Sizing Help

[Outlaw]

So I'm new to the forum and the world of swim briefs. I have always worn board shorts and I am now ready to buy my first pair of swim briefs, to wear under shorts and then possibly on their own for some lap and exercise swimming.

My question is what size do I need to order? I am looking at both Speedo brand and TYR, and briefs and square cut. In shorts, I wear a 30' but when I measured (one inch below the belly button) I was getting around 31-32. I want them to be snug, but not restricting.

Any help and/or advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Torchwatch]

Most people buy their first pair of swim briefs from their local sports shop/store. They usually choose plain black or navy so as not to draw attention to themselves and choose a suit with a 3" or 4" side. They secretly plan to buy something briefer and more colourful if the experiment with the conservative black/navy pair goes ok.
Plan your trip to the sports store, they will only allow you to try on their swimwear over your underwear so wear some clean briefs that fit properly without being noticeably tight.
Try on swim briefs the size that you expect to fit and also a size smaller, the ones you want should be skin tight and once you do up and tuck in the draw string not pull down easily (you will be diving into the pool and kicking off the sides during turns).
You are likely to feel excitement while trying on Lycra swimwear the first time in a changing cubicle and it may be visible in the mirror, don't worry about it, it happens and as you are wearing cotton briefs under the new speedos you won't leave a visible wet spot.
After getting dressed again you will have to go to the till to pay for the speedos you have selected, holding out the swim briefs in your hand to the assistant you may feel yourself getting erect again, a long sweatshirt or tee shirt covering your trousers or shorts helps at this point.
Bring enough cash to pay for the swimsuit, have the money in your hand ready to pay when you hand over the swim briefs, the assistant will look at them and at you, you won't want him/her to read your name on a credit card or suddenly freeze and forget your pin.
Try your speedos on at home, look in the mirror then pop into the shower and see how they look and feel when wet before going to your local pool.
When you put your new speedos on the first time at your local pool you may again start feeling aroused, use the toilets, shower then dash to the pool at a brisk walk and get straight in, you may feel that everyone is looking at you but it is an illusion. Swim some length/laps and feel the water slide past you like never before.
As you hang up your speedos to dry when you get home imagine what it would feel like to wear a pair with 2" sides in your favourite colour, time to start looking online and thinking ahead.

[dm106]

That is all excellent advice. The only thing I can add is that you could wear them at home some to get used to the new feel. It takes some guys longer than others to settle down and get used to them. On sizing, my rule of thumb is they should be snug enough that everything stays in place and doesn't move around in there. If you are doing competitive swim you want them real snug but if you are using them for leisure you probably want them just a little bit looser (not loose, that would be bad). PM me if you have any questions.

[Aussiebum92]

I wear medium in jeans, trackies and underwear, but i've switched from medium swimming trunks to small. they look and feel better.
Lycra stretchs, so the medium boxer cut trunks that i got last year are starting to sag in the legs and bum.
the new small ones felt slightly too tight when i first wore them, but after i'd got them wet they fit perfectly.
buy a medium and a small, try them on at home, and try them in the shower or bath so you have a better idea how they fit when they're wet.

[Outlaw]

Today I bought a pair of speedo jammers at a discount store for $3 (originally $50). I bought a size 30 and when I tried them on they fit really well. They were snug but not overly tight. I think I'm going to order the briefs in the same size and go from there.

[Torchwatch]

Have you worn Lycra or other stretch fabrics before, and now you own your own jammers how do they feel and look on you?

[Outlaw]

I really enjoy the look and feel of the jammers. They fit real snug and hold everything in place. They are lined so they are not very revealing. The only bad part is that the leg openings at the bottom are kind of tight, but I assume they will stretch over time. To not be a competitive swimmer, I feel like I pull them off fairly well.

[Captain.Jammer]

Originally Posted by Outlaw

I really enjoy the look and feel of the jammers. They fit real snug and hold everything in place. They are lined so they are not very revealing. The only bad part is that the leg openings at the bottom are kind of tight, but I assume they will stretch over time. To not be a competitive swimmer, I feel like I pull them off fairly well.

Hey, Outlaw.. glad to see another Jammer man here! Take some pics in your jammers and post them to the selfies thread!

Here are some of mine I posted there.

[Captain.Jammer]

To address the topic of this thread, I have found that sizes vary by manufacturer, and even then they may vary by suit model. And you cannot just go by the numbers, either.

For example, the Nike Men's Performance swimwear comes in sizes 28, 30, 32, 34 and so on. You would guess that number is the waist size in inches. But it isn't. According to the official size chart, their size 30 actually fits waist sizes 31-33! (I was very pleased to find that my perfect size was 34 -- I have not worn size 34 in ages! Ha ha!)

So, I suggest you always consult size charts.. but then they can be deceiving, as well, so, if I am shopping online-- I always check the reviews of the suit I am after to see if other buyers felt the sizing was right on or too small or too big.

Another thing I did was I went to a local sporting goods store to try on the brand I was looking to buy online to see if I could get a good feel for the fit of the suit. But, again, if it is not the exact model you are looking to buy online, beware that the sizing may still be a little off. Also suits of nylon Spandex usually have more give, and will stretch bigger, as opposed to polyester/PBT suits.

Just some advice that I hope helps.

[midlifeswimmer]

Speedo sizes are honest, if your waist (about 4 finger widths below navel) is 34", then a 34 will fit. Now, their size charts say you should wear a 32 in that case, but that's for competitive swimmers who want a really tight fit. That squeeze might really only work for a Lycra suit, not a polyester suit.

From trying on at Sports Authority (RIP), Nike briefs run 2 inches larger than a Speedo brief. So if you're a 34 in Speedo, you're 32 in Nike.

I think Nike is factoring in the "size inflation" of men's pants. Typical men's 34 pants is 35-1/2" on the inside.

No idea on Tyr or Dolfin sizing.

One exception for Speedo is the Solar style. Runs a bit larger than other Speedo briefs, because it's a "fashion" style. Plus, it's quite loose in the front, big pouch. It's for men who want to wear a brief, but fear being "crushed." While I wear a 34 in other Speedo styles (US or European), I wear a 32 in Solar.