Vintage warehouse image of bolts of SurfNyl™ Fabric in navy, yellow, green, white, blue on a yellow metal shelving.

The Fabric Of Our History

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In 1961, along the California coast, a revolution in surfwear quietly took shape. Carrie Birdwell, a skilled seamstress from Santa Ana, recognized a problem surfers faced: their heavy canvas shorts couldn’t endure the relentless exposure to salt, sand, and surf. Determined to build something better, she turned to an unexpected source of inspiration—sailcloth.

The material she discovered was a high-strength nylon originally engineered for military applications. Known for its durability and water resistance, this fabric provided the ideal foundation for surfwear. Carrie began refining it, cutting and stitching each piece by hand on her home sewing machine. The result was a tough, lightweight short that resisted abrasion, dried quickly, and maintained its shape session after session. She called the proprietary fabric SurfNyl™, a name that would become synonymous with performance and durability in the surf world.
Vintage image of carrie birdwell in front of original birdwell storefront.
But SurfNyl™ wasn’t just fabric—it was a technological breakthrough in surfwear. With a double-layered construction, reinforced with triple-stitched seams and Birdwell’s signature button fly, these shorts were engineered to endure. Surfers quickly noticed the difference. Word spread from beach to beach, and before long, Birdwell Beach Britches became a trusted uniform for wave riders across the country.
Bethany Beach Patrol Lifeguards in red checkered boardshorts while sitting on lifeguard stand at the beach.
Decades later, SurfNyl™ remains an icon of the California surf scene, passed down through generations. Designed to withstand the harshest conditions while aging beautifully, it softens over time without losing its strength. Today, SurfNyl™ is more than a fabric—it’s a legacy of craftsmanship, innovation, and surf culture.
Vintage shot of 7 guys standing with their back towards the camera in different colored boarshorts.
Vintage image of man in red boardshorts surfing on a large wave on a yellow board.

The Science of SurfNyl™

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Nylon Composition

The foundation of SurfNyl™ is nylon, a synthetic polymer renowned for its high tensile strength and resistance to environmental stressors. Originally developed for military-grade applications, nylon offers superior performance in surfwear because it is:​

Abrasion-resistant – Withstands constant exposure to sand, wax, and surfboards without fraying.​

Quick-drying – Repels water efficiently, keeping the fabric lightweight even after full submersion.​

UV and saltwater resistant – Maintains integrity despite prolonged exposure to sunlight and ocean conditions.
Surfer wearing yellow boardshorts and back wetsuit top with splashes from wave in background and blue sky

High-Density Thread Count

SurfNyl™ is woven with a high thread count, meaning more tightly packed fibers per square inch. This dense construction enhances:​

Tear resistance – Increased fiber density strengthens the fabric against rips and punctures.​

Softness and structure – The fabric maintains a smooth, comfortable feel while developing a natural softness over time.
Surfer standing on the beach in federal blue boardshorts with shore in background.

Taffeta Weave Construction 

SurfNyl™ is manufactured using a taffeta weave, a specialized interlacing pattern that enhances both strength and flexibility. This weave provides:​

Rip-stop properties – The tight structure prevents minor snags from expanding into larger tears.​

Wind resistance – Reduces air permeability, offering added protection in breezy beach conditions.​

Lightweight performance – Despite its rugged durability, the weave maintains a sleek, featherlight feel.
Closeup view of federal blue boardshorts and license plate label with made in usa label below it

Eco-Friendly Quick-Dry Coating

To enhance water resistance, SurfNyl™ is finished with a C0 DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating—a fluorocarbon-free, environmentally responsible treatment. This advanced finish delivers:​

Fast-drying performance – Water beads up and rolls off, reducing saturation and speeding up drying time between sessions.​

Sustainable water repellency – Provides long-lasting protection without harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), supporting eco-conscious innovation.​

​ From its origins as a handcrafted solution to becoming the gold standard in surfwear, SurfNyl™ remains the backbone of Birdwell Beach Britches—designed for surfers, built to last.
close up shot of man surfing while wearing camo boardshorts and black wetsuit top. white waves splashes in background and light blue sky
Christian Wach wearing the lemans jacket in federal blue while standing in front of a white sports car with home in background

The Benefits of SurfNyl™

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Performance

• Moisture Wicking​
• Quick Drying​
• Water Repellent​
• Rash Resistant

Durability

• UV Resistant
• Abrasion Resistant
• High Tensile Strength
• Ripstop Properties

Sustainability

Built to last a lifetime, not deteriorate every season.

Only made with PFC free C0 DWR

• Perfluorocarbons, also known as (PFCs), are commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ for their persistence in air, water, food, and even our bodies. Historically DWR coatings contain PFCs which is incredibly harmful for all reasons mentioned prior.​

• Here at Birdwell, all products are coated in an environmentally safe DWR called C0, which is 100% free from PFCs) C0 DWR is 100% PFC free.

Surfer wearing black boardshorts and black wetsuit top while riding a wave. Water splashing on right side of image with light blue background.

SurfNyl™ Boardshorts​

• 2 Layer Construction
• Rash Resistant​
• Quick Drying​
• Water Repellent​
• High Tensile Strength​
• Abrasion Resistant​
• Forms to your body over time, similar to a raw denim​
• Naturally develops a patina that represents a life well used

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310

300

311


Front of the 300 Boardshorts in Army Green. Black drawcord with nickel-plated grommets.
Toots wearing the light blue SurfNyl™ 300 Boardshorts in Light Blue while surfing on the nose of a board. Water splashing from the wave throughout the image with green island hill in background.
Made in usa
300 Boardshorts - Army Green
$ 100
300 Boardshorts - Black
Toots wearing the light blue SurfNyl™ 300 Boardshorts in Light Blue while surfing on the nose of a board. Water splashing from the wave throughout the image with green island hill in background.
Made in USA
300 Boardshorts - Black
$ 100
Front view of 300 Boardshorts in Dragonfly Teal on white background with white drawcord and white contrast stitching.
Back view of 300 Boardshorts in Dragonfly Teal on white background with white drawcord and white contrast stitching. Pocket on right side with white loop. License plate logo label and made in usa flag label on waistband.
New - Made in USA
300 Boardshorts - Dragonfly
$ 100
Front View of the 300 Boardshort in Federal Blue with white drawcord and white contrast stitching. Product on white background.
Toots wearing the 300 boardshort while surfing on teal blue wave. Island hill in background covered in green trees.
made in usa
300 Boardshorts - Federal Blue
$ 100
300 Boardshorts - GD Black
Kevin Skvarna surfing on the front edge of the board while wearing the Grateful Dead t-shirt and boardshorts. Background shows blue ocean waves and blue sky.
Made in USA
300 Boardshorts - GD Black
$ 150
Front view of a 300 Grateful Dead Boardshort with white stitching, a black drawcord, and nickel plated grommets. The waistband and the front and back panels are navy blue with a light blue stripe going vertically down each outside leg. The Steal Your Face skull is patched onto the bottom left panel.
Kevin Skvarna surfing on the front edge of the board while wearing the Grateful Dead t-shirt and boardshorts. Background shows blue ocean waves and blue sky.
Made in USA
300 Boardshorts - GD Navy
$ 150
Flatlay of GoRuck 300 Boardshorts. Black Boardshort with left and right vertical stripes in camo.
Bill Maeda standing in the ocean with dark grey clouds and sky while wearing 300 Boardshorts in Black and Camo with his back facing the viewer while looking out into the ocean.
new - made in usa
300 Boardshorts - GORUCK
$ 125
Front of the 300 Boardshorts in Kelly Green. White drawcord with nickel-plated grommets.
Joel wearing the 300 Boardshorts in Kelly Green while riding on a wave. Wave is curling over his head.
Made in USA
300 Boardshorts - Kelly Green
$ 100
Kevin with his back towards the camera wearing a burgundy jacket with horizontal white stripes and desert camo boardshorts. Kevin is standing on a rock with jetty in the background.

SurfNyl™ Jackets

• Water Repellent​
• Quick Drying​
• Abrasion Resistant​
• Wind Resistant​
• Naturally develops a patina that represents a life well used

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Front view of SurfNyl™ Comp Jacket 25 Black with Black Horizontal Stripes with white contrast stitching. Product on white background.
Model wearing the Comp Stripe 25 Jacket Black on Black. Model facing the camera with hands to the side with the front of jacket with pocket on right. Model is wearing black jeans and black converse shoes. Background is brick wall painted black.
new - Made in USA
Comp Jacket 25 - All Black
$ 200
Front view of Competition Jacket in Navy with two horizontal white stripes with white contrast stitching on white background.
Kevin looking to the right wearing the Comp Jacket 25 in Navy layered over a Grit hoodie and black pants with hands in pockets.
new - Made in USA
Comp Jacket 25 - Navy/White
$ 200
Front view of Competition Jacket in Burgundy with two horizontal white stripes with white contrast stitching on white background.
Kevin wearing the Comp Jacket 25 in Burgundy layered over the Comp Stripe Sweater in Oatmeal and 300 Boardshort in Desert Camo with brown bushes and harbor in background with docked boats.
new - Made in USA
Comp Jacket 25 - Burgundy/White
$ 200
Racing Jacket 25 in Federal Blue with vertical stripes, left stripe is white, white stripe is red. Pocket on left sleeve. New Fleece lining and Talon two way zipper. Product on white background.
New Talon two way, anti-snag zipper and fleece lining. SurfNyl™ fabric in federal blue.
new - made in usa
Racing Jacket 25 - Le Mans
$ 200
Front view of black racing jacket with two vertical white racing stripes. Product over white background
Closeup view of Talon anti-snag zipper and new fleece lining. White contrast stitching on black surfnyl.
new - made in USA
Racing Jacket 25 - Black/White
$ 200
Navy Racing Jacket with two vertical stripes one white and one yellow. Product on white background.
Close up image showcasing new Talon zipper and fleece lining and new piping around zipper for anti-snag
new - made in USA
Racing Jacket 25 - Navy/White/Gold
$ 200
Front of Quilt Lined Comp Jacket in Slate with two horizontal black stripes across the chest with contrast white stitching on white background.
Kevin looking down with hands in jacket pockets wearing the Quilt Lined Comp Jacket in Slate layered over a black Grit hoodie wearing black pants. Background is shore line with rocks with tide rolling in with blue sky.
made in usa
Quilt Lined Comp Jacket - Slate
$ 112.50 50% OFF $ 225
Competition Jacket - Navy
Competition Jacket - Navy
Made in USA
Competition Jacket - Navy
$ 87.50 50% OFF $ 175