I love the beach and everything about it! Born and raised in the Boston area, I’ve lived only minutes from the beach for my entire life. So you could say I’m an expert on all the beach gear must haves that you need to pack for an amazing beach trip.
I’ve visited beaches in Cozumel, St. Lucia, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Punta Cana, Iceland – the list goes on. I know exactly what it takes to have an amazing beach day, and exactly what the best beach essentials are.
So without further ado, here are my picks for the best beach accessories you need this year.
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What Are Beach Gear Must Haves?
In short, beach gear must haves are the accessories and gear that you need to make the most out of your beach vacation.
Some things are essential and practical, like towels and sunscreen. Others are there to make your time more enjoyable or comfortable, like beach chairs and a wagon.
You definitely don’t need every single thing on this list every time you go to the beach. These are just the various items I personally like to use on my beach trips.
Sometimes I like to hit the beach minimalist style, with only a towel, a water bottle, sunscreen, and some snacks. Other days I load up the wagon and make it a whole experience.
So feel free to customize this list according to your own preferences, style, and mood of the day!
My Top Picks For Best Beach Gear
BEST BEACH TOWEL:
Sand Cloud Beach Towel
BEST BEACH CHAIR:
Ostrich 3-N-1 Beach Chair
BEST BEACH WAGON:
Mac Sports Beach Wagon
BEST BEACH UMBRELLA:
Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella
BEST BEACH CANOPY:
Sun Ninja Beach Canopy
BEST WATERPROOF SPEAKERS:
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker
BEST SNORKEL SET:
Greatever Snorkel Set
BEST WATERPROOF CAMERA:
GoPro HERO 12
BEST SAND TOYS
Click N’ Play Sand Toys
BEST BEACH TOTE
Bogg Bag Open Tote
BEST REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN:
Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen
BEST SPRAY SUNSCREEN
SunBum Sunscreen
BEST COOLER:
Yeti Roadie 60 Wheeled Cooler
BEST BACKPACK COOLER
IceMule Pro Collapsible Cooler
BEST SUNGLASSES
Bose Bluetooth Sunglasses
BEST WATERPROOF PHONE POUCH
AiRunTech Waterproof Pouch
BEST BEACH GAME
Bucketball
BEST METAL DETECTOR
Garrett Ace 300 Metal Detector
Best Beach Towel
Why I Love It: The sand falls right off, they dry super quick, and they donate to marine conservation!
What To Consider: They are on the thinner side, and you should air dry them.
Obviously you need a great beach towel for any day at the beach! It’s probably the single most essential beach item of all.
I love Sand Cloud towels. They are soft, absorbent, and super versatile. They dry way faster than other beach towels, and sand doesn’t cling to them either. Also, a portion of their profits goes directly to marine conservation!
Best Beach Blanket
Why I Love It: They’re huge, the sand falls right off, and it repels water.
What To Consider: They are a nylon material, so it’s not the softest thing to lay on.
A beach blanket is a must have accessory to create a nice large area to set up your stuff on the beach, without laying everything in the sand. This one is lightweight and easy to set up.
The sand easily comes off of it, and even water rolls right off. It also comes with stakes so you can be sure it won’t fly away on you on windy beach days.
Beach Gear Must Haves – Best Beach Chairs
If you’d rather not sit on a towel or blanket on the sand, you need a beach chair! There are different styles to choose from, the main ones being a classic seat, or a reclining chair.
Best Classic Beach Chair
Why I Love It: It’s sturdy, comfortable, adjustable, and has a cooler bag on the side.
What To Consider: It’s a little on the heavy side.
I’m a big fan of this reclining beach chair from Old Bahama Bay. It’s got great features like a folding towel rack and a cooler on the side. It can hold up to 400 pounds, and it’s got a convenient shoulder strap for carrying it around.
Best Beach Recliner
Why I Love It: It’s super comfortable, and has awesome features like face and arm holes.
What To Consider: It can be a bit cumbersome to carry.
This reclining beach chair is probably the most comfortable beach chair I’ve ever sat in. The lumbar pillow is a great added feature but I’m actually obsessed with the face and arm holes.
I’m a big book lover, and reading on the beach is so much better with this chair. I can lay on my belly with my face looking through the hole and my arms under the chair with my book. It’s amazing and I love it.
Best Wagon For A Beach Trip
Why I Love It: The wide tires make it easy to move on sand, and it folds easily into a compact size.
What To Consider: It’s about 23lbs on its own.
Unless you’re an octopus (unlikely), you only have two hands. You need a way to lug all your beach gear must haves with you to and from the beach. A beach wagon is the answer!
I love this wagon. You can throw all your beach stuff in it and it makes hauling everything wicked easy. The tires are huge, which allows easy movement on basically any surface, even soft sand. This one even comes with a folding side table and mesh pockets.
Best Beach Umbrella
Why I Love It: It’s lightweight and has an integrated side table for drinks.
What To Consider: It’s an auger style, as opposed to a sandbag anchoring system.
I love having a little spot of shade at the beach, so an umbrella is definitely on my list of beach gear must haves. Tommy Bahama is a well-trusted brand and this particular beach umbrella lives up to its name.
It’s lightweight (only about 5 lbs), and folds down to just under 4 ft. It has a 7 ft canopy that tilts to block the sun as it moves, and has vents in the top to help withstand wind.
Best Beach Canopy
Why I Love It: Easy to set up and holds up well against the wind.
What To Consider: It’s easy to set up once you get the hang of it – getting the hang of it can be tricky.
Sometimes you need more than just a little shade at the beach. This is where a beach Canopy comes in. I love this Sun Ninja canopy. First of all, it’s huge, so you get plenty of space beneath it for shade.
It’s easy to set up once you get the hang of it – the trick is to stretch the fabric out taut, fill the sand bags and then bury them! Plus, it folds up super compact for easy transport and storage.
Best Beach Tote
Why I Love It: It’s big enough to carry everything I need, and it’s easy to wipe clean.
What To Consider: Sometimes the handles can’t handle (see what I did there) the weight of a full bag and can break.
A good beach tote is a must have on any beach day list worth anything. You need a bag to tote around your sunscreen, a book, a water bottle, and anything else you want to bring to the beach.
The Bogg Bag is my favorite tote to bring to the beach because it is so easy to keep clean. There are waterproof compartments for your phone or anything else you want to keep dry and sand-free.
They’re sturdy, reliable, and a great option for a beach tote. Plus you can customize them any way you want for an added touch of personalization.
Beach Gear Must Haves – Sunscreen
Everybody needs sunscreen. It doesn’t matter your age, your race, your gender – everyone should be wearing sunscreen regularly. It is absolutely one of the most important beach trip must haves.
Which you choose is up to you, but make your dermatologist happy and apply it whenever you’re going to be in the sun for any length of time, especially when you go to the beach!
Best Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Why I Love It: It keeps my very fair-skinned son from getting sunburned, even in the Caribbean!
What To Consider: It’s a mineral sunscreen, so it tends to leave a white residue.
I travel a lot. Frequently I take my family to various spots in the Caribbean, and we love that Caribbean water! If you go in the ocean, you absolutely have to have reef-safe sunscreen.
Do not assume a sunscreen is reef-safe just because it claims to be. You must use one that doesn’t include the toxic ingredients of oxybenzone, octocrylene, or octinoxate. These ingredients are extremely harmful to the delicate marine life.
I use this Thinksport sunscreen for myself and my kids and it prevents us from burning, even in the strong Caribbean sun. I even use it on our faces. Yes, it leaves a white residue, which is par for the course with mineral sunscreens, but it keeps us and the ocean life safe.
Best Facial Sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen
Why I Love It: It’s lightweight and goes on sheer, without leaving a white or greasy residue.
What To Consider: It’s a chemical sunscreen.
Everyone should always be applying sunscreen to your face! That sun is a killer.
I’m not a huge fan of chemical sunscreens on principle. However, this one doesn’t make me break out, and it keeps me from getting sunburned. It lasts about 80 minutes before you should reapply.
It’s a non-greasy formula, and doesn’t leave a strong white residue like mineral sunscreens do. It’s lightweight so it almost feels like you’re not wearing anything.
Best Spray Sunscreen
Why I Love It: It’s super lightweight, easy to put on and reapply, and smells great.
What To Consider: It’s not tear-free. Watch your eyes!
Spray sunscreen is so much more convenient than lotion ones in my opinion. I bring it to the beach with us every time we go. Actually, everywhere we go outdoors for that matter.
SunBum is a wonderful brand, and this spray sunscreen is absolutely fantastic. I love the lightweight feeling of it and it smells great. It’s also reef-safe, so you can use it in the Caribbean!
Beach Gear Must Haves- Best Cooler For The Beach
A good cooler is definitely an important item on a beach gear must haves list. You need something to keep your drinks cold, keep your food fresh, and to last the entire time you’re enjoying the beach.
Best Wheeled Cooler
Why I Love It: It keeps drinks and food cold for days, even sitting in the sun.
What To Consider: It’s pricey but the value makes up for it.
Sometimes when you go to the beach you need a big cooler for all your food and drinks. Yeti is top of the line when it comes to quality and durability.
This Roadie 60 easily hauls all the watermelon, sandwiches, drinks, and more that you need at the beach, and can keep it all cool for days at a time. I love the telescoping handle and big wheels, which make it easy to pull over all types of surfaces, even soft sand.
Best Backpack Cooler
IceMule Pro Collapsible Cooler
Why I Love It: It’s convenient to carry on your back, and it keeps drinks cold all day.
What To Consider: It’s best for a day trip, or you’ll have to reload ice.
I love this IceMule cooler! It keeps drinks cold all day, and being able to wear it as a backpack makes it super convenient. The roll down top makes it easy to access your stuff and keep sand and water out.
My favorite feature is that it actually floats! So when I’m taking a kayak out at the beach, this cooler can float right alongside me in the water.
Beach Gear Must Haves – Best Sunglasses
Why I Love It: You can protect your eyes while listening to music – and not bother anyone around you.
What To Consider: The battery is good for a few hours at a time, not all day.
One of my absolute favorite beach gear must haves is this pair of sunglasses by Bose. I bought them for my husband a couple years ago and they still work amazing. I’m genuinely obsessed.
He can listen to music without bothering anyone around him – we don’t even know he’s listening to anything in fact. Plus he’s protecting his eyes from the sun, which is incredibly important.
Beach Gear Must Haves – Best Snorkel Sets
Best Snorkel Set
Why I Love It: It fits well to my daughter’s face, without leaking or fogging up.
What To Consider: If you leave it in the sun the seal can warp, which means it’ll wind up leaking.
My daughter loves this snorkel set. We’ve tried many, trying to get the perfect fit for her, and this one has been the winner for us. She uses it all the time and we’ve had no problems as long as she doesn’t leave it laying in the sun for too long.
It has a dry floating valve, which prevents water from getting in when she submerges. The lens doesn’t typically fog up on her either which is a huge plus. It comes in kids and adult sizes too!
Best Full Face Snorkel Mask
Greatever Full Faced Snorkel Mask
Why I Love It: It doesn’t fog up, it’s got a huge field of vision, and it’s all one piece.
What To Consider: Some folks (not me!) find it harder to breathe in this style of mask.
I strongly prefer a full face snorkel mask myself. I feel like they fit my face better, and I can breathe without being nervous about swallowing water.
This one also has never fogged up on me, and it gives me a huge field of vision that I don’t feel like I get with a traditional snorkel set. As far as I’m concerned, this mask is one of the best beach gear must haves to bring on vacation.
Best Waterproof Speaker
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker
Why I Love It: The sound is fantastic, and it’s portable and convenient, no matter where you go.
What To Consider: Using it outside on full volume drains the battery in a few hours.
Lots of people like to bring a speaker to the beach so they can listen to music while relaxing, or playing, or building a sand castle – you get the point. I love this Bose speaker for exactly that.
Bose is well known for making great quality audio products, and this one is no exception. You can bring it with you to the beach and not worry about the water killing your speaker. It’s got great volume, and it easily connects to your phone.
Best Waterproof Camera
Why I Love It: It’s small but takes incredible photos and videos. It’s waterproof, so it’s great for above and below the surface.
What To Consider: You run the risk of losing it without securing it with a wrist strap. I strongly recommend getting the accessory bundle!
I absolutely love my GoPro HERO 12. I’ve taken it with me to a dozen different beaches all over the world and will never go to the beach again without it.
It’s waterproof by itself, but I strongly recommend the accessory bundle so you get the handle. Then you don’t have to worry about losing it on the ocean floor if you take it snorkeling.
It takes fantastic videos and photos and seamlessly transitions from above the water to below. It’s one of my all-time top beach gear must haves, without a doubt.
Best Waterproof Phone Pouch
Why I Love It: It effortlessly keeps all my important stuff dry, even while in the ocean.
What To Consider: It’s not easy to use your phone through the pouch but it is possible.
No matter if I’m going to the beach in Massachusetts or somewhere in the Caribbean, I don’t like leaving my valuables on the sand while I’m in the ocean. This waterproof pouch is the solution, and a definite contender on my list for the best beach gear must haves.
You can put your phone, cash, passport, keys – essentially anything important into this pouch and just bring it in the ocean with you. It’s completely waterproof, and it floats, so you can splash away in the water without worrying about your stuff.
Best Beach Game
Why I Love It: It’s portable, it floats, and is wicked fun to play.
What To Consider: You need to fill the buckets with sand or water to prevent them from tipping over when you throw the balls at them.
There are a million different games I could’ve mentioned on a beach gear must haves list but my favorite has got to be Bucketball. Essentially it’s a larger version of beer pong – you set up big cups in a triangle, and you have to try to throw a ball into one of the cups.
Bucketball comes with inflatable racks, so you can play on an uneven surface or even in the water. It’s incredibly fun, and the best part is that this game is super portable and packs up into a small bag.
Best Sand Toys
Why I Love It: There’s a good variety of pieces, plus the mesh bag makes it easy to shake out the sand before you bring it home.
What To Consider: It only comes with one bucket.
Sand Toys are obviously an essential beach accessory. I love this Click N’ Play set for the variety of pieces. It comes with a bucket, sifters, rakes, shovels, and a bunch of fun molds.
My favorite part is the mesh carrying bag. That makes it wicked easy to rinse everything out or shake off all the sand.
Beach Gear Must Haves – Best Metal Detectors
Best Metal Detector For Kids
RM Ricomax Metal Detector For Kids
Why I Love It: It’s very easy to use and light enough even for little kids to hold.
What To Consider: There’s no way to adjust sensitivity.
Both of my kids love this metal detector. They’ve found all sorts of “treasures” at the beach and they have a blast searching for stuff.
I like that this is very lightweight. It’s a one-button start, so even little ones can turn it on and use it. Also, the bottom part moves so you can angle it however it suits you.
Best Metal Detector
Garrett Ace 300 Metal Detector
Why I Love It: It’s a great option, even for beginners. And it’s made in the USA!
What To Consider: There are better but far pricier options.
Metal detectors are a ton of fun to use, and this one is great even if you’ve never used one before. It comes with headphones, and even gives you an approximate depth which I think is super helpful.
Metal detecting is not a cheap hobby, so I find this metal detector to be the best option as far as value for money spent.
