Image: Birdwell Beach Britches

For the most part, when it comes to swimwear, we stay away from board shorts and stick with more traditional trunks.  That said, from time to time we’ll break our own rule if something special comes along.  This year, that something special for us is the Original 301 by Birdwell Beach Britches.

A fourth generation family owned business, Birdwell has been proudly making their board shorts in the USA since 1961.  We’re not sure if they can lay claim to the title of “Original Board Shorts”, but we’re pretty confident in saying that they could absolutely be in the discussion.  Made from heavy duty nylon, these boardshorts are double lined and feature a 15 inch outseam along with a simple three grommet tie closure.  The classic silhouette is definitely more trim than most board shorts out there today, and that’s what really sets them apart for us.  Whether you go with a solid color, or design your own pair with some custom panels or stripes, make sure you pay attention to Birdwell’s sizing rules, they haven’t adjusted their sizes over the years like many of their competitors.  Regardless of what you end up with, you’ll have a pair of board shorts that are built to last for years on end.