Review Summary

A True Surfers Boardshort

Seamless/stitchless boardshorts have been around in the mainstream for about a year and a half now. Rip Curl has their Code: STL and O'Neill has the Rick James signature model "Super Freak." With 2 of the big 4 companies out there selling seamless board-shorts you knew it was only a matter of time until the others came out with similar offerings. Quiksilver's Cell board-shorts share the same name and technology as their popular line of wetsuits that offer nearly seamless designs. I was very intrigued by these trunks as I've always liked Quiksilver designs in trunks and throughout their other lines. So I picked up a pair and tried them out.

The first thing I noticed with these trunks is the material. It's very soft on both the inside and outside. The material is called SIOFREE which is made by SIOEN Industries. When you get the material wet it takes a little time for the water to soak in and splashing the trunks with water repels away immediately almost like Gore-Tex until the trunks are completely soaked. This is great because I've found these trunks dry insanely fast once your session is over. The material also has a bit of stretch to it which makes the trunks very forgiving and comfortable to wear, especially when straddling the board waiting for a wave. Some trunks stick to you on the inside but these are slick ...literally. After a combined 5 hour session with the regular break in between rounds to rest I had no chaffing or discomfort whatsoever. Sweet. I noticed that my wax had left marks on the trunks because they're black in color which could be a sticking point for the fashion conscious out there but if you're into fashion you're probably not looking at these trunks: these are surfer's board-shorts built for utility not looks, even though they have very clean and classic lines.

The seams are barely noticeable and cannot be felt at all. Running your finger over the seams you only feel a slight bump; the whole seam is contained under a thin layer of fabric. These seams appear to be and feel strong as hell, but only time will tell if that's really the case. Quik says the seams are "welded" though every time I hear that term I see Jesse James or bridge workers with arc welders and wonder how one "welds" 2 pieces of fabric together, but in any event these "welded" seams are fantastic. The trunks are made of only 2 panels, so even if there were seams there would be far fewer spots to rub on.

Other features include a silicone infused drawcord that "locks" though I must admit that I've had to rety the drawcord while in the water but it's not a big deal. The entry is velcro free which is a godsend since this is a major source of chaffing in so many other trunks I've worn with normal velcro fly's. They're a little more snug when first getting them over your hips than velcro fly models but once they're on they fit great and you'll wonder why you ever wore anything else. The pocket is on the side which I find more comfortable than the back-side because sitting on wax and combs and keys can be a bit uncomfy and can even damage your board and trunks. The zipper on the pocket is sealed in rubber which I really like; easy to operate and durable. An elastic key loop caps off the utility functions of these board-shorts

The bad?? Well, I guess the price is a downer retailing for $59.99 which is a bit more than regular trunks but what you're getting far outweighs the added price so don't feel like you're getting ripped off; just buy them. Another thing that I'm sure is temporary is a lack of color choices. These trunks are available in black only, for now. I'd look for Quik to release more colors as these trunks take off in popularity which may have already happened. Talking with several shop owners indicated that these trunks fly off the shelves and getting new orders can be tough due to demand.

Basically these are hands down the most comfortable board shorts I've ever worn. I forgot I was even wearing them at times which translates to discomfort-free surfing and lounging on the beach. These are a true surfers board-short with comfort priority #1 and function right behind. Quik has stumbled on the most comfortable and surfer friendly materials and designs to hit the board-short market. Go buy a pair of these, if you can find them, and believe the hype: these board-shorts rule.

by - Bryan Mills

Learn more at http://www.quiksilver.com