I’ve been using ‘The Trunks’ from Elephant Surf on my recent surf
sessions. ‘The Trunks’ are neoprene compression shorts that are meant
to be worn under your board shorts. They basically look like the lower
half of a spring suit and are similar to the compression shorts that
you see professional basketball players wearing under their shorts.

So I know you’re asking yourself why would you want to wear something
under your boardshorts. These under trunks are designed to prevent
rash and chafe that the stitching and constant rubbing board shorts
create.

I’m a big fan of stretch boardshorts and after trying my first pair I
won’t wear a pair of boardshorts unless they are stretch. All the
major boardshort companies claim that their latest stretch boardshorts
prevent rash and chafe (constructed with welded panels instead of
stitches). However, while the boardshorts have improved from years
past, I’ve yet to find a boardshort that doesn’t chafe. Enter, ‘The
Trunks’ from Elephant Surf. They fit snug just like a spring suit and
the grippy neoprene keeps your boardshorts from riding up. The great
thing about these under trunks is their protection of chafe as I
surfed with ‘The Trunks’ on several 3+ surf sessions without any hints
of rash or chafe.

Another cool benefit of the Elephant Trunks is they actually keep your
lower half warmer in colder weather. I always get strange looks when I
tell people I get cold surfing in Hawaii…sure, compared to the East
Coast or even California, you could consider it warm bathwater. But
for those of us who have lived in Hawaii all of our lives, an air
temperature in the low 70’s is freezing! Combine that with our typical
trade winds and it gets chilly. We had a recent stretch of cooler
temperature, overcast skies, and chilly winds and while wearing ‘The
Trunk’, I did feel that I was noticeably warmer having those on. On
the really chilly day a 2mm wetsuit jacket and ‘The Trunk’ should be
perfect for those dawn patrol sessions.

I recommend this product to anyone who has problems with lower
rash/chafe and tends to surf long sessions. Surfers looking to keep
their lower body warm and improve their surfing should also give these
trunks a try as warmer muscles and legs equates to better performance
when the weather gets cold or towards the end of the session.

They offer ‘The Trunks’ in size M (30-34 waist) $48.00 and L (34-38)
$48.00. You can purchase Elephant Surf’s ‘The Trunks’ on their
website.