The Board Shorts Guide / The basics
Board shorts vs swim trunks: what’s the difference?
Performance Shorts, MauiShirts.com, Inc. · Wailuku, Maui · Updated October 20, 2026
Board shorts are longer, have no liner, and close with a tie at a waistband that doesn’t stretch. They are built for surfing and active time in the water. Swim trunks are shorter, usually have a mesh liner and an elastic waist, and are made for the pool, the lake and lounging on the beach.
Board shorts
Swim trunksWhich should you buy?
Get board shorts if you surf, paddle, bodyboard or spend hours in the ocean, or if you want one pair that also works around town.
Get swim trunks if you mostly swim in a pool, sit on the beach, and want a built-in liner so there is nothing to wear underneath.
Board shorts vs swim trunks at a glance
| Board shorts | Swim trunks | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | 17 to 21 inch outseam (ours run 19 to 22) | 15 to 17 inch outseam |
| Liner | None | Mesh liner |
| Waistband | Fixed, ties or laces at the front | Elastic, with a drawcord |
| Fabric | Stretch polyester and spandex | Often non-stretch polyester or cotton blends |
| Best for | Surfing, paddling, long ocean sessions | Pool, lake, beach lounging |
| Around town | Solid colors pass as everyday shorts | Usually looks like swimwear |
Typical lengths and construction as described in Billabong’s guide. Our numbers come from the shorts we stock.
Find your pair in three taps
Answer three quick questions and we’ll point you to the pair we’d hand you at the counter.
21-inch board shorts with a gusseted crotch, 8-way stretch and UPF 50+. Built for long sessions.
Are board shorts longer than swim trunks?
Yes. Board shorts usually run 17 to 21 inches from the top of the waistband to the hem, so they sit near the knee. Swim trunks usually run 15 to 17 inches and sit higher on the thigh. That extra length keeps board shorts from riding up when you paddle.
Our HIC board shorts come in 19, 20, 21 and 22 inches. See which length suits you.
Why don’t board shorts have a liner?
A mesh liner holds sand and water and can rub during a long session in the ocean. Board shorts leave it out and rely on a longer leg and a fixed waistband to stay put. Swim trunks keep the liner because they are made for shorter swims, where built-in support is handy.
It is a matter of comfort, but most serious watermen do not wear anything underneath.
Kharden, owner, MauiShirts.com
If you want a liner, the Go Barefoot NO Worries has one built in, plus an elastic waistband with a lace-up tie front.
What is the difference in the waistband?
Board shorts use a structured waistband that doesn’t stretch, so they hold their shape when a wave hits. You set the fit with the tie or lace-up front. Swim trunks use an elastic waistband that pulls on and off fast. Elastic is easy; a fixed waistband keeps its shape when wet.
Because a board short waistband doesn’t stretch, order your real waist size. HIC board shorts are true to size, and the front ties give you room to adjust.
Can you wear board shorts as regular shorts?
Yes, and that is one of their biggest advantages. Solid-color board shorts like the HIC Generals look like everyday shorts with a T-shirt or an aloha shirt, so one pair covers the morning surf and lunch after.
Generals solid colors can act as a hybrid short, and look good paired with any T-shirt or even a Hawaiian shirt.
Kharden, owner, MauiShirts.com
Our picks
Frequently asked questions
Are board shorts the same as swim trunks?
No. Both are swimwear, but board shorts are longer, unlined and tie at a fixed waistband, while swim trunks are shorter, lined and have an elastic waist.
Can you swim in board shorts?
Yes. Board shorts are made for the water, from surfing to laps in the pool. Rinse them in fresh water after salt or chlorine.
Which is better for surfing?
Board shorts. The longer leg doesn’t ride up when you paddle, there is no liner to hold sand, and the fixed waistband stays put in the surf.
Do board shorts or swim trunks dry faster?
It depends on the fabric more than the style. Polyester board shorts with a water-repellent finish shed water and dry quickly. A mesh liner adds a second layer that holds water. More on quick dry board shorts.
What if I pick the wrong one?
Size exchanges are free within 30 days of delivery on unworn shorts with tags, and every order placed by 1 PM Hawaii time on a weekday ships the same day from Wailuku.
Still deciding? Start with the all-rounder.
HIC Generals surf like board shorts and pass for everyday shorts. Free US shipping, free size exchanges, and same-day shipping from Maui on weekday orders by 1 PM Hawaii time.
Sources
Product facts come from our own spec sheets. More questions in The Board Shorts Guide, plus what hybrid shorts are and what a gusseted crotch is.