Kids Boardshorts

Kids board shorts that cope with a kid

A kid does not wear boardies. A kid sits on a jetty in them, slides down a pool ladder in them, climbs the back of the boat in them and then wears them to the shops. Jetpilot cuts its kids board shorts the same way it cuts the adult boardies, so the shorts can keep up: Jet-Lite 100% stretch fabric, triple-stitch construction, a chlorine-resistant finish and an elasticated waist. Sizes 6 to 14.

The Jet-Lite Elasticated Youth Boardshort

Jet-Lite is Jetpilot's ultra-lite, 100% stretch, quick-dry fabric, the one that dries on the walk back from the water. On the youth boardshort it means the fabric moves with them in and out of the water instead of fighting them, the triple-stitch construction takes the rough and tumble, and the chlorine-resistant finish keeps the colour and the shape through a term of swimming lessons and a summer of boat days. The elasticated waist means they can get it on themselves, which is one less job for you at the ramp and one less argument.

Sun first, then the shorts

Boardies are not sun protection, and water throws the UV straight back up at a kid. The rated pieces on kids rashies carry a UPF 50+ rating on the product page, and a long sleeve rashie goes on before the boardies come out of the bag. Sunscreen lasts until the first jump off the back. The rashie lasts until bath time.

On the boat, the ski and the tube

Boardies over the rashie, and an AS 4758 approved kids life jacket over everything, done up on dry land before the boat leaves the ramp. Level 50S is the jet ski, wake and tube vest and the minimum on a PWC in every state; Level 50 is the same float in a high-vis colourway for water where your state requires it past smooth water, Queensland included. Kids jackets are sized by chest and weight, never by age, and the level your grom needs depends on your state and your water, so read the Australian life jacket regulations guide before the first day out. The boardshort is the easy half. The jacket is the half the law cares about.

Sizing

Sizes 6 to 14. The elasticated waist gives a little room, but buy for the kid you have now: a boardshort bought to grow into is round their ankles on the first jump. The size guide works off measurements, not birthdays. Rinse in fresh water after salt or chlorine, dry out of the sun, and they last longer than the kid fits them.

The rest of the kids kit

The 180 GSM cotton tees, the quick-dry hydro tees and the rest of the dry-land half of the range are on kids clothing. Life jackets, wetsuits and the water half sit on kids watersports. Shorts, rashie, jacket. Get the order right and the day gets good.