So I wanted to build off of UNB Tim’s post from June 14 discussing a swim brief/thong challenge. I have had the opportunity over the past month or so to wear a few different styles of swimwear out on the beach. I know (NOT THONGS) you’re all wondering why I would do that, so I’ll explain a bit. A few of the beaches around the area are not thong friendly, and I have to either wear a regular bikini, a swim brief (speedo) or submit to wearing some form of shorts. Since I LOVE my tan lines, I tend to stick with something as close to my usual thong style as possible.
A few weeks ago, my daughter wanted to go to the beach while she was home from college, and we combined the beach trip with a daddy/daughter day trip. We did a couple of things and then hit the beach. As I already knew that the city of Virginia Beach, VA is not thong friendly, I packed my Joe Snyder Bulge Boxer in wet look black as I knew it would be safe for me to wear on the beach there. When we arrived at the beach and picked out a spot, I quickly set up our chairs and towels, and slid out of my shorts and settled into my chair. Nobody around us blinked or batted an eye as I sunned in the tiny suit. I even got up several times with my daughter, walking along the beach, and also took a dip together to cool off. Once again, nobody gave us the first look, glare, or made me feel otherwise uncomfortable.
A week or so later, after my daughter left to go back to school, I had a doctors appointment at the beach. I decided to try my luck and see how I did in the same location with a different suit. Once again, no thongs allowed-this time I picked out a more daring suit, my Joe Snyder Bulge Bikini in the new blue lines fabric.
After my appointment was over, I made my way to the beach, set up my chair and towel, and stripped down to my new suit. As it wasn’t a thong style rear, I knew I’d be ok in Virginia Beach again, but I’m not gonna lie, it still shows off quite a bit of your cheeks, so I was still a bit apprehensive about wearing it on such of a conservative beach. Once again I was very pleasantly surprised. Nobody paid the first bit of attention to me, neither by staring at me, making any rude comments/gestures, or complaining about my suit. I spent a few hours sunning on my front and rear without incident.
Fast-forward to today-my daughter is still away at school, and my wife hasn’t felt well, so I decided to head to a different spot to catch some sun. I chose to visit Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA. I thought that it was also a no-thong beach, once again I packed my Joe Snyder Bulge Bikini in the new blue lines fabric since I had already had a successful trip with it. When I arrived at the beach park, I walked north of the pier and set up my chair and towel. I slid off my shorts and settled into my chair for some sunrays. Immediately I noticed the same lack of stares, comments, or lack of comfortableness many of us associate wearing a small suit on a public beach. I felt comfortable in this bikini today at the beach, even being amidst a large crowd of people. Nobody pointed, laughed, took pictures, or anything. I spent all afternoon today at the park, alternating between sunning and swimming in the water. I even felt comfortable enough to pull the suit up and expose a little more of my cheeks (to minimize the impact on my tanlines of course). When I got ready to leave for the day, I noticed a police officer parked watching over the beach. I have to complement the department on this gentleman’s professionalism as I approached him to inquire about the legality of thongs on this beach. He quickly informed me that there was no ordinance against thongs in general, that they saw a limited number every year, and that there was no parking rule prohibiting them. I even asked if it was ok for men and women to thong there to which he told me yes! I can’t wait to go back there and sun my cheeks in a thong!
I wanted to share these experiences with everyone because I know there are a lot of people reading the blog who are very apprehensive about wearing a swim brief or thong for the first time. I want to encourage each of you to try it. Maybe it doesn’t need to be around friends or family the first time, or in your front yard while washing your car or doing yard work, but if you are interested in wearing something out of the norm you should go for it. People, in general, are not anywhere near as mean as you think they are and will be much more accepting than you think. I have found that beaches that are mixed with various cultures will be much more open to different swimwear styles, and beaches that are full of the same type of people (big trucks, flags, board shorts) may be less accepting of what you decide to wear. Either way, be sure that you ask questions if you are unsure if a specific type of swimwear is “legal” at your beach do your research first. Ask a police officer, or if you’re anxious about sparking that conversation, either call or email your questions ahead of time. PLEASE don’t take advice from me as comprehensive legal council-do your own research! I mainly wanted to share my positive experiences over the past several weeks wearing minimal swimwear and interactions with others. Please don’t think that the police or beachgoers are out to get you ask questions, be friendly to others, and just act natural and nobody’s going to make a big deal out of your swimwear choices. Drop us a line here and let us know about how your first (or 100th) experience goes this summer wearing a new suit. I am also available on IG (unb_ryan) or twitter (unb_ryan) if you have any questions or wanted to tell me about your experiences there!
13 Comments
What’s the suit you are wearing in this photo?
Hi Dan-the suit in the photo is a Joe Snyder Bulge bikini in the blue lines fabric. I’m wearing a size small.
Interesting that it’s a bikini because it looks like a thong. Does it work well for swim? I think I need to get myself one.
Dan-it is definitely a skimpy bikini! While it does show off quite a bit of your cheeks, it doesn’t separate them so it shouldn’t meet the definition of a thong. I’ve worn it at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, where no thongs are allowed. You should certainly try one out!
You sir have inspired me to wear at least a bikini in my upcoming Hawaii trip! Time to ditch the board shorts and get one on order.
Hi JR-I’m so glad you’re going to step out of your comfort zone! You’ll love sunning and swimming in a tiny suit. Let me know how the trip goes!
Try a thong, even if it’s under board shorts at first, you will be surprised how quick you lose the shorts.
I’ll definitely let you how it goes! The crazy thing is I sent the article to my girlfriend and told her what I was thinking expecting the worst but she was totally cool with it. In fact she wants me to buy the same bikini your wearing in the pic! (She loves the blue stripes)
As for the thong, I’ll give it try but truthfully I only started wearing thong underwear recently (about 2 months ago after finding this site) and I’m still getting used to them. If you would have told me a year ago I’d be wearing a thong I would’ve laughed your face. Now I have 12 pairs and plan on adding more thongs and maybe even g-strings to the undies collection as time progresses.
JR-awesome story! I would love for more girlfriends and wives to read our content! I think a lot of guys are so hesitant to wear anything other than plaid boxer shorts and board shorts to the beach because they’re afraid of how the women in their lives will react. It’s past time that us guys have more of a day about what we wear-the girls get to wear WHATEVER they want 100% of the time! I’m glad your girlfriend was cool with your choices and hope it inspires others to share with their partners as well! Can’t wait to hear how your trip goes! Btw-great choice to both of you on the bikini-it’s a super hot design and pattern!
I’m currently on vacation with my in-laws and have worn my swim briefs all week! It’s been great. I thought there might be a sense of awkwardness from them or me as they’re more conservative but so far it’s been awesome! Can’t wait to get back to the beach today and get them on again!
Hi John-that’s awesome! I am finding more and more that most of our reservations are with ourselves. Most other people don’t really care about what we’re wearing. This past weekend I visited Buckroe Beach again in Hampton, VA and was actually invited over to join a large group on the beach. One of the guys had been dared to wear a speedo because they had seen me out there the weekend before. The guy told me he had no shame, and he rocked the speedo on and off all day long. I had a few conversations with different people regarding my suit (a red Joe Snyder Bulge tanga) but in general just made several new friends and enjoyed the beach and weather!
Hey I love Buckroe Beach. Been travelling across Va for years to visit. My home away from home. I started wearing speedos there back in the early 1980s. Back then about one in 10 guys on the beach wore a speedo style suit. They were available at Sears, Kmart, JCPenney ect.
I dont remember the year but there were several women who always wore thongs at Buckroe. Then all of the sudden they stopped.
I was sunning one day at Buckroe and a guy in a thong layed out close to me. It wast long that a male lifeguard approached him and told him he couldnt wear it. I was laying out in an average cut speedo. He didnt say anything to me.
I have worn thongs, gstrings and the briefest of swimwear north of Buckroe Beach at Grandview Beach in Hampton.. Both on the residential side and on the nature preserve side. Some years ago the residential side wasnt so crowded. After people started getting those souped up golf carts with big tires it started to get more crowded there. And walking down tbe beach from the parking area no longer guaranteed a private spot.
Having been a semi pro wrestler on the indie circuit, i liked tanning the most i could. My old saying was tan what you legally can.
Havent been to Buckroe in a few years. My last car gave out and I never replaced it. I get a bunch of shit from rental car companies because I dont have a credit card. I take bus to work and walk and bike. Im an avid bicyclist during cooler months and love my bike pants during cooler months.
I also like visiting Ocean View Beach when in your area as well as Huntington Beach.
Hi-I’ve checked with the actual police in buckroe beach on a few different trips and have always gotten the same response, that it’s not against the law to wear a thong there! You should definitely give it another try if you’re able to! I love grandview as well, but can’t deal with the flies most days.