Boardshorts - What are they and where do I get some?

Boardshorts are a style of short that has been de rigeur amongst the surfing set but has been adopted by the general public and has even become a fashion statement. They were originally only worn by men but now there is a line produced specifically for women. The name "board short" likely comes from their association with surf boarders and local vernacular adapts the name to such as 'baggies' in South Africa and 'boardies' in Australia.

Board shorts are comfortable and very lightweight, manufactured to dry quickly. They are hard wearing as they need to stand up to constant contact with a surfboard. They are often made from nylon or a smooth polyester. Bright and colourful they can have vibrant patterns and Haiwaiian florals - or the makers name or symbol in a neon color. While there are some companies who specialise in this form of clothing there are many more who have jumped on the bandwagon and who produce the latest fashionable variety.

In design they have remained basically the same and can have a baggy appearance. They may reach the knee or just above it. They differ from other forms of swimwear in that they are not form fittiig, such as speedos.

There have been a few changes due to new technology and the surfer's preference of not wearing any underwear underneath the board shorts. Common complaints include velcro fly enclosures which have a tendency to snag body hair and the inseam area which rubs against the wearer's skin causing chafing. To rectify these problems some manufacturers have begun using a neoprene material for the fly which does not catch the body hair. To prevent the chafing by the inseam, some makers have changed over to a seamless design which uses glue or heat to weld the seam together. Many boardshorts now contain an inner liner that is sewn in place and acts like a pair of underwear that is constructed of a light and airy netting. However some users do prefer to wear a pair of speedos, briefs or a jockstrap underneath the shorts.

While there are retailers that are specific and sell only board shorts in their many varieties to the public, a lot of swimsuit manufacturers and even top designers have entered the arena and produce their own line. Some of the companies that are best known for making surfer's clothing and which carry a huge selection of boardshorts are Quicksilver, Billabong, RipCurl, Killer Dana, Oakley and Hurley.

More recently manufacturers have been making boardshorts that are specifically for women. Many women would borrow their boyfriends or husbands shorts and the fit would obviously suffer. Taking advantage of this niche market a number of swimwear and outdoor activity clothing manufacturers saw that they needed to design some shorts to answer the needs of the women who wanted to wear them and produced a line that works much better. Sizing, material and overall design was adapted for women.

Check out our awesome selection of Women's Boardshorts