How to Size Swim Briefs by Brand
How to size swim briefs by brand, the short answer
There is no single size chart that covers every swim brand at OUTFAIR, because each brand names and cuts its sizes its own way. Measure your waist where the waistband will sit, then match that number to the size names on the product page. Chris Turk Swim, MAPA, and ETHAN UNDERWEAR all state in their product details that they fit true to size, and Chris Turk Swim and ETHAN UNDERWEAR both tell you to size up if you are between sizes. Where a brand prints real waist numbers, this guide lists them, and where it does not, this guide tells you how to choose without guessing.
How do I measure myself for swim briefs?
Measure your waist where the waistband will sit, not where your jeans sit, and measure your hips at the widest point. Compare both numbers to the sizes on the product page, and buy the size that matches your larger number. A tape over bare skin gives the honest number, and that number is what the waist-based sizes below are built on. For the fit checks after the suit arrives, read How Swim Briefs Should Fit.
Swim brief sizing by brand at a glance
| Brand | Size names used in the store | Fit note printed on its products | Waist numbers available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Locker Room Jock | S, M, L, XL, XXL, with waist ranges in the size names on some briefs | Streamlined brief cut, quick-dry fabric | Yes, on the Second Skin Swim Brief, see the table below |
| US Merman | Waist inches, 28 to 38, on the Poseidon Jammer | Sold by waist size, not by letter | Yes, the size is the waist number |
| Jockstraps | Small to 3X on its swim and run jockstraps | Full printed waist chart, size up if you do not want a tight fit | Yes, see the table below |
| Chris Turk Swim | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, some styles 2X-Large | True to size, size up if you are between sizes | No waist numbers printed |
| MAPA | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large | Fits true to size, designed for a close fit | No waist numbers printed |
| ETHAN UNDERWEAR | Letter sizes on briefs and bikinis | True to size, size up if you are between sizes | No waist numbers printed |
| CA-RIO-CA | Dual names, S-P, M-M, L-G, XL-GG, XXL-GGG | Handmade Brazilian sunga cuts, square and traditional | No waist numbers printed |
| KBAYO | XS to 3XL on shorts, letter sizes on briefs | Luxury fit, lined front on briefs, mesh liner on shorts | No waist numbers printed |
| CandyMan Fashion swim lines | Letter sizes, Small to XL on most swim styles | No fit note printed on the swim styles checked | No waist numbers printed |
| The Poof Store | SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, X LARGE | Streamlined brief cut, quick-dry fabric | No waist numbers printed |
Which brands print real waist numbers?
Three do, and they are the easiest to buy with confidence. The Second Skin Swim Brief from The Locker Room Jock carries its waist range inside the size name itself:
| Second Skin Swim Brief size | Waist range printed on the product |
|---|---|
| S | 74-80cm |
| M | 80-86cm |
| L | 86-92cm |
| XL | 92-98cm |
| XXL | 98-104cm |
The Poseidon Jammer from US Merman skips letters entirely and is sold by waist inches, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38, so your tape measure is the size chart. The GYM Swim/Run Jockstrap 2.0 from Jockstraps prints the fullest chart in the store: Small fits a 28-30 inch waist, Medium 32-34, Large 36-38, X-Large 40-42, 2X 44-46, and 3X 48-50. That chart also lists how wide the waistband measures before it stretches, and the brand tells you to size up if you do not want a tight fit, because the garment starts smaller than the waist it is made to fit.
What do the CA-RIO-CA size names mean?
CA-RIO-CA is a Brazilian brand, and its sungas pair each English size with the Portuguese size abbreviation, so S-P is Small, M-M is Medium, L-G is Large, XL-GG is X-Large, and XXL-GGG is the largest size, with XS-PP below Small on some styles. The size selector may also name the cut first, Brief or Bikini, before the size. There are no waist numbers in the CA-RIO-CA product data, so measure, pick the letter that matches the size you wear in a close fitting brief, and check the size selector on the product page before checkout. Shop the Team Brasil Flag Sunga to see the naming on a live product, and read What Is a Sunga for the cut itself.
My brand has no waist numbers, how do I choose?
Start from the fit note the brand itself prints. Chris Turk Swim states true to size on its swim shorts and briefs, and says to size up if you are between sizes. The MAPA Classic Swim Brief states fits true to size and designed for a close fit, so order your normal size and expect it snug. ETHAN UNDERWEAR states true to size on its TECHSKIN briefs and bikinis, with the same size up advice between sizes. For KBAYO, which runs from XS to 3XL on styles like the Barraca de Dali Shorts, and for CandyMan Fashion swim styles and The Poof Store briefs like the Palm Springs Swim Brief, no fit note or waist number is printed, so measure your waist, compare it with the waist-based brands above as a sanity check, and favor the larger size in a minimal cut, because a bikini or a tie-up brief has less fabric to forgive a tight fit.
Why does the same size have five different names?
Because each brand labels it independently. Across the swim catalog the size above XL appears as 2XL, XXL, 2X-Large, 2X, and 3XL, and Chris Turk Swim writes it as 2X-Large where most brands write 2XL. The names are labels, not measurements, so two suits with different labels can fit the same waist, and two suits with the same label can fit differently. That is why the 2XL Plus Swimwear hub captures the 2XL-named styles, and why the size selector on each product page is always the final check. The store Fit Finder says the same thing in short form, our brands fit true to size, and when in doubt, check the size guide on the product page.
Where do I shop once I know my size?
The full swim range is at Gay Men's Swimwear, with lower cuts at Bikinis and classic briefs inside the same hub. If you are choosing between cuts before you choose a size, read Bikini vs Swim Brief and Best Men's Swimwear Brands.