Rocking a Swim Brief
I didn’t struggle really when I made the switch in my underwear from briefs to bikinis. When I discovered I could buy bikinis at the local Kmart I was there as fast as I could to get myself a package. The biggest struggle was the bashfulness when checking out, since I thought they were sexy underwear and hadn’t seen any guys wearing them. That didn’t stop me from going back for more after discovering how much I liked them. I even had the courage at a Sears to buy some bikinis that were on hangers. Adding thongs wasn’t hard to do really either. I was able to order my first pair of those online, since I finally had access to a credit card in college. Underwear is a lot easier to change up with very few seeing you in them. Of course I opted for a bikini over a thong if there was potential of someone going to see me in my underwear. Nowadays I’m pretty comfortable in any situation in bikini underwear and working on improving my comfort wearing a thong when people may see me in my undies.
Going from something fairly private to public viewing isn’t quite as easy. Wearing a swim brief in public was quite the struggle for me, which I know many do struggle with. Rocking a swim brief (or smaller) isn’t an easy task. It is putting yourself out there where people will see that you are going against the grain. It is intimidating. What you will find out is it is exhilarating to finally do it. You feel so free. Then you end up just wanting to keep on doing it. You can read my swimwear journey here.
So how to rock a swim brief?
Probably the best advice I’ve been given is just do it. Of course not that easy for most of us. I still have some anxiety or butterflies in my stomach when heading somewhere to wear my swim bikini briefs. Really the place to start with swim brief wearing is with yourself. You need to work on your mindset. We’re taught that guys wear swim shorts not form fitting swimwear. This could make us feel that maybe we are doing something inappropriate, maybe being an exhibitionist, or something along those lines. There is no reason we can’t wear similar swimwear as women. I think they can have some anxiety too, but I think it is more being judged with how their bodies look over their swimwear choice. They’ve been given the impression their bodies have to be a certain way. All a bunch of hogwash. We all should be able to wear what we want to wear.
Let’s get back to the mindset. We need to work on how we perceive things and ourselves. If we’re judging what people are wearing then we are in the wrong mindset. We need to see in our eyes they are confident and accepting of themselves and are wearing what they want to wear. Start to look at things in a perspective you want people to look at you. You don’t want people saying (thinking) EEK a Speedo!!!!!! I’m sure there are people thinking it, but they’re just insecure and childish. Once you are thinking of others in a positive way, it is time to work on yourself personally.
You need to feel the swim brief is a norm to yourself in your head. Not always an easy thing to do. Some days I get off track in my mindset, but luckily I’m able to get on track when it is time to break out my swim briefs. This may sound a little silly, but I think a good place to start with your mindset is wearing your swim brief in private. Wearing it around your place, checking yourself out in the mirror is a way to start seeing it as a norm in your eyes. Maybe wear it in the backyard sunning. I think the more you see yourself in swim briefs it starts the training of your brain that it is something you normally wear. Another big thing to help with the mind is support. Having someone or multiple people to help reassure you that guys can wear swim briefs. Maybe an open minded good friend, a partner, even us on the blog and the forums can help with some swim brief positivity for conditioning the mind. Then just keep telling yourself you’re going to do it. You’re wearing nothing different than the women are. If they can wear bikinis then men can wear them. We can’t change other people’s thinking, but we can our own. Keep telling yourself you can do it.
Of course it is easier said than done for most of us. I needed that supportive person to help me get over the hill for my first public beach appearance. The mindset is always a work in progress for me. I’m doing a lot better with it for swim briefs. Just in some situations I still need to remind myself that there is no reason I can’t wear my swim brief. So work on it and keep at it and you will figure out how to rock that swim brief.
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Thanks for a great article.
I guess I might be lucky, I’m a bit further along in my journey of what to wear to the beach, but I’ve always worn swim briefs, speedos or what we in Australia call,
Bathers. I’ve just refused to wear baggy shorts to the beach, for me it makes swimming hard work dragging around all that material, but by far the biggest drawback to shorts for me is the huge tan lines they create.
I’ve been swimming most days this summer and have been wearing speedos every time, they are accepted as normal in Australia, but mine are getting progressively smaller. I’ve still got a couple of pairs that I haven’t worn, some very thin spandex bathers in yellow and pink, soooo comfortable, but they’d probably be close to transparent, which I’d rather not do in public. As I said I’m further along on my journey, my next biggest milestone will be wearing a swim thong on a public beach. Can’t wait to get the courage to do it.
I’ve been rockin a swim bikini at the local pool for a while now. And I can tell you nobody really cares what people wear there. Now I’m seeing more guys wearing bikini swim trunks. I hope I’ve started the trend!!!
Location does make a big difference with swim brief wearing. If there are other guys wearing them then it should make it easier to break one out. It would be nice for once that I’m not the only one wearing them. Australians know how to do the beach. I’m finding there are lots of swim brands that carry swim briefs there too.
Excellent post! You make some good points here and the comments are spot on. Yes rocking a swim brief in public as you said is not easy. Like all things that require confidence, it takes a lot of practice. I agree with you that mindset is key to wearing bikinis/briefs in public. Look at yourself in the mirror with your brief on and practice “positive self talk”. Saying to yourself this is who I am and I what I want to wear” or something like that. I still do this sometimes before a beach or pool outing and it helps my confidence.
The setting and whose around you does make a big difference in comfort level. I got started wearing swim briefs for lap swimming which is a good way to get comfortable wearing them in public. I think wearing them around your house/apartment or backyard if you have a private one is a good thing to do. I think its easiest for me to wear my briefs at an open public beach with my wife and kids. A public pool is a little more difficult. To me a waterpark would be a very challenging place but I haven’t been to one since I was a kid so I don’t really know.
That’s a great way to get use to wearing them. People can accept the swim brief for lap swimming pretty easily. I agree having the wife and kids along makes it a lot easier. I don’t normally go on my own unless it is the off season and still warm for sunning. I’m with you that the beach is the easiest. I haven’t been to a local public pool, since being a consistent swim brief wearer at the local beach. I think I’m ready to go with the swim brief there, but I agree it will be more challenging than the beach. I’d like to do a water park in a pair, but definitely be a huge challenge.
There’s a huge indoor waterpark being built in our area that’s supposed to open this summer. I have a feeling we will end up going to it sooner or later so I may get to take that challenge! I’ve read that some parks don’t allow swim briefs so if that’s the case with this one I may be forced to wear boardies.
Rockin’ it brother! Enjoyed the read. This is a goal for myself, and I’m sure lots others. One day heading to the beach and owning the look, and vibe to have a great time. Very encouraging to see your progress and it’s a really great thing!
+Respect The Kini 🩲+
Anyone who is struggling with the idea of rocking a swim brief might be inclined to avoid social media platforms that seem to be inhabited by gym bunnies with rock hard abs and muscles to spare. But for those of us who perhaps are more Dad bod than hot bod, I have been pleasantly surprised by sites like The Speedo Movement which actively encourage guys of all body shapes and sizes to post selfies wearing what they want to wear rather than what society would dictate. It would be great if every follower of TBD took the time to post an encouraging comment to anyone they see on social media who is trying to break out of their comfort zone by wearing a speedo/bikini etc.
I have a friend who occasionally posts speedo pics on Instagram. He is 60+ and goes to the gym regularly. He’s in better shape than guys half his age, but in his head he is fat, no matter how much I tell him to the contrary. Every now and then he deletes all of his content, and when I ask why, he says it’s because someone has likened him to a fat guy in a speedo. I wish these trolls could see how even one uncalled for comment can shatter someone’s fragile self esteem.
I’m guessing most of this blog’s followers have struggled at times to realise their dream of rocking a swim brief(even the hottie in the pic above), but the important thing is that we all get there in our own time, be it under our own steam or with the help of others, which is one of the main aims of the blog.
That’s the problem with chasing the perfect body. It’s chasing a mirage. There will always be one “problem area” you will see in the mirror. That is not to say don’t eat right and workout to stay fit, but obsessing over it is mentally unhealthy. I’m pretty fit I think, but I’ve never had visible abs and have always had a fairly flat butt. I’ve tried squats and exercises to improve it but no matter what I do I’ll never be that hot guy with the sexy bubble booty. My wife agrees I look fine and and that’s good enough for me. It won’t keeping from rockin’ a bikini on the beach. I agree with you that social media only makes things worse. I don’t do Instagram. It’s especially bad for women and teen girls but men too as far as body image goes.
I hope to have the courage to wear them in public due to being overweight.
Just keep working on your own mindset. Doesn’t matter what others think, which I know isn’t easy to put aside. Most will only notice us at first and then will go about their business. We should be able to enjoy the beach how we please just as women do. We’re here to help support you. If you haven’t join the forums you can join us there for more conversation. Link is in the menu to it. Also check out the Speedo Movement on Instagram and you’ll see guys of all shapes and sizes sporting their swim briefs.
Hi David. You’ve taken the first step on your speedo journey just by searching out this blog and sharing your desire to wear one. Nate and many of this blog’s followers have experienced the anxiety that you are feeling, so please take Nate’s advice and join the forum and check out The Speedo Movement.
Im in ok shape but I have unfortunate fats spots on my side that I can’t get rid of unless I diet excessively strictly which isn’t sustainable long term, but I started using swim bikinis for my workouts as the longer I spent in the water the more irritating my old swim jammers felt especially when they started chafing my thighs. One thing I wonder is what to put on if I’m going from say swimming/tanning at the beach to walking to a beach bar / restaurant for a drink/bite to eat? A unlined short or a towel?
How many pairs do people own, I started using them during my swim workouts which can range up to 5-6 days a week. I have yet to wear it to the beach or vacation l, as I’ve not had the company of a girl to go with in quite some time… My favorites are the 2eros v20s dietz traxx and the desmit addicted ADS065 swim tanga styles, perhaps you can review them.
How many pairs do people own, I started using them during my swim workouts which can range up to 5-6 days a week. I have yet to wear it to the beach or vacation l, as I’ve not had the company of a girl to go with in quite some time… My favorites are the 2eros v20s dietz traxx Greg homme reef /coast bikini and the desmit addicted ADS065 swim tanga styles, perhaps you can review them.
Rocked a bikini to the public pool last night and it felt great
Awesome, Going to be able to continue to do so now?
Excellent article! I summoned up the courage to wear a swim brief back in 2009 at my local gym and going strong!! Growing up, I really wanted to get on the swim team, but it would have meant wearing a speedo and I was scared to wear one.
Fast forward now to 2022, and after a few open water swims and stepping out of my comfort zone and joining a summer swim team, I’m all about wearing a speedo!! I wear one every time I go swimming at my local pool. I love the feel of being free in the pool when I’m swimming. Now, I’m looking forward to wearing it to the pool and feeling good about my body! Any other advise would be great!!
I just started wearing them in public last year after wanting to for 20 years. The secret was for me to accept it as normal before I can expect anyone else to. And like you said, if women can wear a bikini style swimsuit, so can a man. I have no time for anyone who is offended only by the latter.
Some times the journey is long. Then you can’t get enough!