Arolina Swim Trunks Review: Complete Buyer’s Guide
Arolina men's swim trunks with a 7-inch inseam, zipper pockets, and a compression liner that hugs your leg. Here's how they held up in real use.
Reviewed by
Seb and Michelle
We've tested over 6,500 products in the last 5 years – collaborating with over 4,000 brands and bringing our style of reviews to multiple platforms. More about me →
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First impression wearing them: not “pool,” but “I’d wear these to the gym.” The cut is trim, the fabric doesn’t scream beach, and nothing about them reads as swim trunks until you’re actually in the water, which is the whole point. If you want to check the current price and the color options, you can see them here on Amazon.
Quick Verdict
I put these on expecting pool wear and walked away thinking gym shorts. Zipper pockets on both sides plus a compression insert that hugs your leg make the Arolina swim trunks feel a step above the usual board short, and the 7-inch inseam sits right where you want it.
Buy if you:
- Want one pair that works for the pool, the gym, and just running errands
- Hate loose swim trunks and want a built-in liner that supports you without underwear
- Like keeping your phone secure in a zipper pocket at the beach
- Want a few color and pattern options to pick from
Skip if you:
- Don’t want a compression liner hugging your leg, some guys prefer a loose mesh instead
- Need a longer inseam than 7 inches for more coverage
- Only ever wear baggy board shorts and don’t want a trimmer, upscale cut
| Inseam | 7 in |
|---|---|
| Liner | Built-in compression insert |
| Fabric | Quick-dry |
| Pockets | Zipper pockets both sides + special pocket |
| Waist | Elastic band with drawstring |
| Options | Multiple colors and patterns |
Arolina Swim Trunks Review: More Than Just Swimwear
Most swim trunks give themselves away. Loud print, boxy cut, that mesh liner poking out. These read more like a clean pair of shorts, which is exactly why I kept reaching for them. That’s the Arolina swim trunks review in one sentence: swimwear that doesn’t look like swimwear.
What You’re Working With
The 7-inch inseam is long enough that you’re not flashing anyone when you sit down, short enough that you’re not wading through fabric at the gym. The quick-dry fabric actually delivers, I was dry within minutes of climbing out of the pool, not still damp an hour later. The zipper pockets on both sides are the detail that separates these from a $15 pair of board shorts; most swim trunks give you a single open pocket, or none at all.
Then there’s the part I love most. That insert right here that kind of just hugs your leg and makes everything just feel perfect. It’s a built-in compression liner, so you get support without needing underwear underneath. There’s also a special pocket where I put my phone, though you can put anything in it. Up top you’ve got a really nice elastic band helped by a drawstring so you can get a little bit more comfortable. Mine’s a medium.
The Liner Is the Whole Story
The compression insert is the difference: it hugs your leg and stays put instead of bunching like a cheap mesh liner. A lot of cheap board shorts give you a scratchy mesh bag that bunches up. This one hugs your leg and stays put, and that’s why I felt fine wearing these as gym shorts and not just pool shorts. No shifting around, no needing to layer underwear under them.
The quick-dry fabric backs it up. You get out of the water and you’re not stuck in a soggy pair of shorts for the rest of the afternoon. Between that and the 7-inch inseam, they move with you instead of restricting you.
The Liner Won’t Be for Everyone
The compression insert hugs your leg, some guys love it, others prefer a loose mesh feel instead. That compression insert that hugs your leg? Some guys don’t want that feeling. If you’re used to a loose mesh liner or trunks you wear commando with room to breathe, a snug compression insert is a different sensation and it takes a beat to get used to. I love it. But it’s the kind of detail you either want or you don’t, so go in knowing it’s a supportive, hugging fit rather than a loose one.
The 7-inch inseam is also on the shorter-to-mid side. It hit the sweet spot for me, but if you like a lot of leg coverage you’ll want to keep that number in mind.
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Arolina Men’s Swim Trunks
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Who These Actually Fit Into a Real Wardrobe
If you’re the guy who packs light and wants one pair of shorts to do everything on a trip, these are it. Pool in the morning, walk into town after lunch, gym or a jog before dinner, and nobody clocks them as swim trunks. That’s the value here. You’re not buying swimwear, you’re buying versatile shorts that happen to swim.
The zipper pockets seal the deal for anyone who hates leaving a phone or keys on a beach towel. I kept my phone in that special pocket the whole time, zipped up and secure, which is not something you get on a basic pair of board shorts.
Against a Basic Pair of Board Shorts
Basic board shorts win on one thing: a looser, breezier feel with no compression. If that’s what you want, they’re cheaper and everywhere. But they usually give up the details that make these feel upscale. No zipper pockets, a flimsy mesh liner instead of a supportive compression insert, and fabric that takes longer to dry. The Arolina trades that loose feel for support, secure pockets, and a cut that passes as everyday shorts. For me the trade was easy.
Advice Before You Order
Size to your waist measurement, not your usual guess, the compression liner leaves less forgiveness than a loose mesh trunk does, and going a size up just to be safe will cost you the support that makes these worth buying. Once you’ve got the size locked, spend a minute on the color options: the solid and subdued patterns are what let these pass as gym or travel shorts; the louder prints tip them back into obvious beach wear.
Pros
- Compression insert hugs your leg and gives support with no underwear needed
- Zipper pockets on both sides, more upscale than most swim trunks
- Quick-dry fabric so you’re not soaking wet for hours
- 7-inch inseam hits the sweet spot between coverage and mobility
- Reads as everyday, gym, and sports shorts, not just swimwear
- Plenty of colors and patterns on the brand’s page
Cons
- The snug compression liner isn’t for guys who prefer a loose mesh feel
- 7-inch inseam may be shorter than some want for coverage
- Trimmer, upscale cut if you’re used to baggy board shorts
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need underwear under the Arolina swim trunks?
No. The built-in compression liner gives you support on its own, so you can wear them without underwear underneath. That’s part of why they double so easily as gym or sports shorts.
How long is the inseam?
7 inches. It sits between full coverage and short-and-sporty, so you get mobility without feeling overexposed. If you want longer coverage, keep that number in mind before ordering.
Can I wear these as regular everyday shorts?
Yes, and that’s the best part. They don’t pop as swim trunks, so I’ve worn them like gym shorts, sports shorts, and everyday shorts. Pick a subtler color if you want them to lean fully everyday.
Will my phone stay secure in the pocket?
Yes. There’s a special pocket I used for my phone, plus zipper pockets on both sides. Zipped up, your phone and keys stay put instead of sitting exposed on a beach towel.
Are they actually quick-dry?
Yes, the fabric is quick-dry, so you’re not sitting around soaking wet after getting out of the water. It’s one of the reasons they cross over so well into gym and everyday use.
How do I choose a size?
Check the brand’s size chart before ordering. I wear a medium, and the elastic waistband with a drawstring lets you fine-tune the fit for extra comfort once it’s on.
How many color and pattern options are there?
There are quite a few. Their page has a lot of different patterns and colors to choose from, so you can go loud and beachy or subtle enough to pass as regular shorts.
Are these better than cheap board shorts?
For most people, yes, on details. You get zipper pockets, a supportive compression liner, and quick-dry fabric instead of a flimsy mesh bag. Basic board shorts only win if you specifically want a looser, non-compression feel.
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Arolina Men’s Swim Trunks
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About the reviewer
Seb and Michelle
We've tested over 6,500 products in the last 5 years - collaborating with over 4,000 brands and bringing our style of reviews to multiple platforms.
