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  4. 10 Best Active Swimwear UK 2024 | Speedo, Billabong and More
  • 10 Best Active Swimwear UK 2024 | Speedo, Billabong and More 1
  • 10 Best Active Swimwear UK 2024 | Speedo, Billabong and More 2
  • 10 Best Active Swimwear UK 2024 | Speedo, Billabong and More 3
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10 Best Active Swimwear UK 2024 | Speedo, Billabong and More

From swimming to scuba diving, the world of water sports is vast, and there are plenty of exercises and extreme sports that we do to stay active in the sea or pool. Although, as far as we’re aware, sipping lagers on the beach isn’t one, yet. The right set of active swimwear will keep you comfortable and allow you to safely take on the challenges of your training without the worry of things falling out or digging in. 


However, some blokes may be unsure if they're taking up a new hobby, or they can feel self-conscious when picking small attire. So, to point you in the right direction we’ve created a buying guide that we think will put you at ease, and ten recommendations from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis to help you find just what you’re looking for.

Last updated 28/03/2024
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Table of Contents

How to Choose Active Swimwear for Men in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Choose Your Swimwear Based on What Activities You Want to Do
  2. Pick Swimwear That You Feel Comfortable In 
  3. Opt for Flexible Materials That Let You Move Freely
1

Decide Between General and Specialised Swimwear Based on What Activities You Plan on Partaking In

Decide Between General and Specialised Swimwear Based on What Activities You Plan on Partaking In

If You're a Casual Swimmer Look for General Swimwear Like Shorts and Trunks

If you’re planning on wearing your gear for general exercise, for example, to rack up some lengths in the local pool, then swimming trunks, aqua shorts, jammers, or classic swim shorts are probably your best bet. 


Each type will, of course, range in how much coverage it offers, with trunks being infamously more revealing and loose swim shorts providing a bit more modesty. Choose what you feel comfortable wearing as your choice shouldn’t affect your performance too much, unless you’re swimming at Olympic speeds. 


Need goggles to match your new swimwear? Browse our best goggles!

Pick Specialised Swimwear Tops and Suits if You Want to Do Other Activities Such as Surfing or Scuba Diving

When it comes to other outdoor water activities such as surfing, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, scuba diving or snorkelling, you'll likely need some specialised swimwear


An example of this would be wetsuits, the thickness of which will depend on the activity. Ideally, suits should be 5 mm thick for surfing, or around 7 mm if you’re diving. That said, if you're swimming on the UK coast outside of the summer months, a wetsuit may be a wise idea too!


Rash guards are another option, also typically donned by surfers and SUP-ers. This garment is worn on the top half to protect from both the sun and the possibility of chafing against the board. On the bottom half, those on boards tend to opt for boardies, a specific type of shorts that has a longer length and a more relaxed fit. 


Don't get lost at sea - get a fitness watch to keep you on time and on track!

2

Look for Quick-Drying and Flexible Materials Like Polyester or Neoprene

Look for Quick-Drying and Flexible Materials Like Polyester or Neoprene

When it comes to the material used, there is one standout performer in the swimwear world: polyester. This fabric is used because it is soft, durable, shrink-resistant, chlorine-resistant, quick-drying, and relatively comfortable. To name just a few of its properties! 


Sometimes you'll find other stretchy synthetics such as elastane are used, which is great if you’re looking at buying something a little more snug and secure. Generally these will be combined with polyester, providing the best of both worlds. 


The other main material that is frequently used in active swimwear is neoprene, which is used to make wetsuits. Manufacturers like this material because it has outstanding insulation capabilities, as well as being flexible and allowing a full range of motion. The thicker the neoprene, the warmer it will be. 


Time to dry off? Jump out the pool and jump into a pair of stylish flip-flops.

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10 Best Active Swimwear for Men in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Speedo

Vintage Printed Watershorts

Speedo Vintage Printed Watershorts 1

£25.06

Mid

An A* All-Round Pair of Swimming Shorts

2

TYR

Durafast Jammer Swimsuit

TYR Durafast Jammer Swimsuit 1

£35.25

Mid

Take Your Performance to a Professional Level

3

Osprey

Full Length Winter Wetsuit

Osprey Full Length Winter Wetsuit 1

£89.99

High Mid

A Trusty and Versatile Wetsuit

4

Billabong

All Day Stripe Pro Board Shorts

Billabong All Day Stripe Pro Board Shorts 1

£37.48

Mid

A Relaxed Yet Secure Fit Perfect for Solo Sailing on the Waves

5

Speedo

Classic Endurance Aquashorts

Speedo Classic Endurance Aquashorts 1

£19.00

Low Mid

Find Comfort Somewhere Between Trunks and Jammers

6

adidas

ColorBlock Swim Shorts

adidas ColorBlock Swim Shorts 1

£32.15

Mid

The Versatile Shorts Perfect for Almost Every Activity

7

Zoggs

Byron Jammer Eco Fabric Swim Shorts

Zoggs Byron Jammer Eco Fabric Swim Shorts 1

£34.00

Mid

For Those With an Eco Conscience

8

O'Neill

Basic Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard

O'Neill Basic Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard 1

£27.95

Mid

A Favourite Garment Amongst the Surfers

9

Speedo

Essential Endurance+ Briefs

Speedo  Essential Endurance+ Briefs 1

£14.00

Low

A Staple in Every Active Swimmer's Kit Bag

10

Cressi

Diver Man Monopiece Wetsuit

Cressi  Diver Man Monopiece Wetsuit 1

£145.74

High

Discover the Depths With This Thick Wetsuit

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

SpeedoVintage Printed Watershorts

Vintage Printed Watershorts 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£25.06
Mid
Reference price
£25.06
Mid

An A* All-Round Pair of Swimming Shorts

There are two factors most guys can rely on when it comes to purchasing swimwear. For one, Speedos are going to have your back when it comes to quality (and eco-friendliness in this case) materials, superb comfort and durability. Two, a classic pair of shorts as good as these are versatile and suit many different water activities


So, with that in mind, it isn't hard to ascertain why we've opted for these classy shorts to take our number one spot. They do everything mentioned above, as well as coming in many sizes for all blokes and offering the ever-handy set of pockets. On top of that, they look quite nice too. 

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

TYRDurafast Jammer Swimsuit

Durafast Jammer Swimsuit 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Durafast Jammer Swimsuit 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£35.25
Mid
Reference price
£35.25
Mid

Take Your Performance to a Professional Level

If you're looking to stay that little step ahead of the competition or you're tackling the biggest rival of all – your PB – these jammers from TYR are here to help. Constructed from the company's most breathable material, these shorts boast a champion cut and a compressive yet comfortable above-the-knee fit


There is a choice of several colourways in the range from the muted to the jazzy, as well as plenty of sizes to choose from. Plus, the company claim that these are good for 200+ hours of swimming. Not bad for around £30. 

No.3

OspreyFull Length Winter Wetsuit

Full Length Winter Wetsuit 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Full Length Winter Wetsuit 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Full Length Winter Wetsuit 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£89.99
High Mid
Reference price
£89.99
High Mid

A Trusty and Versatile Wetsuit

Looking to ride the waves all year round as well as dabbling in some scuba diving and snorkelling too? This 5 mm full-length wet suit will be perfect for those who like to submerge themselves in multiple open water activities.


Unlike our previous wet suit, this is a little thinner, so it won't be as suited to scuba in the really cold months. However, this slimness is what allows the one-piece to have greater flexibility, making it more adept for surfing, SUP and wind-surfing. 

No.4

BillabongAll Day Stripe Pro Board Shorts

All Day Stripe Pro Board Shorts 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£37.48
Mid
Reference price
£37.48
Mid

A Relaxed Yet Secure Fit Perfect for Solo Sailing on the Waves

For a while there we thought we'd never see short swimming shorts again, thanks to the popularity of board shorts. These are designed with surfers in mind as the extra length protects a little bit more of your legs from chafing.


Pro boardies like this pair from Billabong as they not only have performance stretch but micro repel coating which helps them to dry quickly and feel lightweight. 

No.5

SpeedoClassic Endurance Aquashorts

Classic Endurance Aquashorts 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Classic Endurance Aquashorts 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£19.00
Low Mid
Reference price
£19.00
Low Mid

Find Comfort Somewhere Between Trunks and Jammers

Aquashorts sit somewhere between trunks and jammers, and are therefore a great choice if you want the low-profile of swimming trunks with the streamlined qualities of jammers. They also offer a more casual look, albeit a pretty cosy one in terms of their fit. 


As you can imagine, Speedo offer a huge range of this type of garment, but we've opted for their classic for two main reasons. Firstly, the materials, fit and drawstring are all true to the high quality you'd expect from a leading manufacturer, and secondly, despite this, they're an absolute bargain. 

No.6

adidasColorBlock Swim Shorts

ColorBlock Swim Shorts 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
ColorBlock Swim Shorts 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
ColorBlock Swim Shorts 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£32.15
Mid
Reference price
£32.15
Mid

The Versatile Shorts Perfect for Almost Every Activity

With the perfect dose of retro vibes and two pockets, these 80s-inspired classic style swim shorts are perfect for all sorts of different water activities. They have an elasticated waist and a drawstring cord, so you can dive in safely knowing they're never going to budge.


Also, the high-performance polyester fabric used is durable, super fast-drying and made only from recycled materials. The only downside is the limited size range available. 

No.7

ZoggsByron Jammer Eco Fabric Swim Shorts

Byron Jammer Eco Fabric Swim Shorts 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Byron Jammer Eco Fabric Swim Shorts 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£34.00
Mid
Reference price
£34.00
Mid

For Those With an Eco Conscience

These jammers from Zoggs have just enough of a design to keep them interesting, but not so much that they're too out there. The snug shorts have a 45 cm leg, which should cover from the waist to just above the knee cap and thus provide a little more modesty alongside the benefits of tighter shorts. 


As well as being well-designed, the materials used are also top-notch, with the shorts being made from recovered and recycled materials from the ocean. Perfect for watersport lovers who like to shop with a clear conscience.

No.8

O'NeillBasic Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard

Basic Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Basic Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£27.95
Mid
Reference price
£27.95
Mid

A Favourite Garment Amongst the Surfers

Known around the world for their top quality surf gear, O'Neill's long-sleeved rash guard provides UV protection (up to 50+). It also has 4-way stretch tech and strategic seam placements, so you'll never accidentally rest on an uncomfortable part of the garment. Plus, the seams are super strong, so it should last a while!


It's certainly one of the more specialised garments and will be primarily beneficial to surfers and stand-up paddleboarders who want to reduce chafing. Nonetheless, it could be a good purchase for those who aren't so keen on showing off the details of their dad-bod, and will save some of your t-shirts getting ruined. 

No.9

Speedo Essential Endurance+ Briefs

Reference price
£14.00
Low

A Staple in Every Active Swimmer's Kit Bag

From one product that covers you completely, here's one that leaves little to the imagination. These swim trunks are a staple for every active swimmer's kit bag. They come with a drawstring waist for that added bit of security, as well as being 100% chlorine-resistant so you can wear them swim after swim. 


Not only is the material durable, but also extremely comfortable thanks to Speedo's 4-way stretch technology which allows the wearer complete freedom of movement. They might be a bold choice, but if you feel your performance will benefit and you feel confident wearing them, why not go for it? 

No.10

Cressi Diver Man Monopiece Wetsuit

Diver Man Monopiece Wetsuit 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Diver Man Monopiece Wetsuit 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£145.74
High
Reference price
£145.74
High

Discover the Depths With This Thick Wetsuit

If you've never been scuba diving before, you might be as surprised as us to find that the UK has some of the most beautiful spots in Europe! From the Scottish reefs in the icy north sea to the multiple wrecks around Lundy Island in Devon, there is plenty to discover just on our doorstep


However, you're going to need a reliable garment, particularly if you're venturing out during the winter months. That's where this 7 mm wetsuit comes in. Made from 100% neoprene, available in many sizes and with an integrated hood, it'll allow you to explore whenever you want. It's a very specialised piece, so won't be for casual swimmers, though!

What Is Active Swimwear?

What Is Active Swimwear?

Before we delve any deeper into the murky depths of distinguishing what you should be looking for, we just wanted to make sure everyone understands exactly what defines active swimwear.


Unsurprisingly, the clue is in the name, ‘active’. This is swimwear that is fashioned for sports and exercise and can range from streamlined trunks to thick wetsuits, but the main focus is how well it can perform, rather than its looks. If you’re here to scope out some new Gucci jacquard swim shorts, this won’t be the article for you.  

Top 5 Active Swimwear

No. 1: SpeedoVintage Printed Watershorts

No. 2: TYRDurafast Jammer Swimsuit

No. 3: OspreyFull Length Winter Wetsuit

No. 4: BillabongAll Day Stripe Pro Board Shorts

No. 5: SpeedoClassic Endurance Aquashorts

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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