Your Essential Packing List: Beach Gear
- Jonna Royer
- May 20, 2024
- 10 min read
Planning a day at the beach can be an exhilarating prospect, filled with visions of sun-soaked relaxation and fun by the waves. Whether you’re going to a local beach within driving distance or hopping a plane to the Bahamas or Aruba, it's crucial to have the right gear on hand. Since what you take will be significantly different if you’re flying v. driving, I’ve broken the items down into two visual lists that you can easily refer to, so you'll want to bookmark this post for future reference to ensure you’re fully prepared for a perfect day by the shore. Also, make sure you check out my post "Your Essential Packing List: Beach Vacation Outfits" so you can have all of the outfits you need for everything from a relaxing day by the water to a romantic dinner nearby.
Beach Gear Essentials for Destinations in Driving Distance
When your beach destination is just a drive away, you have the luxury of packing a bit more generously, bringing along larger and more versatile items that can enhance your experience. This means you don't have to limit yourself to the bare essentials. Instead, you can load up your car with everything from spacious beach canopies and reclining lounge chairs to portable grills and full-sized coolers. Having the extra room allows you to indulge in comfort and convenience, making your beach day not just enjoyable but also effortlessly well-equipped.
Are you flying to your beach destination? Click here to skip to the end of the article for your tailored list.
Beach Canopy | Beach Chairs | Beach Towels | Portable Grill | Cooler | Bluetooth Speaker | Waterproof Phone Pouch or Camera | Sand Removal Powder | Beach Bag | Beach Games | Beach Wagon | Travel Mugs or Cups | Portable Lockbox | Beach Table | E Reader | Battery
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Canopy or Umbrella
A beach canopy or umbrella is essential for creating a place where you can get away from the sun's harsh rays. Easy to set up and transport, they are a must-have for any beach outing. When choosing an umbrella, make sure you get one that can hold up against wind like this one. If you're looking for more coverage, you may want to check out a canopy like this one.
Beach Gear Essentials: Reclining Beach Chairs
Reclining beach chairs offer the ultimate in comfort and relaxation, allowing you to lounge (or nap) in style. Adjustable to various positions, these chairs let you sit up to enjoy a good book or lay back for a day of rest. Their lightweight design makes them easy to carry and set up, enhancing your beach experience. Personally, I have these beach chairs and absolutely love them. This backpack lounge chair is a lot of fun because it has a hole for your face allowing you to stay comfy when it's time to flip to your stomach. This chair is convenient because it has everything you need to relax, including a built-in umbrella.
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Towels
Large, absorbent beach towels are a requirement for drying off after a swim and providing a comfortable spot to sit or lie down. Choose vibrant, quick-drying towels to add a splash of color to your beach day. These towels are quick drying and sand free. Just shake them and the sand falls off.
Beach Gear Essentials: Portable Grill
YA portable grill allows you to enjoy delicious hot meals right on the beach. Perfect for barbecuing burgers, hot dogs, or even grilling fresh seafood, a grill turns your beach day into a culinary delight. This grill is compact and easy to transport, making it a great addition to your beach gear. Plus, it can be used as a freestanding or tabletop grill.
Beach Gear Essentials: Full-Sized Cooler
A full-sized cooler is indispensable for keeping your drinks and snacks chilled throughout the day. Pack it with ice packs to ensure your refreshments stay cold and fresh. This way, you can enjoy cold beverages and tasty treats even as the temperature rises. If you're looking for a cooler that will hold food, beverages, and ice for an all day beach experience without getting warm, this cooler is king and has a reputation that precedes it. If you're looking for something a little more budget-friendly, this cooler has almost 5,000 5-star reviews.
Beach Gear Essentials: Bluetooth Speaker
Bring your favorite tunes to the beach with a portable Bluetooth speaker. This speaker is waterproof. dustproof, offers excellent sound quality and has a long battery life, keeping the music going all day. However, some beaches have banned speakers so you'll want to check that out before you go. If that's the case, these earbuds will let you listen to your ultimate beach playlist without disturbing others.
Beach Gear Essentials: Waterproof Phone Pouch or Camera
Capture every memorable moment with a waterproof camera. This camera is designed to withstand water, sand, and drops, making them perfect for beach photography. Whether you're taking underwater shots or action-packed beach scenes, a waterproof camera ensures you don't miss a thing. Another alternative is to put your phone in a waterproof pouch like this one. I have used these in the past and the results are good enough, but it can be difficult to operate and the clarity of the images can be lacking.
Beach Gear Essentials: Sand Removal Powder
Sand removal powder is a game-changer for keeping sand off your skin and belongings. Simply use the microfiber pouch on sandy areas, and it effortlessly removes the sand without irritation. It's especially useful to avoid bringing the beach into your vehicle.
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Bag
A spacious and durable beach bag is essential for carrying all your beach gear. I love this one because it has multiple compartments to keep your items organized and easy to access. Plus, it's waterproof and sandproof.
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Games
Enhance your beach fun with games like frisbee, spikeball, or hydro pickleball. If you love the idea of friendly competition, but would rather engage in it sitting down, try this card game.
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Wagon
A beach wagon makes transporting your gear from the car to the perfect spot on the sand much easier. These sturdy wagons can handle heavy loads and navigate sandy terrain with ease. Load up all your essentials and enjoy a hassle-free setup at the beach. I love this one because it has a large open area,a ton of storage pockets, and cup holders.
Beach Gear Essentials: Travel Mugs or Cups
Staying hydrated is key during a day at the beach. You can stuff your cooler full of several water bottles to ensure you have plenty of fluids, but it'll only take minutes for that water bottle to warm up once it's out in the summer air. Insulated bottles are ideal for keeping your drinks cool and refreshing in the heat. Whether you prefer a travel cup with a handle and a straw or, my personal favorite, this tumbler, there's a reason why these cups are best sellers. There's even a wide-mouth bottle if you'd like to maximum your gulps.
Beach Gear Essentials: Portable Lockbox
It's a hot day and the water beckons, but the beach is packed with people and you're not comfortable leaving your phone, wallet, or keys in your beach bag for anyone to walk off with. Pack this portable lockbox in your vehicle and you won't have to worry anymore.
Beach Gear Essentials: Beach Table
Sure, beach chairs come with pockets, but they're often awkward to access or your cup doesn't fit into it or maybe you have a larger item like a book that you'd like to set somewhere. A beach table will fit so perfectly into your day that you'll wonder how you managed without one. I have this one and absolutely love it, but I recently found this one and I'm seriously thinking about upgrading.
Beach Gear Essentials: E Reader
I am a bookworm. I love the weight of a book, the feel of it, the smell of it. But, even a die hard reader like me can concede that it's a lot easier to have an E-Reader when you're at the beach. The wind can't blow its pages around and it's so much easier to hold for long periods. There are many different kinds out there, but the two most popular ones are the Kindle or the Nook.
Beach Gear Essentials: Battery
There's no doubt that you're going to have a lot of gadgets with you and you don't want them to run out of juice, so you'll want to make sure to take a portable battery along to ensure everything keeps running all day. I have my eye on this one because it has so many uses at the beach and beyond, and it's solar powered. If you're looking for something simpler, this one will still charge up to five devices at one time and it's very compact.
Beach Gear Essentials for Your Next Fly Away Destination
Planning a beach vacation that involves air travel requires a bit more strategic packing than a simple drive to the shore. When your destination is miles away and only reachable by plane, you need to prioritize compact, lightweight, and versatile gear that will make your beach experience just as enjoyable. In this guide, I’ve curated a list of essential beach items that are perfect for flying, ensuring you have everything you need for a relaxing and hassle-free seaside escape. Whether you're at a resort in Cancun or a VRBO in Daytona Beach, these items will help you make the most of your beach adventure, no matter how far you roam. And don't forget to check out my post "Your Essential Packing List: Beach Vacation Outfits" so you can make sure you'll have all of the outfits you'll need for everything from a relaxing day by the water to a romantic dinner nearby.
Are you driving to your beach destination? Click here to jump to the start of the article for your tailored list.
Packable Beach Blanket | Battery | Compact Beach Umbrella | Quick Dry Travel Towel | Waterproof Phone Case | Foldable Beach Bag | E Reader | Insect Repellent | Collapsible Cooler Bag | Portable Lockbox | Sand Removal Powder | Travel Mugs or Cups | Portable Lockbox | Beach Table | E Reader | Battery
Beach Gear Essentials: Packable Beach Blanket
A lightweight, compact beach blanket is perfect for travelers. It provides a comfortable spot to sit or lie on the sand and often comes with stakes to keep it secure.
Beach Gear Essentials: Battery
Keep your devices charged with a portable phone charger. Long days at the beach can drain your phone’s battery, so having a charger ensures you stay connected and can capture every moment. At only .5 inches and 7 oz, this one is perfect for travel.
Beach Gear Essentials: Compact Beach Umbrella
A compact, travel-friendly beach umbrella provides essential shade and protection from the sun. This one is lightweight and easy to set up, ensuring you can stay cool and comfortable. It also fits into a suitcase with ease.
Beach Gear Essentials: Quick Dry Travel Towel
A quick-dry travel towel is a must-have for drying off after a swim. These towels are super absorbent, lightweight, and fold down small, making them easy to pack. They also dry fast, which is perfect for multiple uses in a day.
Beach Gear Essentials: Waterproof Phone Case
A waterproof phone case protects your phone from water, sand, and drops. It allows you to take photos and videos without worrying about damage.
Beach Gear Essentials: Foldable Beach Bag
A foldable beach bag is perfect for carrying all your essentials without taking up much space in your luggage. This bag is made from lightweight, durable material and can be easily folded when not in use. Plus, it comes with multiple compartments for better organization.
Beach Gear Essentials: E Reader
Bring an e-reader to enjoy some leisurely reading on the beach. An e-reader is particularly handy for travel as it can store multiple books without taking up much space. It's perfect for relaxation between swims. There are many different kinds out there, but the two most popular ones are the Kindle or the Nook.
Beach Gear Essentials: Insect Repellent
The first time I went to Key West, I came home with hundreds of red, itchy bites courtesy of the no-see-ums. Protect yourself from bugs with this all-natural travel-size insect repellent. This is especially important for beach destinations where mosquitoes and other insects can be a nuisance. Choose a repellent that is effective yet gentle on the skin.
Beach Gear Essentials: Collapsible Cooler Bag
This collapsible cooler bag keeps your snacks and drinks cool without taking up much luggage space. These bags fold flat for packing and expand when in use. They’re perfect for keeping your refreshments chilled on a hot day.
Beach Gear Essentials: Portable Lockbox
It's a hot day and the water beckons, but the beach is packed with people and you're not comfortable leaving your phone, wallet, or keys in your beach bag for anyone to walk off with. Pack this portable lockbox in your vehicle and you won't have to worry anymore.
Beach Gear Essentials: Sand Removal Powder
There is nothing worse than tracking a bunch of sand into your hotel room and knowing there isn't any way to clean it up until the next day when the maid comes. which means you'll be walking on it all night. Sand removal powder is a game-changer for keeping sand off your skin and belongings. Simply use the microfiber pouch on sandy areas, and it effortlessly removes the sand without irritation.
Whether you're packing up the car for a nearby beach or boarding a plane for a distant coastal paradise, having the right gear can make all the difference in your beach experience. From spacious canopies and portable grills for those road trips to compact, travel-friendly essentials for fly-away destinations, being well-prepared means you can relax and enjoy every moment by the shore. By including these items, you'll be ready to soak up the sun, splash in the waves, and create memories without any hassle. No matter how you get there, the perfect beach day is within reach with the right gear in tow.
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