Five Awesome Athletic Swimsuits for Men This Summer

Okay, guys, winter's over. Ready to get back into your swim routine? Get the most out of your workout and show off your summer body with these five stylish yet functional men's athletic swimsuits.

Boardshorts: Perfect for hanging out on the beach, playing volleyball or surfing, boardshorts provide a man with an athletic swimwear option that won't show too much skin. Better known brands include Quicksilver and Billabong. They offer higher quality, but with higher prices. If you're looking to save a bit of money and do not necessarily need as much durability, try Old Navy's boardshorts.

Swim Trunks: Trunks are great for similar activities as you'd enjoy while wearing boardshort. They came into popularity in the 50's and 60's and have remained a popular men's swimwear option because they are not as bulky and show more skin than the boardshort yet they are much less revealing than the swim briefs (aka the Speedo) or other men's swim suits. Lands' End is a great purveyor of swim trunks offering fashionable selections that begin at $24.50; but if you hurry, you can get some on overstock for just $5.99 and up by clicking here.

Square Legs: The square leg swimsuit can be worn for competitive racing, but is much more suited for simple fitness swimming. This option is more revealing than the previous two, but it's still a more conservative choice when compared to the swim brief. If you choose to invest in this type of athletic swimwear, opt for the high quality lycra spandex square legs sold by Speedo.

Swim Briefs: These are for your more competitive swimming. The swim brief allows for maximum hydrodynamics and minimal drag and restriction, highly appreciated by serious athletes. This is not recommended for those trying to "get in shape" because it is very revealing and an overkill for fitness swimming alone. As with the square legs, you'll want to select the higher quality swim briefs for which Speedo is best known.

Swim Jammers: Brought into the public eye in the Olympics and other major swim competitions, the swim jammers are majorly hydrodynamic and form fitting. They were made originally to mimic shark skin, and, because they work so well, the "to the ankle" versions have been banned in competitive swimming, though you can still buy them for personal use. The more popular "to the knee" models look a lot like bicycle shorts; so, although they cover more skin than the briefs and square legs, they are still very tight and may accentuate the negative if you're not yet in the shape you desire. Again, should you need this type of suit, you'll need high quality. Shop Nike or Speedo for the best athletic swim jammers.

An additional fashion tip, when it comes to athletic swimwear, you should choose your style based on your goals and current body type, not the body you hope to attain. The biggest men's swim fashion disaster is wearing too tight, too small swimsuits. If you want to avoid beach embarrassment, buy something that fits for now. You'll feel more confident, and confidence will better help you reach your fitness goals. Once there, show off your body as much as you want!

Have a great swim, guys!