A linen button-down is the best beach cover-up for men.

Yes, that’s the one. Lightweight, breathable, looks decent, and dries fast enough. You can throw it on over swim trunks when you grab lunch or walk back to the hotel. Shove it in your bag and it won’t weigh you down.

Rash guards work if you’re actually swimming or surfing, but they’re sporty, not casual. And a regular cotton t-shirt? Damp, heavy, and smells like seawater after an hour. Linen is the sweet spot.

Skip the purpose-built beach cover-ups sold by surf brands. They’re just overpriced mesh sacks. A simple linen shirt from Uniqlo or a thrift store does the same job for less.

If you want to look like you tried without trying, linen button-down is the move.