9 Best Australian Men’s Swimwear Brands (Yes, it’s Time to Embrace the Speedo)

Once upon a time, rocking up to the beach in a pair of speedos meant you were either a squad swimmer grinding out a 5km swim at 5am, or a guy over sixty who couldn’t care less about what was in style.

For far too many years, the Aussie (predominantly straight) male population has hidden behind baggy, knee-length boardies that absorbed far too much salt water and sand, and flapped around their calves like wet sails.

But the tides have turned (with much of the cultural renaissance attributed to Speedo and Budgy Smuggler, which made briefs cool again), and now, showing a bit of thigh isn’t taboo, but a badge of Australian honour.

So, gentlemen, it’s time to act like the grown-up that you are, embrace the freedom of movement, and trade in those oversized boardies. Whether you’re ready to go full brief (do it!) or just want a tailored pair of swim shorts that don’t swallow your knees, here are the best Australian swimwear brands to help you get summer-ready.

Best Australian Men’s Swimwear at a Glance

• Best Overall: Speedo
• Best for Briefs: Budgy Smuggler
• Best Resort Short: Orlebar Brown
• Best Gateway Brief (Racer Cut): Sluggers
• Best for Fashion: Commas 

Now that you’ve seen our favourites, here’s the full list.

The Best Australian Men’s Swimwear Brands

1. Speedo

You can’t talk about Australian swimwear without bowing down to the original icon. Founded on Bondi Beach back in 1928, Speedo literally created an entire swimwear category. While they’ve spent decades dominating the Olympic lanes with leading tech and fabrics, their classic swim briefs remain the gold standard for beach and casual pool wear. 

Of course, they have other styles too, like different-length volley shorts, but we reckon you can’t look past Speedo’s, well, speedos.

If you want a pair of briefs that will survive chlorine, rough surf, and endless UV exposure without fading or losing their shape, Speedo is the swimwear brand of choice.

• Why We Love Speedo: It’s the absolute OG of men’s swimwear
• Price Range: $40 – $90

2. Budgy Smuggler

If Speedo built the foundation, Budgy Smuggler brought the fun. Handcrafted right in Sydney, this brand single-handedly broke the taboos surrounding straight men wearing swim briefs. 

Known for their cheeky, vibrant prints (ranging from cold beers and native wildlife to outright absurd patterns), Budgie Smugglers definitely aren’t designed for wallflowers.

But don’t let the wild designs fool you; the build quality is strong, featuring high-grade Australian-made fabrics with a super secure fit that won’t leave your tush exposed when diving into the shorebreak.

• Why We Love Budgy Smuggler: Pure, unadulterated fun. It lets everyone on the beach know you don’t take yourself too seriously. 
• Price Range: $60 – $75

3. Orlebar Brown

Technically born in the UK, Orlebar Brown has become an absolute staple across Australian coastal enclaves like Bondi, Sorrento, and Noosa. 

Orlebar Brown has redefined men’s swimwear: instead of elastic waistbands and drawstrings, OB’s iconic Setter and Bulldog shorts feature structured side-fasteners, a tailored fly, and quick-drying polyamide fabric. 

They’re designed specifically as “shorts you can swim in,” meaning you can walk straight out of the surf and straight to brunch. So, if you’re not quite ready to rock a speedo, Orlebar Brown is for you. 

• Why We Love Orlebar Brown: Ultimate luxury swimwear. You’ll look like you just stepped off a yacht in Amalfi.
• Price Range: $295 – $450

4. Teamm8

Teamm8 is a Sydney brand that was early to recognise modern guys wanted options between briefs and a baggy board short. So, they created a lineup of men’s swimwear that focuses heavily on athletic cuts.

Their swimwear range does feature some rather sexy thongs and micro briefs, but if you’re still getting used to the idea of donning regular briefs, those probably won’t be for you. But fear not, they also have short-cut trunks, regular briefs, and tailored volley shorts built with four-way stretch materials, with a focus on masculine colour blocking and fits that highlight your leg gains.

Basically, whatever your swimwear style, you’ll likely find a good fit at Teamm8.

• Why We Love Teamm8: Athletic, low-profile swimmers that flatter your physique. 
• Price Range: $65 – $110

5. Lobby’s

For those who love the classic, retro aesthetic of vintage coastal Australia, Lobby’s is your perfect match. Inspired by traditional seafaring heritage and old-school ocean culture, this independent label focuses on timeless swim briefs that look like they could’ve been pulled from your dad’s closet. 

Instead of bright or garish patterns, Lobby’s is for the reserved male, with colours like deep navy, off-white, mustard yellow, and classic red. While the range might be quite small, the thick, high-quality swim fabric and classic mid-rise are worth giving this brand a good look.

• Why We Love Lobby’s: Perfect for guys who want a traditional swim brief without the novelty graphics.
• Price Range: $70 – $95

6. Sluggers

If you want the look of a traditional swim brief but aren’t quite ready to go full high-cut, give Sluggers a go. Sluggers specialises in the slightly more classic brief, with a slightly wider hip measurement and a squared-off leg opening that provides a bit more coverage than a standard brief. Ideal for guys who have worked hard in the gym for their round butt and need a bit of extra coverage.

What we love about Sluggers is the variety of patterns: you can go daring with conversation-starting prints, or opt for an understated block colour, with all swimmers built with chlorine-resistant fabric.

• Why We Love Sluggers: The ideal middle ground. You get the freedom of a brief with a slightly more forgiving, square-cut shape. Also, great bang for your buck at $55 per cossie.
• Price Range: $55

7. Skwosh

If you’re absolutely not interested in briefs and are a ride-or-die boardies man, you’ll love Skwosh. This Melbourne brand specialises in mid-thigh swim trunks featuring retro prints, fruity patterns, and bright pastel colourways.

Built with lightweight, quick-drying fabrics and comfortable elastic waists, these are the best surf-to-pub beach shorts. 

They also have an entire collection called “Father Son Matching Swim Shorts”, so if you wanna be matchy-matchy with your rugrat, you absolutely can. 

• Why We Love Skwosh: Fun, bright, and truly Aussie swimwear. 
• Price Range: $70 – $90

8. Commas

For men who prefer luxury-level swimwear, may we introduce you to Commas. They’re already one of our favourite menswear clothing brands, and we love their swimmers just as much.

Launched in Sydney in 2014, this independent label focuses on low-key resort wear that will transition you from a morning dip to an all-day lunch by the water. Instead of bold graphics or blinding neon, their swim shorts lean into muted earth tones and more classic-style prints, with soft European fabrics that drape perfectly. Commas is the go-to brand if you appreciate simple, luxury design and a more reserved approach to your swimwear. 

• Why We Love Commas: Cool, luxury understated design.
• Price Range: $250 – $350

9. Venroy

Venroy is another Man of Many favourite for men’s clothing, and safe to say we love their swimwear range too. They actually started their brand journey in 2010 selling just men’s board shorts, but have since evolved into a complete lifestyle brand. They were early pioneers in shortening the hemline for men’s swim shorts, replacing long, baggy boardies with mid-thigh cuts.

Made from quick-drying fabrics, Venroy swim shorts are designed for long summer days. They’re a great option when you’re packing light for a summer getaway, because you can just as easily pair them with a linen shirt for lunch as you can with a rashie for a day in the surf.

• Why We Love Venroy: A Sydney coastal aesthetic distilled into a single, highly wearable pair of shorts.
• Price Range: $110 – $150

The Different Swimwear Cuts Explained 

If you’ve spent the last decade buried in baggy boardies, you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the different cuts on offer these days. Here’s how to navigate the main fits and styles. :

The Classic Brief (The “Speedo”)

• The Cut: Sits low on the hips with high-cut leg openings that leave your entire thigh exposed.
• Best For: Laps, ocean swimming, and total freedom of movement.

The Square-Cut Racer / Trunk

• The Cut: Fits snug against the skin like a brief, but features a straight, horizontal cut across the leg, giving you 2-3 inches of coverage down the thigh.
• Best For: Guys who want the functional benefits of a brief (no drag, fast-drying) without feeling totally exposed.

The Tailored Swim Short (Mid-Thigh)

• The Cut: Sits at the natural waist or hips, finishing roughly 3 to 4 inches above the knee. 
• Best For: Those who aren’t ready for a brief, or anyone who wants a pair of swim shorts that transition from the sand to the pub.

How We Chose This List

Every brand here is either Australian-founded or a staple of the local coastal scene. We deliberately weighted this list to cover the full spectrum of modern swimwear for men, from the classic Speedo renaissance and square-cut racers to resort shorts that can take you straight from the surf to a sit-down lunch.

For each brand, we looked at the current range across their sites and stockists, evaluating four key elements: fabric durability against salt water and UV rays, the cut and fit, and price. 

The price bands and key styles were checked in September 2026. Not every pair of swimmers has been worn by our team, so this list reflects the best evidence we had at the time of writing, and we update it as labels launch, update their pieces, or release new seasonal prints.

Ally Burnie is Man of Many’s resident Melbourne writer, covering style, food and drink, and the city’s op-shop and vintage scene. This list was reviewed and edited by the Man of Many editorial team before publishing.

Men’s Swimwear Brands Comparison

Brand	Primary Cut / Style	Price Range
Speedo	Swim Briefs & Volleys	$
Budgy Smuggler	Classic Swim Briefs	$
Orlebar Brown	Swim Shorts	$$
Teamm8	Trunks, Athletic Briefs, Micro-Briefs	$$
Lobby’s	Retro Swim Briefs	$
Sluggers	Square-Cut Racers	$
Skwosh	Mid-Thigh Trunks	$
COMMAS	Resort Shorts	$$
Venroy	Classic Longer-Style Shorts	$$

Scroll horizontally to view full table

Men’s Swimwear FAQs

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