These Canadian Bathing Suits Are Incredible
If you’re a regular GQ reader, you know about Bather. As our go-to brand for dependable, comfortable swim trunks, the Canadian label’s signature bathing suits have been shouted out in our coverage too many times to count. Simply put, Bather impressively caters to guys who want something actually on-trend (read: not lazily splattered with pineapples and palm trees), well-cut (no saggy silhouette), and fairly priced (sub-$100, bless up). I myself have taken my Bather trunks from the beaches of Sayulita to city saunas to weekend lake dips. They’ve always looked good, felt right, and worked with whatever top I tossed over them.
And now, after about a decade of riding high with the classic, Bather has decided to build on that foundation with something entirely new: The Modern. It’s an exciting evolution of its original short, and one that introduces a looser, more contemporary silhouette, as well as an exclusive, iridescent fabric designed for guys who want their swim shorts to also flatter them even when they’re miles away from a pool.
More on that fabric: Previously, Bather made its name offering a dizzying array of prints, patterns, and colors, but its fabric, while reliable, had always stayed the same block colored nylon-spandex blend. This time, the Modern Trunk’s fabric shimmers and grooves like an ocean wave—thanks to the nylon warp and polyester weft dyed at different temperatures—for an effect that conveys luxury without being flashy. And it’s silky to the touch, to boot.
Finally, there’s the construction: a separate waistband (which means better support and mobility), slanted front pockets and a secure zip pocket at the rear, with minimal branding on a sleek black tab that makes them feel that much more tailored. At 4.5”, they’re an inch shorter than the original, but because of the cut, they don’t wear any smaller. They’re easy, breezy, and ridiculously versatile.
I’ve long been a technical short guy in the summer months; I love to wear them with an Oxford shirt or a polo, and loafers or sneakers. So naturally, I was keen to get my legs into a couple of pairs. I’m relieved to say I got a ton of mileage out of them, before even taking a dip. I’ve run in them, played soccer in them, biked in them, and also just worn them around the city all day. With their lightness and sharp cut, they’ve already moved to the front of my rotation. As for my colors: The black is super versatile, of course, but the colored shorts, especially the “Umber” (pictured), really pop, adding just the right amount of edge to my summer looks, wherever I’m headed that day.
Bather founder Kyle Kaminsky tells me this short is a sign of things to come, as the brand invests more in developing new technical fabrics. As for the fit, he’s wisely hedging his bets. “We’re in this weird style moment where half the world wants super short trunks, the other half wants long ones,” he says. “We’ve stayed right in the middle.”
At $135, they’re more of an investment than the original. But for a North American-made, design-forward, do-it-all short with thoughtful fabrics, smart construction, and the versatility that comes with all of those things, it’s a pretty decent little bargain. The original Bather swim trunks aren’t going anywhere—and they shouldn’t. But for those who want to level up their summer uniform, The Modern is ready for you.
