Board Shorts - What Are They?

What are board shorts? To some, they look no different from bermudas or knee length trousers. Some might even regard them as khaki pants. But they are more than that, and have become a popular fashion item all over the world.

Board shorts come in many forms, and there are designs for both men and women. These shorts look like a balance between slightly longer than knee length shorts and swimming shorts. The name came about from regular use by surfers, wakeboarders and the likes who spend a lot of time in surf sports.

This form of pants has gone beyond just a necessity for surfers. Board shorts are now a bona fide fashion item, with many designs and brands for both men's and women's board shorts. The popular ones include Billabong, Hurley, Roxy, Quiksilver, Volcom, Reef, Oakley, Rip Curl, O Neill and many many more.

Not only can they be used at the beach, many wear board shorts to swimming pools. Most surfers will sport these swimwear, and many others use them in various kinds of different sports. The characteristics of it being light, comfortable and quick to dry have attracted a large following with people from all ages and sports. It is not surprising to see them being worn even on the streets, as they are a part of modern casual wear.

How are these shorts made that have led to their surging popularity? Many surfers and beach goers engage in lots of activities that involve stretching, running and going against heavy waves and currents. What they do wear must be made of strong and lasting material that can withstand such wear and tear. Board shorts feature reinforced stitching to protect the wearer in such situations. Velcro is also a constant material used in various parts of the pants, to keep it in place. The rest of it are usually made in polyester, although there are other material types used. But the ever reliable polyester is the choice for most, since they keep the shorts light and do not get heavy when water is absorbed. Polyester also makes them more durable especially under heavy duress from water sports.

Women's board shorts are also quite popular. For most of them, they find them much more comfortable than traditional ladies' swimwear. Not only are the shorts light, but they do not cling too tightly to their bodies and that is a different experience and sensation. Board shorts for women usually look best in light and bright colors, such as pink , blue and yellow.

Where can you find board shorts for sale at cheap prices? There are mainly two ways to do this. One, is to find a factory outlet nearby that sells them at huge discounts. Unfortunately, this is quite difficult for most people as these outlets are only found in certain areas. The second way and more popular method, is to find board shorts online. There are many online shops that sell them at significant discounts, even for the latest designs from popular brands like Billabong, Hurley and Roxy. It is difficult to get them at the same price in normal retail shops, as they are marked up to make the shops more profit. The lower overhead for online stores allows them to sell the casual sports pants at reduced prices.

For example, there are 2008 Volcom board shorts on sale now as the new season's fashion line is inevitably introduced. Online stores will be eager to sell their previous selection at discount prices which should be a good buy for anyone wanting to improve their wardrobe and have a few new pieces of casual or beach wear. This will apply to the many other brands and the other day we saw a Rip Curl women's board shorts outlet that was selling their existing stock at prices that were half their original retail prices and that amounts to almost a 50% discount which should be a great bargain for anyone. While we are more inclined to Roxy fashions, we thought the sale was too good to pass by and got a few pieces for friends and families as we phoned them up for orders on the spot.