They’re often called hybrids, meant to fill the gap between the boardshorts you’d wear in the water and casual dress shorts you’d wear to the dockside bar. We’ve embraced them as a great solution for boaters who want to get wet yet still be able to make their dinner reservation. Here are three we’ve tried and liked.
Deep Ocean Apparel Boat-to-Bar Shorts
The Dry: They are the most current in terms of styling, equally at home in the surf and country-club sets, and have a rugged four-way-stretch material that is stain-resistant with anti-microbial properties. They definitely got the most questions on where to buy them. They come in gray, black, marine and khaki.
The Wet: Of the three pairs we tested, these took the longest to dry after wearing them during a full swim.
Price: $65; shopdeep.com
Parker Dusseau All-Around Shorts
The Dry: The pockets drain water, so they don’t fill up during swimming. A side pocket lets you securely stash your cellphone. The four-way-stretch flexible nylon fabric dries quickly after a turn in the water. They’re available in midnight, charcoal and olive.
The Wet: This pair is the most expensive of the group. It also has a little snugger fit than the others, so it’s not as flexible for active watersports.
Price: $98; parkerdusseau.com
Oakley Icon Chino Hybrid Shorts
The Dry: The mesh-lined pockets won’t hold water. The quick-drying polyester and spandex fabric sheds water and still feels lightweight when wet. The zippered side pocket comes in handy, keeping phones and keys secure on board. The color options are Forged Iron (gray), Blackout (black) and Rye (tan).
The Wet: These look the most like casual boardshorts, if you’re going for a more formal look.
Price: $60; oakley.com
