Best Non-Toxic / Plastic-Free Men's Shorts (2026) | MARINE|O
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Here's something most guys never think about: the shorts you wear all summer are probably made of plastic. Polyester and nylon, the fabric in almost every pair of "performance" or beach shorts are plastic, spun into thread. They sit on your skin in the heat, trap sweat and odour, and shed microplastic fibres into the water every single wash.
There's a better way to do it, and a small group of brands are proving it. We've rounded up the five best non-toxic, plastic-free men's shorts you can actually buy in Australia in 2026, across merino wool, hemp and organic cotton, and compared them honestly on the things that matter.
In a hurry? The MARINE|O Merino Wool Walkshort is our top pick - the only 100% merino option built for heat, water and multi-day wear.
What we judged them on
"Natural fibre" on a label doesn't automatically make a good pair of shorts. We compared each brand on six things:
- What's actually touching your skin - 100% natural fibre, or a blend with synthetics hiding in the mix?
- Heat & breathability - do they stay cool when it's 35°C and humid?
- Odour resistance - can you wear them more than once before they need a wash?
- Water & quick-dry - swim, rinse, hang, repeat, or soggy for hours?
- Microplastic shedding - do they pollute every wash, or not at all?
- Fit, versatility & value - do they look good off the beach, and are they worth the money?
The 5 best non-toxic men's shorts in Australia (2026)
1. MARINE|O - Merino Wool Walkshort
Best for: heat, water and multi-day wear without the plastic.
MARINE|O is the only brand on this list built around Merino wool rather than hemp or cotton. For an active, in-and-around-water life, that fibre choice does a lot of heavy lifting. The Walkshort is 100% Australian Merino using Woolmark's OPTIM™ technology, with a 19" outseam that sits just above the knee.
Merino's party trick is odour resistance: it's naturally antibacterial, so you can wear these for days between washes without them turning. It's also genuinely quick-drying and built to handle water, which is why these work as an everyday short and a swim-adjacent one. No synthetics, no microplastic shedding, two large zip pockets (no front pockets, so your phone and keys stay put).
Pros: 100% merino, exceptional odour resistance, quick-dry, water-friendly, zero microplastic shedding, secure zip pockets.
Cons: The most premium price on the list. Currently one core style and S/M/L sizing only.
Price: around $169.99 AUD (or 2 pairs for $300). Free Australia-wide shipping and 60-day returns.
See the MARINE|O Merino Wool Walkshort →
2. Afends - Hemp & Organic Cotton Walkshorts
Best for: style range and a recognisable brand name.
Afends is the best-known sustainable name on this list. A Byron Bay brand with a deep hemp and organic cotton range, plenty of colours and sizing from roughly 28 to 36. If you want a plastic-free short that leans streetwear, their hemp/cotton walkshorts are a strong pick.
One honest caveat worth knowing: Afends is not plastic-free across the board. Their boardshorts and swim styles use recycled polyester and nylon. Better than virgin plastic, but still plastic, and still shedding microplastics. Stick to their hemp and organic cotton casual cuts if avoiding synthetics is the whole point for you.
Pros: Big style and colour range, broad sizing, well-established brand, hemp/cotton blends soften with wear.
Cons: Swim/boardshort range uses recycled synthetics; most casual styles are blends rather than 100% natural fibre.
Price: around $80–$120 AUD depending on style.
3. Hemp Clothing Australia - Hemp Sports Shorts
Best for: clean, minimalist natural-fibre basics.
Hemp Clothing Australia does exactly what the name says, timeless, no-logo natural-fibre staples. Their sports shorts are a tidy hemp/organic-cotton option for everyday and light-active wear, and the brand's whole ethos is plants over synthetics.
Pros: Genuine natural-fibre credentials, understated look, reasonable price, free AU shipping over $100.
Cons: More lifestyle-basic than performance; not designed for serious water or heavy heat.
Price: around $94 AUD.
4. Made in Hemp - 100% Hemp Beach Shorts
Best for: hemp durability and a beachy, relaxed cut.
If you want the purist hemp option, Made in Hemp specialises in it, including genuinely 100% hemp beach shorts and boardshorts. Hemp is naturally UV-resistant, breathable and stronger than cotton, so these are built to last.
Pros: 100% hemp options available, durable, UV-resistant, breathable, good value, surf-adjacent styles.
Cons: Heavier, more linen-like feel; wrinkles and reads casual; hemp doesn't match merino's odour resistance or quick-dry.
Price: around $60–$110 AUD.
5. Braintree Hemp - Hemp & Bamboo Casual Shorts
Best for: the budget entry into natural-fibre shorts.
Braintree is widely stocked across Australian hemp retailers and is the easiest, cheapest way to dip into plastic-free shorts. Their hemp and bamboo casual shorts are kind on skin and high in UV protection.
Pros: Cheapest on the list, easy to find, comfortable hemp/bamboo blends, UV protection.
Cons: Casual-only, mostly blended fabrics, no water or performance angle.
Price: around $65–$110 AUD.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Fabric | Best for | Odour resist | Quick-dry | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARINE|O | 100% Merino wool | Heat, water, multi-day wear | Excellent | Yes | ~$170 (2 for $300) |
| Afends | Hemp / organic cotton* | Style range, streetwear | Moderate | No | ~$80–120 |
| Hemp Clothing Australia | Hemp / organic cotton | Minimalist basics | Moderate | No | ~$94 |
| Made in Hemp | 100% hemp | Durability, beach cut | Moderate | No | ~$60–110 |
| Braintree Hemp | Hemp / bamboo | Budget entry | Low–moderate | No | ~$65–110 |
*Afends' boardshort and swim range uses recycled polyester/nylon — only their hemp/organic cotton casual styles are plastic-free.
How to choose
If you mostly want a comfortable, casual natural-fibre short and price is the priority, the hemp brands are a great place to start. If you want one short that handles heat, sweat, water and multiple days of wear without smelling (the things synthetics are supposed to do but do with plastic) merino is the fibre that pulls it off, and MARINE|O is the only brand here built around it.
FAQs
Are polyester and nylon shorts bad for you?
Polyester and nylon are plastic-based synthetic fabrics. They don't breathe as well as natural fibres, trap odour-causing bacteria, and shed microplastic fibres into waterways every wash. Many people prefer to keep plastic-based fabric off their skin, especially for clothing worn all day in the heat.
Do natural-fibre shorts actually perform in the heat?
Yes, often better than synthetics. Merino wool, hemp and organic cotton are all highly breathable. Merino in particular regulates temperature and wicks moisture, which is why it's used in technical outdoor gear.
Isn't merino wool too hot for summer?
It's a common myth. Fine merino (like the OPTIM™ wool used in the MARINE|O Walkshort) is lightweight and breathable, and actively regulates temperature, it keeps you cool in heat and warm in cold. It's not the thick, itchy wool of an old jumper.
Do plastic-free shorts shed microplastics?
No. Microplastic shedding comes from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon. Shorts made from 100% natural fibres (merino, hemp or organic cotton) don't shed plastic in the wash.
Which natural fibre is best for shorts - merino, hemp or cotton?
It depends on use. Hemp is durable and casual. Organic cotton is soft and everyday. Merino wins on odour resistance, quick-dry and temperature regulation, which makes it the strongest all-rounder for active, outdoor and around-water wear.
The bottom line
The plastic-free shorts market in Australia is small but growing, and there's now a genuinely good option at every price point. For casual, budget and style-led buyers, the hemp brands deliver. But if you want a single pair that does the lot - heat, water, sweat, multiple days, zero plastic the MARINE|O Merino Wool Walkshort is the one built for exactly that.