What better way to welcome that first day at the beach than with a fresh pair of boardshorts? A great pair of boardshorts is an indispensable summer essential. A clean, well fitting pair (not too long, not too baggy) can be versatile enough to wear out on a sunny afternoon, an evening pool party barbecue, as well as the obvious surf session at Swamis. Because San Diego is a SoCal surf mecca, surf shops are as ubiquitous as Starbucks, and every shop will offer a wide range of styles. White boardshorts are always an excellent choice, particularly mixed with bold colors like aqua blue and a touch of pink - as long as the white isn't see-thru.
Don’t be afraid to go bold with your board shorts, embrace your individuality! If you have an athletic or thin frame, go old school with a retro pair of shorties and show some leg. A tip for the bigger guys (I’m one too!) try online shops like killerdana.com and swell.com for extended sizes. These selected few shops really stand apart as local institutions with great selections of different brands and styles.
For staying local, Mitch’s Surf Shop has been a La Jolla institution has been outfitting Windansea locals and San Diegans with the best surf gear since 1957. Pick up a great pair of Volcom trunks at this old school spot. They also have a Solana Beach Location. For Encinitas loungers, try Hansen for it's huge selection of top brands like Quicksilver, Hurley, and Billabong. Or go to Solana Beach's Fowler’s for a lot of interesting and independent brands like RVCA, WESC, and Insight.
Now that you have your shorts, don’t forget the sunscreen.
Written by Scott Wicken