Men's Quick-Dry Swim Trunks

The difference between good swim shorts and bad ones shows up thirty minutes after you get out of the water. Quick-dry fabric sheds water instead of holding it, so you can walk from the sea to a beach bar and sit down without soaking the chair or spending the afternoon damp.

These use a lightweight woven shell with a mesh lining, which is the combination that actually works: the shell dries fast and resists clinging, and the lining provides support and stops the fabric going transparent when wet. An elasticated drawstring waist handles the fit changes that swimming inevitably involves.

Pockets with drainage eyelets mean water leaves rather than pooling, and most variants include a secured rear pocket for a key. They pack down small enough to live in a day bag from May onwards. Wash in cold water and hang to dry rather than tumbling, which extends the life of the elastic and stops the colors fading in a single season.

• Quick-dry woven shell that sheds water fast
• Mesh lining for support and opacity when wet
• Elasticated drawstring waist
• Drainage eyelets in the pockets
• Cold wash and hang dry to protect elastic and color