It’s swimsuit season and we’re back with another alternatives blog! Today, we’re giving you 7 sustainable alternatives to Chubbies!
We love educating the masses on all the alternative possibilities available to brands we know and love. However, most of these brands, Mother Earth does not love. Can you blame her, though? Would you like someone who was destroying you?
The truth is, there are so many excellent options too, it just takes a bit of digging. We did the dirty work, and we’re coming in with 7 sustainable alternatives to Chubbies.
All the sustainable swimsuit options you could ever wish and dream of. If you’re on the lookout for more sustainable swimwear options, check out this guide on Sustainable Swimwear For Men!
Top 7 Sustainable Alternatives To Chubbies
1. Asket
“Swimwear is an entirely new category for us so we spent a lot of time researching technical fabrics as well as working out how to combine an athletic approach into something that could still work as a more tailored short,” shares co-founder August Bard Bringéus.
“Any garment is only ever as good as the fiber it is built on, so we’re thrilled to have found SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, who have developed a source material that doesn’t compromise on the product’s technical integrity.”
In addition to the main body fabric, where possible every element of the ASKET swim shorts is made from recycled polyester, from the mesh to the drawstrings as well as the trims (eyelets, zipper, thread, everything except the elastic waistband).
Price Range: $110
Size Range: XS-XL
Materials: Yarn: 100% Recycled PET (70% Seaqual™ 30% Recycled PET) | Mesh: 100% Recycled PET (50% Seaqual™ 50% Recycled PET) | Dye: Jet dyed | Sewing thread: 100% Recycled PET
Location/Shipping: Sweden, ships worldwide
2. Toad & Co
To be honest, Toad & Co. has always been a fan favorite. They are that type of brand that reminds you that there are so many good people doing exceptional things.
From their eco materials, reusable shipping, and their renewable fashion initiatives, they are doing the most for the Earth. Sustainability is not an option for them. It’s a requirement.
Their swim trunk selection is something to write about, too. All their trunks are made of 4-ply supplex, which is Toad & Co’s performance-proven nylon. This fabric is incredibly durable and quick-dry, making it the perfect swim trunk fabric.
You can do more than swim in them, though. You can snorkel, paddle, surf, swag a margarita, play frisbee, and even head to town in them.
Price Range: From $68+
Size Range: S-XXL
Materials: Organic cotton, recycled polyester & elastane
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
3. Outerknown
The Apex Trunks By Outerknown and Kelly Slater are top-of-the-line swim trunks. They are designed for the people AND the planet.
They are even sewn in a Fair Trade Certified facility. This means that the makers have been paid premium price points for their work, and collectively decide how to use the extra funding to better their lives.
Now let’s talk about the actual trunks, Kelly Slater, 11x World Champion developed and tested these trunks.
They have over 15 colorways to choose from and are guaranteed mobility, quick-dry, and durability. The trunks are also built with a bonded back pocket with an Aquaguard zipper and a key loop! Can you ask for more?!
Price Range: From $98+
Size Range: XS-XXXL
Materials: Recycled polyester, recycled elastane, & elastane
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
4. Fair Harbor
Fair Harbor was quite literally made for this! They have some of the most stylish, good-looking swim trunks we’ve seen. If you love a good print, you’re going to LOVE Fair Harbor.
These swimmers are made with durable, high-performance, quick-drying fabric, have side pockets, a built-in cool max liner, and a comfortable elastic waistband!
The Bayberry Trunks, in particular, come with built-in compression underwear that will keep you cool and dry after a swim or a run! Our favorite part? 11 plastic water bottles were made in the making of these trunks!
Fair Harbor does so much as a brand as well. It was started by two siblings who grew up on Fair Harbor, Fire Island and started their company to reduce ocean plastic.
With so many brands not thinking about the Earth, it’s so refreshing to find one that does finally. They’ve recycled over 2.5 million plastic water bottles and are on the way to 3 million next year!
Price Range: From $68+
Size Range: S-3XL
Materials: Recycled nylon, recycled polyester & spandex
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
5. Vissla
Have you heard of Vissla? If not, you’re in for a treat! This brand is one of our favorite sustainable alternatives to Chubbies!
They use the process of upcycling to turn waste into treasure. They use Cocotex yarn made of coconuts and blend it with Repreve recycled polyester yarns to create perfect performance board shorts.
Vissla has been so innovative and user-focused. These boardshorts fight odor, stretch, breathe, and, most importantly, last a long time! Their board shorts are built for style, comfort, and sustainability.
We especially love these retro-fit board shorts made of coconut and recycled poly fibers. They have a 4-way stretch and tethered waistband.
We know you’ll be in the sun with these too, so they have built-in UPF 50. We promise, that as soon as you try these, they’re going to become a season staple.
Price Range: From $59.95+
Size Range: XS-XXL
Materials: Recycled polyester, polyester from coconut, cotton, hemp & spandex
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
6. United By Blue
If you have been following us for some time, you already know we are a big fan of United by Blue.
For every product purchased, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from the ocean and waterways! So far, they have removed over 3 million pounds of trash!
They know the ocean and trash pollution problem is one of the most pressing issues of our time. United By Blue leads by example and is a part of the solution rather than the problem.
We love their Men’s Organic Scallop Board Shorts. It comes in 5 colorways and is made with a cotton/poly blend. These shorts are detailed with a gusset fly and drawcord waistband.
Whether you’re swimming, tanning, surfing, or lounging, these will keep you looking comfortable and cool.
Price Range: From $68+
Size Range: S-XXL
Materials: Recycled polyester, organic cotton, & elastane
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Canada
7. Myoli Bay
Myoli Bay is named after a small island off the East of Cape Town, South Africa. Their brand focuses on all-day comfort and freedom in your swimwear, and every beach should be heaven on Earth. That’s why they do what they do!
They make swimwear out of other people’s trash, and they dedicate 15% of their sales to ocean and beach cleanup! These trunks made the list because they are genuinely a great alternative to Chubbies.
They have that shorter swimsuit look for those men who have been squatting all winter, and ready to show off the quads. No shame, we agree, ya look good!
They also ditched the mesh liner and replaced it with a “privacy screen” to protect you from oversharing. They are nice and stretchy, so if you literally want to squat in them, you can!
Price Range: From $70+
Size Range: S-XXL
Materials: Sustainable blend of recycled plastic bottles & spandex blend & recycled coconut shell button
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
We know it’s easy to fall back on the brands we know. There are so many great sustainable alternatives to Chubbies that are high quality, affordable, and leave no carbon footprint.
These amazing brands are changing the swimwear game and doing so much good for the earth. Investing your dollar to support these sustainable alternatives to Chubbies is such an easy way to vote for a greener planet!
Want to shop some of the most revolutionary companies? IndieGetup makes it easier for you to have access to clothing with a conscience. Click here to visit more brands we love that are creating a greener future.
About The Author
Konstantina Antoniadou
A sustainability writer who helps conscious readers discover eco-friendly fashion, beauty, and home products.
Recently, she completed a series of courses in sustainable fashion, business models for sustainability, and consumer neuroscience at Copenhagen Business School to deepen her expertise in promoting sustainable practices in consumer industries.
Currently, she is attending a 6-week seminar on Chemicals and Health at Johns Hopkins University to better understand the toxicity of commonly found household chemicals and their health impacts as well as how to select products that are better for the environment and health.
