Board Shorts – The Long And Short Of It

Why board shorts? What makes you so crazy about them? Many friends and family of mine have asked me these questions and certainly I understand where they are coming from. On the surface, board shorts do not look much different from a pair of bermudas or trousers that are cut at knee length. Many pajamas are even reduced to under the knee for children, to prevent them from slipping or tripping over pants that are too long. Thus it is no surprise that boardshorts are often mistaken for these clothes. But a few dissenting opinions do not mean that they are irrelevant. Far from that in fact, they are one of the most popular fashionwears to exist right now, especially with those frequenting beaches or similar spots.

Board shorts, or surf shorts as they might otherwise be known as, have a wide variety of designs, shapes and sizes. They are popular with both mean and women, children of all ages. That is one great thing about boardies and that is they look good on anyone, be it the young or old, male or female. If you can picture knee length trousers or shorts (since they exist smack right in the middle!) but without the tacky designs that the boring former or plain latter are like, then that is what you will get. They are often lightweight in material but durable in actual design and make. Board shorts are used both as a fashion wear and also for heavyweight sports and activities like surfing, swimming, wakeboarding and more. Surfers and wakeboarders are primarily the ones who indulge in them and it has become something of a fashion badge for individuals who participate in water sports. There might also be individuals who are a little heavier set who worry about the suitability of such clothes for them. In fact, there are plenty of great plus size board shorts that are designed for the bigger men and women. They make them look more flattering and the weight is often not an issue at all. Take a look at this for example – the lady still looks great and compact. The design of the boardie will make a lot of difference plus size or not, of course.

In truth, I also wear lots of board shorts in the public nowhere near water or the beach. Have you seen their designs? They look really fashionable and cool! I might not go for the really flashy ones yet, and many of my boardshorts are in one colours like fully black, red or green. They still look great, especially if you know how to match them with other simple casual outfits like short sleeve shirts. They are also really comfortable to be in, being short and allowing you to have greater flexibility of movement. Men love them, and so do women who can also flaunt their sexy legs and figures in a smart boardie.

The different brands that have become synonymous with board shorts are mostly the ones that are associated with surf sports and equipement. The most popular ones are definitely Hurley, Roxy, Billabong, Oakley, Rip Curl, O Neill, Volcom, Quiksilver and more. I personally have an expansive wardrobe filled with Roxy and Hurley boardshorts as they are value for money, with technologically advanced designs that make surfing and wakeboarding much smoother and safer, and you can get loads of cheap boardshorts online nowadays at surfwear shops or typical fashion stores. Not to mention I look really good in them when out at the mall or on a hot date. One of the easiest fashion tips I can give for women’s board shorts is for a black plain design with perhaps some small fancy or colourful logo on the side at the bottom. Always sure to make the lady look hip and smart at the same time.

So where and when can you wear boardshorts? They are definitely a must have on the beach. Imagine wearing long running pants to a place where you are supposed to get a tan or a dip in the ocean. Hot. Now imagine wearing a simple pair of shorts to the same place. Not cool. Some might choose to go straight in their swimming trunks. But those might be too simple or simply unflattering. Why not just put on a common Hurley or Billabong board short and off you go looking not out of place and totally cool at the same time. Some hot lady or guy might even check you out depending of course. The best thing about boardshorts is that they are made for you to GO INTO THE WATER! So if you want to swim, there is no need to switch to trunks or, worse still, a pair of swimming shorts! These surfing shorts are also made with material that dry fast and you will not feel bogged down by waterlogged shorts after your time in the sea. It is a key reason why they are a fixture with surfers and wakeboarders.

Apart from the beach, obviously you can have them at swimming pools of any nature. I do not always go out to the beach since sometimes I have work to do. But a dip in the pool is necessary for me to keep in shape while having time away from the stress of everyday life. I simply wear a pair of boardshorts and off I go. Simple, easy to wear and change around in, and even better I can wear them proudly and still look good on my way to the pool. They are casual wear and sports attire all in one. I like it that board shorts are always very comfortable due to the clothing material used, really light so you don’t feel like your lower body is weighed down, very airy (no need to elaborate), and after the swim, they dry fast so you can just give them a quick wash to get rid of the chlorine and then off you go again, be it to the mall next or back home. No need to pack extra clothes, if you get what I mean. And with the economy what it is at the moment, finding and buying boardies cheap is often not an issue and could be one of the best clothings to spend on without burning a hole in your wallet.

Other than the places where you are going to spend considerable time in water and basking under the sun, you can just about wear board shorts to anywhere, apart from places or events where they demand that you are all preened and primed in smart attire. Those I rarely attend and it would be funny to be decked in a flashy pair of surf shorts when attending a wedding or sombre event like a funeral. But anywhere else – the mall, out for a walk in the park, visiting friends, going to simple informal social events, you name it, you will not look out of place with boardies. Of course, be sure your design matches the occasion. For parties where things are informal and casual I might wear something more outlandish. If I do not want the attention then simple colours might suffice. I also prefer to wear slightly shorter boardshorts for my occasional jogs or walks. Those that are beyond the knees would make it slightly harder to run in, so I have some which are shorter, but not as short as gawky and nerdy running shorts! Those are definitely a no-no for me. Obviously I like to look good and feel good at the same time while making sure I do not have to spend a fortune due to the easy availability of cheap board shorts. If you have not already noticed, any activity that requires you to move in a variety of ways, stretching and all that will be ideal with boardshorts. Surfers for example often have to deal with large waves and water currents that might drag them around and impose drag and friction on their clothing, thus board shorts are made and designed with these factors in mind, making them more flexible and easier to deal with heavy waves for example when worn.