Best Men's Swimwear Brands
Best men's swimwear brands, the short answer
There is no single best men's swimwear brand, the best one depends on the cut you want. For classic swim briefs, start with The Locker Room Jock, MAPA, The Poof Store, or CandyMan Fashion. For shorts you can wear from the gym to the pool, look at Chris Turk Swim, THK, or KBAYO. For a Brazilian sunga, CA-RIO-CA is the specialist, and for jammers and racing briefs, US Merman is the pick. Every brand below is carried by OUTFAIR and was checked in stock when this guide was written, so check the size selector before checkout, since sizes sell through.
Looking for gay swimwear brands?
If you searched for gay swimwear brands, this is that list. OUTFAIR is an LGBTQ+ owned, Miami-based company, and every brand below is sold here in cuts made for gay men: briefs, bikinis, sungas, square cuts, jammers, and swim shorts for pool parties, cruises, beach days, and Pride. The sections below are organized by what each brand does best, so you can skip straight to your cut.
Best men's swimwear brands at a glance
| Brand | Best for | Cuts in stock | Standout detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBAYO | Luxury swim shorts | Shorts | Designed in Miami Beach, mesh liner, quick-dry, UV protection, chlorine and saltwater resistant |
| ETHAN UNDERWEAR | Second-skin briefs | Briefs, bikini cuts | TECHSKIN fabric, enhancing pouch |
| LAVISH NY | Bold statement prints | Trunks, briefs | 4-way stretch, fast-dry, wrinkle-free |
| The Locker Room Jock | Widest brief range | Briefs, low-cut briefs, mesh briefs | Quick-dry fabric, streamlined brief cut |
| CandyMan Fashion | Classic briefs and thongs | Briefs, thongs | Quick-dry, streamlined brief cut |
| Chris Turk Swim | Gym-to-pool shorts | Swim-to-gym shorts | Built-in brief liner, drawstring waist |
| THK | Athletic swim shorts | Swim gym shorts | Lightweight, easy athletic fit |
| CA-RIO-CA | Brazilian sungas | Sunga, square cut, traditional cut | Handmade, custom prints, UV 50+ protection on some styles |
| The Poof Store | Tie-up briefs | Briefs | Quick-dry, streamlined cut |
| MAPA | Classic lined briefs | Classic briefs | 3-inch waistband, fully lined, contoured pouch, interior drawstrings, fits true to size |
| US Merman | Jammers and racing briefs | Jammers, racing briefs, briefs | Longer cuts, plus classic swim briefs |
KBAYO
KBAYO makes luxury swim shorts designed in Miami Beach, with a breathable mesh liner for structure and comfort. The fabric is quick-dry, UV protective, and resistant to chlorine and saltwater, and the shorts are made for pool parties, cruises, and days that turn into nights. Shop: Barraca de Dali Shorts, Emerald Beach Shorts, Perfect Day Shorts.
ETHAN UNDERWEAR
ETHAN UNDERWEAR makes swim briefs and bikini cuts from TECHSKIN fabric, described as seamless, smooth, and second-skin in feel, with an enhancing pouch for support and a refined cut that moves from day to night. The swim styles sit in the NPNC No Pic No Chat collection. Shop: Deco Titans Briefs, Hotter In Person Swimsuit, Look At Me Briefs.
LAVISH NY
LAVISH NY makes bold, revealing swimwear with eye-catching prints and a luxurious finish. The fabric is 4-way stretch, fast-drying, and wrinkle-free, and the cuts include trunks and briefs made for circuit parties, beach parties, and lavish nights. Shop: Total Black Swim Trunks, My Life Is The Sea Swimsuit, Alligators Swimsuit.
The Locker Room Jock
The Locker Room Jock has the widest swim range in this guide, with briefs, low-cut briefs, and mesh briefs in quick-dry fabric with a streamlined brief cut. It is the first place to look if you want a classic brief in many colors and prints, from solid black to flag prints and mesh. Shop: Second Skin Swim Brief, Brazilian Football Confederation Flag Low Cut Swim Brief, Anchors Away Mesh Low Cut Swim Brief.
CandyMan Fashion
CandyMan Fashion carries the Clever Moda swim line, with streamlined swim briefs and swim thongs in quick-dry fabric. The briefs are classic speedo-style cuts, and the thongs are minimal coverage styles for shoppers who want the least fabric. Shop: Baru Swim Briefs, Blue, Gorgona Swim Briefs, Black, Gorgona Swim Thongs, Black.
Chris Turk Swim
Chris Turk Swim makes swim-to-gym shorts, one short built for the pool and the gym, so you can go from workout to water without changing. Each short has a built-in brief liner that lifts and supports, a drawstring waistband for a secure, adjustable fit, and quick-dry swim fabric. Shop: Reflective Snakeskin Swim and Gym Short, Black and White Houndstooth Swim to Gym Short, Big Box Green Checker Swim to Gym Short.
THK
THK makes swim gym shorts with a lightweight, easy athletic fit for workouts, lounging, and water days. The range leans on bold prints and standout colors, from kaleidoscope prints to a 70s style short. Shop: Kaleidoscope Swim Gym Short, 70s Swim Gym Short, Sage Swim Gym Short.
CA-RIO-CA
CA-RIO-CA makes handmade Brazilian sungas with custom prints and vibrant colors inspired by Rio de Janeiro. The range covers the square cut and the traditional cut, with UV 50+ protection on some styles, and it is the specialist pick if you want a true sunga rather than a regular brief. For more on the cut itself, read What Is a Sunga. Shop: Team Brasil Flag Sunga, Traditional Square Solids Cut Sunga, Trancoso Superfit Sunga, Belmont Trio Sunga.
The Poof Store
The Poof Store makes Palm Springs swim briefs, including tie-up styles, in quick-dry fabric with a streamlined brief cut. The range is classic speedo-style confidence in solid colors. Shop: Palm Springs Swim Brief Black Tie Up, Palm Springs Swim Brief White Tie Up, Palm Springs Swim Brief Brown Tie Up.
MAPA
MAPA makes a classic swim brief built as a timeless staple: a 3-inch waistband, fully lined, with a contoured front pouch and interior drawstrings, designed for a close fit that fits true to size. Each style is a limited release, made in batches of under 200 units. Shop: The Classic Swim Brief, Diamond Beach, The Classic Swim Brief, Midnight in Paracas, The Classic Swim Brief, Manuel Antonio.
US Merman
US Merman makes jammers, racing briefs, and classic swim briefs. The Poseidon Jammer is the longer cut in the range, the Super Jon Racing Brief is a brief cut for all-day comfort and support, and the Fast Eddie Swim Brief is a quick-dry classic brief. Shop: Poseidon Jammer, Super Jon Racing Brief, Fast Eddie Swim Brief.
What is the best men's swimwear brand for a pool party?
For a pool party, pick by how much coverage you want, not by brand name alone. A brief from The Locker Room Jock, MAPA, or CandyMan Fashion is the classic choice. A short from KBAYO, Chris Turk Swim, or THK covers more and still reads as swimwear. A sunga from CA-RIO-CA is the boldest cut. For outfit ideas, see Beach Day Looks, Vacation and Resort Looks, and Pride Looks.
How do I pick between a brief, a square cut, and a short?
A brief is the smallest classic cut, with high-cut sides and full front coverage. A square cut, like the CA-RIO-CA sunga styles, sits lower and squarer across the hip. A short, like the KBAYO, Chris Turk Swim, and THK styles, covers the upper leg and works for the gym as well as the pool. If you are choosing between a brief and a bikini cut, read Bikini vs Swim Brief, and for fit help, read How Swim Briefs Should Fit.
What about bigger sizes?
For 2XL swimwear, start with 2XL Plus Swimwear, the hub of swim styles with verified in-stock 2XL variants. Some brands name the size 2X-Large instead of 2XL, so those styles may not appear in that hub even when in stock, and the size selector on each product page is the final check. The full swim range is at Gay Men's Swimwear, with bikinis at Bikinis, thongs at Thongs, and Pride styles at Pride.