Boardshorts vs. retro volley swim trunks

The short answer

Choose boardshorts when people will spend the whole day in and out of the water and you want a longer, tougher short. Choose retro volley trunks when you want a shorter, easy-fitting cut with a vintage beach club look for events, parties and reunions. Custom Swim Trunks makes both from 12 pairs. See custom boardshorts or see retro volley swim trunks.

Side by side

When boardshorts are the right call

Boardshorts are longer in the leg, tougher in the seams and cut for people who spend the day in the water rather than beside it. The four-way stretch fabric moves with a paddle out or a beach volleyball dive, and the flatlock seams will not rash on a surfboard. That makes them the natural uniform short for surf schools, beach events and outdoor crews, and the side panels carry sponsor logos and team colorways well.

When retro volley trunks are the right call

The volley cut is shorter in the leg and easy in the waist, with scalloped splits at the hem that read as vintage beach club. The elastic waist fits generously across a group, which is why it suits parties, reunions and anniversary events where one design has to fit everyone. It takes bold stripes, tonal prints, a small embroidered patch or a repeating logo, and contrast piping sharpens any colorway.

What if I want a standard trunk length?

If neither extreme fits, all-over print swim trunks come in 5, 7 or 9 inch inseams with your design edge to edge, and matching team swim trunks add a name and number to every pair for free. You can also read our guide to all-over print vs. embroidered swim trunks if the decoration method is the bigger question.

The verdict

Pick boardshorts for surf schools, beach events and crews who live in the water.

Pick retro volley trunks for parties, reunions, camps and anyone who wants a vintage look that fits a whole group.

Not sure which fits? Send your artwork and quantity and you get a free mockup within 24 hours, with orders starting from 12 pairs.