The Boardshorts Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Pair
Picking a pair of boardies sounds straightforward until you're standing in front of the wall at the shop, scratching your head. Do you go 19" or 20"? Does fabric matter if you're mostly doing laps at the local pool? What about a compression liner?
The good news: there are only four calls to make, and most of them come down to how you plan to wear the shorts. The pair that holds up in 6-foot Bells is a different pair than the one you want for a beach volley arvo with mates or a lap at the hotel pool on holiday. Most of us end up with a few pairs going: a sturdy set for the line-up, a decent-looking one for the pub afterwards, maybe a lightweight set for those scorching Jan days when you just want to stay cool.
This guide walks through the four decisions (length, fit, fabric, extras), then covers which Rip Curl boardshort ranges fit which use cases.
Boardshorts vs. Swim Shorts: What's the Difference?
Boardshorts and swim shorts look similar from the sand, but they're built for different jobs.
Boardshorts are surf gear first. They use a non-elastic tie-front waist that holds through duck dives, four-way stretch fabric that lets your hips rotate on the pop-up, and a fast-dry finish so the shorts aren't sopping wet between sets. The Mirage line has been our performance boardshort since the late '90s, and every model in the range shares that foundation.
Swim shorts rely on an elastic waist and a mesh liner. They're fine for a dip in the hotel pool or a swim off the boat, but the elastic rides down on the first paddle and the liner bunches as soon as you start moving. You can absolutely swim in boardies. They're pool-safe, and most of ours don't need a liner at all. But if you want to surf, start with a boardshort.
What to Look for in a Boardshort
The features that matter depend on how you'll use the shorts. Here's how to think about it.
For surfing
Non-elastic tie-front waist, four-way stretch fabric, welded or flatlock seams, a flat fly, and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. That's the spec our Mirage range is built around, and it's what our team riders wear on the WSL Championship Tour. For your first pair, the Mirage Core 20" is the straightforward starting point: recycled hydrophobic fabric, four-way stretch, DWR finish, and a side zip pocket. If you surf a lot and want the most out of every session, the Mirage Activate steps it up with a compression liner developed with 3x World Champion Mick Fanning and Dr. Tim Brown, Co-Medical Director of the WSL.
Shop Performance Boardshorts →
For the pool, beach days, and everyday wear
If you're mostly wearing the shorts out of the water (heading to the café after a surf, mowing the lawn), full surf-performance construction is overkill. You want a short that feels good on land. The Boardwalks collection is built for exactly this: styled like a casual short, with technical fabric that can still handle a swim.
For hot-weather and summer travel
Heading up the coast in January? Full-fat performance shorts can feel like too much when you're sweating on the walk to the beach. The Vaporcool range uses a moisture-wicking, four-way stretch fabric that stays cool in proper Aussie-summer heat. Styles like the Pivot Volley run shorter (18") with an elastic drawstring waist, making them great for pool days, warm-water sessions, or the walk back from the break when the carpark sand is already scorching.
For beach volley and active beach days
For beach volleyball, throwing a frisbee, or generally any active day where you're not paddling out but you want something that moves with you, Volleys are the right shape. They sit above the knee on an elastic waist: free range of motion, quick-dry fabric, nothing over-engineered that you don't need.
Boardshorts Length: Picking Your Outseam
Length is measured by outseam, waistband to hem. It changes how the shorts look and how they feel in the water, and most surfers settle on 19" or 20" after trying both.
- 17"–18". Above the knee. Retro styles, warm-water sessions, and shortboard surfers who want zero restriction. Most Volleys sit in this range.
- 19". At the knee. The most popular length for performance surfing and a safe all-round pick. The Mirage Activate Ultimate 19" and Mirage 3/2/One both sit here.
- 20". Just below the knee. A versatile all-rounder that works on and off the beach. The Mirage Core 20" and the Mirage Search 20" both live here.
- 21"+. Over the knee. Taller surfers, cooler water, or if you just want more coverage for beach wear.
If you're between lengths, try both. A lot of it comes down to leg length and whatever you grew up wearing.
How to Find Your Boardshort Waist Size
Boardshort sizing isn't the same as trouser sizing. Trousers are measured at your natural waist (around belly-button height); boardshorts sit lower, on your hip bones.
Measure with a soft tape around the widest part of your hips while standing relaxed; that number is your boardshort size. Between sizes? Size up for a looser fit or down for a more tailored one. The waist should feel snug enough that you don't have to yank it up after every wave, but loose enough that you can breathe on a long paddle out.
Size ranges vary by model, so check the size guide on each product page before you order.
Boardshort Fabric: What to Look For
For surfing, four-way stretch with a DWR finish is the baseline. Stretch means your hips rotate freely on the pop-up, and your paddle isn't restricted. The DWR treatment sheds water so the shorts stay lighter between sets.
Within the Mirage performance range, two fabric constructions stand out: Mirage Core and Mirage Pro.
- Mirage Core is our recycled PET polyester built for everyday surf sessions. Hydrophobic, four-way stretch, PFOA- and PFOS-free. You'll find it in the Mirage Core 20", Mirage Divided, and a handful of seasonal styles.
- Mirage Pro is the step up: a lighter, more technical fabric designed to work with the compression liner and Aerotech outer shell in the Mirage Activate. If you surf a lot and want fabric that feels alive under your hand, that's Mirage Pro territory.
For lifestyle wear, fabric priorities shift. The Boardwalks range uses softer blends (recycled polyesters, cotton-mix constructions) that feel more like regular shorts. They'll still handle a swim, but they're built for comfort out of the water more than duck-diving through a set.
For hot-weather wear, Vaporcool is the pick. Lightweight, moisture-wicking, and it stays cool in the kind of heat that flattens everyone else. Great for summer trips and midsummer sessions on the East Coast.
Boardshort Extras: Zip Pockets, Liners, and Reinforcement
Not every extra is worth paying for. Here's what they actually do.
Zip pockets. Handy if you're walking to the break or you want somewhere to stash a wax comb or car keys. Velcro works for casual use, but the hook side can snag rashies and wetsuits, so a zip is usually the better call for regular surfers. The Mirage Search 20" has this built in.
Compression liners. The Mirage Activate's liner is a proper piece of engineering: body-mapping silicon grip that supports core surfing muscles and helps decrease lactic acid build-up to reduce fatigue on long sessions. If you're surfing multiple times a week or heading on long surf trips, it earns its keep. If you're out a few times a season, a standard lined short like the Mirage Core will do the job fine.
Cordura reinforcement. The panels in the Mirage Search are engineered for travel: boat rails, reef walks, step-offs into rocky coves. Rip Curl has partnered with Cordura to build a fabric that's tough where it matters and stretchy where it needs to be. If you’re mostly surfing your local beach break, you probably don't need Cordura. If you disappear for two weeks at a time with a boardbag and a rough itinerary, it pays for itself.
For pure lifestyle wear, you don't need any of this. Boardwalks will do the job.
How to Choose Boardshorts: The Short Version
Four decisions, in order.
- Length. 19" or 20" for most surfers. Shorter for hot weather and style; longer for coverage.
- Waist size. Measure at the hip bone, not your trouser waist. Check the size guide on the product page.
- Fabric. Four-way stretch with a DWR finish if you're surfing. Softer blends (Boardwalks) if you're mostly out of the water. Vaporcool for hot-weather lightweight.
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Extras. Zip pockets, compression liners, and Cordura reinforcement. Only if you'll actually use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim in boardshorts?
Yes. Most Rip Curl boardshorts use four-way stretch recycled polyester, welded seams, and DWR finishes, so they're pool-safe. If you're mostly swimming and occasionally surfing, a Volley with Vaporcool fabric is a good middle ground.
How do I measure my waist for boardshorts?
Wrap a soft tape around your hip bones while standing relaxed. Between sizes? Size up for a looser fit, down for a more tailored one. Check the size guide on each product page for the specific model range.
What boardshorts are best for the pool or beach?
For pure pool and beach use where performance isn't the priority, Boardwalks are the easier pick, with softer fabrics, relaxed cuts, and pocket layouts built for land use. For hot-weather lightweight options, look at Vaporcool.
What's the difference between “boardshorts” and “board shorts”?
Spelling. “Boardshorts” is the surf industry standard; “board shorts” is more common in general writing.
What's the difference between Boardshorts and Boardwalks?
Boardshorts are surf gear first: four-way stretch, non-elastic tie-front waist, quick-dry finish. Boardwalks are a hybrid, designed to look like a casual short on land but still built with technical fabric that'll handle a swim. Think of Boardwalks as the “pub after the surf” option.
Are Rip Curl boardshorts sustainable?
Many current Rip Curl boardshorts, including most of the Mirage range, use recycled PET fabric (polyester spun from recycled bottles) and are PFOA- and PFOS-free. Rip Curl is a certified B Corporation, and the Rip Curl Planet program covers wetsuit recycling and responsible sourcing.
Live The Search
Find the length and the fabric for how you'll use them, and the right pair follows. See you in the line-up.
