Need swim shorts I can walk in - heeeelp

[NerdleNoodle]

Please help me MN. I'm going on three day-hike with 7 others - a mixed group. We'll be crossing rivers and expected to swim then walk, swim then walk. I've got cellulite on my thighs and loose skin around my knees, and am panicking at being expected to whip off my shorts for a bikini below. I'm trying to find long boardshorts, but for women. Ones I can walk in after I've swum in them. Any suggestions for when I can look ? I'd like to buy online.

TIA !

why do they have to be for women? Can't you just get mens in whatever size fits?

Decathlon? Or what about an open water swimsuit with longer legs. I would have thought it pretty uncomfortable to walk in wet shorts for a distance.

Hmm, hadn't contemplated men's shorts. I could try. I imagine they'd be the wrong though ?

Decathlon or wiggle.

But honestly, no one will look or care about your legs. They're just human female legs.

Lands end usually have lots of choice of that sort of thing.

Lands End have board shorts, and also an active swim skort (I think thats what they call it) with long shorts under a skirt which you could just walk in. Or a pair of fast drying knickers/ bikini bottoms under lycra leggings

How could shorts be wrong?

Will you not risk badly chafing if walking in wet shorts for so long?

Depends entirely on your body shape. I wore men's board shorts when I was thin, but now at size 14 and an hourglass shape, they don't come up nearly high enough.

Do they have to be flappy shorts though op? It sounds as if something tighter would be more comfortable to walk in when wet. I'd be looking for a cycling short style with a high, wide waist band and tight legs to mid thigh.

I second decathlon as always worth checking out.

I wear mens swimming shorts, mine are a size large and from TU. They are drawstring waist and really comfy. Not sure about walking in them wet for any period of time, but fit-wise, they are great.

I should add I'm a size 14-16 in ladies clothing.

Are you actually going to swim across the rivers? Are you sure? It depends where you are but my experience of crossing rivers while hiking is that anything deeper than your knees is considered to dangerous to cross this way because the current can easily be too strong to guarantee hikers won’t get swept downstream, even on a relatively calm looking river. Won’t you also be keeping your boots on so you have grip on the riverbed?

If you're intending to swim in them do not buy loose ones as they will chafe when you walk!

You need some tight fitting Lycra ones, and wear a hiking skirt over the top, or a skort as others have suggested.

I got some cycling short swim bottoms from ModLi, now called Calypsa.

Really impressed by them- much more practical than bikini bottoms for doing anything active.

Depending on temperatures obviously but standard hiking advice is no cotton. So wool or polyester leggings if needed, polyester shorts (board shorts or running shorts work quite well, multiple thin layers for your upper half in wool or synthetic, + a wind and rainproof jacket. Wool socks are better if you’re going to be hiking with wet boots from repeated river crossings.

Surely swim leggings would be better? I love mine. Wear them for all swimming.

When I've done wadlopen in the Netherlands (mud flat walks with swimming) I wear running lycra shorts with a tshirt and stretchy skirt that comes off before getting wet. The shorts dry fast and are thin enough not to rub. I think most swim kit would be really uncomfortable to walk in. Certainly no cotton knickers underneath

I bought mens speedo ones. Fit me fine.

Jammers- tighter fitting swim shorts that don't chafe!

@CrappyXmasMarket

If you're intending to swim in them do not buy loose ones as they will chafe when you walk!

You need some tight fitting Lycra ones, and wear a hiking skirt over the top, or a skort as others have suggested.

I do stuff like this. I just wear gym tights, they dry very quickly. The ones I mostly wear are Nike, and made of “Dri Fit” fabric, which sheds water/moisture very quickly. I walk in them, swim, continue walking, don’t change on a warm day. On a colder day, I wear “Powerstretch” fleece leggings to walk in, and either swim in a swimsuit or gym leggings. I swim year round though.

Board shorts and other long flappy shorts are not comfortable for walking in.

I’m a size 16 and not very toned!

I bought some black cycling short type swimming shorts from Amazon. I use them for sea swimming along with a neoprene jacket when it is cold. They are reasonably flattering and dry quickly. These ones are similar. www.amazon.co.uk/Charmo-Womens-Swimming-Shorts-Swimsuit/dp/B07FN2G5FR/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?psc=1&crid=M0BVU7EUGZ7Z&keywords=womens+long+swimming+shorts&sprefix=womens+long+swimming+shorts%2Caps%2C64&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFXM1NQVVFUU1QyV0smZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1NDI3MjUxNktXQVdaTEVXVkVOJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3OTIxNzAxMFhSWlMzT1Q2TkUxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1645712219&sr=8-1-spons

Sorry for the ridiculously long link!

I would think wet board shorts would be really uncomfortable to wear.

You could look at triathlon or swim/run gear - I’ve got a tri-suit with legs down to almost knees - the thing is these are designed to swim (you swim first) and then cycle/run so comfortable when wet and dry quickly.

Patagonia Baggies shorts in the 5” length

Mens board shorts would be fine - they dry so quickly - womens board shorts tend to be v short! Look at Roxy/billabong/O’Neills - they’d have some I would think!

Thank you all so much ! This is extremely useful. I'm checking out all the links. So the consensus seems to be don't walk in wet baggy shorts ? Though I hear the dissenters.

I didn't know there was 'triathlon wear'. I'll Google that too.

Many thanks!

Try Boden- they do swim shorts which give more coverage than a cossie but would be fine to walk in. I have several pairs, they are fab!