I've been thinking the same thing myself...i recently bought 2 pairs of JS g strings...the least ive worn in public were thongs....traveling to Gran Canaria this summer to try out the g strings...not worried about reactions there though...more worried about going outside my comfort zone a bit more

Re".........but the more you do it the easier it gets" - my experience precisely Re".........but is it pushing it a little too far?" in my view as long as the 'goods' are adequately covered - no! I regularly wear a g string on the beach (why wear more?) but not one designed to part reveal what is meant to be covered.

I’ve worn both a thong and gstring at the beach and they feel the same to me as far as how people look at me. They will either do a double take or not notice at all with either a thong or gstring. While at the beach and going for a walk I feel the same excitement wearing both a thong and g string walking in front of people.

1) I honestly don't think people really notice much difference between a thong or g-string. I've had conversations with people at the beach, often out in the water where we're facing each other so they only see the front. If they comment on my suit, often they'll ask what the back looks like. When I'm in a g-string (most of the time I am) the comment has almost always been "oh, that's so cute". To me, that means they didn't really pay attention to what I was wearing before, certainly not enough to distinguish between a thong or g-string. 2) Most of my g-strings, especially small ones, are not as strong/snug as my thongs. If I plan to do serious swimming, or volleyball, or going for a run I'd generally prefer a thong. That said, some of my more sturdy / new g-strings I have done running when I'm on beach vacations. 3) I do agree, most of my thongs are much more secure so I feel more contained, which makes me feel more covered. 4) Instead of g-string vs. thong, I think the bigger difference is the cut of the front in how people might respond. 5) I rarely pick thongs to wear to the beach because I want to wear something smaller and get more sun.

I do agree wirh Blackthong_23 and brocker36: most people will only notice more skin on the backside exposed than they'd ever consider for themselves. I myself are conscious of the difference in nakedness between thongs and g-strings and therefore prefer the latter. Apart from that, most of my thongs have perhaps half an inch of textile running between my buns so the difference is mostly theoretical.

Yeah fair enough. I know I’ve definitely changed the front of my suit to more conservative, and noticed the reactions are almost non existent now.

The distinction between thong and g-string is more an exercise in semantics and perspective. For me if the rear strap is the same string width as the skinny side strings then it is a g-string. If it has a cloth rear strap that widens as it rises then it is a thong. I suspect many who wear more conservatives thongs would classify many of my thongs as g-strings. I don't think people really notice the difference. Not unless I am wearing a thong or g-string with string sides and when viewed from the rear someone mistakenly assumes I'm completely nude. Not an unreasonable conclusion at first glance since many of my g-string and thongs have narrow backs that are between the cheeks. If there is a conservative blowhard who drools over women in thongs but objects men in thongs the amount of rear coverage is not the issue, but that you dare to thong at all. However, most peoples reactions seem to be far more about the style of the front. Reactions very depending if it is one that minimizes, or is a pushout, if it comes off as overtly sexual or just for coverage. I often wear some quite tiny g-strings. Other than the comment that I sometimes look naked from a distance almost nobody has mentioned the difference between a thong or string rear. They comment on the color, my courage, my tan, their joy in seeing men in thongs, my legs or ass, or their reason they could not wear one. Wider side straps make you look clothed from a distance. I often wear g-string like thongs, with rather narrow side straps but in bright or skin contrasting colors. Avoiding skin tone colors like taupe, beige, sand, nude etc.

There is a huge difference between a thong and a G-string. The main difference is the rear strap. The G-string rear strap is a skinny string. The thong rear strap is a cloth strap, widder. When I go to a public swimming pool, thongs are OK, but G-string are forbidden. Thons are Okay because they cover what need to be covered : genital and anus. G-string, with their string rear strap, don't cover anus. Each summer, some women are asked to change their G-string for a thong at public swimming pools. Moreover, generally thongs have more conservative front than G-string. Thongs offer more "compressive support" than G-string and are more suitable for intense activities (swimming, playing in the waves, etc). G-string can be only used for tanning, walking or SUP. At last, as I am not skinny, I thing a thong is more suitable for my body than a G-string. I think G-string (and more generally string bikini) are more suitable for skinny bodies.

In my personal experience it doesn’t matter once the butt cheeks are exposed nobody makes a distinction between the two. It is usually baring the cheeks or not and if they can be bare legally no one is going to say you have to have at least an inch of fabric on the side and going up the back. I personally have wore very minimal g-strings with 1/16 of an inch wide cords elastic strings with a sliding front pouch on beaches at pools in gas stations basically everywhere anyone would wear a conservative swimsuit and if thongs are legal so are my g-strings. The most I will get is the comment “that suit doesn’t cover very much, or you look naked from the back from a distance” I actually believe if you have a nice tan you probably won’t get as much hassle wearing a G-string as you do wearing a thong because people look at you trying to maximize your tan, where wearing a thong makes the statement “look at me my butt is showing”

I agree with NudeNArizona. As I get older I much prefer wearing skimpy g strings for maximizing my tan and not just showing my butt.

Kim K in a "very racy thong"--that's a G string! Maybe her influence will sell more for women! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10838589/Kim-Kardashian-grabs-attention-sister-Kourtney-prepares-Italian-wedding.html

For me the only practical difference between g-strings and thongs is whether or not you like tan lines. Personally, I hate tan lines and wear G-strings much more often than thongs. Some folks like well defined tan lines and wear thongs to get them. To each his own. I have not noticed any difference in reactions to my wearing a thong or a g-string.

I like the bareness of a G. For the beach I wear a style of suit that looks like a thong at the top triangle and wristband but narrows to a 1/4 inch string in the back and meets the pouch showing basically all. Super relaxing to feel the strap tug. Great feeling to be that naked just enjoying the sun in those areas.

I’ve got both, and circumstances dictate which I wear. A thong is better for swimming and usually for running. Most of my thongs are about 1/2” wide with a front that goes from the crease at the thigh to just above where I shave. The g’s are mostly y-back with strings and the front is more narrow and reveals the top of what’s not shaved. I’m a little less concerned with wearing the thongs. The g’s are definitely more edgy.

G-strings are just that. The most I have seen on women is V-strings (a g-string with a triangle at the top of the back) out in the suburbs and some in the cities. It is pretty daring for women to wear g-strings but I keep seeing it every summer. Most like the one piece with the g-string in the back. I saw one woman go buns up in her one piece thong in a beach/park area and then walk around in it. Another woman in Minneapolis wore something even smaller....a sewing threat bikini! She had three triangles up front held on by what looked like sewing thread. That was bold. Thongs are common and are wider at the top and about an inch down the back.

As per my profile pic you can tell my preference is a g-string! Only way to enjoy he sun if you have to wear something.

I’m a thong guy all the way. I do have a few G-Strings, but prefer the feel of a thong. For me the thong seems to fit my body better. For beach time I can be more active without the worry of the material slipping or sliding out of place. I like the tan line of a thong.

I am a thong guy because I personally like having thong tan lines. I do not have any string back swimsuits, but I would like to buy some. Like others have said on here, most people cannot tell the difference between a thong and a g-string, and on one occasion, I was called a 'g-string boy' even though I was wearing a thong back swimsuit.

I am from Korea, and Koreans do not tell thongs and g-strings apart. In Australia, thongs and g-strings are called g-bangers. In Francophone countries, thongs and g-strings are called 'string'. It is only in North America where thongs and gstrings are called separately.

Here's a womens suit designer who says there aren't enough g strings-- and he knows they're not thongs!! https://www.papermag.com/adam-selman-swim-2653375421.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4

I like thongs more then g-strings. Thongs (with small triangle in the back) look more sexy since that little triangle follows the natural curves of the buns. But it's just my opinion.

I like both, and I have both in swimwear and underwear but I tend to lean more toward traditional thong swimwear as I like thick tan lines and it accentuates my body better. I have worn g-string swimwear from skinzwear and although was very sexy and I enjoyed it; I found that "obviously" the tan lines are MUCH smaller and usually don't last as long as the thick tan lines so I end up sticking with the thongs more. Besides, its always a great conversation starter whenever I go to my wax appointment or whenever I get a massage :) But like navythong mentioned, I do LOVE thongs with the small triangle in the back, they don't make them as much as they used to but those were amazing!

I only wear g strings at the beach/ pool I find as long as it covers the essentials the reaction is no different to a thong

Thong is more fabric from 1" to cheeky scrunch cut. V-string is a g-string with a "V" triangle at the meeting of the g-strings. G-string is just small strings. C-string is a "C" thong with no supporting side strings and is held on by tension.

Saw this piece about a Victoria's Secret dress recently modeled. I noticed that it's exposing a G string rather than a thong--humm maybe G strings will come into fashion after the thong revolution for women?? https://www.justjared.com/2025/10/16/amelia-gray-models-thong-for-victorias-secret-fashion-show-gets-praise-from-mom-lisa-rinna/

Since I have been reading multiple posts about wearing G Strings (after asking if thongs are okay and getting a yes they are okay) then being asked to cover up, I had a thought. I think that the general public has more of a tolerance for thongs than for G Strings, both for women and men. When someone asks if thongs are okay I think most people of the traditional triangle back style. When they see that the asker is wearing just a string between the cheeks they instantly think of indecent exposure or of someone pushing the boundaries. I’m not saying it is a correct thought, but an impulsive thought. Then they go to the creep idea. I think many people may see it as a bait and switch if asking about a thong and then showing up wearing a G Strings. If I were asking about and wanting to wear a G Strings that is what I would specify. It’s just my thought, right or wrong, just something I’m tossing around in my head.

I agree with your thoughts. When heading to the beach I consider the vibe. Some beaches you’ll be the only man in a bikini. Other beaches you’ll may be overdressed in a g-string. I tend to observe the local custom or tolerance while at the same time, going for what I am comfortable wearing. I don’t mind being in the edge but I am not trying to push new limits. My swimsuit drawer if full of everything from square cuts, to cheeky, to micro suits, thongs, and g-strings. Best yet is an C/O beach where all is good.

Thongsrbest, I think you have a good handle on the issue. The cheeky swimsuit or fuller thong is what most people think of as a thong, rather than a g-string. The difference and distinction has been debated on this thread without resolution. Personally I call them all thongs, like go pick me out a thong for the day, when most of the choices are full on g-strings. When coming paddle boarding let your friends know I wear thongs, when it is far more likely it will be a g-string. I like the way the word "thong" sounds in the mouth (a woody word), rather than "g-string" which is a 'tinny word'. >> Google "Monty Python - Woody and tinny words." Thong v. G-string, I don't think my adding tiny triangles to the back of g-strings really changes the overall fact that it is a full on g-string. Mostly done out of boredom because I like the way it looks, but also, from a distance the small flash of color means people don't instinctively jump to the conclusion that I am naked. Many seem to have a gut level instant fobia about naked men. I hope the small flash of color from a rear triangle has them speculating on how much coverage the front has rather than if I am naked. We obviously need more beaches where people may be nude, and more general acceptance of nudity. One solution is thongs or cheeky backed suits with tan-through or mesh rears. From a distance it looks like you are wearing a fuller suit. I have some thongs / g-strings that look solid from a distance but which are rather tan-though mesh. The fact they are mesh is variously disguised with bright neon patterns, camouflage or animal prints and other random contrasting patterns. Bright reflective dots and sparkles on some and high contrast trim or waist bands help. I would like to see more vendors get on board with suits that have solid front panel to cover the essentials in front but with a lot more disquized mesh sides and rear, even on thongs. Tan-though and other mesh fabrics. Anyone thinking of getting in the business notice there is a void in that part of the market. Companies market underwear and thongs with WIDE waist bands that look like underwear advertising banners - or thongs with solid rears or mesh fronts. This is all wrong. We want a small solid front with the sides and back being mesh, in prints, fabrics and designs that don't look as transparent as they are.

Asside from the distinction of the rear construction let's face it there's no difference in "coverage" in most all these designs. Butt there may be a difference in the attitude I have when wearing them. Rio: "I'd rather be wearing a thong but someone might not like that" Thong: "I'm feeling free to wear something I like, may stand out but you shouldn't take offense" G string: "I'm more confident than if I were wearing a thong, and I might be more happy being naked" Sling G string: "From behind and in front you know I'd rather be naked now, and you see I have no tanlines" Baggie Sling: "From behind you see I'm not naked, from in front I'm covered, with no tanlines- overall I'm All Butt Naked" Baggie (alone): "From in front I'm legal- with no tanlines I've been doing this for a while- from behind you probably think I'm naked"

I like g-strings in theory. However, in practice, I'm not a huge fan of how unsupportive they are in the front and in the back. The whole suit kind of sags and droops. It's just not my aesthetic. They work better on women because women have nothing to hold up down there, so the suit maintains its shape much better.

I have to sway more towards the g-string vibe. I have a pretty square frame and think the g-string actually suits me better than the thong. Although my absolute preference is a g-string with micro triangle at the back. 

The majority of my thongs have string sides and the few that have the more fuller triangle backs actually look a bit clunky as I have little to no hips. 

When it comes to wearing in public I’ve wore both and haven’t noticed anything untoward. I don’t actually have any specific ‘swim thongs or g-strings’ and wonder if they offer better performance against my underwear thongs that I generally use for swimming? 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 

Stacks: I think you tried the wrong g-string! Find one with less fabric in the front and the pouch tailored for a man. The fabric should have a good amount of elastic content so that it can be taut and flex to your body. Also, be sure the elastic waistband and understrap are strong and taut. The strings I've had with those characteristics, mostly made by Dore, have been great! Some of the strings I see online look like they are made from a women's pattern and with less-than-ideal material.

I have thongs and g-strings with exactly same design except the 5cm (2 inch)side triangle in back. So the amount and position of skin that's covered and uncovered is negligible but the different sensation of having reached the last border of (un) coverage makes the wearing G-string much more intense when meeting people and going around. Staying at sun on sand is absolutely equivalent

Think both thongs and g strings can work well. As JM has often said, they need to fit well. I’ve got tanga swimwear from modus vivendi where the pouch is smaller than some of my thongs and strings. The tanga is often more comfortable because of the support it gives. As a preference I’d go for string where possible.

RapidBlue: I very much agree with your line of thought. Where I live, a man wearing a bikini (AKA Speedo) is not common, but tolerated. Generally, thongs are pretty much non-existant unless you go to specific beaches. G-strings on guys are even rarer. As far a minimal swimwear, it seems thongs are generally the limit since, from the rear, you can see side straps coming around to the back and joining the material coming up from between the glutes and therefore visually not nude. But a g-string from a distance is easily mistaken for nude, and indeed stereotyped as "pushing the limits too much" and the wearer can be generally branded as a "creeper". It's always a struggle to strike a balance it seems. All that said, I too try to "read the beach scene" and when possible, generally, like to wear a well fitting skimpy thong. Truth be known, for serious (and sensual) sunbathing I would much prefer a fitted tear drop g-string. From a practical aspect of tanning, it minimizes the tan lines because you can move the strings around. From a sensual aspect I really really like the feeling of being barely covered (which is one of the points of wearing minimal swimwear)--especially when the temperature is very hot--and when I get up and walk I like the little jiggle and feeling of freedom as I walk because it's the only suit where I "aim down"; all others I "aim up" and supported. But my g-string wearing has been very rare indeed and in very specific open-minded areas.

I’ve worn both thongs and gstrings at the beach and pools. I can tell you that there is a difference between the two as to how I feel when wearing each one. As others have mentioned, a gstring is the absolute end of the line when it comes to the smallest of bikinis. Wearing one at the beach is a very liberating feeling. I still prefer wearing a thong over a gstring though because I like the tanlines that I get from a thong. But I do love wearing gstrings just the same. I make my own so there’s really nothing left to the imagination. But they feel so good to wear.

I prefer a g over a thong. As a g is as small as one can get without going naked I prefer that, although in appropriate places i wiil do so. After all I am somewhat of an exhibitionist.

I wore a g-string at an outdoor pool last year. There was this lady who was going to take a lounger near me, but she hesitated after seeing me in a g-string. Later, I decided to change into a wider thong, and it seemed she didn't mind that, as she then set up next to me. So, g-strings can be provocative in a public setting.

G-strings/V-strings are the next breakout fashion.

I prefer g-strings/v-strings.

@beachgirl, I said in a previous thread that I always preferred string thongs as opposed to G-strings but recently bought a couple micro triangle Gstrings rather than full T back and love them. However I love seeing women in full t back G-strings as I think it really compliments their hips and body shape and wondered if you had a preference for men?