They're called "Phantom" boardshorts for a reason.

It's all the stretch without stretching your budget. That's what you might say about Hurley's 60 Phantom Block Party boardshort. In keeping with their award-winning tradition, this summer the design department at Hurley offers up this affordable bit of trunk technology.

At the start of the season, Hurley released their Phantom 4D boardies to much fanfare. And to be sure, they're as snazzy as can be -- if you're looking for a pair of shorts that might put you on the podium at the U.S. Open. But what am I, Brett Simpson? I don't have the pocketbook of an Orange County housewife. With a price tag of $125, who can afford such luxuries? I'm just looking for something that doesn't chafe the boys too bad and stays up when I'm being dragged across the sea floor. Enter the Block Party. Simple, efficient, and rather classy, at $62 they tick all the right boxes without breaking the bank.

What it is:
Gone are the days when old lady seamstresses stitched together surf trunks from canvas sails. It's a humming business these days, and you can find a reasonable enough pair of trunks anywhere from Costco to Marshalls to a catwalk in Paris to the boutique where only hepcats shop. But if you plan on going in the ocean, the Phantom Block Party harken back to a day when surf trunks were made to actually surf in. Because designer Ryan Hurley is a surfer first, it's been the company's mission to make boardshorts that really work ... and these do.

"Getting the seams right on stretchy material like that is tricky, but we kept testing and testing, and eventually we made one of the most revolutionary surf trunks ever," says Hurley. "It's an unbelievable trunk, but unlike some trunks that guys kind of wear low or a little too big, for these to really work when you're out surfing you're going to want them to be a little snug on land. This is one of those instances where fit and function supersede fashion a little...even though the trunks still look really good, they're made to be in the water, surfing with you."

Why it rules:
In a recent interview ...Lost Surfboards headmaster Matt Biolas noted that the best surfers "want a board they don't even feel, that's just there." The same could be said for boardshorts. Nobody wants a pair that rubs them wrong, nor do they want something that tangles them up upon take-off.

Hurley's Phantom fabric is of the stretchiest available, and has undergone much R&D at their "Athlete Testing Facility" in Portland, Oregon (i.e. Nike headquarters). And for those with a green thumb, the fabric is made with 60% recycled materials, so they'll help stretch the lifespan of the planet too.

The trunks have a 19-inch outseam, so they won't get caught on your knees when you go to stand up, but they're not exactly short shorts either. And they're more or less water proof, which means they take little to no time to dry. And with Hurley's patented EZ fly closure, they'll fit snug and won't end up around your ankles after your next trip over the falls.

Where to find it:
Of course you could go directly to Hurley.com and pick out exactly what you want, but if you want to support the local economy and feel the fabric before you plunk down your money, then pull into the finest surf shop in your area, they'll have them.