# Men/boys who wear underwear with swim trunks. WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165 "2013-08-13T22:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/21 "2013-08-14T02:49:20Z")
I see their issue as being more containment, rather than support. Advantage: Speedo. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/22 "2013-08-14T03:24:19Z")
I could understand compression shorts or something like that under swim trunks. Something that doesn’t soak up water like a sponge. I can wrap my head around that. Not people who wear boxer briefs though. Just don’t get it. Wet underwear WILL chaff after a bit if you were to play on the beach or something physical like that. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/23 "2013-08-14T03:53:38Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Sometimes when you first exit the water, wet swimsuits are just a little too clingy and leave little to the imagination. But that’s exactly why I wear them. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/24 "2013-08-14T06:04:40Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > This is why I wear a Speedo, but that’s also a whole 'nother discussion. But even a Speedo normally has an inner lining, both for comfort and to leave a little bit less to the imagination. It surprises me to learn that some trunks don’t have this. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/25 "2013-08-14T12:53:35Z")
I got a new suit a couple years ago, and the first couple times I wore them I couldn’t figure out why the head of my prick was sore and tender at the end of every day I wore them. It almost felt as if it was sunburned. I finally realized that it was because there is a velcro fly on the suit- something I’ve never had, as far as I recall- and the back of the velcro layer was stiff and the head of my dick was rubbing against it. So I decided to cut out the mesh layer that contained my junk and now I just wear Dri-Fit boxer briefs with that suit. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/26 "2013-08-14T13:48:49Z")
I’m with the OP. Very weird and looks uncomfortable. If I had a suit that wasn’t comfortable or whatever without undies, I’d get a new suit. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/27 "2013-08-14T13:52:20Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I don’t have swim trunks, on the occasions when I swim (maybe once a year on average), I wear compression underwear **over** regular medium length shorts. Did you mean **under** , or do you actually wear compression underwear over your shorts to swim? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/28 "2013-08-14T13:55:09Z")
Well, they are about the same length so sometimes they get exposed…but yeah. Under. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/29 "2013-08-14T16:07:09Z")
The standard advice when wearing padded cycling shorts is “don’t wear underwear under bike shorts”. The reason is that the seams and stitching for underwear is often exactly where you don’t want it and it cause bad chaffing. Padded cycling shorts, like most swim trunks, are made to go commando underneath. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/30 "2013-08-14T16:40:11Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > But even a Speedo normally has an inner lining, both for comfort and to leave a little bit less to the imagination Oops, I meant “leave a little bit _ **more** _ to the imagination”. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/31 "2013-08-14T16:47:55Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Wet underwear WILL chaff after a bit if you were to play on the beach or something physical like that. I do not wear underwear going in a pool or freshwater lake, but at the ocean, with the prospect of sand getting in there, I always wear something in addition to the swim trunks. I have gotten rubbed raw from the liner in regular swim trunks from playing in the surf for a few hours. They seem to have changed the liner a few years ago from a fine mesh to the more porous variety pretty much universally. The mesh they use now is more irritating, IMHO, than just wearing something underneath to contain everything. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/32 "2013-08-14T17:42:47Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Swim shirts: They don’t want to get sunburned. This for me. I am “particularly pale vampire listening to NPR while shopping at Whole Foods” white. For sunny days in the water, a swim shirt limits the amount of area to which I need to be continuously re-applying SPF 300 to a manageable level. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/33 "2013-08-14T17:55:05Z")
Most swim trunks are lined. No underwear required. I have some that aren’t lined. They’re also very thin, fast-drying fabric. They’re more like rafting shorts than swim trunks, but I often use them as swim trunks. I often wear them with underwear – usually, some TravelSmith briefs that dry super fast. Why underwear with these? Well, if I haven’t been swimming and they’re dry, and I use the rest room, if I’m not super careful, I’ll get visible wet spots. Does that answer the question? No doubt the OP is referring to bad boyz with the droopy pants thing. IMHO, that’s silly regardless of whether it’s with swimwear or street clothes. But there’s no accounting for fashion. I’m sure guys that dress like that think I look silly. They’re probably right, too. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/34 "2013-08-14T18:16:18Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I guess the idea of wearing cotton underwear in the pool makes about as my children sense as wearing jeans in the pool and it feels about the same. I just wanted to agree that it does indeed make about as my children sense. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/35 "2013-08-14T18:30:26Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t understand why people do something differently than I do!!! I object to people asking questions when they don’t understand something!!! ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/36 "2013-08-14T18:53:26Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It never occurred to me _not_ to; shorts are something you put over underwear, not wear by themselves. Don’t want to flash anyone if you sit down outside of the pool or whatever. Well, yeah- if you are just wearing shorts and not swim trunks. On that note, one of the reasons a lot of guys do wear underwear is that they wear gym shorts instead of swim shorts. And it’s pretty difficult to wear gym shorts, especially mesh ones, without showing off. Some pools ban gym shorts. The pool my family goes to had banned gym shorts but they lifted the ban this year and changed/added some rules. As someone else mentioned I also think the “sagging” style plays a factor. Though I’m pretty sure sagging is banned at the pool. At least they have the courtesy to flash underwear instead of crack. Baggy jeans sagging was popular when I was a kid, but I don’t remember many kids wearing the waistband completely below the ass. And certainly no one wore those bizarre Justin Bieber diaper jeans that look like “baggy” tights that someone took a dump in. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/37 "2013-08-14T19:36:50Z")
Isn’t this what the internet is for? You know, the inner netting they invented to line swim trunks. It provides a comforting snugness. ---
**Author:** ![hussle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f4b2a3/32.png) [@hussle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hussle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/38 "2013-08-14T19:45:18Z")
When I go swimming I almost always just wear boardshorts. These do not have lining, as they are shorts…like regular shorts, designed to be worn with underwear. Boardshorts always have velcro and a string. During vigorous swimming they can come undone. No underwear at a public pool could mean flashing, which would get you arrested. The key bit of information you are missing is that swimsuits are basically just NOT worn by men anymore, at least not under the age of 35 and over 5. Its board shorts, so no liner. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/39 "2013-08-14T20:06:59Z")
> [@hussle](#): > > When I go swimming I almost always just wear boardshorts. These do not have lining, as they are shorts…like regular shorts, designed to be worn with underwear. Boardshorts always have velcro and a string. During vigorous swimming they can come undone. No underwear at a public pool could mean flashing, which would get you arrested. > > The key bit of information you are missing is that swimsuits are basically just NOT worn by men anymore, at least not under the age of 35 and over 5. Its board shorts, so no liner. Unlined boardshorts are the predominant product sold for swimming where I am at. You need to search for mesh lined swim trunks. This may be the situation that a lot of other people face. They buy a swimsuit because it looks nice, only to find later that it is unlined boardshorts. So, they wear underwear with. By the way, I do see that swim-compression shorts are being sold in the displays with the boardshorts at some stores, so there is that… ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165/40 "2013-08-14T21:39:46Z")
How do you know what someone is wearing under their swim suit? All of my swim shorts have this mesh liner that could look like a kind of underpants if you just peered up my leg. And my swim shorts are styled to look shorts and when I am in a beach town I wear them all the time, except to go to a fancy restaurant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-boys-who-wear-underwear-with-swim-trunks-wtf/666165.md?page=3)