I (48M) enjoy the beach a lot. I have always worn a nylon board short style swim suit to the beach and pool. A few years ago, I discovered how uncomfortable it has always been for me to wear this type of bathing suit. I secretly bought a bikini swimsuit and wore it to a not so crowded beach. Yes, I got some uncomfortable head turns but I knew no one there. I spent 4-5 hours tanning, reading, relaxing, and swimming in my new swimsuit. Let me tell you, it was so comfortable and felt amazing not to have to wear so much material.
What WAS uncomfortable was ALL the looks I got from other beach goers. It’s not like I was wearing a thong.
So my question is, why is there such a double standard in society that a woman can wear a bikini but a man gets frowned upon. What are your thoughts male or female? TIA
Comments
Living in FL, i think it must be awfully hot ND uncomfortable for guys to wear board shorts. I don’t see why guys can’t wear the same swimsuits as male swimmer athletes at the beach. Needs to be normalized.
I think you should wear whatever you want if it makes you comfortable. You’re obviously not showing your genitals to everyone, so they can eff right off with their opinions and stares.
Male here. Where I live it’s pretty common for women to wear bikini bottoms where you can literally see everything except the butthole due to a piece of string. As far as I’m concerned, as long as it’s not done to make anyone uncomfortable and no creepy behaviour is attached to it then it’s free game and you do you.
This is very location dependent, in Europe speedos are the norm and board shorts are even banned in certain public pools (whether or not it is merited it seems there are some suspicions that board shorts are used by perves to conceal camaras). Wear whatever makes you comfortable
The body shame for (straight) men that we’ve created in the US is just sad. Women are all but encouraged to wear skimpy bathing suits, but the minute a man show some skin, or god forbid looks sexy, we call it gay and tease him to put on more clothes
I mean, women get stared at and sexually harrassed. The reason it’s not socially acceptable is toxic masculinity and patriarchy. Women are sex objects so they’re the ones who are supposed to be on display. This is an example of how sexism and misogyny hurts everyone.
I have to admit, I don’t find speedos sexy. I don’t find those kind of underwear sexy on a man, either. I like it when my husband wears boxer briefs. But you aren’t there and wearing that to be sexually appealing to me or anyone else. So, you wear those with pride.
Gross
I LOVE wearing a speedo at the beach. Hands-down, the most comfortable. I don’t care what others think of it!
Male from France here, I have a speedo and a boxer-shaped bathing suit. It’s quite usual here, and I can use them at the pool and at the beach without anyone reacting.
From a woman’s perspective, I gotta tell you that whatever I wear to the beach will get criticized by somebody. And this is true for every single female on the Beach. So my advice is just woman up and wear whatever you’re most comfortable in 😌
I’m in southern California and grew up surfing in board shorts but also wore speedos as a competitive swimmer and still wear them to swim laps. When I started scuba, I wore board shorts on the boats and under my wetsuit, where they would bunch up all the time. So I switched to speedos when diving and never went back. Yes, some ppl think it’s funny /weird but I’m old and dgaf just want to be comfortable
I wear short swim trunks. Not quite a speedo but like a 3 inch inseam.
I think people should be able to wear what makes them comfortable. Aquashorts might be a good medium to try if stares are ruining it for you? Basically Speedo shorts.
But as others have said, it’s about what you want. Be comfy.
I used to swim more or less competitively when younger so speedos were my go to. Now I am a little older lycra shorts seem to be a good compromise between comfort and modesty.
What about compression shorts? Like activewear for running, sports etc. It is same material as bathing suits.
I don’t care what other people wear. Wear what you want as long as it is legal to do so where you live.
You think… that women aren’t “frowned upon” for what they wear? To the beach or anywhere else? Buy a clue, dude.
Also consider that a woman wearing board shorts and a sports bra-type top is just as likely to be looked at strangely. People may even assume she has some kind of medical or psychological reason for doing so. People can just be kind of weird.
Wear whatever keeps things G rated, or at least PG rated, that you find most comfortable.
Consider a squarecut swimsuit. It’s essentially a boxer brief made of swimsuit material. It has the comfort advantages of a bikini but it’s a lot less conspicuous. And honestly more flattering for most men.
Depends on how big your knob is.. big dick, wear it proud. Budgie smuggler, aww
You cannot be serious. Do you have any idea how much shit women get for what they wear to the beach? But the best women I know don’t care. If they’re comfortable with what they’re wearing, then they’re happy about it.
Budgie smugglers?
Zero fucks given. I wear everything from speedo briefs to euro cut swim shorts to board shorts. I expect others to do the same.
Big time beach bum here and imo wear what you like!!!
To tell you the truth, I think overweight men like me look much better in a “bikini” (Speedo) than a baggy board short or big boxer-type swimsuit. Can’t easily explain why; I just think it’s a better look. But then, I think naked is the best look no matter one’s body type. Anyway, a Speedo covers the essentials and looks good on anyone IMO.
I’m 59 and in pretty decent shape. I only wear square cut or full on speedo type suits. Ten times more comfortable than regular swim suits. I love the stuff from 2Xist and I have a few off brands from Amazon that are nice too. I must have at least 20 different ones.
I don’t want to see your sack and veg. Whatever else is up to you.
Well, I think it’s because people are uncomfortable with the idea of sexualizing the male body. Obviously, you’re just trying to be comfortable, and random other people have sexualized that type of beachwear, yet they can’t handle looking at male bodies like that.
It’s kinda weird. The whole bathing suit conversation is so weird.
Personally I don’t care at all what other people wear. A body is just a body, you don’t have to be weird about it.
Wearing a banana hammock just seems like showing off to me. I suppose if you got a big hog it makes sense to show it off. Wear what makes you comfortable.
You need to learn to appreciate the overweight man in a Speedo ( that fit him at m25) on a Florida beach.
Speedos are normal swim wear. Going to the beach and being surprised to see bathing suits is weird
Borat didn’t care. Be like Borat.
I went to a speedo style swimsuit at age 55 i have surfed,swam scuba dived and enjoyed snorkeling my whole life. Was blown away how much more comfortable and easier to swim it was wearing a speedo
You should wear a black PVC Catsuit to the beach next. You know it will be very funny.
Since you’re a man, the looks are probably because they’re too tight for other people’s comfort. People don’t like seeing the general outline of a man’s genitals out in public.
Just don’t wear a two piece. There is something just beyond wrong about a man in a two piece.
. Even women should consider one of those two pieces optional. 
Dude hell yea, wear that shit with pride! People are always gonna be judging no matter what 🤷🏽♀️ might as well do what’s comfortable
They were staring because they jealous of all the sexiness you were displaying!
I’m glad you were comfortable enough to show off.
I wear a speedo at the hotel pool. I’m traveling for work and swim laps daily. It’s very thin fabric and is very comfortable. I won’t ever wear board shorts again.
People will judge you no matter what. Cover your junk and buns and you won’t get locked up. Anyone else can stuff themselves.
I like the pockets at the beach. Makes it easy to run to bar or lunch. Gal’s have to drag around cover ups and things. I don’t like the shorts that hang past my knees.
My dad used to insist on those Brazilian bikini things, and demanded that I needed to wear one at the beach too. I think I had this red one with white stripes. I was six but super embarrassed. Neither of us should have been wearing them, especially at a man-made reservoir in BFE Ohio. You will never hear me bathingsuit-shame any beach goer
I have an aversion to speedos cause I’m an 80s baby. I’m a woman don’t do it.
This fucking guy again
I like mens bikini & short shorts swimsuits
They’re called budgie smugglers mate, and if it makes you feel comfortable, then go for it! Don’t be concerned about what other people think.
Men are derided for wearing anything less than shorts length, why women do this I don’t understand as they can wear very little…but I hear comments alot for women
They’re called ‘budgie smugglers’ in Australia. It’s pretty common around here for people to be wearing them at the beach. I have too much of a risk of my junk spilling out the side, so I keep to shorts, but they’re quite popular here.
Speedos arent cool. Sorry.
My husband wears the short shorts because I like them because he is ultra fit and has great thick muscular legs.
Wait until you find out what it feels like to swim naked. The keel adds extra stability to prevent rollover from waves.
I wish I had the confidence to wear a banana hammock, but I don’t even have the confidence to go without a shirt.
Is the the bathing suits that Richard Lewis said look like your snuggling grapes into the country?
If your balls were out, thats why you got the looks. If they weren’t, they were just jealous of your supreme comfort.
My personal opinion, I don’t like tight fitting garments, so speedos and the like aren’t my flavor. The bottom line is comfort. If it makes you feel good to wear and your balls weren’t out, go nuts man.
Bro just buy a speedo 😂
Just make sure it fits. Once saw a guy with a speedo that was too big and I saw everything and I mean everything they’ve the sides of that thing.
The shorts are not normal as European but normal swim trunks, because you can actually swim in those
Idk, dude. I’m not a fan of not being covered; it’s a me thing.
I’d say wear what makes you comfortable, but avoid/beware children.
Like, it is difficult to define “appropriate” attire for and surrounding public spaces specifically because of kids.
Honestly, you’d probably love a nude beach. I’d recommend you to just go out and enjoy your mankini.
I don’t know where the law comes in to intervene, but if Party Boy could legally roller skate the Vegas Strip AND Tokyo AND NYC in nothing but a glitter mankini and harass strangers walking down the street with his stereo booming while he grinds on them without consent, I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.
I wear the least amount allowed wherever we are
On a beach I prefer men to wear swimsuits rather than not.
I bought an italian swimsuit, having forgotten my board shorts. Not a mankini, but it rode high, and the netting stuff really lifted everything upward and designed like that to avoid brain hanging.
It’s really unpleasant. Rubbed me the wrong way.
Board shorts.
Go to Italy you’ll be fine
It’s weird. Women are expected to show skin and men are expected to hide theirs.
Weat what you want. Look up Funky Trunks, they have boyleg styles, also Jammers. Have you tried the stretch boardies?
Fire bro. Next time wear the thong. Suns out buns out
What boardies are you wearing that’s uncomfortable. I suspect millions of dollars have been spent on materials and manufacturing to make board shorts uber comfortable. Have you tried the dedicated surf brands etc or companies like Patagonia.
I sort of split the difference and wear a brief, but not bikini/Speedo-sized swimsuit. Think: boxer briefs in cut. It is quite comfortable and does not bunch up when I wear a wet suit.
So you, a middle aged man, wore bikinis and “got some uncomfortable head turns” at the beach?
Perhaps you should have tucked your moobs and dangles in better.
Female opinion: Wear what you want.
Red speedos all the way. Love them.
WTH is this “nylon board short style swimsuit” ??? I looked it up, its a normal swimsuit?
And a normal old style swimsuit got you looks? Really? Are you really being looked sat or are you thinking you’re getting looked at?
Isn’t that pretty much a speedo? Ignore judgemental people, as long as nothing is popping out you’re fine