Going to the beach is an opportunity to pick up some rays, check out some ladies, and make an impressive statement about your fashion sense. Sometimes, people try to do a little too much with this statement and it fails miserably. If you are a guy around the ages of 18-24, wearing a Speedo to the beach is just a little bit ambitious.
Avoid the faux pas
Any man who wears a Speedo to the beach is going to draw attention from intrigued onlookers. It’s not the kind of attention that you want, though. Those people who are looking at you now will probably be talking how bad your Speedo was when they sit down to dinner. Younger men should be especially careful to avoid this fashion faux pas.
Why shouldn’t I wear a Speedo?
The main reason why you shouldn’t wear a Speedo to the beach is because of courtesy to other folks. They came to the beach to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. They didn’t come to get an eyeful of your wildly exposed body. American beach goers recognize the stigma associated with the Speedo and most of them will not be shy to make fun of you. It doesn’t even matter what your body looks like, either. Even a man with well sculpted abdominal muscles will have trouble pulling off the Speedo look.
Is it ever acceptable?
The only place where wearing a Speedo might be acceptable is if you are in Europe. European beaches are much different than the beaches in the United States and the people there are much more open to things like Speedo wear. After all, there are beaches in Europe where people don’t have to wear clothes at all. If you are looking to make a statement, do it with your sculpted body or a colorful bathing suit. Keep yourself covered up, though.
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52 Comments
Americans should get over it. The only problem I have wearing a speedo on the beach is I have more of a spare tire than I like. A pair of baggy shorts isn't gonna cover that up.
Indeed comment #1.
Americans, get over it! I still am an European at heart even after being in the USA for over 30 years. Men (any age!) in a Speedo on the beach look great.
Americans, instead of all this fuss, pay the extra attention on your eating habits! Female in Pa.
I agree with previous comments. Just goes to show how Americans are ignorant and childish. It's perfectly ok that women in America can be gawked at by guys staring at their boobs and their camel toes but guys can't strut their stuff. Americans need to get over it and grow up.
I have no problem looking at a hot guy in a speedo, but a ginormous guy in a speedo will be a little weird. Just like I'm sure guys would have no problem checking out a slender pretty girl in a bikini and trying not to stare and laugh at a fat one in the same bikini.
How many tubby women flaunt their goods in bikinis that are way to revealing that beach – tons! If you want to wear your speedo to the beach guys, go right ahead. Maybe a lot of American guys don't wear them because they're so fat from eating junk food all day!
the good old days when men were men and didnt give it a second thought what they put on, if you had a problem with that a real man would just break your face, nowdays too many metro sexual reading girly fashion magazines on how to be accepted and bla bla bla bla bla
These days, Speedos are a problem everywhere. The Americas, Europe, Australia or Asia – it doesn't matter. Please have some consideration for people who are there to relax, enjoy nature and show their children a good time, not to have them marked for life!
http://www.planetbangkok.com/weblog/expat_issues/further-to-the-speedo-menace.php
What about women showing every inch of their bodies in TINY bikinis, people like you are the reason society is so ridiculous. Marked for life??! INSANITY !!!
you need to get over yourself. muscular guys look hot in a speedo. and if anyone who sees a guy in a speedo at the beach during the day and is still talking about it at dinner time … well then they need to get a life. the problem is not the guy in the speedo, the problem is petty, boring people who have no life and have to contrive drama by poking fun at something so inconsequential as a guy's choice of swimsuit.
I wear Spedo only and don't have a perfect body. I think that if American men wear Speedo they will pay more attention what they eat and how they look. I vacated on USA east coast last summer with my family and naturally wear my Sppedos and I was pleasantly surprised that nobody really cares, or at least I didn't notice. That is the way it should be. By the way I was born and lived in Europe until my 32. I hope Americans will grow up. Guys you have potentials, just be careful with that junk food
I am 15 and Speedos are now the new in thing! All my friends and I wear them now at beaches, they are starting to become very popular, espiecelly those fluro colours. They go with the fluro singlets.
Why is it that people always post a picture of a not-so-attractive man wearing a speedo when writing anti-speedo? But getting back to the article, maybe if I were to wear a speedo, it would be more comfortable to me, which is more than likely the original reason i went to the beach in the first place. And if people have a problem with it, they can just look away. I agree with every one of these comments (unless of course one is anti-speedo), it just makes perfect sense to wear a speedo instead of clown pants.
As a European, I have never visited a beach in the US. You will see some speedos on the beaches here, but most guys wear speedo shorts (fitted square cuts) nobody wears the long US style baggy bloomers. You would stand out quiet a bit if you wore those as nobody else does. I havent seen them for sale in shops. Maybe its a cultural thing as well as fashion, I don't know. A recent news article I saw condemed those baggy shorts as dangerous especially for childeren unless they are strong swimmers. In most public swimming pools here, fitted shorts or speedos are necessary to go in otherwise you are not allowed in the pool. It's for mostly hygiene and safety reasons. Remember pool water does go in your mouth, up nose etc. On the nudist beaches here nobody wears anything. I havent been to a nudist beach but I know they are popular and been going for thousands of years so they wont change. In normal regular beaches here, you will see quiet a lot of women topless so thats where my eyes tend to glance to, and not to my speedos or other guys speedos and I think most guys are the same. I suppose girls like to check out guys as much as we check them out!
I have always worn speedos or bikinis while at the beach or pool. I am in excellent shape , well-groomed, and I am confident that I look good while wearing them. I am aware of the stigma attached to the speedo , but I have had nothing but favorable experiences while wearing them (honest!) I've met numerous attractive females (dated a few of them) and received many compliments,smiles and stares. I'm sure some folks have objected , but hey, if you do not have the "rocks" to tell me "face to face" that you object , well than it doesn't bother me. I think men (of any fitness level or age) should wear speedos if they so desire. You only live once , and God knows we've all seen some women in "unflattering" beach attire , and didly squat is ever said about it.
I actually worked in the Orlando area a few years ago, and was housed at a hotel. I actually felt kinda out of place when I went to the pool in typical American swim trunks, as the main clientelle of the hotel were from Australia and Europe. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to find something more appropriate (a speedo) to wear around the hotel pool. (84 hour work weeks are a killer.)
I've been wearing speedos for about eight years now. Outside of a negative comment from some teenager, all the rest were flattering. Every girlfriend I've had likes the look and I've had a few compliments from ladies on the beach and one to take a few photos.
Now, I'm not muscular, nor am I fat. I'm in my upper forties and probably could stand to do a few stomach crunches. Still, I've had good experiences. In fact, I've got a week long vacation planned in a townhouse with a lady who has already picked out her favorite swimsuit.
Anyway men, wear them. You'll be glad you did.
I don’t wear a Speedo, per se. I wear much briefer swimsuits than that! The typical suit has string sides, and a narrow front and rear, though I don’t wear a thong to the beach. I don’t have a “perfect” body, but I am in excellent shape, especially considering that I’m over 50. I’d go as far to say that I have a better physique than 90% of guys under 30 years of age.
However, I doubt that I would be comfortable wearing such “revealing” swimsuits if I was overweight, or had a less than nice physique. Frankly, like with women, I believe that with a less than decent body, minimal swimwear wearing it is difficult to “pull it off”, figuratively speaking. that said, I believe that people are free to wear them if they want to, but should consider how unflattering it may be if they don’t have “the body for it”. Just my own opinion.
I completely disagree with article. I”m an aussie male, 25 y.o. I think speedos are hot and very comfortable. They’re far cooler than those “man-bloomers” ) i.e. ill-fitting, excessively baggy, girlish-looking board-shorts). Even men with average bodies look fine in speedos and plenty of people go to the beach to cop an eyeful (women especially). I just think Americans are comically and hilariously threatened by any sign of male sexuality. It’s their loss.
Guys should definitely wear Speedos. Was Queen Victoria your sister? Sheesh. If girls can wear bikinis without shame, then guys can wear Speedos without shame. What a sexist and bigoted feminist entitlement that only women should flaunt it. How about a little equality for guys for a change. Any girls who say they don’t like hot guys in Speedos are either lesbian or lying or just hate the way guys look. Fine. If you girls don’t like them, then you try swimming and sunning in baggy pants that go down to your ankles and see how you like it.
I Wear a Speedo all the time, & I’m not ashamed to admit I’m endowed like a horse. Laugh it up Speedo haters. Your little weenies belong in shorts anyway – LOL.
I don’t wear speedos only because of what others would think, but would like to because i’d love to have a sexier tan than tan lines half way down my legs from swim trunks! How stupid does that look, really. At home I do suntan in my bikini underwear, so that’s ok, but ya, let’s get over it. I know other guys who would die laughing or make jokes if I wore a speedo, but honestly I think it’s just all that male bravado crap. I have a fit body and look great tanned. I think I’ll find a sexy speedo with narrow sides and revealing backside! There, I feel better already. LOL.
I am 17 years old and have a slim build. I live in California and wear speedos. I wear them to the pool, beach,waterpark and even on vaction. I won’t go back to boardshorts. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. I enjoy myself. My parents are fine with it to. More guys in the U.S should tr them.
where do you wear your speedo (?country?)
Who was the idiot who wrote this? There is nothing hotter than a fit guy in a skimpy swimsuit, and unless you are grossly obese a well fitted bikini can actually make you look better than a huge pair of DorkShorts. The only thing that makes sense is that the author has such a small unit that he might get mistaken for a topless girl if he did wear something sexy. Get over your fear of the male body. Women stand up to your coward men and make them wear the kind of thing they force you to.
I think that the person who wrote this anti-speedo article is a 19th century person, so shame for people who thinking in that way, thats it.
maybe have mental problems with mens in speedos and others things
This article contradicts itself. Fail. Speedos can be just fine in North America now. It’s not 1994 any more.
I just recently started wearing speedos, like a month ago. I love them (so does my wife) and dont want to wear board shorts anymore, however I hate the bad vibe i get from people staring. Im 21 and slim and a father two boys, I’m going to keep wearing them and hope the bad vibe will go away. Did anyone else feel this way at first? By the way I think the speedo flipturns are awesome!
I’ve worn speedos when I go for recreational swims at times, depending on my mood and how I feel I look in them. I agree with the people here: why should we let the cultural “fashion police” tell us not to wear speedos? I’ve tried doing it at the beach as well and will probably do so more often. It’s so much more natural than wearing long shorts that get in the way of free movement — even if they are the shorter variety, they impede swimming movements to some degree. Who cares about how you look? Women don’t care how they look in their one-piece or two-piece suits no matter how slim or how fat they are. Why should we?
I am 54 years old and have now worn a speedo since I was 18.Most women that have talked to me while I’m wearing one usually compliment me.My wife is comfortable with me wearing one.I wear them in front of friends and neighbors at the pool. I just got back from South Carolina and had alot of young ladies checking me out.Guys,don’t knock ‘em till you try ‘em
10 Reasons Men Should Wear Speedos
I think a part of the problem is the peer pressure. To stand out and be yourself is not the in-thing. If three people showed up wearing dork-shorts to a crowded pool with men in bikini cut briefs with their wives and girlfriends, they would be embarrassed at standing out.
I standout in my daily life anyway. I’m as far away from “typical” as one can get. So why do I wear a speedo/bikini cut swimsuit? Because I like it regardless of what people might think. By the way, every woman I’ve dated has preferred the speedo.
“…If you are a guy around the ages of 18-24, wearing a Speedo to the beach is just a little bit ambitious. …”
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!
So, if you’re over 24, it’s okay?
C’mon, the Americans should really look around and realize what century it is.
I hope to visit the US someday, but I’m afraid I’ll spend a lot of time looking for a normal, topless or nudist beach. ::rolls eyes::
Ha! Always thought they were clown pants myself too! And try staying in a hot tub near the beach wearing board shorts without having them balloon up and carry you away! I would much rather wear speedo.
I am 61 and wear speedos when me an my wife go to mexico.I am medium built and only wear them for a an all around tan. I where them while i am tanning and when i swim.I put shorts over them when i walk around the resort. And you know what I am far from gay. Happly married for 35 years
americans are puritanical when it comes to this debate. i will continue to listen to the women in my life who say go ahead to me on this subject. the homophobic males need to change.
Speedos are great. They are actually very comfortable. I spent time in Australia and while there many people were wearing speedos on the beach and the only people that cared were the Americans. All the pools there seemed to be speedo only.
They are not gay. Most people that wear speedos are not gay. This is not even including the people that wear it for competitive swimming. Down under most men were with a wife or girlfriend while in their speedo.
Speedos are way more funtional than board shorts, I think they are great to wear.
It’s okay for women to wear tiny clingy bikinis that show their nipples and labias. It’s time for us men to be sexy, too. A piece of clothing does not make you gay. Loosen up America!
Well, everyone is entitled to express their own opinion and thoughts. My opinion is that people who ridicule swim briefs are just plain closed minded and immature. To say they are “gross” is just gross to hear that! Growing up in the 80′s, swim briefs were acceptable. I think swim briefs are less popular now due to the “hip-hop” and “baggy” fashion influence.
I think adequate swim briefs for men have their place and time. I’m a 6’0, 31, athletic muscular straight male from Southern California and wear square-cut boxer shorts at pools and board shorts at the beach. My GF loves how my square-cuts fit! I feel more masculine, sexy, and attractive. I think these type of swimwear looks better in people in good shape.
I also have a swim brief that I wear for “play” only in private with my GF. She loves how they fit and she encourages me to wear them at the pool! I don’t think I would want to do that due to the “hostile speedophobia” society we live in!. Swim briefs in other parts of the world are ok, but the USA is so up-tight for that. It does not make sense! Women can wear next to nothing, but men are not allowed to wear anything less than board shorts. How ridiculous! The USA has become a super macho hypocritical double standard society. It’s very sad. No wonder why the rest of the world doesn’t like us…go figure!!!
To stereotype swim briefs as homosexual is so stupid and ridiculous. I say to men who have the body and feel good in swim briefs, go for it! If women can nearly show their entire body nude in a tiny bikini, then men should be allowed to wear swim briefs! Don’t mind those immature people who don’t like it. If they don’t like it, too bad! Tell them to look or go somewhere else! The USA is a free nation, so wear whatever you like as long as it’s adequate.
SWIM BRIEFS FOREVER!!!
I live in the US in the North East and I actually I started to wear the square cut briefs. Im 27, 6’3 tall and in great shape and I wanted to be different at the beach so I started wearing the square cut briefs. I do get a few looks but just looks and it doesn’t bother me. At first I was a little shy but after swimming I was a lot more confident and didn’t even think about it anymore. I notice I could swim a lot better and they feel really comfortable. I told myself this isn’t bad. So Im going to continue wearing them for the 2011 season and at the pool during the winter because doing laps in the pool is so much easier.
I am a 45 year old man in great shape. I wear a half back low rise bikini to the beach and 3/4 back at the pool. My wife chose my bikinis for me
I don’t care what other people think. If women can wear a small bikini then so can a man. Based on what I read on the internet it seems that women are the most insecure about seeing a man’s body. You see many many comments from women saying how disgusting a man looks in a bikini. So who are they calling gay?? haha They have no problem with looking at a woman’s body at the beach but are disgusted by the opposite sex.
My personal preference is I think long baggy board shorts are some kind of hip hop hold over and are rediculous.
Why would you swim in baggy pants? But then again I have a European wife. We have gone to beaches and she packed a speedo. After an hour I was naked rest of day and felt less self aware.
This social monitoring girl is pulling for popularity but not a concern of men doing fitness or sport. Honestly I feel a need to repeat swim in pants to your knees is the only rediculous swim wear out, and I’m even a surfer.
I have to admit I just wear sports briefs so I can go surfing right after work if conditions are good. Not much laundry and girlfirend is used to it. But then again I am in California and not uptight east coaster like this author.
Please come to Rio and learn a bit about beach fashion. For both men and women!
Yes to bikinis! Why?
*They’re comfortable. No loose fabric flapping around your thighs, and they dry off quicker.
*They’re flattering. Naturally, fit guys look best in them, but even guys with a belly usually look better in them too.
*They’re less fashionable than board shorts, so you don’t have to worry about wearing the “in* outfit.
And here are some double standards that should be broken down.
*”They leave nothing to the imagination.” Criminy, really? If that’s the case, why do women wear tiny triangle tops and thongs? Shouldn’t they wear board shorts too? Or just go all the way back to the Victorian era? If women can do it, men should have the same rights!
*”Unless you’re in great shape, you’ll look like a fool.” Same thing here. There are plenty of women who aren’t exactly 20-year-old, rail-thin super-models who cover up very little of themselves on the beach. Why should men be held to a different standard?
*”People will talk about you behind your back.” Idiots and the envious will always find a reason to justify behaving badly. Ignore them. And in truth, most people admire men in Speedos!
So don’t repress yourself, and don’t try to fit in. Wear what you like! I’m headed to the pool in an hour, and I’ll be wearing a bikini.
I wish I could have gotten in on this conversation earlier. I tend to agree with lots of others here. I’m in my late 40s and no longer wear a speedo to the beach because I’m not quite as tone as I used to be but I’d still rather wear one. It’s much more comfortable than the baggy shorts and leaves a much better tan line. I admit that the only time I wore them was on beaches where it is more accepted, like South Beach, in the keys or in the Carribean. And yes it was a bit of a turn on to feel I was on the edge a little. Plus the approving looks were always great! I just ignored the negative ones. Now I opt mostly for beaches where I don’t have to wear a thing!
The stigma about a man in a bikini is silly. A guy with a nice body should be able to feel equally as comfortable as a hot chick in a tiny bikini.
I will totally agree with almost everyone else here. I no longer have my Marine Physique but I would rather wear speedos type to the beach. I am well confortable if it wasn’t for stupid looks. I am not that fat but still don’t have that body anymore. I recall as a young Marine it would boost my confidence to wear really skimpy speedos among other marines and civilians at the beach…it was great to be the only one and I would usually have a descent buldge to show.
Speedo style swimsuits are practical for (you guessed it) swimming. They are also comfortable, dry fast, and leave a nice tan line. The knock on them for being unsightly (esp. on fat hairy guus) or gay is bogus. It’s the obesity not the swimwear that is unsightly. A stomach that looks 8 months pregnant or a big muffin top is not nice to look at hanging over a Speedo OR boardshorts. Firm, falt, fit abs are hot in Speedos AND boardshrots. Plenty of straight and gay guys like them. Some women don’t like to see the outline of a guys package and some do. So, to each his/her own, look or look away, live and let live.
If slender fit men/boys and women/girls would start crowding the beaches in Speedos and bikinis maybe it would help to stem the tide of epidemic obesity.
I started wearing aussiebum briefs (a lot like speedos) to a waterpark in the midwest USA this summer. To my suprise no body complained and I got a lot of comments asking where they could purchase them. I am in good shape 5’8″ about 150# and they did look good on me. Women mostly looked it was men that asked about them. I will wear that style until I am dead because I like them. We can’t run our lives on what everyone else expects us to do.
Given that Americans have a reputation of being stupid, and just look at their current pop culture (Beiber, Snooki, Kardashian, Twilight), why should anyone take their opinion of speedos, or anything for that matter, seriously.
To the writer who wrote this piece of crap, nobody want to see women and their cellulite and what not hanging out either. How come they are not recommended to wear shorts that hang down to their ankles if they are so comfortable and appropriate?
I am an American 52 yo married man…I wear speedos and even thongs (depending upon the beach). I am in good shape, but I am no bodybuilder with 6 pack abs. To all who have commented this way…you are right….Americans are too uptight and frankly the board shorts that guys wear with underwear bands hanging out above the top looks ridiculous. Go speedos and thongs! Plus, they make a great tan line.
We wouldn’t even be having this conversations in the 70s and 80s. NO mens swimwear went anywhere near the knees back then. The “boardshorts” were still at least 3″ above the knee and were pulled up for tanning. Even in the 90s guys all wore Speedo-type competition styled suits in warmer climates like Houston.
All it really takes is one guy breaking from the pack. Just a couple of years ago I stayed at an interstate type motel on the way south, at early afternoon I went to the pool in Speedos. It wasn’t busy but Baggies were worn. However, later in the day when I returned, most of the guys down at the pool with their girlfriends, wife and kids, or alone, had suddenly “found” Speedos or square cuts, or suits with a less than 3″ inseam. No doubt had them with them, just didn’t want to break from the pre-conceived norm.
You’re in the sun, guys, get some rays!