Difference between beach and pool

[Bede735]

On first impressions the beach and the swimming pool appear to be the same. That is, environments where minimal clothing is acceptable.

However, while a pool only has one purpose ie. to swim in it, the beach has many. People walk on it, play sport, sit around etc. You can swim in the sea of course, but that isn't always ideal - examples being cold water, rough conditions, pollution, risk of jellyfish attack etc.

While not many men wear briefs to the pool, it is even less common on the beach, due it's multi-functional nature. I'm one who would never feel comfortable wearing briefs on the beach, but have no problem at the pool.

Now this is wear men and women differ. Women are far more likely to wear a brief bikini at the beach, but wear a one-piece swimsuit at the pool. The rationale escapes me...

[thisweirdthing1985]

very true! this phenomenon it's interesting. I think, at the pool, men could (not often) wear swim briefs or swim trunks and women wear one-piece swimsuits because many had worn them in swimming classes and they are used to wear this type of swimwear in the pool. Pools are, in most cases, related to sport activities. so other men and women wear sport suits in swimming pools. I also think the same: wearing swim briefs at the pool is more confortable.
but at the beach it's a different story: living in a "copy and paste" society and being contantly bombarded with advertisments in the summer promoting the beach and girls in bikinis and "masculine" guys in board shorts, I see that people choose to follow this beach culture imposed by the ads, their friends, the fashion trends, etc
well, this is my humble opinion :)

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

You post is interesting as an observation of how different guys react to the same environment. I obviously wear brief cut suits for swimming workouts and events and have always worn briefs in triathlons (even as the trend has moved to tri-suits). I also wear my brief style suits to the beach, lake, recreational pool events, and anywhere a swimsuit is appropriate attire. I see no reason not to, after all it is a swimsuit and while it may be a bit more revealing than some other styles, I am not being indecent. I have been this way since my days as a kid when the only suits I owned were my swim team suits. In fact, while some guys wear shorts over their brief suits and then take them off when they get settled on the beach, I will even travel to/from the beach in just my swimsuit. It has never been an issue, and only once did I get chastised for my choice (and that was not in the USA..lol). Having said all of this, I would never wear a thong or a string width side cut suit. I will go as narrow as 1.5 inches at the beach. Now here is the weird hang up with me, I would never wear a narrow side suit such as an Ausssiebum for my swim workouts. I stay with more traditional cuts in the pool, although I do like colorful choices like Turbo or some of the more wild Speedo, Nike and Tyr prints.

Also, I don't disdain boardies. I own several pair, which I wear as street shorts in the Summer. I even like how some guys look in boardies over briefs...


STS

[Bede735]

I will go as narrow as 1.5 inches at the beach. Now here is the weird hang up with me, I would never wear a narrow side suit such as an Ausssiebum for my swim workouts. I stay with more traditional cuts in the pool,...

According to Wiki, the most common racing suit styles are 1.5 inch to 3 inch panelled briefs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swim_briefs

So you may go for a 3 inch one for modesty, but the chances are that it will still be much briefer than what every other man is wearing. So in that case there's nothing to be lost in wearing a 2 or a 1.5 inch one.

Again, using women as an example, have you noticed how their t-shirts are invariably designed with shorter sleeves than men? Yet they will still wear sleeveless tops with narrow straps, because the convention of wearing briefer clothing has been established.

[Byron]

My only complaint : if only the awful bra. straps would stay hidden !!!!:eek:

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

So you may go for a 3 inch one for modesty, but the chances are that it will still be much briefer than what every other man is wearing. So in that case there's nothing to be lost in wearing a 2 or a 1.5 inch one.

Most of the Tyr and Turbo suits I wear are 2 inch sides, the Turbo suits may be less. Back on my team days, we wore very tight and tiny briefs for races.

[Torchwatch]

There are many kinds of public pool sessions and many kinds of beach.
Wearing speedos at the adult lane swimming session is normal, while wearing them at the family paddle about in the shallow end and scream session is rarer.
Similarly wearing speedos on the main town beach, close to the car park and hot food concessions, where the beach is heaving with noisy families and teenage gangs is rarer than the quieter country park beaches which you have to walk a couple of miles to reach.
Once you have set up on your section of a quiet beach in you speedos, bikini or swim thong, new arrivals walking by can choose to lay down their towels within sight of you or move on to find there own more distant patch. Those who stop nearby whether they are singles, couples or families will tend to be wearing something similar to you. The guys walking around in shorts with speedos underneath are hoping to find the bit of beach where the speedo guys are.

[afewgoodmen]

When i lived in Pasadena, California, being a avid swimmer at the Rosebowl Aquatic Center I would come across many beautiful people with amazing bodies that would wear 1.5 inch side panel suits. It was such a common trend in that area of the country. Then again, it's Los Angeles :)

Each and everytime I would see a male swimmer walking on the pool platform and swimming in the water, it made my head turn to give the suit and his respective body a second (thorough) look.

I always brainstormed and try to figure out what brand suit the person was wearing. Often non labels of any kind could be seen :(

The center had it's own swim shop that offered a wide array of swim briefs.

Sure miss those days!!

[knikon]

I almost am never at a pool. All of my outings are at the beach.I just love the whole environment.... Periodically Ill see other guys like me but generally it is just ladies in tie string bikinis and guys wearing boardies and tank top... A lot of dorks in california.

[Dooley67]

I really don't see any difference between a pool and the beach, even if the pool is not for lap swimming but for recreational purposes, like at a hotel resort. I wear a speedo regardless of where I am, but like STS, and knikon and CD from another post, I won't wear suits that show a bulge. I've bought a couple of Tactics that ave a pouch but only wear them under my walk shorts. At the beach and pool, I wear 1.5 or 2" suits but never smaller than that and certainly would never wear a thong for two reasons - one, when I've tried one, I hated the way it felt, and two, I think it isn't appropriate at the beach and especially at a pool where there are families present. So, for me, there is no difference between pool and beach.

D67

[Turbofan]

I wear speedos pretty much anywhere I'll be swimming. If I'm going to be socializing and out in the open on a busy beach or pool deck then a more modest suit that keeps everything "squished" is my first choice.

If it's with friends and family then I'm more comfortable wearing a 1.5 side nylon suit or one that shows a bit more.

My wife and daughter wear one piece suits for dedicated swimming but bikinis for fun, I'm the same.

[knikon]

I personally find that my most modest suit (including shorts) is my Speedo Solar. It hides my buldge pretty well, never requires any adjustment & doesn't cause shrinkage to show much at all. It is my go to suit. Then again after getting some more of the risque brands and pitching too many tents It seems to be the perfect balance.

[Turbofan]

Waterpolo suits are good for hiding an erection. Thick material and crazy designs helps a lot.

Thin nylon suits are pretty bad for it. You can see EVERYTHING.

[Dooley67]

I agree with you knikon about the Speedo solar, but I really don't like the fit of mine so I rarely wear it. The 2 Nike Scatter Brain suits that I have are very good at hiding an erection and also, whether you point yourself up, down, or to the side, it stays there even after 45 minutes of lap swimming. I also think that suits that have a design are good at helping you to avoid embarrassing moments.

D67

[Byron]

.....flimsy bits of Lycra from China may appeal on price but a bit of quality in manufacture will show its value for money in the end.

[Bede735]

Cheap can also be good. Bought a couple of Speedo Endurance briefs for only £10 each 4 years ago, and there're still lasting.

[nkdnick]

Have worn a speedo since 13 when going to school and now 58 and not going to change ,depends yes on the pool if i wear a 2" or 1-1/2 bikini and color,have got to love n2n swimwear bikini they fit so well on me,if on the beach will go string side i do not care ,i do not know how guys can stand to wear broad shorts down to there ankles plus have underwear on as well ,gross to me
Shame that i can remember at summer time leaving in just a speedo all day and nite and no one cared because all the boys and men did ... that my rant

[knikon]

I agree with you byron. I have a speedo endurance from 2006 that isnt sagging and fits tight...