The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Men's Swimwear in Australia 

Shopping for men's swimwear in Australia should be straightforward. You need something that fits well and lasts well - no matter where you're wearing it. And yet we know that most blokes give it about 30 seconds of thought, grab whatever is closest to their size and end up needing to repurchase next Summer.

This guide covers everything worth knowing before you buy: the different styles of men's swimwear, how to choose for comfort and activity, what fabric matters and why where your swimwear is made is more relevant than most people think. Whether you're after something for laps, the beach, or a holiday with no real plan, here's how to get it right.

Why choosing the right swimwear matters:

Everyone knows that a poor fitting pair of boardshorts will have you chafing all day long and a cheap pair of trunks or swim briefs will go transparent after a season in chlorine. The wrong style for the wrong activity means you're either uncomfortable in the water or awkward out of it.

Good men's swimwear sits close to the body without digging in, dries fast, holds its shape wash after wash, and gives you enough freedom of movement that you're not thinking about it while you're actually swimming. When it's right, you forget you're wearing it. When it's wrong, you spend the whole beach day adjusting it. Getting this decision right at the start saves a lot of grief later.

Different types of Men's Swimwear

Swim Briefs

The classic, and the one us Australians will claim we invented. Men's swim briefs offer minimal fabric, zero drag, and the best freedom of movement of any style. They're built for actual swimming; whether that's laps, ocean swimming or underneath your wetsuit in the surf. The reputation for requiring a certain kind of confidence isn't entirely wrong, but it's also a bit overblown. Once you've experience the freedom of getting your thighs out, you'll see what we mean. 

See our Best Selling Men's Swim Briefs here

Board Shorts

Longer, looser, and designed more for hanging around than swimming hard. Board shorts work well for surfing on warmer days, casual beach days and situations where you'll be in and out of the water rather than actually swimming laps. The trade-off is drag in the water and a longer drying time. Not the best choice if serious swimming is the plan, but a solid option.

Jammers

Knee-length and performance-focused, jammers are the choice of competitive and serious recreational swimmers. They offer more compression than briefs and reduce drag across a larger surface area. Less common for casual beach days, but worth knowing about if you're training regularly or swimming long distances.

How to choose Swimwear for comfort

Comfort in swimwear comes down to fit more than anything else. The waistband should sit flush against the body without rolling down or leaving marks after an hour. Leg openings on briefs and trunks need to be snug enough to stay put when you dive in, without cutting into the thigh. The fabric should stretch in four directions and recover its shape rather than bagging out over time.

If you're between sizes, go a size down for briefs and trunks. The fabric stretches and loosens with wear, and a slightly snug fit off the rack will usually settle into the right fit after a few swims.

The other comfort factor people underestimate is lining. A good internal brief liner adds support and structure, and makes a genuine difference to how a pair feels over a long day at the beach.

Choosing Swimwear for different activities

Beach

The beach calls for something that can handle salt water, sand and general movement without riding up, chafing or going see-through when wet. The main priority is a secure fit that doesn't need constant adjusting and fabric that dries reasonably fast between swims and lunch.

Pool

Chlorine is harder on fabric than most people realise. For regular pool use, chlorine resistant swimwear is genuinely worth paying attention to, not just as a marketing term but as a practical consideration. Standard swimwear fabric degrades faster in chlorine and goes thin and saggy over time. A pair of swim briefs or trunks built from chlorine-resistant fabric will hold its shape and colour through a full season of pool sessions that would destroy a cheaper pair in a month. Our fabric has 70-80 hour chlorine resistance which is probably as high as you'll find before getting into performance-wear.

Holidays

For a holiday, versatility is the priority. A pair that looks good in and out of the water, dries fast enough to wear from the pool to lunch, and holds up across two weeks of daily swimming is worth more than three cheaper pairs that don't quite do the job. Find something that sits comfortably between performance and casual without leaning too hard in either direction.

Competitive Swimming

For competitive or serious training swimming you're looking for minimal drag, maximum movement, and a snug fit that stays exactly where it's supposed to regardless of how hard you're pushing off the wall. Fabric quality matters more here than anywhere else, particularly chlorine resistance, since training swimmers are in the pool more often and for longer sessions than recreational swimmers.

Australian-Made vs Imported Swimwear

This is a more meaningful distinction than it might seem. Genuinely Australian made swimwear means the cutting, sewing and construction happen locally, not just the design or the branding. That matters for quality control: when the factory is down the road rather than on the other side of the world, problems get caught and fixed before they leave the building. Fabric and stitching standards stay consistent. You can actually verify the claim rather than taking it on faith from a swing tag. 

 There's an environmental dimension too. A lot of mass-produced imported swimwear is made to a price point that assumes some percentage of it will never actually sell at full price. Overproduction and discounting are built into the model. Local manufacturing tends to produce closer to what will actually be sold, which is generally a better outcome for everyone. 

At Budgy Smuggler, every pair has been cut and sewn in the same Sydney factory since 2003. That's not a marketing angle; it's just how we've always done it, and it's why we're comfortable backing the quality of what goes out the door. Read more about this decision here.

What Fabric Should You Look For?

Quality swimwear fabric should do a few things well. Chlorine and saltwater resistance means the fabric holds its structure and colour through repeated exposure rather than degrading after a season. Four-way stretch means it moves with you rather than pulling or restricting. UV resistance in the fabric itself (separate from SPF sunscreen) helps prints stay sharp rather than fading to pastel by midsummer. And quick-dry performance means you're not sitting around in wet bathers for longer than necessary. 

What to avoid: fabric that goes thin or transparent when wet, elastic that loses its recovery quickly, and prints that start fading after the first few washes. These are usually signs of lower-quality base fabric, and no amount of good design compensates for them over a full season of wear. 

 How to Find the Right Fit

Start with the waist measurement rather than assuming your clothing size translates directly. Swimwear sizing varies between brands and styles, and relying on your usual pants size is a reliable way to end up with the wrong fit. Our Smugglers run true to size. Check out the size guide here.

 If you're buying online and genuinely unsure, check the returns policy before purchasing. A good swimwear brand will give you a straightforward way to exchange if the fit isn't right. 

 Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the best type of men's swimwear for swimming laps? Smugglers or jammers. Both minimise drag and maximise freedom of movement. For recreational lap swimming, Smugglers are usually sufficient. For competitive or high-intensity training, jammers provide more compression and coverage. 

 How do I make my swimwear last longer? 

Rinse in cold fresh water immediately after swimming to clear chlorine and salt before they set into the fabric. Avoid the dryer; hang in shade instead. Hand wash where possible, particularly for brighter prints. Rotate between two or three pairs if you're swimming regularly rather than wearing the same pair daily. 

 Is Australian made swimwear worth the price difference? 

Generally yes. Tighter quality control, better fabric standards, and more consistent construction tend to produce a garment that lasts noticeably longer than a cheaper imported alternative. Over a season or two, the cost-per-wear usually works out in favour of the better-made pair. 

 What does chlorine resistant mean in swimwear fabric? 

It means the fabric is constructed to resist the degrading effects of chlorinated water, which breaks down standard swimwear fabric over time, causing it to thin, lose shape and fade. Chlorine resistant fabric holds up significantly better under regular pool use. 

 How often should I replace my swimwear?

When the elastic has gone, the fabric feels thin, or it no longer holds its shape after a swim. With proper care, good quality swimwear should comfortably last one to two seasons of regular use. 

 Final Thoughts 

The right pair of men's swimwear isn't complicated to find once you know what to look for: a style suited to how you actually use it, fabric that holds up to chlorine and salt, a fit that stays put without constant adjusting, and ideally something made to a standard you can actually verify. 

If you're ready to sort out your swimwear properly this summer, browse our full range of men's swimwear, check out the men's best sellers, explore new arrivals, or use our size guide if you're unsure on fit. After something more personal? Our custom swimwear lets you design your own.

 Shop Australian-made men's swimwear built for comfort, durability and performance.

 With Smuggler Love, 

 The Budgy Smuggler Team