Headed to the beach? Here are 12 essentials to pack for a busy day
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As you begin planning your summer travel and vacations, you'll probably notice sold-out hotels and booked-up excursions. More Americans are returning to their beloved beach towns or vacationing seaside for the first time. And just like several other industries, restaurants and stores are struggling to keep up with the demand amid shortages in staffing and supplies.
Don't be discouraged—we want you to get that much-needed fun in the sun. As someone who's lived within a 10-minute drive of the beach most of my life, my advice is to arrive as prepared as possible, especially with this year's long lines and crowds. Here are some essential items to include on your vacation packing list so you can spend more time in the sand and less time at the concession stand.
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1. A beach cart to carry it all
A rookie mistake when it comes to beach-going is lugging around a massive bag on your shoulders. Avoid the pain and the hassle of a heavy bag or backpack with a rolling cart for all your belongings, especially if you're traveling with the whole family.
This heavy-duty foldable utility cart can hold up to 150 pounds of beach necessities, such as a cooler, backpacks and sports equipment. Plus, it's a great wagon to have beyond the beach, whether that may be a summertime camping trip or an outdoor concert.
Get the Aleko Multipurpose Folding Utility Wagon at Overstock for $120.59
2. Quick-drying towels
You might be surprised at how heavy beach towels can get, especially at the end of the day when you're carrying them back to the car or house. Go for a lightweight towel that dries quickly—this will also help you avoid throwing a damp towel into your beach bag/wagon or car.
We suggest a Turkish cotton towel, as they're extremely light, absorbent and soft—not to mention, stylish, too. This colorful Turkish cotton beach towel by Lands' End is a great choice for the beach or the pool. It also gives you way more room to lounge—about a foot and half more length—than your average beach towel.
Get the Lands' End Turkish Cotton Beach Towel from Kohl's for $27.96
3. A cooler backpack to better redistribute weight
If you're only looking to bring some good food and ice-cold beverages, a cooler backpack is a great alternative to the wagon—and a much better alternative to a one-shoulder beach bag.
Yeti has ranked at the top of our list of best soft coolers, so you really can't go wrong with this soft backpack cooler from the brand. It's waterproof and leakproof and has that classic Yeti cooling power that'll keep beverages ultra-cool for hours.
Get the Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24 Backpack Cooler from Dick's Sporting Goods for $299.99
4. Snack bags that are better for the planet
Skip the long lines at the concession stands and plan to pack your own sandwiches, snacks and other home-cooked goods. Try packing away all your food in Lunchskins bags, the best reusable sandwich bags we've ever tested.
These bags are the perfect size for sandwiches, and they even help to keep your goods extra cold (in comparison to other plastic baggies that don't). Plus, they're dishwasher-safe!
Get the Lunchskins Reusable Food Storage Bags (Pack of Two) at Amazon for $10.82
5. Reusable utensils, an easily forgettable item
Don't get caught forgetting a pretty important detail to your beach picnic: Utensils. Pair your reusable baggies with lightweight, reusable utensils that you can drop into a baggie once you're finished eating—no waste required.
This top-rated pack of travel bamboo utensils comes with four separate sets of a spoon, fork, knife, chopsticks, straw, straw cleaner and a cloth storage bag. Enjoy a lunch or dinner by the sea, minus the extra waste.
Get the Boao Travel Utensils Set (Pack of Four) at Amazon for $15.99
6. A beach umbrella that you won't have to chase after
It's going to be a hot summer this year, and one of the best ways to cool down is staying shaded. Trust us when we say you won't want to rent a beach umbrella—if the beach is packed, they'll run out quickly. Bringing your own beach umbrella is perfect for enjoying UV ray protection and cooler temperatures—but only if it stays put all day.
If possible, buy a beach umbrella with a sand anchor already built-in—this will ensure you'll have a stable umbrella that you won't have to constantly adjust (or chase down on the beach). If you already have a beach umbrella you love, add on a universal sand anchor that fits with umbrella poles.
Get the Winston Porter Stanhope 72-Inch Beach Umbrella at Wayfair for $62.99
Get the Duudo Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor at Amazon for $13.99
7. Beach chairs that are easy to carry
No beach trip is complete without a set of beach chairs to kick back and relax in. Now, if only lugging them out to the shore wasn't such a hassle. As a frequent beachgoer, I'd recommend a beach chair backpack—preferably, one that's got plenty of storage pouches to stuff small essentials in.
This backpack beach chair has plenty of room for storage, such as a detachable insulated cooler bag. Beyond its storing capabilities, it features four reclining positions and a padded headrest for ultimate relaxation mode.
Get the Mainstays Backpack Aluminum Beach Chair at Walmart for $34.84
8. A portable lock box to keep your valuables safe
Whether you're strolling by the water or taking a dip to cool off, if you're leaving behind your valuables, tuck them away wisely. If possible, take your valuables—like your cell phone, wallet and keys—with you. But, that's not an option when you're swimming, unless you use a completely waterproof pouch (which you probably shouldn't submerge anyway).
To unplug and still keep your valuables safe, you can invest in a lock box to secure to your umbrella or cooler. This portable, impact-resistant lock box allows you to set your own three-digit code to keep your valuables locked up while you enjoy the day on the beach. This device can be used beyond the beach, such as in a vacation rental, on a cruise, or even at home.
Get the Amazeus Portable Lock Box Safe at Amazon starting at $34.95
9. Toys, games and floats to stay entertained
Resist the urge to buy the fun toys for sale at your beach town, whether its packs of sand toys and tools or those extravagant, Instagrammable floaties. They'll be extremely overpriced and they may never be used again (been there). Instead, purchase toys and games ahead of time for the kids (or yourself) that are beach-friendly. While you'll have to bring it with you, it's better than paying a pretty penny and waiting in line for it.
I've found that you don't really need anything too fancy when it comes to toys or floaties when you're hitting the beach—while you may want them to last for years, the sand, sun and saltwater can really wreak havoc on those plastic items. Go for some simple yet fun floaties, like this set of three neon swim tubes is perfect for floating around in the ocean. This set of beach toys from Kohl's is only $10, and features an adorably themed set of tools like a sifter, rake, shovel, mini-monster truck and more.
Get the Intex Neon Frost Swim Tubes (Pack of Three) at Amazon for $19.95
Get the B. Toys Sands Ahoy Beach Toy Set at Kohl's for $9.99
10. A portable sunscreen stick for on-the-go application
While you're exploring the beach town or window shopping, you won't want to lug around anything more than the absolute necessities. To avoid a sunburn without carrying the entire bottle, reapplying with a travel sunscreen is key.
Rather than packing your large sunscreen bottle, pack a mini-size that won't take up space in your bag. This small sunscreen stick from Sun Bum makes it quick and easy to reapply on your face—simply swipe on your face and rub it in for SPF 30 protection. Reviewers love its sweatproof, waterproof formula that stays put throughout the day.
Get the Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30 for $9.99 from Ulta
11. An insulated water bottle for cold water for hours
If you're traveling light and want to ditch the cooler for a relaxing sunrise or sunset, pour water or your favorite beverage into an insulated cup and you're ready to go. Skip replenishing at the concession stand or stopping at the vending machine and pack an extra bottle in your backpack or beach bag that will remain cold even in the summer heat.
We tested the Yeti Rambler bottle and found its double-wall insulation keeps your liquids cold for hours—no matter if it was in a hot car or on a bedside table, the Rambler remained "icicle cold." Opt for the 26-ounce size that comes with a twist-on cap—you'll be set for hours with this large bottle.
Get the Yeti Rambler Bottle with Chug Cap at Dick's Sporting Goods for $39.99
12. A power bank for keeping your electronics charged
A dead Kindle or portable speaker can ruin the mood. But a dead phone can put you in a pinch, especially if you need to call a ride service home. No matter where you go, we always recommend a portable charging device to bring your electronics back to life.
A great portable battery pack we've tested is the Fuse Chicken Universal, which features USB-A and USB-C outputs and international plug adapters for future trips abroad. This compact device has enough power to recharge an 11-inch iPad Pro to about 80% or recharge an iPhone XS twice.
Get the Fuse Chicken Universal All-In-One Charger at Amazon for $84.95
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.