New Jersey, USA speedos?

[TonyO919]

I'm from New Jersey, USA. I have been trying to personally get up the courage to wear a speedo type suit on a beach here for a long time! I do wear long shorts, but I always have a speedo type suit underneath. Every time I go to the beach I never see any guys in speedos. I had hoped this year would have been different since a lot of companies are now making speedo type suits. A lot of companies are also making shorter shorts too. I hoped to see others at least wearing the shorter shorts, but I was there today and no one was. I am not comfortable being the only guy on the beach in a small suit...I have never worn one in public...but I'm ready to. I just don't want to be the only one.

Is there anyone else on here from the area? If so, any ideas on what beach to go to that would have others in smaller suits?

I do think I am going to buy some shorter shorts suit for the time being. The shorts past my knees are irritating!!

[VTspeedo]

Occasionally I will slip on a speedo when I am at the beach...but the beach has to be out of my area for me to feel the courage to do so.

I also do not like the look or feel of board shorts...for some reason they are in style now and the brief swimwear crowd has gone underground in my area.

It's funny...if I go north to Quebec I see some men in speedos but not as many as there used to be. Same for Hampton Beach in New Hampshire....the Quebecois used to come down in droves, spend money, and wear speedos on the beach.

I wish I could go back to the 70's when you had to wear a swimsuit with a lining in it...be it a pair of swim turns or a speedo. I was chastised by a lifeguard for trying to wear a cut off pair of jeans into the pool and was told to go the the office and get a suit that was allowed...

So, now I usually go with shorts that have a small inseam. I personally like to wear nylon jogging shorts (Soffe, Game Gear, and Cobblestones have great selections) when I head to the beach or kayak....and occasionally wear a speedo when I am not in my area.

Box cut swimwear is a good alternative as well. A search on Google will yield thousands of sites...and some great eye candy! Hope you get what you are looking for......

[Byron]

Tony (second paragraph) - yes - NJHunkguy.
I think it was tw who said a while back take the shorts off to reveal the speedo and other guys arriving will note that and be encouraged to do the same...

VT - Louis may answer on where the Quebecois have gone.

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Hey VT, try going more north than Hampton Beach. Old Orchard Beach in Maine USA is still a hot spot for our guests from Canada (and Maine loves them!). Also, a little more south in Maine, Ogunquit is a great beach where brief and square cut swimsuits can easily be found. Ogunquit does have a popular gay beach section, but the overall population is diverse and accepting.

Tony, don't let the lack of guys in "speedo type suits" hold you back. Just take the shorts off. Once you do, you will find it is much easier than you think and nobody is going to get all freaked out. If the smallness is the issue, maybe start with a more square cut. I wear only swim briefs (down to 1.5 inch sides) at the beach and even when I am the only guy in such swimwear I never have any issues. Next time you go to the beach, wear your favorite swimsuit under something you would never wear on the beach. When you get there, take the over layer off, and just wear the swimsuit. Once you do, you will never go back. Btw, I have been to Avalon and Stone Harbor many times and did see other guys in real swimsuits, albeit not frequent. Also, try Rehoboth in Delaware, USA.

STS

[TonyO919]

Thanks for the pep talk guys! I'm still not sure I can do it lol. I'm not in the greatest of shapes even though I am working on that...10 pounds down so far. I think I'd still be more willing if someone else were there at the same time.

[Dooley67]

TonyO919 and VTspeedo,

STS and Byron have given you some good advice. I'll put my 2 cents in. When you go to the beach, everyone looks at everyone else, but usually any judgment a person makes is a silent one and not voiced. It takes courage to be the only one on the beach in a speedo, but look at it this way, it's your personal choice to wear a speedo and truly, nobody really cares what you wear - they make look once and then it's done.

VTspeedo - you can go to the beaches STS suggested or if you want to go further south, the beaches in northern Massachusetts, like Newburyport or Crain beach in Ipswich are good places.

TonyO919 - Jones Beach on Long Island or Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn are good places as well. And good for you that you've already lost 10 pounds. I know exactly how you feel about looking good in a speedo and losing weight to do it. Take a look at my true story (How I Met My Serious Swimming) and you'll see how losing weight played a role in my resuming wearing speedos after a year in dorky board shorts.

Best of luck to both of you. You'll feel good that you took the plunge.

Dooley67