My thoughts on the Orlebar Brown Bulldog swim trunks (2023)

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This past summer I bought a pair of Orlebar Brown Bulldog swim trunks. This is my review and thoughts on the trunks and purchase experience. Spoiler alert, they are fantastic!

What are the Orlebar Brown Bulldogs?

The Bulldogs are a line of swim trunks by Orlebar Brown that are designed to provide a comfortable and flattering fit. They are made from quick-drying, breathable fabric and come in a variety of colors and patterns. The Bulldogs are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and any other activities that take place by the water.

I have always been a fan of Orlebar Brown’s clothing. The quality is excellent, and the styles are classic and timeless. I was excited to try out the Bulldog swim trunks.

The Bulldogs come in a wide range of colors and patterns. They also have some photo prints with iconic photographs from some of the world’s most famous photographers.

I went with the photo print of the Formula 1 start in Monaco in 1956. A classic photo taken by Thomas McAvoy.

My purchasing experience with Orlebar Brown

I’ve had my eyes on a pair of Orlebar browns for a while. The Bulldogs seemed to offer a slightly different fit than most other swim trunks and I’ve only heard good things about them.

When I then saw the Formula 1 print online I knew I needed to get them.

I didn’t want to online since I wanted to try them on before. That’s why I waited until I was back in Marbella so I could visit the local Orlebar Brown store.

In Marbella, Orlebar Brown has a small store at Puente Romano. The store is very nice and the staff is great. You get treated well in the store and get the assistance you need.

Going in I knew there was a good chance that they wouldn’t have the specific print I was out for. But I was lucky and they had the Formula 1 print as well as my size.

I got the Bulldog swim trunks for $250.

I bought a pair of linen shorts as well and I actually got different sizes in the swim trunks and shorts. This is the exact reason I prefer to shop in-store rather than online.

How does Orlebar Brown fit me?

Let’s start by talking about swim trunks fit in general.

Most men’s swim trunks have an elastic waistband, drawstrings, and often some elasticity in the fabric of the trunks. This offers great flexibility in the water and you can ensure free movement.

This is the general fit of swim trunks today and most men simply accept it as fact.

On the other hand, Orlebar Browns’s swim trunks come with a fixed waistline, a button instead of drawstrings, and no elasticity in the trunk’s fabric. This doesn’t sound very comfortable on paper.

But what about in the real world, how does Orlebar Brown fit?

The fit is acctually fantastic, truly something else. They feel a bit different the first time you wear them, but you quickly get used to the fit.

They feel more like real shorts than swim trunks and sit better with the fixed waistline.

But what about when you get into water? In the water they feel great as well. They will not more around as much as regular swim trunks but rather stay in place. And even with this, they do not restrict any morement at all.

This is something that is hard to describe and something that you really need to try. But I can definitely see why the Orlebar Brown is so popular!

How fast does Orlebar Brown dry?

The material of regular quick-dry swim trunks are often very thin which enables the trunks to dry quickly due to the minimal fabric mass. Some quick-dry swim trunks are even see-through when wet since they want to be quick-dry technology.

Orlebar Brown’s fabric is not thin and is far from see-through. However, it still dries faster than most other swim trunks I’ve tried. I’m no expert in swim trunk fabrics but my feeling is that my new Orlebar Brown Bulldogs don’t absorb as much water as other swim trunks and that’s the reason for them being able to dry much faster. There is simply less water “in the trunks” that needs to evaporate.

What do I like about my new Orlebar Brown?

There is much to love about Orlebar Browns Bulldogs’ swim trunks. Everything from how fast they dry to the fantastic print and build quality.

However, if I’m only allowed to say 1 thing, it’s they way they fit and stay in place without restricting any movement. It’s really a new experience and something you have to try for yourself.

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What do I not like about Orlebar Brown Bulldogs?

So far I haven’t found much that I don’t like about them. A very minor thing I found is that the white parts of my specific print look dirty when giving them a quick glance. This is specific to the print I went with and you’ll quickly realize that it’s not a stain but rather the photo of the asphalt.

One could also argue that the price of $250 also is a downside but more on that later.

Is Orlebar Brown worth it?

Ending this review you probably want my final conclusion of the OB Bulldogs.

I really love these trunks and I’ll be sure to use them for endless summers to come. The fit and overall build and craftmanship is my favorite things about them. The downside is a pricetag of $250.

However, you don’t have to go for the printed version. You’ll get all the benefits of OB’s Bulldogs by going for the regular options that are priced at around $200.

Even this pricetag will be too much for a lot of people.

In conclusion, if you are prepared to drop $200+ on swim trunks, these are among the best you can get. If you are looking for high-quality swim trunks under $70 I would instead recommend these Decisives.