For generations, the beach has been a popular vacation spot, and it continues to do so year after year. And why not? They’re lovely and breezy, with plenty of activities for both young and old, and they’re a great way to get away from our busy schedules. Beach trips, whether for a day at the beach or as part of a full-fledged beach vacation, can be a breeze if you know what to bring. If you’re unsure what to bring to the beach, we’ve compiled a list of beach essentials for you. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, a family, or by yourself, this packing list will ensure a relaxed beach trip.
What Should You Not Forget to Bring to The Beach?
In this article, we’ll go over beach essentials in three categories, as well as some product recommendations based on what users have said is the best for years.
- Clothes & Accessories for Beach
- Toiletries for Beach
- Beach Gear for Beach
- Miscellaneous Travel Essentials for Beach
So, let’s start with clothes and accessories for Beach
Clothes & Accessories for Beach
When it comes to beach vacations, finding the perfect swimsuit is only the beginning. There are some other great accessories that can truly complete the look, including the following:
- Beach Bag
- Cover-ups
- Hats
- Sandals
- Sunglasses
- Swimsuits
Firstly, you’ll need a good beach bag to carry most of the essentials to have a great day at the beach. Let’s get started with that.
1. Beach Bag – Beach Essentials
A nice beach bag with all of the essential items is essential for a fun day at the beach. First and foremost, choose the suitable beach bag, which is sturdy but light and spacious, easy to clean and water resistant if possible.
OdyseaCo Mesh Beach Bag Tote with Insulated Cooler
You’ll appreciate the practicality of this waterproof beach bag, which is also stylish and light. It includes an additional cooler, allowing you to have even more cooler space. This bag is designed to fold up neatly for storage and packing because it’s designed for travel. It’s 20 inches tall, 16 inches long, and 6 inches wide to be precise. It has two external pockets, one zippered for valuables or a phone, and the other for sunscreen and other items, and it can easily carry four large beach towels.
2. Cover-ups – Beach Essentials
Choosing the ideal beach or poolside outfit entails much more than just a bikini. A well-chosen swimsuit cover-up helps to tie the whole ensemble together and makes the switchover from the water to whatever you’ve got planned next a breeze. That is to say, cover-ups for swimsuits are not only practical, but they also provide an opportunity to experiment with beach fashion. When shopping for a cover-up, look for a soft fabric that dries quickly and holds its shape rather than becoming baggy and stretched out.
HARHAY Women’s Beach Swimwear Cover up
This V-necked cover-up with drawstrings on both sides is incredibly comfortable and stunning. The material allows you to stay cool on hot summer days at the beach. Moreover, you can easily adjust the height of the slits on both sides to make them tighter or wrap around to change the look.
3. Hats – Beach Essentials
Along with a nice cover-up and your go-to sunscreen, having a sun hat might be the perfect finishing touch to your beach outfit. A raffia or cotton topper, according to Vogue, is not only a stylish addition, but also practical. It is a good way to keep the sun out of your eyes while keeping your face looking pretty and healthy. Other than the one we’ve mentioned below; you can check out 9 of the best summer hats to wear to the beach here.
Women’s Wide Brim Sun Protection Straw Hat
This large brim hat is made of woven straw and is breathable and comfortable. It also has a foldable design that makes it easy to store in your beach bag when not in use. This hat has a UPF rating of 50+ and it blocks about 50%-80% UVA/UVB rays. It provides a perfect shade for your face and back of your neck to help protect against the sun’s harmful rays.
4. Sandals – Beach Essentials
Sandals are essential for the beach when you think about the blazing hot sand, the slick and wet pier, and the broken rocks lurking beneath foot, as well as the sanitation of public restroom floors. As a result, it’s vital to pay close attention to the quality, material, and features of your footwear. If, on the other hand, your beach vacation is mostly about sipping Margaritas and Piña Coladas at a beachside bar rather than water sporting events, fashion may be a prime concern. In this case, you may want to forego the frills in favor of a more attractive design and embellishments.
Plaka Flip Flops Sandals
You’ll actually love how useful these adorable summer sandals for women are. They’re comfortable enough to stroll on the beach or even relax by the pool. Each pair of beach sandals is meticulously handwoven and styled. The flat soles are made of a vegan-friendly, long-lasting rubber. The beautiful woven stretch-to-fit straps are made of a premium nylon that is designed to prevent rubbing and blisters.
5. Sunglasses – Beach Essentials
A fashionable pair of sunglasses not only improves your looks but also protects you from the sun and heat. Despite the fact that there are many extremely cheap pairs of sunglasses available, it is essential to consider the value of investing in a good pair of polarized sunglasses. When you are at the beach, it reduces light reflections and glare from the sun off the water’s surface. When you’re at the beach or doing any other water sports, a polarized lens will provide you with the necessary protection as well as outstanding visual clarity and comfort when looking at the water.
SOJOS Small Round Classic Polarized Sunglasses for Women Men
The UV protection coating on these polarized lenses can filter out reflected sunlight and protect your eyes from long-term damage by blocking 99 percent of UV rays. They’re made of high-quality plastic frames, UV400 lenses, and solid metal hinges, with all the little details making sure a long life for your sunglasses.
6. Swimsuits – Beach Essentials
When going to the beach, you’ll undoubtedly require two items: a reliable sunscreen and a comfortable swimsuit. We’ll get to the first one later. Now for the swimsuit, whether you’re spending the day on the beach or in the water, it’s a must-have. And, when you go for swimsuit shopping, remember and try to choose a suit that compliments your personality. If a modest one-piece swimsuit makes you feel the most comfortable, go for it! If that flirty, teeny-tiny bikini exudes your personality, go for it! Wearing a swimsuit is all about celebrating yourself, so pick one that makes you feel good!
Hilor Women’s One Piece Swimwear
This Amazon best-sellers see-through hollow out design gives the one-piece swimsuits for women a mysterious and classy appearance. It has tummy control mesh paneling, a modern cross-over design, and soft, wire-free removable bra cups for a customized fit. There are over 40 different colors and patterns to choose from.
Toiletries for Beach
Even if you only intend to lie down on the beach and do nothing else, you should include some basic toiletry items in your beach packing list.
- After Sun Cream
- First-Aid
- SPF Lip Balm
- Sunscreen
We know that when you think of beach toiletries, the first thing that comes to mind is sunscreen, but since we’ve organized each list by category and alphabetically, let’s start with after sun cream and work our way down the list.
1. After Sun Cream – Beach Essentials
Wearing a good sunscreen at the beach is the best defense when it comes to sun protection. We may, however, miss a spot from time to time, in which case after-sun cream comes in handy. If you get a sunburn, an after-sun cream will actually be useful.
Burt’s Bees Aloe & Coconut Oil After Sun Soother
Burt’s Bees aloe and coconut oil after sun soother is packed with natural antioxidants and nutrients, and your skin will appreciate you for using it for naturally powerful hydration. Aloe vera’s natural power is the most effective treatment for healing burns, so using a natural product is the best option. Coconut oil is also a non-greasy and non-sticky ingredient, which helps the skin retain moisture and heal quickly after sun exposure.
2. First-Aid – Beach Essentials
A travel medicine kit is a must-have item in any traveler’s luggage. A basic first aid kit could easily treat minor cuts and bruises, skin irritations, jellyfish stings, and a variety of other minor injuries. So, keep a first-aid kit on hand in case of this type of minor injury. After all, a beach first aid kit doesn’t have to be large, bulky, or costly. Make it simple, light-weight, and specific to what you’ll most likely need.
Basic Things to Put in A First Aid Kit for The Beach
- Anti-inflammatory medication and pain relievers
- Anti-itch cream
- Basic bandaging items
- Disposable instant ice packs
- Hand sanitizer
- Saline solution
2-in-1 Premium First Aid Emergency Kit
This one has 215 hospital-grade items in a portable, versatile, and durable design that weighs only 1.5 pounds, as well as a 43-piece mini first-aid kit. The bag is sturdy, compact, and lightweight, and it holds all of the essential first-aid supplies (258 pieces total). It’s well-organized, with multiple compartments, and there’s still room for more items if they’re needed.
3. SPF Lip Balm – Beach Essentials
A good lip balm is another thing that people forget when going to the beach. Aside from avoiding sunburn on your body, it’s important to keep your lips as hydrated as possible. Our lips have extremely thin skin, making them more vulnerable to damage from the sun, as well as extreme heat and wind. So, our lips, like the rest of our bodies, need to be protected from the sun. Over time, sun exposure destroys collagen, a protein found in abundance in the lips, causing lips to thin. Lip balms with SPF protect the skin and collagen.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm
This lip balm with SPF isn’t just for the beach. Whether you’re hitting the beach, the hillsides, or just driving around town, this triple action formula will protect, heal, and moisturize your lips. Its hydrating and smooth formula, which includes Aloe and Vitamin E, is ideal for everyday lip protection.
4. Sunscreen – Beach Essentials
As previously stated, you’ll almost certainly need two items when going to the beach, one of which is sunscreen. So, remember to use sunscreen to avoid getting sunburned and to keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. We recommend using a reef-safe sunscreen among the many options available on the market. That’s because it is proven that typical sunscreens generally contain chemicals that have been shown to harm aquatic ecosystems in the long run. Why not use a sunscreen that is reef-safe to help protect aquatic plants and animals while also protecting yourself?
Reef Safe Sunscreen SPF 50
This moisturizing reef-safe SPF 50 sunscreen is waterproof for up to 80 minutes in the sun, sea, or surf. It has broad-spectrum mineral-based UVA/UVB ray protection to help prevent sunburn and DNA damage. In addition, unlike other natural physical sunblocks, it leaves no white cast or ghosting effect.
Beach Gear
Our next category is beach gear. You should also consider packing the following beach gear to be comfortable, entertained, and have a worry-free beach vacation:
- Beach Blanket
- Chairs
- Beach Safe
- Beach Sport Games
- Towel
- Beach Umbrella
- Portable Cooler
- Portable Speaker
- Waterproof Phone Case
Let’s check them out one by one.
1. Beach Blanket – Beach Essentials
A good beach blanket helps a practical purpose in addition to being stylish on the sand: it provides a more comfortable place to rest while trying to prevent sand from getting all over your body or equipment. When you’re done having fun in the sea, this is a terrific place to lay out without getting too sandy, or to play a couple of card games on.
WildHorn Outfitters Sand Escape Beach Blanket
This is one of the best sand proof beach blankets on the market, and it’s ideal for family holidays. The Sand Escape Beach Blanket from WildHorn Outfitters is 63 square feet (or 9 inches by 7 inches) in size. It even has a built-in bag for compacting the blanket down to 5 ” x 8″. Featuring four anchor pockets in the patented design can be filled with sand to keep the blanket in place. This breathable, durable, and lightweight blanket is made of quick-drying parachute nylon.
2. Beach Chairs – Beach Essentials
Beach chairs not only alleviate the burden of getting covered in sand, but they also keep you comfortable throughout your trip. So, to get the most out of your beach day(s), make sure you have a reliable beach chair. Sunbathers may prefer a leaning back beach chair, while those who want to reduce their sun exposure may prefer chairs with their own umbrella or shade structure. There are even chairs with built-in coolers, cup holders, and other exciting extras to make your outing even better.
Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair
Its versatile design reclines into five different positions, including flat for optimal lounging and sunbathing, and is equipped with backpack straps for stress-free portability. The chair can help streamline your beach packing list with its built-in storage pouches, one of which serves as a cooler for your drinks and snacks. There’s also a mobile phone pocket and a cup holder to keep your drink out of the sand. Moreover, you can also hang wet towels off the back from a special towel bar.
3. Beach Safe – Beach Essentials
Beach theft can take place even in the world’s finest beaches. So, to prevent your values getting stolen, consider packing a locking beach bag, clever water bottle safes, or lock boxes. These beach safes will keep your valuables out of glance and out of reach, giving you added peace of mind on all of your adventures.
FlexSafe by AquaVault
This modest safe is perfect for use as a travel safe or personal safe for theft protection. Featuring slash-resistant five-layer design is easily packable and flexible, with a heavy-duty build quality. The patented locking system secures your beach chair, bike, or umbrella.
4. Beach Sport Games & Toys – Beach Essentials
Sand and water, of course, are an ideal combination for playtime and will inspire most children to create fantastic, unguided games and activities. However, having a list of fun activities and some toys in your back pocket will not let your kids down and on the other hand, it will not make them want to leave after an hour at the beach. Mini golf, beach Frisbee golf, water bucket relay, corn hole and beach bowling are some of the games to try. Plus, regardless of your age, you can also enjoy a game of beach volleyball.
Juegoal 3x2ft Collapsible Portable Cornhole Game Set
With the cornhole and tic tac toe game, you get two games for the price of one. Two cornhole boards, ten bean bags, and a durable carrying bag are included with this product. There are no tools required for installation, and it comes with assembly instructions for extra assistance. Hooks can be used to secure your cornhole boards and prevent them from moving while you’re playing on the beach. After that, you can begin playing the game in just a few minutes.
5. Beach Towel
To be honest, beach towels are bulky and large, and many people try to avoid bringing them on vacation. When going to the beach, however, it’s essential to bring a towel, preferably a lightweight towel for post-swim lounging and wiping sand off with. You can also bring a beach blanket or sarong that can be used as a towel.
BAY LAUREL Turkish Beach Towel with Travel Bag
This premium 100% cotton Turkish beach towel comes in a one-of-a-kind bag that will serve as your go-to beach bag and towel set. When compared to traditional Turkish towels, The Bay Laurel offers a sand-free beach towel that is also lightweight and quick to dry.
6. Beach Umbrella – Beach Essentials
You don’t have to spend your entire day at the beach in the sun. So, make sure you have a shady spot to escape the hot weather. A tent or umbrella will protect you from harmful UV rays while also providing a comfortable place to rest away from the sun. However, most beaches will have a few umbrellas and beach huts for rent.
Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella
The Versa-brella is a clamp-on shade canopy umbrella that protects skin from 99.5% of UVA and UVB rays while providing UPF 50+ protection. I t features a heavy-duty universal clamp, letting you easily connect it to square and tubular surfaces, ensuring a secure hold on beach chairs or other seating areas.
7. Portable Cooler – Beach Essentials
For most of us, a day at the beach isn’t complete without plenty of cold beverages and snacks. Fresh cut fruit and vegetables, chips and salsa, deviled eggs, sandwiches, sweets and cookies are just a few of the beach food options. And a dozen beverages, including lemonade, soda, canned beer, and everything else! As a result, a heavy-duty collapsible, portable cooler bag would undoubtedly be needed to keep everything fresh.
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler
This product achieves superior cooling by adding Deep Freeze high-performance insulation with a radiant heat barrier and a triple-layer ColdBlock base. And according to the manufacturers, ice lasts up to two days in the Titan 16 Can Zipperless Cooler. That being said, the cooler comes with a patented “flip-open” Zipperless lid for easy access to food and drinks, as well as an insulated front pocket. In addition, the Rhino-Tech exterior is durable, water resistant, and easy to clean.
8. Portable Speaker – Beach Essentials
This summer, why not take a waterproof speaker to the beach and brighten your day with your favorite music? However, instead of risking your favorite portable Bluetooth speaker, opt for a waterproof, shock-proof speaker that is small enough to take with you.
IPX7 Waterproof Speaker
This wireless Bluetooth speaker uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide up to 66 feet of barrier-free pairing, allowing you to pair any Bluetooth-enabled device, including your smartphone, with this product. Even when wet, the bluetooth speaker continues to work and allows you to listen to music with ease. Furthermore, the ultra-compact bluetooth speaker can easily be slipped into a backpack or bag without taking up too much space.
9. Waterproof Phone Case – Beach Essentials
Waterproof phone cases are a must-have for anyone who leads an active lifestyle, particularly those who enjoy going to the beach and engaging in water sports. The best waterproof phone cases protect your phone from not only water, but also sand, dust, dirt, and even snow, as well as providing some level of drop protection. They’ll take you far beyond the water resistance of most modern smartphones, allowing you to go deep underwater and even take photos.
Vansky Floatable Waterproof Case
Specially designed cases for your specific smartphone can be expensive, but the generic cases offer some good alternatives. And Vansky’s Floatable Waterproof Case is one of the generic one among budget cases. Actually, it’s more of a pouch than a case, but that simply means it’ll work with almost any smartphone, from Apple’s 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It can keep your phone dry for up to 30 minutes at depths of up to 100 feet, though that should be rare given that the case also floats. Amidst the pouch design, it still has full touchscreen functionality. In addition, it features an external audio jack, allowing you to plug in a pair of wired headphones while keeping your phone safe inside the case.
Miscellaneous Travel Essentials for Beach
Apart from the items listed in the previous three categories, you should also consider bringing these beach travel essentials to get the most out of your holiday.
- Books/ Kindle
- Copy of Vaccine Card
- Plastic Bag for Wet Clothes
- Portable Charger
- Smart Phone
- Tissues
- Water Bottle
Some people wish they were on this beach right now reading a book; why not make that wish come true when you have the opportunity? Let’s look at each of the items in this category one by one, starting with books you could take to the beach with you.
1. Books/ Kindle
We could all use some amazing books to escape from reality and step into a whole new world now more than ever. With the sound of the waves plunging on the shore and the sand between your toes, what better place to catch up on your reading than a beach?
Good Beach Reads
It’s probably best to avoid heavy subject matter when reading on the beach. Avoid thrillers and mysteries, and instead choose stories that are uplifting or at the very least amusing. Here are some recommendations for beach reads to lose yourself in this summer.
- Act Your Age by Talia Hibbert
- Dream Girl by Laura Lippman
- Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Objects of Desire by Clare Sestanovich
- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley
- The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
- The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
- This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
A warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer, from the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor.
2. Copy of Vaccine Card
If you’re one of the 3.33 billion people worldwide who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as of December 2021) and are eager to travel, you’ll want to get a vaccine passport before booking your tickets and planning your dream trip. True, you can travel with just your vaccine card, but traveling with your vaccine record card may cause some wear and tear; however, it is advised not to laminate the card. Despite the fact that laminating it will make it more durable, the plastic will prevent the vaccine provider from adding information such as a record of future shots.
However, you can purchase plastic sleeves to keep your card crease and stain-free as you resume your travels if you want to protect it. After all, any countries demand proof of vaccination, a COVID-19 test result that is negative, or both. Check the requirements for both the country you’re flying to and the airline you’ll be flying with. On the WHO website, you can also find general pandemic related information for travelers.
Teskyer 5 Pack CDC Vaccination Card Protector
The outer dimensions of this one are 3.94 inches wide and 4.53 inches long, and the inner dimensions are 3 inches wide and 4.25 inches long. If this vaccine card holder is too small to fit your card, you can fold it or cut off the extra paper (without damaging the information) to make it fit. It is made of a long-lasting, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly PVC material. It’s also wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and waterproof, with a resealable zipper to keep contents safe and dry.
3. Plastic Bag for Wet Clothes
Make sure you have some sort of plastic bag for your wet clothes when you finally change. So that the wet ones don’t get in touch with your dry ones and make them all soaked and sandy. It will keep things in the smallest amount of space possible while not needing you to line dry more than is necessary.
ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags
You can carry your wet and dry items in the same bag with this product. It makes it possible for you to hold everything in one bag and keep your dry items dry while keeping your wet or soiled items separate. Each bag has a sewn and sealed “wet” section to prevent wicking and leakage, as well as a zippered dry section to keep dry diapers or inserts.
4. Portable Charger
A day of sunbathing will undoubtedly deplete the batteries in your devices. Nobody wants to deal with a dead phone battery, especially if you’re trying to listen to music while at the beach. So don’t forget to pack a portable charger to keep your gadgets charged.
Anker PowerCore+ Mini, 3350mAh Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger
This product provides emergency backup power for your phone in a remarkably small package. This portable charger is about the size of a lipstick tube and has enough power to charge a flagship smartphone from empty to 80%. It adds over one charge to an iPhone 6s and at least 80% to the Galaxy S6 and other high-power smartphones, according to users.
5. Smart Phone
Without a doubt, a beach day means a myriad of Instagram photo opportunities. And the majority of travelers carry their phone with them at all times. Allowing your phone to sunbathe next to you in direct sunlight, on the other hand, can cause it to overheat, potentially damaging the phone’s battery and internal circuits. So keep your phone safe by keeping it in the shade. You may also want to protect your screen, (which in most cases is already protected by a screen protector) by investing in a waterproof screen protector. It is a simple way to keep your phone safe while visiting places where there is a lot of splashing water. Last but not least, don’t forget to clean your phone and case after each beach outing with a wipe made specifically for electronics.
ALIBEISS Pre-Moistened Screen Wipes for Smartphones and Other Delicate Surfaces
With just a swipe, ALIBEISS glasses cleaner removes dust and oil, leaving no fibers, scratches, streaks, or marks on your phone screen. This pack contains 100 wipes, each individually packaged to make life simple to carry with you wherever you go.
6. Tissues
This is yet another essential item for any traveler’s backpack.
- For starters, you never know when you’re going to run out of toilet paper when you are on a trip. We’ve all experienced how difficult it is to find toilet paper in foreign countries, particularly in public restrooms.
- Having tissue packs on hand can help you avoid embarrassing sniffling and assist you with unexpected allergies.
- Ladies, your eye makeup or mascara may not look as exquisite as it did in the morning after a day of sightseeing. Tissues make it easy to clean up in this case as well.
- After a day at the beach with all those tiny salty crumbs, sand, and dirt, the last thing you want to do is touch your face. Tissues can be used to remove eye boogers without risking an infection.
So the list goes on and on about how important it is to bring a packet of tissues to the beach.
Kleenex On-The-Go Packs Facial Tissue
Kleenex On-the-Go Facial Tissues are intended to offer the softness and strength you’ve come to expect from Kleenex, but in a convenient travel pack. The 3-layer Kleenex tissues are the softest everyday tissue among national brands because they are thick, durable, and absorbent. You can keep Kleenex tissues in your pocket, purse, backpack, or car to be ready for any sniffle, sneeze, or small mess.
7. Water Bottle
When you’re out in the sun and doing anything active, it’s critical to stay hydrated. If you want to keep your drinks cold all day, choose an insulated water bottle. But, if you’re traveling light, a collapsible water bottle might be a better option. In any case, make sure you bring a water bottle to the beach that you can refill anywhere.
Anntrue Collapsible Travel Water Bottle
Since it is made of food-grade platinum silicone, this collapsible water bottle is nontoxic. It has no taste or odor, making it a convenient and safe drink bottle to use even on a daily basis. Its humanized body bottle design creates a stunning look while also providing a non-slip grip. With its flexible, shatter-proof silicone body, the travel water bottle is tough enough to withstand drops, ensuring you stay hydrated during your travels.
Conclusion
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning your next beach trip, but unfortunately we all seem to forget something most of the time. Even if it’s something as simple as sunscreen, it’s all too easy to get caught up in worrying about flight times, accommodations or spending hours on the road with the kids and forget something.
Make your own personalized beach packing list using these lists as a starting point. Make a list of things to bring to the beach that you know you’ll need by going over your schedule. Each day, dress yourself in your head from head to toe, taking into account all weather scenarios and other potential travel snafus. Finally, get ready to enjoy the sun, splash around a little, and take advantage of your opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the beach! As Jimmy Buffett says “Sky above, sand below, peace within. “If there’s heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.”
