Surf Boardshorts Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Why Boardshorts for Surfing?

Boardshorts are great for surfing in warm weather because they give you more flexibility than wearing a wetsuit. And also they help you to stay cool. 

When the water is really warm, it just feels nice and fun to wear boardshorts, but getting the right boardshorts. So a little bit more tricky than it first might seem. 

So let me help you with this full gate, two surfboard shorts to make sure you get the right ones for you and you know, everything there is to know before you spend your precious pennies on boardshorts, 

Let’s go!

Why No Liner In Boardshorts?

Boardshorts have no lineup because when you are surfing in them, they will rub and give you a chafing feel then, and chafe on your nether regions. 

If you only swim in them, this won’t be a problem, but if you’re going to surf, the mesh liner has no functional value and only can irritate for this reason. Hence, most boardshorts now do not have liners.

If you see a liner in a board short it’s probably because they are cheap and not technically designed for surfing. So stay away from them and buy something else. 

The first shorts I bought for surfing were actually swimming shorts and they had liner and I spent a whole summer getting rubbed and chafed in places already mentioned. So don’t make the same mistake as me. I’d definitely spend a bit more to get a good pair of boardshorts without a liner.

Wear Trunks or Nothing Under Boardshorts

Either wear small swim trunks or nothing under your boardshorts because they are designed for this reason. 

Good boardshorts do not have a liner. And so they will not rub on your insides. So you can either wear nothing under them or wear trunks. Although it might be helpful, trunks won’t add to any warmth.

Yherefore wearing anything you’d like under your boardshorts is completely optional, although women may find it more comfortable and supportive to have small swim trunks underneath or bikini bottoms.

That said, when I wear boardshorts in the cooler UK waters in summer, I sometimes wear some thermal shorts underneath just for an extra bit of warmth.

Best Surf Boardshorts Brands

Outerknown makes the most eco-friendly and socially conscious. 

Outerknown is a brand started by surfing legend and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and they sell products at a true price because they try to avoid sweatshops in China and other bad practices in manufacturing and commerce.

Because of this, Outerknown source their products from environmentally sustainable suppliers, and they try to give everyone good working conditions.

However, the result is that it’s a more expensive product because as I said, they tried to give you a price that reflects a more socially conscious approach to making clothes and hardware. 

So if you are concerned about ethical aspects of buying clothes and the supply chain, then Outerknown boardshorts (Amazon) are very high quality. And they’re socially conscious. They’re also designed by Kelly Slater, who, as I said, is an absolute legend of surfing. 

So if he wears them, you can be reasonably sure that they’re going to be good because it’s his own brand. And he wears them all the time. And it’s not simply because he’s paid, he’s designed them and helped them to manufacture the best boardshorts he can.

Rip Curl Boardshorts are The Most Technical Boardshorts for Surfing

Rip curl Board shorts are the most technical for surfing because they’re constantly adding new features and designs. And this makes their premium surf board shorts probably the most comfortable you can get.

They have a lot of stretches. They are made from recycled materials and the rip curl board shorts all have the right fast things and a good pocket, making them extremely comfortable for surfing. You can’t go far wrong with these. 

The Medina Mirage range of Rip Curl board shorts (Amazon) are probably the best option for surf boardshorts at the moment, but buying any Rip Curl boardshorts will be a good choice and will mean you have a comfortable surf with boardshorts that will last you a long time to come. 

Other boardshorts in the Rip Curl range (Amazon) are also good quality, so you can look at them if you want a slightly cheaper option.

I Use and Recommend Billabong Boardshorts for a Medium Price Option That are Good Quality. 

I currently have a pair of the Bob Marley range of Billabong boardshorts, which are bright, colourful, and very good quality.

And I’ve had them for several years surfing in them and enjoying them. I got these at a very good price here in the UK but unfortunately they don’t make this exact range any more.

However, I’ve noticed that Billabong often have many of their boardshorts in the moderate price range, but they are still high quality and technical boardshorts for the surface.

The Billabong 73 Pro boardshorts on Amazon are a great option for surfers from Amazon and have all the features mentioned in this article for high quality, surfing boardshorts.

Ranges by Brand

Hurley makes the most technical surfboard shorts, like these Phantom shorts on Amazon, whereas Billabong makes good quality, but less expensive boardshorts. So both of those are my top two recommendations. 

However, many surf brands make very good boardshorts and because they are not incredibly technical, just buying a surf brand of boardshorts is usually enough for most people.

Good Surf Boardshorts Should Have ALL of These Features

Having tried and tested many different types of surfboard shorts, I can tell you that the following features are definitely things you want in all of your boardshorts if you go surfing them.

If you don’t have these, I’ll explain why it will be a problem. And also the fashion factor, which makes boardshorts and appealing fashion items. But they are not always useful for surfing if you don’t get this right. So let’s get into it!

Velcro and Lace Fastening Around the Waist

Sift boardshorts should ideally have a Velcro and lace fastening with four button holes around the waist to make sure they stay on properly. If you don’t have this, they can easily come off. 

When you duck dive under waves, especially when the waves get more powerful. The last thing you want is to lose your boardshorts in the surf because of a dodgy waistband.

Do not buy surfboard shorts with a button or yoke around the waist, because these will be uncomfortable when you are laying down paddling on your surfboard and could make for very painful surf. 

Surfboard shorts do not have an elasticated waistband. But if you see an elastic kid with a waistband, it is because they are swim trunks, not surf shorts.

So stay well away. Again. I fell into this trap and bought a cheaper pair of swim trunks, thinking they were for surfing and they just weren’t good enough. 

They caused me to rub discomfort around the waist and they only had the single lace fast thing, which was just not enough to keep them up. And I had a lot of duck dives where I had to pull my shorts up each time, which was not helpful. 

So take my advice here, get boardshorts with a proper fast thing. And you will thank me for it later. 

Zip or Secure Velcro Knee/Side Pocket

Look for boardshorts for surfing with a side pocket that is either zip or secure Velcro fastening.

Any boardshorts with a back pocket are not practical because you will sit on them. And if you put your keys in there, it could be very painful, ding your board, or just rip the shorts.

However, with a side pocket or knee pocket, you don’t notice it when surfing. It doesn’t get in the way, but it’s still functional and allows you to carry things like a key in your shorts. 

This is something I did yesterday and I can tell you, it is not a problem. You don’t notice them on the side.

But if there’s a back pocket, these are more boardshorts for fashion and not for surfing, so I would recommend not buying shorts with a back pocket only. 

You do see some good quality boardshorts with a back pocket. However, again, for me, this is not functional and not very helpful. So I wouldn’t recommend it. 

If you can, get shorts with a zip pocket as these are slightly better than Velcro pockets, but I have Velcro pockets on my current Bob Marley, Billabong boardshorts, and they are not a problem.

So zip pocket if possible, but secure Velcro is fine. 

Key Loop in the Pocket

Look for boardshorts for surfing, with a key loop in the pocket, because this means you can tie obviously your key on there or other useful items, and they will not get lost.

If the pocket somehow comes open with a duck dive, for instance, I also have my Aqua-Pac for carrying my key (Amazon) and I tie the cord onto the key loop for added security. So if the pocket opens, I wouldn’t lose the Aqua-Pac and my keys.

So it’s like a little leash for your keys. If the boardshorts don’t have a key loop, they’re probably not meant for surfing and not designed for surfing. So they might not be as comfortable. And they’re clearly not as practical, so go for a better option. 

Stretch Slightly When Pulled

When pulled, if you pull the fabric slightly between your two hands, you should feel that it has some kind of an elasticated stretch to it. And that it will stretch just a little. 

This is good for surfing because it allows for better movement and flexibility, which is crucial. Not all surf boardshorts have this. 

So think of this as a higher-end option, but if you want the best sports shorts definitely get ones that will stretch because this will allow you to do your best surfing and make the boardshorts almost unnoticeable, as you are out in the surf.

Offer Full Sun Protection

Surfboard shorts should see that they offer 50 plus SPF some protection to make sure that they are then going to protect your legs and face when you’re surfing, given how intense this is out in the water. If they don’t mention this, then look to see if any others do. 

Most boardshorts should see on the website’s product description that they offer full sun protection. However, if you can’t see it, then avoid those boardshorts or at least Google them to find out if they say it on any other website. 

So you could be sure you usually bought shorts. The fabric they’re made from will mean they’re off for this sun protection, but it’s best to have it in writing to be sure given how intense the sun can be when you are surfing. 

Cutaway Side Seams in Boardshorts Can Help with Surfing Movement

Boardshorts can help with surfing movements, boardshorts with the slate cutaway site that rises at the bottom can help you to get a bit more movement when you are surfing. But this is not in all boardshorts and isn’t going to make a huge difference. 

However, if you see boardshorts that meet all the technical properties outlined above and they have this, then that is a nice bonus, just because it will mean that they move slightly better around your legs.

When you are going from lying to sitting on your board and other surfing positions, professional surfer Julian Wilson has a boardshorts range with Hurley that offer these. And it seems like he prefers them. 

So you can have a look at the Hurley, Julian Wilson boardshorts, and see what I mean if you’re interested in this extra tip. 

All Boardshorts Rub When Surfing

All surfing boardshorts will rub a little if you surf in them for a long time, and this is unavoidable. 

So don’t worry about it. 

When you go from laying down and paddling to sitting up on your board, you will find the insights of your boardshorts can rub as the capsule board.

But this again is unavoidable. 

I know this for a fact, as I lived in Bali for nearly three years and surfed exclusively in boardshorts and used to rub on the insides of my thighs with all the boardshorts I used. I don’t think that it is because you’ve bought the wrong pair or the wrong fit of boardshorts. 

This is unavoidable. And I think it’s particularly bad for men because the hairs on men’s legs catch on the boardshorts and rub that bit more. 

That said, if your boardshorts are rubbing to the point where they are painful, then have a look and see if you can either get a different pair or change the fit because there might be something going on. 

You could also wear a thin pair of wetsuit shorts underneath your boardshorts to avoid this rub, as this will protect you most for most of it.

Wear Boardshorts from Mid-Thigh to Knee-Length (Not Longer)

When surfing, no longer boardshorts ideally should be mid-thigh to knee length to give you maximum comfort and movement.

When you are out in the surf, they may be very tight when you set up on your board if you go too short. But if you go past the knee, they can get restrictive in your surf movements and be a problem. 

So if your surf board shorts are longer than knee length, when you go to stand up or sit up on your board, sometimes the knee can’t catch on the boardshorts, making it harder to move. 

If this happens, when you’re trying to pop up on your board, then that can add an unwanted restriction to your movement, making popping up more difficult on the flip side, if you go for above mid-thigh, which is unlikely.

But if you want tight boardshorts, you might find it very uncomfortable when you sit up because they will be extremely tight and they could for the vast majority of boardshorts, there shouldn’t be a problem as they usually come in the mid-thigh to knee length range.

Outseam length in inches

If you want to check the length of them, look for the outseam length, which is the measurement from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the shorts. 

And this will tell you, the ones I’ve looked at for my size are 19 inches to 20 inches outseam, which is pretty standard, but you can gauge what works for you and take it from there to get those right board short lengths.

Avoid White Boardshorts for Surfing

White boardshorts will get very dirty very quickly. 

If you go surfing in them and the wax will rub off on them, leaving them a dull brown or grey colour and completely stained, for this reason, avoid white boardshorts.

I know this for a fact because I had a pair of boardshorts that were red, black, and white, and the white bands just look stained all the time. And I can’t wash them properly because the fabric doesn’t work well in a machine. 

So, and up with these grimy looking patches on my boardshorts, just from surfing in them and the wax rubbing off as such go for bright, dark colours on your boardshorts.

So you can have colourful, but practical patterns on them and you won’t feel the need to try and clean them all the time as I did.