Another good place to buy prints and patterns is Australian model Poolside Paradiso. I attempted two pairs of shorts, this hibiscus-printed pair and the Mai Tai Shorty in Mint. But the model provides a variety of different daring and tropical-inspired choices in addition to textured terry jacquard materials for a novel appear and feel. The shorts I attempted match effectively and the material feels substantial. I like the marginally retro minimize, with a excessive waist and quick legs, which jogs my memory of swimsuits from the midcentury. But the fashionable prints preserve the shorts feeling up to date.

Wallein focuses on ladies’s swimwear that’s purposeful for sports activities like browsing and diving. I attempted the model’s Hot Pant shorts and completely beloved how they match. Some different short-short types I attempted ended up becoming me extra like a full-coverage bikini backside than a real quick, as a result of the “legs” weren’t very lengthy and rolled up my thighs (I’m very pear-shaped, if that helps paint an image of the problem I used to be dealing with). But the Wallein Hot Pants really nonetheless appeared like shorts once I tried them on. I wouldn’t advocate these to somebody whose major objective is modesty — they cowl my entire butt, however simply barely. But for me, the Hot Pants are precisely what I needed from a pair of swim shorts: nonetheless very a lot a swimsuit backside, not a swim trunk, however with barely extra protection. Plus, the shorts really feel sturdy and really well-made. The solely downside is that Wallein doesn’t provide a ton of selection in prints or colours.

“These Sundek shorts are on heavy rotation in my beachwear lineup,” Ayres says, particularly on days she’s boogie boarding. She appreciates the low-rise and quick inseam, however says they nonetheless present sufficient protection within the again, with “zero cheek slippage.” The shorts even have a small zippered pocket, which Ayres likes to make use of when gathering sea glass. These shorts are supposed to be worn over a swim go well with. Ayres likes the daring shade choices as a result of they match nothing, and thus by default, match every little thing, so she will put on them with any go well with she already owns. “The zippy tricolor stripe on the back is a playful detail that keeps the shorts fun without veering into cheesy territory,” she says. “A loose cabana shirt on top and some unfussy flip-flops are the perfect finishing touch for getting to and from the beach.”

Content creator and surfer Chi Huynh likes Tan Madonna’s swim shorts, that are designed particularly for surfers. The match is extra much like the Popflex shorts I attempted — a cross between a real quick and a daily swimsuit backside — with a barely cheekier match than the Sheila shorts that Huynh recommends under. In addition to dealing with tough waters and staying in place whereas she’s browsing, Huynh loves the model’s daring, reversible prints.

Of the fitted shorts I attempted, I used to be additionally very impressed with the Araks Polly Short. Like the Wallein pair above, the Araks Polly shorts simply barely cowl my entire butt; it’s a flattering minimize that totally reads as “shorts” however nonetheless appears like a swimsuit backside. It has a mid-rise that I additionally discovered fairly snug and good wanting. The drawstring on the entrance is definitely purposeful, so you possibly can tighten the waistband if wanted, however it additionally provides a candy element to an in any other case plain pair of shorts. These aren’t as thick because the Wallein shorts, however the cloth feels luxe — because it ought to, for an almost $200 pair of swim shorts. Though they’re easy, I can simply see myself carrying these shorts for the remainder of the summer time, whether or not on a hike to a swimming gap or swimming on the seaside. You can simply pair them with any of Araks’ bikini tops, or a prime you already personal. The model despatched me its Quinn top to strive with the shorts, and it appears like a extra high-end model of my favourite Aerie swimsuit prime.