Bonobos' Rec Shorts Are Your All-in-One Summer Savior
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SHOP $89, bonobos.com
Welcome to The Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.
You may think you have all the shorts you need to ride out the rest of summer. I did. But sadly, dear reader, I've discovered that we're both wrong.
You see, I found myself well-equipped heading into the summer of 2021. I have mesh shorts I love and wear multiple times a week. I have Hard Shorts I can wear to the function now that I'm vaccinated. I even have swim trunks I don't mind keeping on for the function that follows a summer swim. But then I happened across Bonobos' Rec Shorts, which could easily replace the whole lot, should I be struck in the heart by the minimalism gods at some point. (I will never downsize, you guys.)
I digress. These shorts were the best decision I made all summer—and I got engaged this summer. Here's why.
SHOP $89, bonobos.com
Versatility, baby.
I've been fortunate enough to be adjacent to a few swimming pools this year. I've also been fortunate enough to be able to do my job within arms length of a couple of them. You know what really takes the edge off in the middle of a tough day? Submerging under water for a few minutes, gathering your thoughts with nothing but the sound of a filter, and then getting back to business. These rec shorts have made that process all the more possible. Better yet, they feature UPF 50+ sun protection, so when I'm back at my laptop but still in the sun, I've got five inches of inseam already in protection mode. Bonus: There's also a zippered back pocket, so go ahead and bring your wallet to the beach and treat all your friends to a sandy hot dog.
SHOP $89, bonobos.com
About that length.
By now you're familiar with the appeal of the five-inch inseam. For our money, shorts at this length allow for just the right amount of leg to be showing. But for those of you looking for a little extra coverage (all good!), Bonobos offers a seven-inch option as well. The result of either of these options is the right short for adding to any of your favorite summer fits. If you're wearing yours post-pool, like me, throw on an oxford-cloth button down, fasten just a couple of those buttons, and slide into some leather loafers for some summer steez. You can just as easily wear the Rec Short with your favorite T-shirt and sneakers, or a polo and slides. And if you're a gym person (good for you, man), its moisture-wicking powers will come in handy there, too.
SHOP $89, bonobos.com
They won't expire when summer does.
We've all become accustomed to the benefits of working from home now—and we'll probably be doing it more in the coming years than we ever have. Because of that, the stock of the lounge short has risen significantly. Having spent plenty of time milling about the house in these, I can tell you that they, in all their elastic-waistband glory, are a great pair of shorts for just relaxing in, too. All things considered, that makes Bonobos' rec shorts the all-in-one option you were never sure you needed. Until now.
Photography by Timothy Mulcare; prop styling by Miako Katoh
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