GAY ARMADA SPECIAL FEATURE
25 BEST KEPT SECRETS
of Fun Gay Beachwear
The world is coming back to normal!
To help you get ready for your Hot Gurl Summer -then the Gay Armada after THAT!- we put our heads together for a handy guide to help show off your awesome self this Summer, be different from the other boys, showcase your unique self and style with the perfect swimsuit, save a little (or a lot of) money, and help support a bunch of smaller and gay businesses, below is our special guide to some lesser-known beachwear and swimsuit brands we think you would love!
Have fun taking a look at them, listen to the video summaries (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three), or download the summary / link sheets and shop online for yourself via PDF (Click HERE), digital flipbook (Click HERE), or the direct page links (HERE) We even have some great discount codes to help you save more.
See something you like? Once you get your new gear, tag us in your pics at #gayarmada #bestkeptsecrets ...and use it to meet that cute boy on the beach to bring along sailing!
See our summary handout with all the links and discount codes in the flipbook below, followed by breakouts and videos for all of the 25 great brands, with links and discount codes listed and ready for easy shopping to keep you at your studliest on those boats and beaches all summer!
The Top Ten
We love them all, but these brands will have you as fabulous as ever on the beach and in the islands!
1. JIMMY TRENDY
Taking the fun gay pool party world by storm is awesome new brand Jimmy Trendy out of DC, with matching ascot bandanas and, great deals, and awesome swimsuits! Bonus: Save 10% with Code: ARMADATRENDY
2. 2EROS
One of the most universally-loved beach brands is Aussie-based 2eros, whose awesome designs look SO hot and whose brilliant cuts flatter almost everybody.
3. BANG CLOTHES
Miami-based Bang has some of the hottest beachwear and the coolest designs out there. It's not cheap, but is fantastic stuff and we can't get enough of it! Special Bonus: Save 10% with Code: GAYARMADABANG
4. CALIBER
We love everything about Caliber's "swim" cut, especially their surreal pouch system that is epically comfortable while keeping all the jewels in place, no matter how big. Bonus: Save 10% with Code: CALIBERARMADA
5. SOKOWEAR
Literally no other company makes better costume and party tights / shorts than the smart, awesome, in-touch and innovative Sokowear. Bonus: Save 10% with Special Armada Code: TJALTIMOREK
6. MARIS EQUI
Newcomer Brand Maris Equi has great stuff, fun designs, flattering cuts, and phenomenal prices. We love that they even have fun sandals to match! Special bonus: Save 15% with Code: GAYARMADA
7. RESQME
The swim trunks and gym clothes out of Aussie brand RESQME are simply fantastic. Prices are stiff, but the designs are fun and cuts are insanely hot, making them coveted by many. We love their gym shorts, too!
8. DESIDERIO
Nobody beats this Italian brand for fun, comfortable, and cute designs, that bring grins and always start pool party conversations! Don't be afraid to use Google Translate on their pages or emails, though. (It's worth it)
9. CHRIS TURK SWIM
Chris Turk has been wowing the Fire Island and LA crowds for while with his innovative designs that simply look great on almost anybody and any body type can be comfortable in his suits. 10% off first order
10. CHARLIE BY MZ POCKET BRIEF
Charlie is no secret, but their little-known Pocket Brief is a BRILLIANT innovation that answers the timeless pool party question "where to put your phone?" It's no fanny pack protection, but 1000x better than tucking it in!
Part Two
Just as awesome, enjoy #11-25, including our special deep dive into Mermen for Halloween and the new Armada party!
#11 - #25
Just as awesome, enjoy #11-25, including our special deep dive into Mermen for Halloween and the new Armada party!
11. NATHAN AYON: NA SWIM
Nathan Ayon's swim line takes the cuts that he masterfully designed and are handsewn by NYC seamstresses on neat fabrics for a truly unique (and flattering) look that is quickly building him a bigger fanbase every summer!
12. SHOKRA LA
If you want to make a statement at a pool or beach party, LA-based Shokra is the place to check out. We hear great things about their fun swimsuits, too, but the coordinating costume accessories win the day for sure
13. PROJECT CLAUDE
Aussie-based Project Claude takes the irreverent and fun to a new level with their hot (and funny) swimsuits, matching crop tops, underwear, suggestive socks, and even fully-customizable jocks
14. (NEW) ANDREW CHRISTIAN
Andrew Christian is known by all the gays, but has recently made a massive turnaround to improve design, quality, and style for swimwear that actually looks and fits great again, especially the new California Stripe and Pride Stripe suits
15. SPOILED BOI
Creativity wins the day at Spoiled Boi, whose Oz-themed new line is a lot of fun, and whose past season sale merch is nothing short of awesome for those prices. We can already see the Oz-inspired group costumes coming!
16. SLICK IT UP
Best known for their wildly fun fetish gear, Slick It Up also makes great swimwear, shorts, and accessories that will liven up any party (not just the Black Party!), and their handmade quality and top materials are fantastic
17. TURBO
Turbo is legendary in the Water Polo and swimmer boy worlds, but their fun, funny, cool, and custom designs are flat out awesome and hugely underappreciated by the gay boys missing out! (But definitely size up to not squeeze it!)
18. GIGO UNDERWEAR
With some fun patterns and nice cuts, the discount prices make Gigo like the Zara of gay swimsuits. Lots of fun sets and accessories. The low-cost gear won't last for a lifetime, but is a great value for a summer or two! (and ships fast)
19. YES I AM
Italian brand Yes I Am has a brilliant way of making really low-rise, thin-sided suits that avoid looking too micro, and they add in fun patterns and sets. Be careful on sizing, though! (Usually one size above normal sizing)
20. DIFFERIO
Differio may be more of a shop than a brand, but their unique curating and style makes them different and something worth checking out. They have some fun beachwear, but also awesome stuff through the site
21. TWUNK TRUNKS + BEAR BUTTS
With an innovative idea of making EVERY body type look GREAT and feel confident, their dual focus on skinny twink bodies and bigger, bearish guys (up to size 50) is smart, awesome, inclusive, unique and brilliantly executed on
22. BLITZ BEATZ / CIRCUIT SHORTS
These amazing shorts are fantastic for festivals, parties, workouts, hangouts, or just showing off that cake. Their innovative features and specialized pockets made them beloved for circuit parties and events.
23. MERTAILOR MEN
We have long loved Mertailor, and nobody does a better job of mermaid-look costumes, tails, and fun swimsuits, and they have expanded into underwear and fitness gear now, too. These are always a Halloween and theme party hit!
23b. METALLIC MERMAID SPARKLE
Want your mermaid look to sparkle? Check out tights and shorts from #5 Sokowear HERE (and save 10%!), the hot "Merman Fantasy" swimsuit from #11 NA Swim HERE, or the long Mermaid tights from Revolver Fashion HERE
23c. MERTAILOR + MERMAID TAILS
When you're ready to go all out on the Merman look, both Mertailor and FitFun can help you own the pool party with full-on, swimmable mermaid tails! You'll need both an inner fin and outer skin, and prices go from reasonable to way up!
24. NEW SPEEDO SOLAR SUITS
The new cut of Speedo's Powerflex Eco Solar line finally give a good cut that works equally well swimming laps OR on the beach, with solid colors HERE, print designs HERE, Pride designs HERE, or a patriotic look HERE
25. AMAZON PRIME
There is a TON of cheap garbage on Amazon, but a few secretly hidden gems, too. The great thing about Prime is the free delivery, free returns, and easy exchanges, which is key, since many swimsuits are under-marked Asian sizes
Solids: https://amzn.to/3sXBJNV
BIG DISCOUNT SUITS ON PRIME
A few low-cost Chinese suits of decent, Zara/H&M-like quality that you can safely rely on with Prime benefits include these solids, these Mondrian designs, these camo, these chains, this white one, or this rainbow stripe one
Part Three
Honorable mention specialists, special web shops, and some bonus accessories worth grabbing for your beach fun
Hon. MentioN
Honorable mention brands bring us some interesting areas that they specialize on for you to check out
HM 2. AUSSIEBUM
Aussiebum is no secret to any fun, beach-loving gay man, but we couldn't possibly leave them off the list, especially with their usual 30-50% sales keeping their hot, fun beach gear so affordable for all!
HM 3. GARCON: GRAFFITI
Garcon's graffiti swimsuit precedes the name change from "Model" to "Official," but remains an awesome, hot line (4 colors, 2 styles) that flatters so many, is incredibly comfortable, and often available at great discounts
HM 4. HERCULES-NYC: STUDS
Hercules-NYC has been around for a while with great stuff, but we love their hot, fun collaboration with Studmuffin-NYC for these studded suits, which we hear are easier to sit on than you'd think. An ultimate costume can come from it!
HM 5. PARKE & RONEN: TRUNKS
Longtime Gay Armada favorite Parke & Ronen is no secret, but needs a call-out because they really make the best shorts / trunks of anybody, and they fit in closer pant sizes to make you look your best (but prices are rough)
HM6. ARONIK
If you have a great, big muscle bubble rear and that brings onlookers to squat day, you'll look stunning in Aronik's hot suits, but they're ultra pricey, don't have a ton of styles, & may hang in a less than ideal way if the cake is suboptimal
HM 7. WAPO WEAR
Wapo and their high quality, great designs comes at a roughly high price without a lot of impactful sales. It's great stuff, though, especially for the more fit among us.
Accessories
Because we know you're needing the bandanas, and after spending that money, protect your investment!
COLOR-MATCH BANDANAS
It seems bandanas aren't going anywhere, so match your suits with a big Cotton 28-Pack, a great Poly 18-Pack, or a perfect 12 Pack. Better yet: Use Jimmy Trendy's Matching Ascots or Fun Pattern Bandanas (10% Off!)
PRIDE + PATRIOTIC BANDANAS
Since you're going to need plenty of festive bandanas, enjoy a set of Standard Flags, Pre-Folded ones, a Waving 3-Pack Set, Pride Rainbow set (or 1-Pack) or something for our friends at Canada Day
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SWIMWEAR!
After you spend the money on hot swimsuits, make sure they LAST! Wash them (and gym clothes!) with amazing Sport Wash, using good Delicates Bags and Shout Color Sheets so they last for many more Summers!
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER #GAYSPEEDO #SP #PARTNERS #BREAKEVENBUDGETSUPPORT
Note: While brands and items were selected in an independent process, some of the brands have generously offered a donate a small token referral bonus to support the Armada's breakeven budget based on any sales sourced via our channels. We appreciate Armada sailors, fans, and friends using these links so that we can better understand which brands appealed most to our sailors! (in accordance with our published Privacy Policy, though no data is collected in a traceable manner that the Armada would have access to.) If you wish to remain fully anonymous, you can always navigate to any product sites remotely.
