Meet the $90 Swim Trunks GQ Editors Can’t Quit

Ahhhhhhh. You feel that? That, my friends, is the warmth of the sun tickling your shoulders, rousing your freckles from hibernation, and reminding you it’s time to book that vacation—and, most urgently, buy a new pair of swim trunks before you do it. Because great trunks are the key to unlocking the full potential of your OOO wardrobe. Yes, you’ll rock ‘em at the beach and by the pool. But these days, the very best trunks can also pull double duty as on-the-go shorts, with functional pockets and a flattering cut that’ll play nicely with everything from graphic tees and knit polos to crisp linen button-downs.

For a number of years now, our go-to trunks—the ones we trust to hit all those marks, that consistently sit atop our guide of best swim trunks and nabbed a coveted spot in our first-ever All-Stars class—hail from the Toronto label Bather. Yes, you read that correctly: Toronto. As in Canada, a land better known for its prime ski conditions than its surf culture. Year in and year out, our friends up north engineer the absolute perfect swim trunks, and this season is no exception. Here’s what we got our eye on.

Pitch-Perfect Solid Colorways

Bather’s signature model meets all the essential criteria for great trunks: It’s crafted from quick-dry recycled nylon with a comfortable mesh lining, a couple of deep side pockets, a snap-button rear pocket, and a just-right 5.5” inseam. The elastic waistband, meanwhile, looks sharp and feels comfortable on all body types. The nylon exterior is crisp enough to feel like a decent substitute for a pair of Bermuda shorts on a casual date night. And, most importantly for swimwear, they’re constructed hardily, with several pairs GQ has tested over the years holding up strong after dozens of rounds in the washing machine.

An Endless Stream of Patterns

Here’s where Bather really starts to win out over some of its more famous competitors (like, say, the deservedly beloved Patagonia Baggies). The young Canuck label isn’t afraid to get freaky with its flagship model. Sure, it comes in a standard array of solid tones—a nice deep black, a classic Baywatch red. But every season, Bather also goes big on all manner of wild prints: techy stripes, retro florals, painterly cloudscapes. It gives you infinite options to choose from and collect, and means you’re far less likely to run into someone in the same pair when you hit the beach.

An Expanded Universe of Matching Sets

Bather perfected their swim trunks, yes. But they’ve also concocted a strong selection of gear designed to sync up seamlessly with their shorts. Whether the swim trunk you’ve got your eye on is solid colorway or a print, it most likely has a matching camp shirt, which you can also rock as a separate. This season, we’re partial to the matching kits designed for beachside lounging, like the terry leisure set that includes a full-zip camp shirt and matching short. If you’re the type of guy who likes synchronicity in his purchases, Bather’s made things simple for you.