Boardshorts & Swim Trunks Styles: How to Build a Men's Swim Line
Published: 2025-06-03 · Last updated: 2026-09-23
Short answer: a strong men's swim range usually covers three lengths — a short volley (14–17"), a mid swim trunk (16–19") and a longer boardshort (18–21") — built on one or two fabric bases, with a clearly decided liner and waistband. Most brands start with 3–5 styles and expand after reorders confirm what sells.
Men's swimwear is a competitive, fast-moving category, but it is also repetitive: the same core shapes sell year after year, in new prints and colours. Choosing the right style types, lengths and construction for your brand matters more than chasing trends. Here is how to think about a men's swim line.
The Core Style Types
| Volley short | 14–17" outseam, full elastic waist, often a mesh liner — beach sport and warm-weather swim |
|---|---|
| Swim trunk | 16–19", elastic or hybrid waist, mesh or compression liner — pool and everyday swim |
| Swim short | 16–18", relaxed, side pockets — swim and walk-short crossover for resort and travel |
| Boardshort | 18–21", performance or hybrid waist, 4-way stretch — built for surfing |
| 2-in-1 swim trunk | Outer shell with a built-in compression or mesh inner short — training and active swim |
| Beach short | Relaxed 16–19", bolder prints — holiday and beach retail |
Choosing Length and Fit
Length is the first thing a customer notices. A short volley reads as sporty and active; a mid trunk is the safe all-rounder; a longer boardshort signals surf and performance. Carrying one length in each band lets you serve pool, resort and surf customers without duplicating styles. Fit ranges from relaxed and straight to a trimmer contemporary cut — pick one and keep it consistent across the range so sizing feels predictable.
Waistband and Liner Decisions
- Elastic waist with drawstring — the most flexible and forgiving; standard on volley shorts and swim trunks.
- Hybrid or fixed waist — a flatter, more tailored look; common on boardshorts and premium surf styles.
- Mesh liner — lightweight support, dries fast; the traditional swim choice.
- Compression liner — more support, popular for training and active swim.
- No liner — suits crossover beach and walk shorts.
Liner choice is the single biggest functional difference between styles, so decide it early: it changes the shell length, the waistband and the customer you are selling to.
Fabric for Men's Swim
Quality swim shorts usually use polyester or nylon blended with around 10–12% spandex for stretch and recovery. Chlorine-resistant fabric matters for pool and training styles, while quick-dry performance and UPF ratings add value for beach and outdoor swimmers. For bold all-over prints, a polyester base takes sublimation best. See the fabric guide for the full comparison and the printing guide for how to choose a print method.
Building the Range
A practical first collection is 3–5 styles: two lengths, one or two fabric bases, and a coordinated print story plus a solid or two. Expand once reorders show which shapes and prints sell. Every style should carry your own labels, logos, hangtags and packaging so the range reads as one brand rather than a bag of samples.
Customising Your Range
We manufacture men's boardshorts, swim trunks, swim shorts, volley shorts and 2-in-1 styles, plus matching boys' pieces, in the fabrics, prints, waistbands, liners and branding you choose. From a single sample to a full range, everything is made to your own design with low MOQ and full OEM/ODM support. Browse the men's boardshorts collection or the men's swim trunks range to see the shapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Boardshorts are longer with a fixable or hybrid waist and are built for surfing; swim trunks are shorter with an elastic waist and typically a mesh or compression liner.
Most men's ranges cover a short volley (14-17 inch), a mid swim trunk (16-19 inch) and a longer boardshort (18-21 inch) so you can serve pool, resort and surf customers.
A mesh or compression liner suits swim-first product; unlined shorts suit crossover beachwear. The 2-in-1 style covers both with a built-in inner short.
Many brands start with 3-5 styles across two fabric bases and a print story, then expand once reorders confirm what sells.
MOQ is 200 pieces per style and colour, with sizes mixed within a style.
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