Thanks to clearance sales, I have too many of them, good insurance for the clothing crisis this summer.

I swim a lot, so clothing that slows down in the water isn't fun. Probably the best in the collection is an Outerknown, which was probably a mistake price, around $30 and free shipping! So there's several more in the drawer. (It looks like Outerknown is taking advantage of brand turmoil to get into real surf shops). Hansen's brand list reads like a retail honor roll, if you get rid of the recent bankruptcies that are mostly coming back to life under new management.

A high end Patagonia Hydrolock (clever lacing/waist system and bonded construction) was expensive even at half price, but will get worn as soon as thing warm up. Hobie had some good prices for their store-brand (typically traditional and made in US) and even Florence, but right now very little at the sale section.

Balsa Bill's shorts and shirt maker retired, so his boardshorts may now be collectible. Hawaiian shirts are available. They seem as good as any I've seen. at balsabill.comonline.

Vissla and others are embracing lace ties that extend all the way around the waist, in their own mid-waistband tunnel. I think it's an old design for volley trunks, but might be spreading now. I picked up a "flight satin nylon" version

Watermen, which caters to lifeguard programs, has long had shoelaces-in-the-waistband shorts, but recently added a 17" outseam version. The "shoelace" is flat, so no waistband bulge, fly is no-velcro, seams sturdy, big pocket. Poly/elastane. Kind of expensive at $60, but seem capable of being worn all day.

An expensive oddity is Driftline. 0.5 mm lined shorts, helpful for Californians. Made in China, so they like others are sweating the tariff.

Finally, "durable water resistant" spray for cloth is available at Lowe's and HD. Most boardshorts are now treated with it (or old-type nylon dries fast anyway) but wearing a pool-type swimsuit under a wetsuit leads to the realization that the polyester clings to water.

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wavewatcher - >ww - >wavewatcher, again

Edited: 04/18/2025 at 08:40 PM by Wavewatcher

I've been replacing clothing and wetsuits thanks to weight loss, so have been paying attention to sales and likes/dislikes. It's been great to get bargains on quality boardshorts, shirts, and even several wetsuits. But my favorite item this season was full price: a Feral wetsuit. A wetsuit that you don't feel like you're wearing when you're in the water. Not flushy, not leaky, lightweight.

Anyway, if you have equipment or clothing needs and some cash, now is the time to look seriously at buying. The China tariff looks to be extremely high and the lower ones for other countries are still likely to cost consumers a lot. For a small example, rubber swim fins mostly come from Malaysia, where rubber grows on trees. They face a 24% tariff. Indonesia has the world's prime bodyboard factory. A 32% tariff looms. The government is pledging to buy more US energy and food products. And military goods.

Stab (possible paywall) talked to the CEO of Vissla, which has become a world retailer with 60% of its sales in the US. Scary.

Brevard is well served by surf shops, which will likely be facing problems with prices and availability. Time to support them.

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wavewatcher - >ww - >wavewatcher, again

Edited: 04/18/2025 at 09:01 PM by Wavewatcher

Billabong, Volcom and Quik all close their doors this week at the outlets. We got a slew of baggies for $7.00 each.

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I was right.

Yow! The "new" Billabong seems online.

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wavewatcher - >ww - >wavewatcher, again

Buyers for online stores had racks full of clothes. Bikinis at $5 each, baggies at $7 and women's knits for $5 with deeper discounts if you bought more than 5 items.

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I was right.

Edited: 04/26/2025 at 08:01 AM by Cole