Best Surf Shorts of 2024

BEST FOR: SUPREME QUALITY FROM A TRUSTED BRAND

Patagonia’s track record for creating high-quality, long lasting products is no secret. The nearly 50 year old outdoor retailer has made it their recipe from Day 1, from durable stitching to premium fabrics. 

The Wavefarer Board Shorts follow form and sport recycled materials alongside Fair Trade Certified sewing practices. Aside from keeping your conscience clean, these shorts will protect from harmful UV rays, dry quickly, and keep you agile with their lightweight design. 

This investment will pay dividends down the road, outlasting cheaply made shorts by a long shot. When they do end up wearing out years down the road, send them in for repair at a small fee and you’ll be back on your board in no time!

BEST FOR: THE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS SURFER

For many outdoor enthusiasts today, choosing a product that has environmentally ethical considerations is as important as how it performs overall. We at The Adventure Junkies also believe sustainability to be an important consideration when choosing the best apparel and gear.

prAna is a well known manufacturer that holds these values in high regard and their Metric E-Waist surf shorts are no exception! The organically grown cotton used as the base fabric in these shorts helps reduce the amount of toxic chemicals and pesticides that wash into our rivers and streams. The polyester that gives these shorts their flex is also made from recycled sources, reducing emissions and resources used. The blend of these two fabrics creates a high performance short that wicks moisture from your body and protects against harmful UV rays.

BEST FOR: MINIMAL DESIGN

Super light and streamlined, Patagonia has paired down these surf shorts to perform maximally with minimal design. Notched hems on the outseam give your legs more room to move while the waistband keeps your shorts snug and gives you full range of motion.

Covered in a durable water repellent (DWR) and utilizing a recycled polyester blend, the Stretch Hydropeak surf shorts offer superior mobility and a quick drying time. The UPF 50 rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) also keeps your skin protected by blocking out 98% of harmful UV rays.

BEST FOR: FLEXIBILITY

Perfect for the nimble navigator needing a surf short that will move with their body, Patagonia’s Stretch Planing board shorts lead the way. Its slim profile reduces drag in the water while the durable water repellent (DWR) treated cloth sloughs off water for a quick drying time.

What makes these surf shorts so flexible is their built in 4-way stretch, a technology that provides multidirectional “stretchability” without compromising its original form. So say goodbye to stiff trunks – your movement in these shorts will be so liberating, they may have you speaking French and talking about Revolution!

BEST FOR: VERSATILITY

Surf shorts don’t always have to be used just for surfing. If you’re the jack-of-all-trades type that likes to do it all, the Cruise shorts by Vuori are your perfect match. A modified version of more traditional board shorts, these stylish trunks are made for versatility. 

Use them for surfing, jogging, stand up paddleboarding, yoga, kayaking, or even just lounging! These performance shorts wick moisture from your body when sweat would otherwise cause chafing and they dry quickly when fully submerged during watersports. 

The Cruise also offers 4-way stretch, a technology that allows the shorts to stretch and snap back in multiple directions. Bonus point: 50% of the shorts’ construction is made from recycled plastic bottles. Boo-yah.

BEST FOR: SUN PROTECTION

Super stretchy and sun protecty, the prAna High Seas surf shorts give you maximum mobility and sun protection. This 1, 2 combo packs a serious punch, giving you a bang for your buck that regular swim trunks just can’t match.

Sporting 4-way stretch technology, the High Seas shorts are able to stretch in any direction you move and bounce back, keeping their original form. Its fabric is also treated to provide maximum sun protection for your skin, freeing your mind from worrying over re-applying sunblock every 90 minutes. 

The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50 means that only 1 out of every 50 UV rays reach your skin, providing an effective blockage rate of 98%!

BEST FOR: STASHING YOUR STUFF

Sometimes you need a little extra room to stash your stuff, and while hiding your keys in your vehicle’s wheel well seems like a good idea, everyone knows they’re hiding there while you’re out surfing. 

Sporting two zippered pockets on either leg, Quiksilver’s Waterman Paddler shorts are sure to keep all your items handy!  Best of all, the Waterman Paddler’s are quick drying and offer 4-way stretchability, meaning you can use these shorts heavily without worrying if they’ll fit the same again tomorrow.

BEST FOR: RUGGED USE

For a truly durable surf short that will stand the test of time, snag a pair of the Hyperfreak S-Seam from O’Neill – or for that matter, snag anything from O’Neill.

As the guy who literally invented the wetsuit, O’Neill has a legacy of crafting rugged-use surf clothing that will perform exactly as intended. What makes these shorts so striking is their ability to contour to your body as you move about. They won’t snag or ride up on you, and forget about feeling restricted – with these shorts, you’ll be free as a fish in the sea!

The S-Seams are what makes these shorts so durable, able to take more of a beating than most others, and the “Hyperfreak” fabric makes mobility a key feature.