Men’s Swimsuit Shop Guide — online + brick-and-mortar (including “extreme” / micro swimwear)
Nice brief — here’s a thorough, practical guide you can use right away: what to know, where to shop (big retailers, designer labels, specialty performance shops, and places that sell very-small / “extreme” men’s swimwear like Koala), and tips for fit, care, and public-space etiquette.
1) Quick overview — types of men’s swimwear
Swim trunks / board shorts: relaxed, more coverage (5–10" inseams common). Good for beaches, casual pool days.
Swim briefs (Speedo / “budgie-smugglers”): minimal leg, athletic and fashion uses.
Square-leg / boxer-style: a middle ground between briefs and trunks.
Jammers / tech suits: knee-length, for competitive swimming.
Thongs / micro-briefs / ultra-micro: extremely revealing — minimal rear coverage or just a T-string back. Popular for tanning, clubwear, fetish or body-confident looks. (If you want examples of each type I can pull images or exact product links.)
(Sources on trends and the comeback of briefs and short cuts: Travel + Leisure, Financial Times.) Travel + Leisure+1
2) How to choose the right suit
Purpose: performance vs lounging vs tanning/party look. Performance suits focus on compression, chlorine resistance; trunks focus on pockets and comfort; extreme pieces prioritize minimal coverage. (See SwimOutlet and Speedo for sport vs casual categories.) SwimOutlet.com+1
Fabric: nylon/spandex blends and polyester are common; look for “Endurance”/chlorine-resistant blends for pool use (Speedo). us.speedo.com
Liner & support: liners add modesty and structure—micro / thong styles often have little or no liner. Check product pages. SwimOutlet.com
Length & fit: inseam (3", 5", 7", 10") changes vibe. Shorter = fashion/confidence; longer = casual/capability. (Many brands let you shop by inseam.) Fair Harbor
Sizing: measure waist where you wear swimwear and consult each brand’s size chart—sizing varies a lot between mainstream and fashion/fetish brands.
3) Best online places to shop (grouped by type)
Mainstream department & multi-brand retailers
Nordstrom / Nordstrom Rack — wide, curated selections from practical to designer; easy returns / in-store try-on at many locations. Nordstrom+1
Macy’s — broad price range and frequent sales; good if you want traditional trunks and big-brand basics. Macy's
Performance & swim-specific retailers
SwimOutlet — huge selection of competitive jammers, briefs and training suits (Speedo, TYR, Arena) and a one-stop shop for all swim gear. Good for sizing and technical details. SwimOutlet.com+1
Speedo (official) — for pure performance briefs and jammers; reliable chlorine-resistant fabrics. us.speedo.com
Designer / resort / premium swimwear
Orlebar Brown — tailored, mid-to-high end board shorts and resortwear; they run both online and have standalone stores / stockists. Great for polished beach looks. ORLEBAR BROWN+1
Vilebrequin, Orlebar Brown, etc. — designer labels sold at major department stores and boutiques (see Nordstrom/Macy’s stock). Travel + Leisure+1
Sustainable / modern casual
Fair Harbor — eco-focused trunks (recycled materials, B-Corp and widely reviewed for comfort). Good for everyday wear that’s also sustainable. Fair Harbor+1
Specialty / fashion & European brands
2EROS — Australian brand known for low-rise briefs and designer cuts (briefs and thongs). 2EROS
“Extreme” / micro / fetish / minimal swimwear (online marketplaces & niche brands)
Koala (koalamensswimwear / koalaswim.com variants) — sites/catalogs that sell extreme micro-briefs, MTF-style and fetish-oriented swim pieces (the sorts of ultra-small spandex designs you mentioned). Example product pages show “ultra thong / stealth bikini” styles. (User-named example: koalaswim.com / Koala for Men.) Koala Men's Swimwear+1
Bang Clothes / BANG! (edgier minis & thongs) — dedicated collections of swim thongs and mini-briefs. BANG!® Miami+1
Etsy / eBay / independent makers — great for custom ultra-micro pieces or handmade variants if you want custom sizing or novelty prints. Search “men’s micro swimwear” or “men’s swim thong”. Etsy+1
Coyote Jocks, SEOBEAN, other boutique labels — brands that make men’s thongs, cheeky briefs and swim thongs aimed at clubwear / tanning. Coyote Jocks+1
4) Brick-and-mortar shopping — where to try and buy in person
Department stores (Nordstrom, Macy’s): good for trying sizes from multiple brands, returns, and an easier in-person experience. Nordstrom+1
Designer boutiques & brand stores: Orlebar Brown operates standalone stores / stockists (use brand store locators) — ideal if you want premium fit and fabric. ORLEBAR BROWN+1
Specialty swim shops / sporting stores: Paragon Sports in NYC (example) and local swim shops carry competitive/technical suits and can advise on fit for jammers/briefs. SwimOutlet is primarily online but many cities have independent swim stores (“The Swim Guy”, Elsmore) for team/custom needs. Paragon Sports+1
Fetish / boutique stores / market stalls (cities): extreme micro and fetish-style swimwear is often sold via niche boutiques, pride stores, and some LGBTQ+ clothing shops — availability is city-dependent. (If you tell me your city I can point to local shops or stockists.)
5) Where to find very small / extreme pieces (practical tips)
Search keywords: “men’s micro swimwear”, “men’s swim thong”, “ultra micro bikini men”, “MTF swimwear”, “male micro bikini”, “swim thong men”. Use filters for material (spandex/lycra) and check product photos for coverage/liner. (Etsy and niche brands are full of options.) Etsy+1
Marketplaces for one-offs & custom: Etsy, eBay — good for bespoke or rare sizes. Etsy+1
Direct niche brands: Koala (koalamensswimwear), Bang/BANG!, 2EROS, Coyote Jocks — each has a distinct aesthetic: fetish, fashion, or designer micro. Koala Men's Swimwear+2BANG!® Miami+2
6) Sizing, fit & care (practical checklist)
Size chart first: always consult brand charts—waist measured where you’ll wear the suit. Sizes vary widely by brand and region.
If between sizes: for briefs and thongs, size down for a snug fit; for trunks, size up for comfort. Test with movement — sit/squat to check coverage.
Care: rinse after chlorinated/pool use, wash cold or machine on delicate, avoid high heat drying which breaks down elastane. For recycled fabrics (e.g., Fair Harbor) follow label care to maintain finish. Fair Harbor
7) Etiquette, dress codes & legal considerations (important)
Laws & local rules vary. In many U.S. states wearing a thong/speedo is legal, but municipalities, state parks, or private pools may restrict revealing suits. A UNC law briefing and several local press pieces note that thong legality can depend on local ordinances — check local beach or park rules before you go. North Carolina Criminal Law+1
Pools, gyms, family facilities: many have explicit “family-friendly” dress codes banning transparent or thong styles — check facility rules before attending. Example pool rules explicitly prohibit “revealing attire such as transparent swimwear or thongs.” Houston JCC+1
Tip: If you plan to wear micro/thong swimwear in public, research the specific beach/pool policies and consider time/place (some resort beaches are more permissive than municipal pools).
8) Quick shopping checklist (cut-and-paste)
Purpose: (Pool training / beach / tanning / party)
Style: (trunks / brief / square-leg / jammer / thong)
Size: waist measurement + brand size chart.
Material: chlorine-resistant? quick dry? recycled?
Liner/support: yes/no.
Return policy: check before ordering (important for micro pieces).
Local rules: check pool / beach dress code if wearing thongs.
9) Starter shortlist (if you want instant links)
Performance: Speedo (official) — briefs, jammers. us.speedo.com
Mass market / department: Nordstrom, Macy’s (wide selection, easy in-store returns). Nordstrom+1
Sustainable casual: Fair Harbor. Fair Harbor
Designer / resort: Orlebar Brown. ORLEBAR BROWN
Specialty / extreme: Koala (koalamensswimwear/koalaswim variants), Bang/BANG!, 2EROS, Coyote Jocks, Etsy sellers for custom micro pieces. Etsy+4Koala Men's Swimwear+4BANG!® Miami+4
10) Final notes & offer
Want me to:
• build a shortlist of specific product links in your size?
• find local brick-and-mortar shops near [your city] that stock designer or fetish swimwear?
• compare two specific brands/styles side-by-side (fabric, price, sizing)?
Say which of those you want and I’ll pull exact product pages and fit notes. (If you give a city I’ll include nearby boutiques / stockists.)