I think this might be a North America vs European thing but the sizes on these shorts are *huge*. I do realise this is partly on me for not going through the size guide before ordering. I was worried they'd sell out quickly and so placed my order with the size I'd usually get for shorts, which is large. However, I honestly was not expecting them to be *so* out of whack with what I'm used to.

In the past, I've ordered a whole bunch of t-shirts and a couple of coats from the LTT store and the sizing has been consistent with what I'm used to here in the UK. I typically order XL or L Tall t-shirts (when they're in stock) which is exactly the same sizing that I have experienced here.

Since shipping is such a significant part of the cost for orders, returning them isn't really a good option for anyone so I plan to re-buy them either in small or medium (or both?). However, as of today they seem to be out of stock for anything below a large anyway so I guess I'll have to wait!

The shorts themselves are great. They're a lot heavier than I expected them to be, which is clearly due to the thicker and better quality materials used. You wouldn't feel like a muppet wearing these out and about on holiday in-between pool sessions. My only bit of feedback would be that the string is somewhat slippery and I would have gone with some other material choice that has a bit more grip. If you have the right size for you then this shouldn't be too much of an issue but if you need to tie them tightly then it's a pain in the arse to tie a bow in them without them loosening up. And because the pair I have are *so* big, I have to tie them as tight as a duck's arse otherwise they'd end up round my ankles in no time and I'd be escorted off the premises.

In order to help anyone in the UK thinking of buying, I've attached two photos comparing the pair I have to some UK equivalents. The first compares my pair to a newly bought pair of large sized trunks (pink with orange crabs) that I picked up from M&S today. In this picture, the LTT ones have been through the wash four times (although I don't think they've shrunk at all). The second photo compares them to a Lonsdale branded pair of trunks, also sized large. In this photo, the LTT ones were brand new and had never been worn or washed. The Lonsdale ones are *old* though and have likely shrunk somewhat so I don't think this is the fairest comparison, but if you're replacing an old pair of trunks that has seen you through a bunch of sunburnt holidays then maybe this photo is useful to you.

I also compared them to an XL pair from M&S and they were very similar in size although the LTT large was still a hair bigger. I didn't include that photo because it was hard to tell any difference on camera.

Anyway, nice shorts but weird sizing. Get at least one size down than you're used to, at least if you're used to UK/EU sizing. Now I just have to wait for these to be back in stock again to order a smaller size but in the meantime, I'll be working on my finger dexterity to tie a bow tight enough to keep my dignity intact.

Got my pair of swim shorts just in time for my birthday and it's definitely a party trick! They are comfy and soft, and although I was wondering if the large would fit (I usually wear XL) but the chart didn't lie. They are a perfect fit!