What's the briefest you can wear in British pools?

[Bede735]

For about the last 20 years I've worn nothing but Speedos with a 5 cm (2 in) side seam. I'm usually the only guy at my pool who wears anything that brief, bur I'm so used to it, it doesn't bother me. At the moment I wear Speedo endurance briefs, which are getting close to needing replacing, but unfortunately Speedo no longer manufactures 5 cm briefs.

So - I've ordered an Aussiebum 1.5 (4 cm) Classic, which is briefer than I've worn before, but I like the look of it. What would be deeply embarrassing is if some pool attendant ordered me out of the pool for wearing something too brief, so as I say, are Aussiebums within acceptable limits?

Having said, women attend my pool wearing bikinis with string sides and nobody bats an eyelid.

[Byron]

Good evening and welcome as David Frost might have said.

Sad to say it is only too true that you might be the only one wearing Endurance as current pool fashion goes - but good luck with the AB* and I see no reason for you be slung out unless there is a big notice on the wall about dress code for male (and female?) patrons.
*sheer rating?

[afewgoodmen]

As an American, I would warn them with a lawsuit. If you let one gender wear something "brief", then why not the other?

[Byron]

If things get difficult I am sure there is an Article somewhere dealing with equality and the right to
self-expression and so the management might suffer an adverse ruling from the European Court of Human Rights if they pursue any such action.

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

I don't see any reason why an AB swimsuit cut as you describe would be an issue. Like you, I wear various cut swim briefs and am often the only guy. It has never been as issue, even in a conservative area. However, AB briefs (as Byron raises above) can be sheer. That is more likely to be offensive than the cut, as it should be at a family/coed pool. If they can actually see the merchandise, as opposed to the mere fact that you have a bulge, it is likely a show stopper.

[California Dolphin]

As an American, I would warn them with a lawsuit. If you let one gender wear something "brief", then why not the other?
I've posed this question over and over before.

Why are women's shorts actually short, but men's shorts (and swim suits) are only knee length????:confused:

[Torchwatch]

I usually wear 2" side speedos in UK swimming pools without any issues. I have worn slightly brief than that but not recently.
Most of the Lifeguards are swimming club members and are familiar with swimmers in speedos for training and racing and should have no trouble for you.
The problems come from small girls of a certain age who may begin tittering and pointing. You would no doubt ignore them but other people may notice them add 2 and 2 to get 5.
As I write this the early morning sun is shining and the birds are singing, try wearing your 1.5" bikini on the beach to discover how people react to it before taking it to a pool.
I believe in pushing the envelope and leading by example but suggest you wait until a few more guys are wearing brief swimwear before going for very brief swimwear yourself in a public pool. Being a trend setter doesn't work if no one is following your trend.

[Bede735]

I've ordered a black suit so no problems with see-through.

This may shed some light:

http://www.rondjenoordereiland.nl/uk/wedstrijd/sgear.htm

It's a river race in the Netherlands, which has the following regulations on gear:

'Men may only wear swim briefs which are not smaller then 4 cm / 1.5 inch or taller then 8 cm / 3 inch (as measured by the height of the suit's side panel).

Women can choose between an one or two piece swimsuit. Like the men the women may also not wear a swimsuits with covers their shoulders or legs.'

So this is maybe a European standard? Presumably anything less than 1.5 inches would be too 'kinky'.

The women's two piece can have bikini bottoms with string sides, so the double standards apply.

[Bede735]

I don't see any reason why an AB swimsuit cut as you describe would be an issue. Like you, I wear various cut swim briefs and am often the only guy. It has never been as issue, even in a conservative area. However, AB briefs (as Byron raises above) can be sheer. That is more likely to be offensive than the cut, as it should be at a family/coed pool. If they can actually see the merchandise, as opposed to the mere fact that you have a bulge, it is likely a show stopper.

I think one should wear it in the bath tub before taking it to the pool....

[Bede735]

I believe in pushing the envelope and leading by example but suggest you wait until a few more guys are wearing brief swimwear before going for very brief swimwear yourself in a public pool. Being a trend setter doesn't work if no one is following your trend.
Not a case of being a trendsetter - just that the Endurance briefs I have are no longer available, so I'm looking for a replacement.

It shouldn't be that much of a culture shock - switching from 5 to 4 cm sides. I used to swim in 14 cm long trunks before changing to the 5 cm Speedos - and I coped with that.

[Bede735]

Can't find any dress code for the pools I attend. Maybe you make up your own rules? So what's that?

General: only proper swim gear should be worn. No outside clothes. No bare bottoms on display.

Men: costumes should not be higher than the navel or lower than the knees. Swim briefs should have at minimum 1.5 inch sides. No genitalia should be visible.

Women: One or two piece costumes to be worn. Arms to be bare and no breasts visible. Please note there is no minimum width for bikini sides.

Obviously these rules don't mean much as I've seen men wear t-shirts and pants below knee level.

[Byron]

LOL - not a bad set there. You mentioned a European Standard and as the EU made fools of themselves with bananas this could be one area where the Commissioners dare not set foot (and thank God for that with such unelected and overpaid meddlers wasting everybody's time and money).

The French have hygiene standards against shorts in pools but some water parks go the other way where speedos might offend young families on their day out - so it all really boils down to "when in Rome......"

Btw, vids for the Rotterdam swim are pretty poor so the simulated one (no speedos) might be better to see the round-the-island course if anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTivtgzwiQg

[Torchwatch]

In the UK decency was always judged by the decision of a jury of citizens. This means that judgements will vary with the changes of the times.

[sebbie]

There is a herding instinct that goes on with all aspects of fashion and applies not only to women but men and kids of both sexes too. Everyone wants to wear what is considered fashionable by those around them. What is considered ok from the standpoint of modesty goes right along with the times. If its considered the fashion of the day it won't be deemed immodest.

I remember when mens thong swimwear initially became popular. At one point, the big department stores were stocking these. Guys seemed a bit embarrassed taking them to the cashier bit they did it. This was before INternet shopping for such items was around. (We had mail ordercatalogs from Undergear as well) And they wore them on the beach in some numbers too. I have a video of the Waikiki beach I took when I was there in about 1990, and a number of the guys were wearing thongs as well as the women. When I got home I went out and purchased a couple for myself, and even wore them at the lake. No one else seemed to even notice or care.

The only tricky part ios wearing something at the pool that is not regarded a part of popular current fashion..then you might be accused of being immodest. But I see that as more an issue of rear coverage, and maybe a front that shows pubic hair along the sides of the pouch, not the width of the sides of the suit itself.

[Bede735]

In I way I was the same. I became a regular swimmer in 1988 and used to wear trunks, but just about everyone else wore briefs. So 3 years later I went into a sports shop and bought the briefest Speedo possible, which was a Speedo Classic with 5 cm sides.
I still held onto my trunks, and a few months later wore them again when my friends arranged a pool party, because I felt a little self-conscious. However, all my friends turned up in briefs, so from that point there was no turning back. In any case, I couldn't argue that the briefs were the most comfortable swimwear available.

But the fashion now - why pick a fashion that isn't comfortable? At one time it was fashionable for men to wear three-piece suites with a hat and tie, even in warm Summer weather. Not surprisingly that isn't a fashion today.

[Bede735]

And why women wear bikini bottoms and men don't? Obviously women can have less coverage in the crotch area, and have fewer hairs on their legs, but men can shave there if it's excessive.

But there seems no intrinsic reason why mean can't wear suits with string sides, or something nearly as brief. They certainly do in indigenous cultures in the tropical regions. The women here at least have embraced those native cultures!

[Byron]

LOL - three-piece suits and most definitely some modesty for sea-bathing:
http://www.victoriana.com/Etiquette/images/bathingbox5.JPG

[Bede735]

In the 1960s men wore a jacket and tie in public but brief bathing suits. Nowadays they wear t-shirts and shorts in public but long shorts to swim in.

Think the fashion made more sense then.

[Byron]

:D... just think of the Beatles suited and booted in their early days.

[Hotbunz1969]

Came across this board today and have enjoyed reading a good few of the threads.

This one is right on the money for me! I'm an English guy and an avid swimmer, I swam for my county till the age of 19 and although I no longer compete or teach I still very much enjoy swimming.
As a competitive swimmer, and ever since, I have ALWAYS worn trunk style suits to any pool I have visited. Board shorts or short shorts are not in my wardrobe when it comes to swim wear.

I have a few different trunk style suits depending on the pool I am visiting and the clientele in it. None of them have sides wider than 5cm (2 inch) In pools I don't know I will always take a look at who is in the pool and what people are wearing before I choose my suit. Conservative situations call for a black wide side, less conservative or my local pool, I'll go for black, blue or red narrower side, and if I'm in a situation where the pool is really quiet or I have it to myself, say perhaps at a hotel or spa, it's white narrow side with no rear lining.
I have one white very narrow totally unlined suit which I wear with a white thong on underneath so you can see it, for these situations as well if the opportunity arises.
At Hyde Park lido I never wear more than a thong and if others around me are also wearing them I wear some pretty small ones, well TINY actually.

Guess what you wear and how brief it is comes down to the pool you are at and who is in it!

Cheers Paul

[Byron]

Welcome new member yesterday. Picked up on HP Lido and long time no visit. Became rather run-down and disappointing there - have things perked up a lot now on the eye-candy front? (and rear)
(sounds as if it might - are more young foreign tourists improving the landscape?)

[Hotbunz1969]

Welcome new member yesterday. Picked up on HP Lido and long time no visit. Became rather run-down and disappointing there - have things perked up a lot now on the eye-candy front? (and rear)
(sounds as if it might - are more young foreign tourists improving the landscape?)


Gotta admit I didn't make it there last summer, work commitments kept me very busy for the few months that it is open, the year before I got down there a few times and it was OK, it's not the best lido in the world but on the occasions I did go there was certainly some VERY pleasant views. 4 Russian young ladies on one occasion defiantly made the trip worth while!!!! Wicked Weasels were the order of the day, and I mean the REALLY small ones!

[Bede735]

At Hyde Park lido I never wear more than a thong and if others around me are also wearing them I wear some pretty small ones, well TINY actually.

Really? On a trip to London last year I swam there too. I wore my briefs which I thought was daring enough, being in the midst of a public park. I do own a thong/G-string swimsuit. Only once have I swam in it when I was staying in a very quiet hotel in Phuket*. It was a great feeling, but then why wouldn't it be? We take a shower/bath naked - it's just logical.

* on arrival back at Newcastle airport from that trip a customs office searched through my luggage and picked up my G-string. God I was so embarrassed!!!

[Bede735]

Gotta admit I didn't make it there last summer, work commitments kept me very busy for the few months that it is open, the year before I got down there a few times and it was OK, it's not the best lido in the world but on the occasions I did go there was certainly some VERY pleasant views. 4 Russian young ladies on one occasion defiantly made the trip worth while!!!! Wicked Weasels were the order of the day, and I mean the REALLY small ones!
It was really boring when I went there. I think some people must have been put off by some e.coli which was supposed to be present in the water (got a reduced admission price, though). Couple of women in the standard one-piece suit and an old bloke wearing a full wet-suit. I felt naked in my 2 inch side Speedos!

[Byron]

Well, I guess you could always come back to enjoy the Christmas Day annual tradition - and NO boardies ! (ok - there's always one - guy near the end of the line-up spoils it here):
http://www.london24.com/polopoly_fs/136105197_1_1_3146871!image/886643617.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/886643617.jpg

[Byron]

Vintage swimmers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke-vdLu91pE
Obviously high waists the rule of the times but surprisingly a couple of quite daring ensembles shown on the beach.

[Hotbunz1969]

Really sad to hear thing must have changed down there, HP Lido was always known for its tolerance of briefer attire, even though it was in the middle of the park, that's why I used to go! I be sure to visit this year and check it out. By the sound of things I best take a variety of suits to cover all options!

[Bede735]

Thought I would have a revisit.

I think you can wear anything you want as long as it's not a thong. So as long as it's full coverage at the rear (and the front) it doesn't matter if your briefs had one inch sides or less- though I've never seen any men try that. Obviously with the women it's quite common.

[Dooley67]

Thought I would have a revisit.

I think you can wear anything you want as long as it's not a thong. So as long as it's full coverage at the rear (and the front) it doesn't matter if your briefs had one inch sides or less- though I've never seen any men try that. Obviously with the women it's quite common.

Bede,

I tend to agree. I haven't worn anything less than 1.5 only because I don't have any 1" suits - maybe I should get one. The other day while swimming laps at the Y there was a young woman swimming laps pretty vigorously while wearing a string bikini. I've only seen that one other time, last summer at the Y in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. I was wearing my classic AB 1.5 but I've been thinking I could be fine with a 1".

You've mentioned several times your black Hom brief. Is that a 1" or 1.5"? You've said that you like it alot - I'm thinking about it.

D67

[Bede735]

It's 1.5" inch.
Also, it's quick thick so you don't have to worry about any sheer factor. I think I might purchase a navy blue suit as well.

[Dooley67]

It's 1.5" inch.
Also, it's quick thick so you don't have to worry about any sheer factor. I think I might purchase a navy blue suit as well.

Thanks for the information Bede.

Dooley

[PSDave]

I used to travel a lot. Actually was on the road more than I was home, and most of it outside the U.S. I always had packed a pair of two inch black or navy blue speedos. I knew that I could wear them anywhere and not have a problem. In some places after my first visit to the pool/beach I could see that I could get into smaller and more colorful and switched. I never wore anything that was too revealing either by fit or color. It's one thing to be told your suit is too brief (never happened) but quite another to get arrested for indecent exposure in a foreign country. As far as England goes -- I used to stock up on HOM suits at Harrod's every year. They had the best selection. No matter where you go or what the occasion, you can never go wrong with conservative until you see what is acceptable.