Been a nudist for 5 years now. I’m lucky enough to live near a major nudist resort and various nude beaches. I love it and consider it part of my lifestyle now. I’m American, btw, just to let people know there are nudists options even in prudish America.

Pros:

• Freedom. A specific brand of freedom you only get being naked outside or around others in a social environment. Not even sure how to describe it beyond that. It’s just a new freedom you didn’t know you had before.

• Social interactions. I’m an introvert by nature. When you’re naked with others you skip past a lot of the ceremonial social bullshit/awkwardness. You just start out on a more friendly foundation right from the get-go because you’re literally not hiding anything from anyone, if you catch my drift. It’s much easier for me to start up a conversation with a stranger when we’re both naked. Everyone is just really nice.

• Body positivity. Everyone can see everything. Got love handles? See it. Got a mole on your ass? See it. Big dick? Small dick? Weird vagina? See it. When everyone can see everything (and everyone has flaws) then it just kind of stops mattering and you’ll feel more comfortable with your body than you ever have.

• No more wet swimsuits. Not only does it feel fantastic swimming naked, but it’s so nice not sitting around in a wet swimsuit for half an hour waiting for it to dry. Plus, it doesn’t make sense to put clothing on to get into the water. That’s nonsense. That’s like putting clothes on to take a shower.

• Full body tan. No more tan lines. Don’t burn your dick/nips though.

Cons:

• Social stigma. This isn’t a big con. I’ve had people just not “get” it, which is kind of frustrating, but doesn’t actually affect me. I generally know from internet comments that there are people out there that are vehemently against it, which I think is childish and closed-minded. People that think it’s child abuse, which I can confirm is absolute bullshit. People that are concerned they’ll have to look at old and unattractive naked people. These are people making immature comments about something they know literally nothing about. But again, I’ve never been in an actual real life negative social interaction involving nudism. I know that the resort I go to doesn’t publicly advertise because they don’t want to draw attention from groups, mostly religious, that would target them and try to get them shut down. So it’s a word of mouth thing or you gotta get curious and look online.

• Weather. You can only really enjoy the nudist lifestyle during the warmer months. I almost don’t even want to call this a con because it’s just the changing of the seasons, but I do get bummed out all winter when I have to wear stupid clothes all the time and miss that feeling of swimming naked.

Honestly, if you’re curious about it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a positive experience in many ways. The worst that could happen is you find out it just doesn’t appeal to you that much and you don’t do it again. I’ve never spoken to anyone that’s done it and regretted it. For most people it’ll turn into something you look forward to for the rest of your life.

The biggest hurdle is taking your clothes off the first time. We’ve been raised in a social environment that leads us to believe that public nudity is wrong in some way, and if there are any kids around, we’re going to prison. I am here to confirm that is strictly false and it’s something that close-minded people want to make others believe because it’s what they, in their limited experience, believe. Everyone is naked, but it’s still a social environment moderated by the presence of others. There are rules. There are expectations. Clothes coming off doesn’t mean you’ve entered some lawless zone. You will be handled by others if you’re inappropriate.

The way I’ve described the first time to friends is remembering what it was like the first time you rode a rollercoaster. You’re nervous in line. You’re nervous getting strapped in. You’re nervous as it goes up the first incline and you hear that click click click. Then you go over the top (take your clothes off) and it’s immediately fun and when it’s over you can’t wait to go again. My first time I had to hang out in my underwear for a while cuz I was nervous as hell. Eventually told myself you only live once, so screw it. The moment my underwear came off 80% of my anxiety just disappeared. The rest disappeared as the day went on. Honestly, if you do it enough, you end up forgetting that you’re naked. I know that sounds kind of strange, but you really just stop thinking about it. If you have a resort near you, I would recommend that cuz literally everyone will be naked, which actually makes being naked a little easier if it’s your first time. If you go to a beach it could be a mix of naked and not naked people and that can be a little nerve racking. But at this point I don’t even think twice. I get to my destination and my clothes come off, no hesitation.

Bottom line is don’t let other people’s hangups cause you not to try things you want to try. Just do it and let the people too scared to try it experience less in their lives. And remember, despite social stigma, nudity really isn’t that big of a deal.

I don’t think there are set in stone pros or cons, it’s just what you make of it yourself. Personally it’s all pros to me. I like not having to wear things that make me feel constricted and having the freedom to do as I please without having to wear clothes. I also like that it naturalises non-sexual nudity. Which the world could use more of. We all got bits, not like you haven’t seen them before either on yourself or someone else.

Went to the water park with some friends for my 15th birthday but didn’t realise it was nudists night. We decided to stay anyway and I only went back on nudist nights after that. It’s great.

Pro:

• Most people will leave, so no lines on the slides/rides and you can use all the floaty toys.
• No need to pull down pants to go faster on the slides

Cons:

• Some slight awkwardness (optional)
• Naked old people

Going to the spa it’s very frugal on bathing suit day. And it’s very awkward. On normal days it’s only awkward the first time you walk in. But once you’re used to it, and you will get used to it very quickly, it’s very liberating.

I don’t identify as nudist, and my comfy clothes/status always involve underpants jeans and a t-shirt.

Pros:

• free ballin’
• liberating
• cooling down after a sauna is great
• lots of naked people
• everyone is naked, so no-one cares about how you look (if they don’t like the way you look, they look at somewhere else. Like you do too.)

Cons:

• many naked old people
• awkward for the first 30 minutes
• can be cold
• the day has to end sometime.

Pros: Can run faster and farther without the baggage of puritan society

Cons: So much sunscreen…

Pros: not very good in winter Cons: no pockets and cant do it everywhere

Pros: freedom.
Cons: surprise visits by your inlaws

I don’t see many pros. I had a housemate (male) who was a self proclaimed nudist. He’d walk around the house naked and it wasn’t offensive or anything like that. It was just kind of annoying, passive-aggressive behaviour it seemed to me. He was a good guy in general, just a little too invested in non-conformity.

Cons: splinters

Pros: swimming is nice, less tan lines.

Cons: everything else.