Page 1 of 2
Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:58 pm
by Duncandude
Okay, I know swimmers often wear speedos one size too small for competition purposes. So what's the deal with recreational speedos i.e. speedos you wear just to hang out at pool or beach? I live in Australia, so speedos are getting rarer but are not considered inappropriate.
Do you guys wear your competition speedos, a different pair of speedos set aside, or fashion speedos (the ridiculously expensive ones that cost more than ... an entire outfit ... at least where I live).
Not sure what kind of speedos are best to wear in public - I want to be comfortable (and hence wear speedos) but not draw unwanted attention.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:25 pm
by plt2087
Duncandude wrote:Okay, I know swimmers often wear speedos one size too small for competition purposes. So what's the deal with recreational speedos i.e. speedos you wear just to hang out at pool or beach? I live in Australia, so speedos are getting rarer but are not considered inappropriate.
Do you guys wear your competition speedos, a different pair of speedos set aside, or fashion speedos (the ridiculously expensive ones that cost more than ... an entire outfit ... at least where I live).
Not sure what kind of speedos are best to wear in public - I want to be comfortable (and hence wear speedos) but not draw unwanted attention.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:23 am
by dorcas336
In the case of speedos just hanging out and not swimming or sunning I wear the ones that divers do- up to 4" sides. If the leg bindings have some give they will not be too tight in the crotch. You can downsize and stail be comfortable with the right fabric. Even straight guys will be glad to look.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:14 pm
by plt2087
dorcas336 wrote:In the case of speedos just hanging out and not swimming or sunning I wear the ones that divers do- up to 4" sides. If the leg bindings have some give they will not be too tight in the crotch. You can downsize and stail be comfortable with the right fabric. Even straight guys will be glad to look.
AS A STRAIGHT GUY IT SHOULD IS FUN TO LOOK AT OTHER MEN IN SPEEDOS!PLT
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:12 pm
by markofJames
Simple mate, dont wear ones that are too big and dont wear ones that are too small, wear ones that fit you!! they will look best. I'm from Australia as well and your right its no big deal wearing speedos around the place.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:05 am
by tannedbum
wear what is comfortable and you like. As long as you are descent, what others think or wear should be of no concern.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 5:56 pm
by SwimCoach
if speedos are going out of style in Australia, please dont tell me baggy board shorts are replacing them! The land of Aussiebums and other such budgie smugglers can't lose the tight spandex we have all come to love!
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:37 pm
by Duncandude
SwimCoach wrote:if speedos are going out of style in Australia, please dont tell me baggy board shorts are replacing them! The land of Aussiebums and other such budgie smugglers can't lose the tight spandex we have all come to love!
Generally, the only men I see in speedos are (a) the odd older man swimming for recreation and (b) younger guys training/doing laps.
In other words, boardies are the norm for hanging out at the beach/pool unless you're doing some serious swimming practice. I suspect the occasional older man wears speedos because they're comfortable. It might be different down in Sydney but up in Queensland you don't see speedos that much, not in public anyway.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:40 pm
by Duncandude
I asked this question mostly because upmarket department stores here do sell fashion speedos - expensive, brand-name, colourful, etc - only I've never seen anyone wear one of these designs in public (and, yes, you can get modest/squarecut ones etc).
In other words, who's buying these speedos? If nobody, why do stores stock them? Are there lots of men just wearing speedos at home?
Only seen aussiebum speedos once in public - a red one with a white aussiebum logo on the back. It was quite exciting spotting - so rare.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:50 pm
by Justin88
Duncandude wrote:I asked this question mostly because upmarket department stores here do sell fashion speedos - expensive, brand-name, colourful, etc - only I've never seen anyone wear one of these designs in public (and, yes, you can get modest/squarecut ones etc).
In other words, who's buying these speedos? If nobody, why do stores stock them? Are there lots of men just wearing speedos at home?
I've wondered the same thing. In Florida there are a lot of private pools people have at their homes, and then there's the gated community pools. There are a LOT of sites that sell small suits so somebody's buying them. And stores in the upscale malls sell them.
Florda has a lot of gay guest houses and hotels with fenced private pools. I'm guessing there are a lot of small suits worn there. Most of them are clothing optional.
A friend of mine from high school is making money in IT. He visted and stayed at a guest house in Fort Lauderdale. It was November, a little chilly, and we were the only ones in speedos. Heck we were the only ones in the pool!
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:00 am
by Duncandude
It certainly is a mystery, Justin. Private pools? That might be it. Seems like such a waste! Especially if the suits aren't excessively skimpy/see-thru.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:41 am
by budgybloke
Hi buddy
A lot of it comes down to confidence. When I started wearing speedos as a 'grown-up' I was really worried about it until I realised it was a much bigger deal to me than it was to other people a the pool or beach. In most cases, people don't even bat an eyelid. Particularly in Australia.
And when people take care of themselves (like you), most sideways glances in your direction will be in admiration.
So wear your speeds with pride!
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 10:56 am
by tannedbum
Duncandude wrote:I asked this question mostly because upmarket department stores here do sell fashion speedos - expensive, brand-name, colourful, etc - only I've never seen anyone wear one of these designs in public (and, yes, you can get modest/squarecut ones etc).
In other words, who's buying these speedos? If nobody, why do stores stock them? Are there lots of men just wearing speedos at home?
Only seen aussiebum speedos once in public - a red one with a white aussiebum logo on the back. It was quite exciting spotting - so rare.
I think the question is, do you hang out where people that shop the upscale stores hang out? People at high end hotels (rooms $400 and up) seem to buy these suits to wear (and be seen wearing) at the exclusive very high priced hotels. I saw guys in brief cut, bikini suits(can't really call a $300 suit a speedo) at the Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills. Rooms were starting at $565 (bungalows much higher) a night and the cars the valet was parking cost enough to buy a nice house in most US cities. Runway swimwear seems to end up at the Bel Air, Beverly Hills Hotel and the Penninsala on a regular basis. Couples with gyms in their homes and personal trainers like to show off their bodies and wealth and a flat stomach and a $500 Versace brief says "rich". Personally, I'll stick to my $50-$70 suit and stay at a hotel where $350-$500 buys a suite - not just a room!
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:00 pm
by Duncandude
No, but I do hang out at a very popular manmade beach, popular with tourists and city dwellers alike. Maybe it's not exclusive enough for big spenders.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 5:06 pm
by tannedbum
unless it is private with cocktail service and an attendant bringing you a try towel whenever you use yours, probably not. Like maybe the Monte Carlo Beach club with a steep admission fee plus a lounge usage fee and $30 cocktails. Those are the ones that can spot a fake from across the pool and then make a scene so everyone knows.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:00 pm
by Justin88
tannedbum wrote:I think the question is, do you hang out where people that shop the upscale stores hang out? People at high end hotels (rooms $400 and up) seem to buy these suits to wear (and be seen wearing) at the exclusive very high priced hotels. I saw guys in brief cut, bikini suits(can't really call a $300 suit a speedo) at the Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills. Rooms were starting at $565 (bungalows much higher) a night and the cars the valet was parking cost enough to buy a nice house in most US cities. Runway swimwear seems to end up at the Bel Air, Beverly Hills Hotel and the Penninsala on a regular basis. Couples with gyms in their homes and personal trainers like to show off their bodies and wealth and a flat stomach and a $500 Versace brief says "rich". Personally, I'll stick to my $50-$70 suit and stay at a hotel where $350-$500 buys a suite - not just a room!
What I was talking about before was where the average person might wear them.
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:13 am
by minimalist53
Another mystery at least to me, is that you see a lot more speedo tan lines in the locker room than you do speedos on the beach. Men are obviously wearing them somewhere.
Out of state vacation?
Home pools?
Any other thoughts?
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:16 am
by tannedbum
Tanning booths
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:21 am
by tannedbum
Why the concern about where they are being worn -- you are wearing yours aren't? Even if you are the only one at the pool or beach? Please don't tell us you are too insecure about your speedos that you need others around before you drop the shorts. Did it ever occur to you that may not be the only one afraid to drop shorts and let the speedos out in the sun? How would you feel if you found out that there were 10 other guys all waiting for the first before they dropped their shorts?
Re: Speedo etiquette
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:16 am
by JohnC
tannedbum wrote:Why the concern about where they are being worn -- you are wearing yours aren't? Even if you are the only one at the pool or beach? Please don't tell us you are too insecure about your speedos that you need others around before you drop the shorts. Did it ever occur to you that may not be the only one afraid to drop shorts and let the speedos out in the sun? How would you feel if you found out that there were 10 other guys all waiting for the first before they dropped their shorts?
So true! I saw a few guys wearing at the county park pool in suburban Pennsylvania of all places- its a huge pool and it has lap lanes.
Busy pools with lap lanes are the best odds to see other guys in swim suits.