We love the Appaman hybrid shorts! They are literally the only swim (quick-dry) shorts that work for my very lean, 65-pound 12-year-old. They are the only ones I have ever found that work for swimming and provide the inner buttons to fasten the shorts tighter around his waist. We definitely button up to some of the last buttons available on each side.
The drawstring-style shorts in other brands/ styles never tighten enough around his small waist. I usually end up stitching all of the excess fabric on both sides of other shorts so they don't fall down while he is swimming, which causes them to balloon out on the sides in an unflattering look.
We purchased the previous size 10 hybrid Appaman shorts with the etched look of blue and grey palm leaves and they worked so well for a couple of summers (yes, they are also well-made and durable) but have now become too short in the inseam, so are now switching to this size 12.
Appaman, please continue to make these hybrid shorts in this lean fit. Literally, every other American brand doubles around my son and can fit both of his legs in one side. I would absolutely love it if this exact fit also became available in the actual swim shorts with the swim liner.