If you’ve got similar plans on the agenda, we’ve getting word of even bigger news. This weekend only, Bather, the Canadian brand behind our go-to swim trunks, is taking 15% off its entire site. So allow us to amend our earlier statement: there are actually four Bs we now associate with summer, and the last of ’em is Bather.
Wait, Why Is This Sale a Big Deal?
For a number of years now, our go-to trunks—the ones that consistently sit atop our guide to the best swim trunks and nabbed a coveted spot on our All-Stars list—hail from the Toronto label Bather. Yes, you read that correctly: Toronto. As in Canada, a land better known for its prime ski conditions than its surf culture. Year in and year out, our friends up north engineer the absolute perfect swim trunks, and this season is no exception.
And while we’re always eager to show Bather some love, we’re especially stoked to spotlight the brand right now, when all of its wares are on sale. Simply enter the code MAY15 at checkout and you’ll nab 15% off any pair of Bather’s GQ-beloved trunks, in every color and pattern imaginable. Here’s what we’re eyeing.
Pitch-Perfect Solid Colors
Bather’s signature model meets all the essential criteria for great trunks: It’s crafted from quick-dry recycled nylon with a comfortable mesh lining, a couple of deep side pockets, a snap-button rear pocket, and a just-right 5.5” inseam. The elastic waistband, meanwhile, looks sharp and feels comfortable on all body types. The nylon exterior is crisp enough to feel like a decent substitute for a pair of Bermuda shorts on a casual date night. And, most importantly for swimwear, they’re constructed hardily, with several pairs GQ has tested over the years holding up strong after dozens of rounds in the washing machine.
An Endless Stream of Patterns
Here’s where Bather really starts to win out over some of its more famous competitors (like, say, the deservedly beloved Patagonia Baggies). The young Canuck label isn’t afraid to get freaky with its flagship model. Sure, it comes in a standard array of solid tones—a nice deep black, a classic Baywatch red. But every season, Bather also goes big on all manner of wild prints: techy stripes, retro florals, painterly cloudscapes. It gives you infinite options to choose from and collect, and means you’re far less likely to run into someone in the same pair when you hit the beach.