Difference between Briefs and Bikinis

[Torchwatch]

There is a total confusion of terms in the definition of men's swimwear. Different brands use different names according to whim.
Chinese Ebay sellers seem to load keywords into a title so instead of advertising a men's swim bikini brief they'll name it a men's swim bikini brief tanga thong jockstrap G string.

I would guess that a swim brief with a side width of less than 2"/ 3cm is a bikini swim brief.
While a swim brief with a side width of between 2" to 3" is a European or classic racing swim brief, and between 3" and 5" is an American swim brief.

A tanga also known as a string bikini has fabric covered elastic between front and back panels. Desmiit have recently launched a new swim tanga range, possibly following Aussibum doing the same last year. A tanga will tend to have a 3/4 rear as opposed to a full rear on a racing swim brief.

A swim thong has a front pouch, narrow sides and minimal rear. The rear will slip into the ass crack revealing one's ass cheeks. It has a waist elastic and 2 leg hole elastics all covered in fabric.

A G string or posing pouch has a front pouch held in position by an uncovered waist elastic and an uncovered rear strap through the ass crack. Don't expect to be comfortable in a G string. G strings are not intended for swimming.

A jockstrap or athletic support has a front pouch and a waist elastic, traditional sports jockstraps have very wide waist elastic. Swim jockstraps worn under swimsuits have narrow waist elastic.
A jockstrap has rear elastic straps along the lines where a racing swim brief's leg elastic would run each side.
There is a current fashion for jockstraps with circular or oval rear holes constructed from elastic and fabric.
Apart from swim jockstraps (which are worn under swim suits), jockstraps are made from cotton based fabrics and not intended for swimming, so you are unlikely to see anyone swimming in a jockstrap, though I have seen men in jockstraps on beaches and in the dunes.

Any brief or thong with a Lycra or Endurance fabric and a waist cord/string is probably intended to be swum in.