Everything You Need to Pack for the Perfect Day at the Beach
Welcome to The Best Summer Ever , your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether your idea of the perfect summer is one of epic adventure or a blissful effort to do as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summers don’t just happen—you have to make them.
My summer can’t be “the best” without spending a lot of time on the beach. I crave the feeling of time standing still in a place where it’s impossible to do anything useful. A lifetime spent on the sand by the water has taught me that it’s easier to achieve “beach zen” if you plan ahead and pack the right gear—the difference between a great day at the beach and a sand headache comes down to what you pack. Here’s everything you need for the best day at the beach, from towels and sunglasses to underwater scooters.
The best beach accessories
I’m from a beach town, so I used to hit the sand with just a ratty towel—even a pair of flip-flops was too much baggage. There’s something to be said for the minimalist beach bum style, but lately I’ve been opting for more comfortable pieces. I usually bring my family along, too, and that requires gear , so there are a few must-haves I always pack.
Towels and beach mats
Instead of arriving with a faded, worn towel from 2004, consider a microfiber towel. They’re more absorbent than regular towels, they dry faster, they’re lighter, and they’re dirt cheap. Under $10 for a spacious 72 x 36 microfiber beach towel with your choice of bold beach designs.
This picnic blanket with attached strap is a more expensive option. It is easy to carry, waterproof and versatile.
If you’re marking out a large area, nylon beach mats are a great option. I don’t like the way they feel when you lay down, but you can buy a 10-by-9-foot beach mat that folds up easily and doesn’t weigh much, then put your (generously sun-protected) toddler in the middle and watch them crawl.
Sun protection awnings
I like the shade, but I hate beach umbrellas. They’re hard to set up, and a sudden gust of wind can send them flying, turning them into dangerous projectiles. There are better options.
I really like the ShibumiShade . I was a little skeptical that this super lightweight piece of fabric would flutter in the wind as advertised, but I got one and it works, without the cap. If there is no wind at your beach (lucky you), you can pick up an accessory that creates wind for you.
Individual sun protection
Sun Hat : Big straw hats like this one from Quiksilver have been a staple of Southern California surfers since the 1960s and can’t be improved upon. Generous sun protection and a stylish, locals-only look.
Sunglasses : I love my Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, even after wearing them regularly for over six months . They cost around $300, but they do a lot , including the ability to shoot video on the fly that looks like this .
Sunscreen : I always use Banana Boat sunscreen because it’s in the drugstore and my face has never burned. But I’m not refined. If you want a sunscreen that’s actually good for your face, Marlowe’s 128 is awesome.
Coolers
I want to tell you about my dream cooler: The KoolMAX is a ridiculous, maximalist dream of a cooler. It can chill your drinks like any cooler, but it also has a built-in 350-watt Bluetooth sound system, a guitar amp, and is karaoke-ready. These features won’t come in handy very often, but there may come a time when you need to throw an instant beach party, and you’ll be ready .
If you’re only carrying a few items and don’t need a speaker, shoulder-sized coolers like the Polarbox 1 Ice Chest have a retro look.
What to bring for water fun
Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s talk about what you can do at the beach, starting with what separates the beach from a pile of mud: the water.
Electric hydrofoils and underwater scooters
Electric hydrofoils have been hitting the Southern California waves (at least the beaches for people with income) for the past few years, and every time I see one I think, “Yeah, humanity has peaked.” I don’t know if this Waydoo Flyer One is a great example of an electric hydrofoil, but please buy me one and I’ll let you know.
I’m not sure what the most fun thing to do in the water is, but snorkeling is a close one, especially underwater scooter diving. These things are awesome. They’re about the size of a soda bottle and can pull you with over 14 pounds of thrust. You can even attach one to a paddleboard and use it as a mini outboard motor.
For less adrenaline-fueled water activities, many say paddleboards are great. Personally, I don’t like them – too much work – but hey, that’s just me. They’ve come down in price so much lately that you can get a good inflatable paddleboard for a reasonable price .
Fun things don’t have to be expensive, though. The Surfer Dudes Wave Powered Mini-Surfer costs about $25, but it’s hours of fun for kids if you’re at a beach with any kind of waves. You can throw it into the surf at random and it’ll catch a wave, or you can learn to handle it and try to catch a wave as it breaks, just like real surfers.
What to bring for fun on the sand
I can say that doing nothing in the sand is a personal goal, but you don’t want to do nothing at all . So pack these “almost doing nothing” activities:
E-book
I used to always take a book to the beach with me. Now I take a Kindle Paperwhite . Kindles are better than books in every way. They can stay underwater for an hour and still work (try that with a copy of War and Peace ). Unlike those old-fashioned paper books, Kindles are Bluetooth-compatible, in case you decide you’d rather listen to a podcast anyway. (A Kindle won’t be harmed if you drop it in fresh water, but salt and sand are a different story, so invest in a screen protector .)
Camera
It’s not a day at the beach if you don’t have footage, right? So grab a camera (unless it’s in your sunglasses). I love my GoPro. This little camera is tough as hell, completely waterproof, mounts to literally anything, and requires almost no training. Check out this glowing GoPro Hero 13 review for more details.
Deck of cards
There are few things more beachy zen than pulling out cards and playing spades on the beach. I love these waterproof playing cards from Hoyle . They’re virtually indestructible, so you can play bridge while whitewater rafting.
Guitar
Taking your guitar to the beach is like wearing sunglasses at night. Most people shouldn’t do it, but some people should always do it. “The beach will damage my delicate guitar!” you might say. Yes, that’s why you need a carbon fiber guitar, like this Klos Deluxe acoustic/electric. They can be plugged right into your fridge and are virtually indestructible—a feature that’ll come in handy if you’re playing “Wonderwall” through your fridge.
Bluetooth speaker
If you like a little music on the beach, but a cooler sound system is too much for your personal style, choose one of these beach-ready SoundLink Flex speakers from Bose. They’re IP67 waterproof, so you can completely submerge them without any consequences, and they’re designed to protect against external threats like dust, sand, and UV rays.
Additional charger
You’ll be a beach hero if you can pull out a charger when someone’s phone dies. I like this Poseidon Nano charger. It’s small, but it lasts eight hours. Plus, it’s waterproof and lasts up to two years.
Speaking of phones, they get hot on the beach, but not if you pack them in a thermal case. Not only do they reflect sunlight and heat in the summer, but they also protect your phone from the bitter cold in the winter.
Personal air conditioner
I’ve heard rumors that there are people who don’t like the beach, who don’t see the joy in doing nothing all day in the blazing sun. These people need a personal air conditioner around their neck. It will cool them down until they convince everyone else it’s time to leave.