I’ve lived all over Australia – why do all surf shops do this one ‘creepy’ thing?

An Australian woman has slammed one ‘creepy’ aspect of surf shops in Down Under – and hundreds have the same problem. 

The young woman, from Victoria, named the consistent issue she has with surf shops: the cut of bikini bottoms.

‘I was in Queensland recently and it drives me nuts how surf shops only shock high waited bottoms,’ she said on Reddit.

‘I’ve looked thoughout Melbourne and a few regional places. I spent time in Maroochydore and Brisbane. I used to only buy surf bathers as they were cheap, decent quality, and looked cute.’

The woman shared an image of tie-up bikini bottoms from Surf Dive n Ski as a point of reference of the style she cannot escape.

She’s appalled at the lengths she feels has to go to in order to find suitable bottoms that offer more coverage.  

‘I understand there’s a demand for high crotch now but why is it so hard to find normal bottoms in store? I’ve even looked in Myer,’ she said.

‘The only place that I could find them was cheap stores like Kmart, or [expensive stores] like Seafolly. She’s even tried discount outlets at Chadstone and Fountain Gate – to no avail.

‘It’s driving me nuts,’ she confessed. ‘Even Cotton On has jumped on the band wagon. It’s creepy how hard it is to find normal bathers.’

While Surf Dive n Ski has high-waisted and stringy tie-up options, there are also other styles online that offer more coverage.

While Surf Dive n Ski has high-waisted and stringy tie-up options, there are also other styles online that offer more coverage

A few suggested different options while shopping.

‘Maybe ‘full coverage’ is the search term you’re looking for if you want standard bikini bottoms that don’t have a cheeky cut, or you could try boy shorts?’ one offered.

‘You don’t have to wear this style up high like that, you can wear them as hipsters. But also City Beach has tonnes year round of all styles. And I believe it’s cheaper than Seafolly from memory,’ another recommended.

‘I live in mum world so I don’t even see swimmers like this! We’re all buying from Funkita and Speedo and Swimwear Galore,’ a mum said,

‘I love Unepiece, Alulu, and Infamous Swim – all online,’ another shopper wrote.

Others sympathised with the woman.

‘Agree! I want something a little more modest for myself but I type ‘modest’ and get the other end of the spectrum,’ one said. ‘Why can’t there be a middle ground?’

Another asked, ‘Why can’t surf shops sell swimwear that appeals to a wider range of personal tastes?’