Linen pants beat board shorts for beach lounging.

Get a pair of loose linen pants and a cotton henley. Way more comfortable than sitting in wet swim trunks while you eat lunch.

Board shorts are fine for wading in, but they dry stiff and clingy. Linen breathes, dries fast, and doesn’t scream “I just got out of the water” when you’re reading a book. If you want to swim, keep the board shorts on underneath and just drop the pants at the water’s edge — that’s the move.

The key is fabric. Cotton blends with some stretch, linen, or a lightweight quick-dry synthetic for the top. Nothing tight. Nothing that soaks up seawater and stays heavy. A loose fit lets the breeze do its job.

Final thought: You should be comfortable enough to fall asleep in your beachwear without a second thought.