Everything You Need to Pack for the Perfect Day at the Beach
Welcome to Best Summer Ever, your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether you’re dreaming of the perfect summer of going on epic adventures or doing as little as possible (preferably somewhere with good air conditioning), we’ve got you covered, because the best summers don’t just happen. You must do this.
It’s not the “best summer” for me unless I spend a lot of time on the beaches. I crave the feeling of time standing still that comes from spending the entire day in a place where it is impossible to be productive or do anything useful. A life spent mindfully laying on the sand near the water has taught me that it’s easier to achieve a state of “beach zen” if you plan ahead and bring the right gear—the difference between a great day at the beach and a sandy beach headache can make the difference what are you packing for? Below you’ll find everything you need for the best beach day, from towels and umbrellas to underwater scooters.
Beach essentials: towels, shade and more.
I’m from a beach town, so I rolled around on the sand with just a tattered towel and a book—even a pair of flip-flops was extra baggage. There’s something to be said for this minimalist beach bum style, but these days I like things a little more comfy. I usually take my family with me too, and that requires things , so I always take with me a few must-have items.
Towels and beach mats
Instead of bringing a faded, threadbare towel from 2004, consider a microfiber towel. They absorb moisture better than regular towels, dry faster, easier and are very cheap. Under $10 for a large 72 x 36 microfiber beach towel in your choice of colorful beach designs.
This picnic blanket with attached strap is a higher-end option. It’s easy to carry, waterproof and versatile.
If you need a lot of area, nylon beach mats are a great option. I don’t like the way they feel lying on them, but you can buy a 10-by-9-foot beach mat that packs small and weighs little, then put your (heavily tanned) baby in the middle and watch them. crawl around.
Sun curtains
I love shade, but I hate beach umbrellas. They need to be positioned like bears, and a sudden gust of wind can send them flying, turning them into dangerous projectiles. There are better options. I really love the design of the ShibumiShade , a super lightweight piece of fabric that flutters in the wind to create shade. Another option, especially if there is no wind, is something like a SOLI canopy . You inflate it to set it up, and when it’s standing, it’s like a personal cave.
Personal sun protection
Large straw hats like this one from Quiksilver have been a staple among Southern California surfers since the 1960s, and they can’t be improved upon. Good sun protection and great looks.
Sunglasses : I love these Knockaround Premium shades. They provide full UV400 protection, have impact-resistant polarized lenses, and are not very expensive. In addition, they come in a variety of attractive designs.
Sunscreen : I always use Banana Boat sunscreen because it’s usually the one sold at the drugstore, but it turns out that reviewers love it too.
Coolers
I want to tell you about the cooler of my dreams. KoolMAX is a ridiculous maximalist dream of a refrigerator. It can chill your drinks like any refrigerator, but it also has a built-in 350-watt Bluetooth-enabled audio system, a guitar amp, and is karaoke-ready. These features won’t come in handy often, but there may come a time when you need to throw a beach party right away and you’ll be ready .
If you’re only taking a few things with you and don’t need a loudspeaker, coolers that can be worn over the shoulder, like this Polarbox 1 Ice Chest, have retro appeal.
What to take to the beach for fun in the water
With the basics out of the way, let’s talk about fun things to do at the beach, starting with what separates a beach from a pile of dirt: water. I generally like bodysurfing, but maybe that’s because I don’t have an electric hydrofoil yet.
Electric hydrofoils and underwater scooters
If I had my dream summer, I would spend it flying over the ocean like the Silver Surfer. Over the past few years, electric hydrofoils have been hitting the Southern California waves (at least on the beaches for people with disposable income), and whenever I see them I think, “Yeah, this is the most fun a person can have.” ” on the water.”
I’m not sure what the most fun thing you can do in the water is, but scuba diving comes close, especially scuba diving with an underwater scooter . These things are amazing. They are the size of a soda bottle and can pull you over 14 pounds. You can even attach one of these to your surfboard and use it as a small outboard motor.
Many people say that for less adrenaline-filled water activities, surfboards are the best choice. Personally, I don’t like them – too much work – but hey, that’s just me. They’ve gotten so cheap lately that you can get a good inflatable surfboard for under $200 .
However, fun things don’t have to be expensive. The Surfer Dudes Wave Powered Mini Surfer costs less than $20, but provides hours of fun for the kids while you’re at the beach, whatever the waves. You can throw it into the surf at random and it will catch a wave, or you can learn how to handle it and try to catch the wave as soon as it breaks, like real surfers.
What to take to the beach for fun on the sand
I could say that doing nothing on the sand is a personal goal, but you don’t want to do absolutely nothing. So, take these “almost nothing” things with you:
EBook
I used to always take a book with me to the beach. Now I take my Kindle Paperwhite with me. Kindle is better than books in every way. They can stay under a lake for an hour and still work (try this with a copy of War and Peace ). Unlike vintage books, Kindles are Bluetooth compatible if you decide to listen to a podcast anyway. (The Kindle will be fine if you throw it in fresh water, but salt and sand are a different matter, so invest in a screen protector .)
Camera
It’s not a day at the beach if you don’t have a record, right? So take your camera with you. I used to think my phone was fine, but then I got a GoPro Hero 12 . This little camera is tough as hell, completely waterproof, attaches to literally anything, and requires virtually no training. It takes beautiful photos and videos in 4K, and when combined with editing software on your phone, it instantly cuts the footage into action-packed videos like this one I made to test.
Card deck
There’s nothing more beach zen than playing cards and playing spades on the beach. I love these waterproof playing cards from Hoyle . They are waterproof and virtually indestructible, so you can play bridge while rafting.
Guitar
Bringing a guitar to the beach is like wearing sunglasses at night. Most people shouldn’t do this, but some people should do it all the time . “The beach will damage my delicate guitar!” you might say. Yes, that’s why you need a carbon fiber guitar like the Klos Deluxe Acoustic/Electric. They can be plugged directly into your refrigerator and are virtually indestructible—a feature that comes in handy if you’re playing Wonderwall through your refrigerator.
bluetooth speaker
If you like a little music at the beach, but a cooler sound system is too much for your personal style, invest in one of these beach-ready SoundLink Flex speakers from Bose. They are IP67 waterproof, so they can be completely submerged in water without any harmful effects, and are designed to protect against external threats such as dust, sand and UV rays.
Additional charger
You’ll be a beach hero if you can reach the charger when someone’s phone dies. I love this Poseidon Nano charger. It’s small, but holds eight hours of electrical charge. In addition, it is waterproof and holds a charge for up to two years.
Speaking of phones, they overheat on the beach, but not if you pack them in a thermal case. They not only reflect sunlight and heat in summer, but also protect your phone from extreme cold in winter.
Personal air conditioner
I’ve heard rumors that there are people who don’t like the beach and don’t see any pleasure in doing nothing all day under the scorching sun. These people need to hang a personal air conditioner around their necks. This will keep them cool until they can convince everyone else that it’s time to leave.