They may look similar, but these two must-have water-ready shorts do serve slightly different purposes. - Board short: women use board shorts to go over their swimsuit or tankini, kind of like swim cover ups. They're best for both in and out of water activities--think beach volleyball, sailing, paddleboarding, or grabbing a quick bite from the snack shack. Board shorts are typically made of 4-way stretch, quick-dry fabrics with UPF 50 coverage. We've got a selection of boardshorts lengths, from long board shorts to short size board shorts, to coordinate with our active swim bottoms, bikini tops, and one-piece swim suits. - Swim short: women's swim shorts, on the other hand, are basically the shorts version of a bikini bottoms. They're great for--you guessed it--swimming! (And in the surf, with the kids, or whatever else you're doing on the beach or in the water.) These shorts are made of the same stretchy material as other swimwear, and usually have a built-in brief and drawstring waist, so you can skip the bikini bottom. They come in a variety of size and coverage options, and pair perfectly with bikini tops or tankini tops.