Does Speedo-philia run in the family?

[BJE]

Speedos do not run in my family. I’m the only person I know who wears them. One of my sons almost wore a speedo in public on vacation this year but ended up being afraid to take his board shorts off that he was wearing over them. My other son insists on having his suit cover his knees.

[Thom]

I've decided that this summer I should be wearing speedos every time I'm swimming with them.

Absolutely. You have an awesome build.

[Thom]

Speedos do not run in my family. I’m the only person I know who wears them. One of my sons almost wore a speedo in public on vacation this year but ended up being afraid to take his board shorts off that he was wearing over them. My other son insists on having his suit cover his knees.

I have a friend born in Europe who wears speedos all the time--they have a back-yard pool. It's cool because I can feel very comfortable wearing mine when I visit. On the other hand, his teenage son, who was also born in Europe--but has spent half his life here--wears O'Neill board shorts that are mid-calf. Peer groups exert a lot of influence. Board shorts do have their place---when you're on a surfboard. Protects your thighs from irritation when you straddle the board waiting for a wave. But they were never designed for swimming.

[Speedoaddict]

I think the French have the right idea about banning all swimwear like swim shorts and board shorts.
They only allow square trunks or swim briefs.
Wish they would introduce that in the UK.
We see so many young men wearing underwear under their swim shorts / board shorts.

[Thom]

I think the French have the right idea about banning all swimwear like swim shorts and board shorts.
They only allow square trunks or swim briefs.
Wish they would introduce that in the UK.
We see so many young men wearing underwear under their swim shorts / board shorts.

I agree. I see young guys wearing underwear under their board shorts at the beach and at some of the public swimming pools here in South Florida. Haven't see it at the L.A. Fitness I use.

[blueflinch]

I think the French have the right idea about banning all swimwear like swim shorts and board shorts.
They only allow square trunks or swim briefs.
Wish they would introduce that in the UK.
We see so many young men wearing underwear under their swim shorts / board shorts.

Where I live, sometimes young men go swimming in their boxer-brief style undies. It's sexy because you can see everything jiggling around when the cotton is wet. However, since they've been wearing said undies under their jeans/shorts all day, maybe it's not the most hygienic thing (for other pool patrons). Also, guys who put pants back on OVER their still-wet undies .... just yuck! That's one soggy ride home.

Once saw a woman strip down to her bra and jump in water too.

[diveguy]

I have a friend born in Europe who wears speedos all the time--they have a back-yard pool. It's cool because I can feel very comfortable wearing mine when I visit. On the other hand, his teenage son, who was also born in Europe--but has spent half his life here--wears O'Neill board shorts that are mid-calf. Peer groups exert a lot of influence. Board shorts do have their place---when you're on a surfboard. Protects your thighs from irritation when you straddle the board waiting for a wave. But they were never designed for swimming.

Global admiration of American culture - in this case the American style of ridiculously huge men's swimwear - by the youth of the world also plays a huge part in their abandoning of speedos and preference for long and baggy swim trousers. I'm always on YouTube, looking for any new videos that have as subject matter my interests in freediving, swimming, snorkeling, tanning, beaching, etc. and it is rare that any young male in these videos is wearing a speedo. It's all trunks, boardshorts, or down past the knees clown pants. To a ratio of at least 99 to 1. Older men in historically speedo wearing cultures are still wearing them, it seems. But there's going to be this whole generation of men who will not put on a speedo. Hopefully, the next generation of young men after that will embrace speedos and make them cool to wear again.

[diveguy]

Speedos do not run in my family. I’m the only person I know who wears them. One of my sons almost wore a speedo in public on vacation this year but ended up being afraid to take his board shorts off that he was wearing over them. My other son insists on having his suit cover his knees.

My comment above notwithstanding, but if there is one place on earth where a significant percentage of young men still wear speedos, it seems to be Italy. Not all of them, but maybe as many as 40% of them. Which is huge enough of a percentage to make them totally acceptable and basically, nobody gives it a second thought. Just part of the culture. Which is the way it ought to be everywhere.

I wonder if your almost-speedo-wearing son were on the beach in Italy, in the height of summer, when the beaches are packed with speedo clad men of all ages - would he strip down to his?