Boardshorts s/s 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
The boardshort is a statement for surf brands. The surf trunks conveys a message which indicates whether you are a genuine surf label or not, while being relevant to the contemporary trends in style, planet-minded constructions and functionality. That’s a lot for a mere 20’ long piece of fabric and Spring-Summer 2026 will remain story-loaded. By David Bianic
Unless you live somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, preferably close enough to the equator, the boardshort is probably the one piece in your surfer’s kit you spent the least amount of time wearing. Let’s say a couple months if you are lucky in Europe. Theoretically, a quality boardshort should last a few seasons. Yet, the urge to renew your trunks quiver every year is pretty much compulsive. It has become an affirmation of some sorts, indicating the current vibe, telling so much about you, more than you can even imagine. Looking back at the Spring-Summer 2025 level orders, once again the boardshort segment signs decent figures in the worst case scenario, and really positive sales for most. As seen in the past, the sophisticated models really shine among the dedicated surfers: “The order levels for SS25 were positive, particularly in core lines, with retro-style aesthetics combined with modern performance features performing best”, says Brianna Moore, Brand Manager for Lightning Bolt, highlighting the demand for sustainable fabrics and technical finishes as the “key drivers”. A pattern stands out in many feedbacks from the brands. The more abundant the range, the more success they meet. “Level orders for SS25 boardshorts were good, at least in progression as we increased our range, more styles and more colours”, notes Thomas Chastol, Product Manager at Oxbow. Protest Sportswear is on the same page, attesting that different lengths and a wide range of colors “further boosted consumer interest”. The past 3 years however were mainly characterised by a carry-over policy and probably helped establish some staple pieces through time. It is no surprise the retro-inspired pieces will stand the test of time by definition, and find their places among those staple SKUs. Rhythm named those the “classics” and “heritage” collections and they proved to be the cornerstones of their collection, says Pablo Garay, European Marketing Coordinator, as they “keep being good sellers year after year”.
From a distance, boardshorts may all look alike, until you read the price tag. From roughly €30 to €140 and even above, the spectrum is spectacularly wide. Not all brands aim for the same consumer target. Protest aims for the €40 to €70 euro range, as “it’s all about giving people something that looks great, lasts, and feels worth it, without being too expensive”. In an upper price range, Lightning Bolt is “positioned firmly between €70 and €110”, whereas Florence x Marine tops the list with €75 to €140. Yet, the recurring figure – where the strongest sales are made – seems to be €70 for boardshorts.
2026 Boardshorts silhouette trends
The inseam length is a good sign of the air du temps: the shorter it is and you can tell brands are playing on the vintage vibe; the longer it is, you know designers are quoting the 90s & early 2000s golden era of surfing. Rip Curl noticed a clear trend towards longer boardshorts, between 21 and 23 inches, though the bulk of sales still is around 19–20 inches : “The 2000’s trend remains strong and continues to lead the opinion leader segment. This is why we’re seeing more and more boardshorts featuring cut-and-sew details, contrasting piping, and bolder, more retro prints and branding. All of this is of course offered with new materials that are 100% recycled and stretch”, tells Pierre-Alexandre Merlet, Men Division Product Manager. Rusty even goes the extra length. We are talking above the knee silhouettes, with 21’’ and 24’ inseams’: “90’s inspired long length board shorts are back! The style is baggy but stretchy materials keep them functional”, reassures Craig Butcher, European Head of Marketing and Sales. Obviously, for brands whose roots and brand image gravitate around the 70’s, the inseams are conversely shorter, like Lightning Bolt cuts: mid-waist, 16–18 inch outseams with slightly more relaxed fits rather than slim cuts.
2026 Walkshorts/Beachshorts design trends
In the past, the core surfers used to wear their technical boardshorts anytime: waves, beach, streets, even in clubs. The boardshort was a testament to the tribe they belonged to, in opposition to the non-surfer and its puffy elastic waist beachshort. But that ship has sailed for a few years. The undisputed comfort and functionality of them walkshorts/beachshorts won over completely, now a staple piece of the OG surfers, as in Lost’s range, with “relaxed fits, elastic waistbands, utility pockets, and soft vintage washes define our SS26 walkshorts. These are built for all-day wear—beach to bar”. Some walkshorts are distancing themselves from the beach lifestyle, as told by Alex Berthonneau, Head of Merchandising for Billabong: “After many years led by elasticated waists, the rigid waist is taking more space in our line with longer and baggier fits, workwear silhouettes.”
The hybrid shorts (boardshort meets beachshort) are still a thing at Protest. They named those “the surfables”, it’s to say shorts you can surf in, but also wear casually. “We have four surfables in our collection: PRTJEREMY, PRTRADCOT, PRTFILBY, and PRTADONIA. They’re made with quick-dry, stretch fabrics and have a clean, modern look—perfect for both in and out of the water.” Lately, Florence x Marine ventured in the outdoor market, offering hiking, climbing, fishing and hunting-ready apparel. Their walkshorts mirror the trend, “built for versatile use, from trail to surf with breathability, durability, and storage in mind”, says Hector Caldwell, Brand Manager. This translates in design features such as airflow perforations, tactical pockets, liner options, integrated waistband belts or Cordloc® drawcords, key cord loops, reflective branding and locker loops for drying.
2026 Prints & colors
While the boardshorts lengths are a throwback to the 90’s for most, the graphics clearly rule out the flashy and bold from that era. “The market has shifted away from 80’s/90’s nostalgia and loud prints to more minimal, tonal chic designs”, says Nick Crook, founder and CEO of Boardies. In 2026, muted is the key word as seen on Lightning Bolt’s collection, where washed brights (vibrant but softened colors), mineral tones (refined earth tones), and soft tech (subtle, tech-inspired hues like lilac and aqua green) set the vibe. Rather than man-made colors, a nature inspired palette stands out in Picture’s collection, through 3 outdoor key destinations: Tofino, Les Écrins and Niseko. From deep greens to earthy browns and muted purples in the Tofino range, to a combination of bright yellows and oranges with soft pastels and earthy hues in Les Écrins, their color choices are a peaceful invitation. The Lost range goes for the sun-faded, using “washed black, clay, aged olive, salt blue, and dirty pastel hits” which distances itself from the previous seasons.
Even more understated, the solid colors in Florence’s range keep it classy and simple, with classic neutrals (black, charcoal, navy, steel blue, mountain green, sage green and red) and a signature camo. Camo it is as well at Rusty’s, but not your typical army camo: “Look out for the Flip Rambo Boardshort in hunting camo print to mix things up a bit!”, suggests Craig Butcher. Similarly, prints are low-key with minimal tropicals and geometric graphics (Lightning Bolt), prints inspired by local myths and traditional stories (Protest), landscapes and folklore (Picture). On the other hand, Oxbow dug into their style library and introduced “an heritage segmentation with iconic styles we used to offer back in the days”. They have used a few strong all over prints which definitely lean towards the rich and bold graphics. The throwback vibe is also patent in Billabong’s collection, notably the Longbongs, “our range of performance trunks with an early 00’s flavor” whilst the reintroduction of their the most iconic shorts of all time, like the Andy Irons Rising Sun, are doing great, “which is correlated with the Y2K trend”, adds Alex Bethonneau.
Rip Curl
2026 Materials & constructions
Boardshort wise, we don’t see recycled polyester going anywhere as the synthetic fabric remains the most efficient for intense water activities. Yet, some fine details stand out from one brand to the other. See the high-stretch recycled polyester used at Lightning Bolt, sourced with the Seaqual Initiative, which transforms marine litter into textile solutions (their seaqual yarn). For added durability, Ripstop is more and more implemented within the nylon/spandex blend. In addition, eco-friendly treatments for chlorine and salt resistance come handy (Lightning Bolt). Walkshorts and beachshorts use a wider array of fabrics, as seen in Rhythm’s range, from denim to cord, linen, and good old cotton. As per Rip Curl they are proud to celebrate their 10-year partnership with Cordura : “For the upcoming season we will launch our Re-Cord (recycled Cordura) swimwear — allowing us to offer a fully 100% recycled boardshort/volley range”, announces Pierre-Alexandre. Florence x Marine also banks on Cordura for its abrasion resistance properties, as well as the Airtex technology “for maximum airflow and to release water”. Matching the “washed” color palette of their SS26 collection, Lost implemented some vintage-feel cotton for a worn feeling. Closure systems and waistband options are also two crucial features and keep on evolving from season to season. Lightning Bolt introduces a mix of traditional lace-up/velcro and hybrid minimalist zip-fly systems for enhanced comfort and longevity. Any rubbing can ruin your sessions and Lost knows that, offering flat fit closures with rubber-tipped drawcords.
The tariffs spectre
It has been the elephant in the room for this first half of the year. How will the new tariffs policy from the US administration affect our industry? The backwards and forwards movements from President Trump has led the European brands to take action so they don’t lie under the sword of Damocles. Many already relocated their production in Europe, and particularly in Portugal, as did Lightning Bolt: “We foresee no direct impact from tariffs. Instead, we expect to strengthen our competitive edge through ethical, sustainable, and resilient production.” Discrepancies are to be expected according to the production/materials sourcing, giving opportunities to the least impacted by tariffs.
Brand Previews
