Men’s swimwear has come full circle: what was once the norm in the 1970s has returned to reign in 2025, as men’s swim trunks have shrunk again.

Recent data from Speedo reveals that guys are feeling more comfortable in showing off their tights in short-cut trunks and swim briefs this season. The Australian brand, whose name has become synonymous with bathing suits in the U.S., saw a rise in e-commerce sales from June to August with midsingle digits year-over-year, notably driven by its volley swim trunk styles.

“Consumers are increasingly choosing shorter volleys over longer board shorts,” Carla McDermott, vice president of merchandising, Speedo Americas, told WWD.

McDermott said buyers are also looking for more fun, recreational prints this summer, while longer 20-inch styles are seeing a decline.

“Recreational volleys in particular rose 20-plus percent,” said Joel Harris, senior vice president, Speedo USA. “Shorter volley styles — especially the 16-inch outseam/5-inch inseam — are our fastest-growing length, while the 7-inch inseam/18-inch outseam remains our bestseller,” he said.

The search for shorter swimwear styles mirrors the ongoing short shorts trend on the runways, red carpets and streetwear. Gucci, Miu Miu, Ralph Lauren, Bode and Dior, among other luxury brands, have created men’s shorts with less than 5 inches of inseam in recent years, while mainstream celebrities such as Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White and Harry Styles have become ambassadors for the “thigh guy” style.

Speedo wants to take advantage of the ongoing trend, creating trunks that are suitable for both water and streetwear.

“The continued shift toward shorter lengths, versatile styles and bold prints has been reinforced through our product storytelling and seasonal marketing,” McDermott said. “We expect the ‘pool to play’ trend to remain strong. Our focus will continue to be on quick-dry, four-way stretch fabrics with comfortable liners, as showcased in our Gym to Swim Lookout Short Collection.”