2024 Beach Must-haves
Summer is just around the corner, and for many that means a trip to the beach! Our family does a beach trip every other summer with our extended family, and we learned early on that going to the beach with or without kids requires a ton of stuff! Over the years, we have learned lots of good tips and tricks for saving space when packing while having all of the necessary items for the best beach trip possible!
2024 Beach Must-haves
Cooler - RTIC Backpack Cooler
Umbrella - Sport-Brella Premiere UPF 50+
Towels - Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel Oversized (38x71) 100% Cotton
Beach Chair - Tommy Bahama 5-Position Classic Lay Flat Folding Backpack Beach Chair
Beach Wagon - Beach Wagon Cart, Heavy Duty, Foldable with Big Wheels
Sunglasses - Goodr OG Sunglasses
Beach Bag - Bogg Bag Original XL
Flip flops -
Reef Women’s Cushion Breeze Sandals
Beach Hat -
Columbia Unisex Bora Bora Booney Fishing Hat
Sunscreen -
Sunscreen for the whole family - Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 50+ Water Resistant
Sunscreen for sensitive skin - EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 Water and Sweat Resistant
Face sunscreen - Neutrogena Beach Defense Water-Resistant SPF 50+ Sunscreen Stick
We “won” this cooler in a beach themed silent auction basket a couple of years ago. It is ah-mazing!!! First of all, it has backpack straps which makes carrying it across the sand so much easier even though it can hold up to 36 cans. Also, the walls of this are so thick it keeps things cold all day long! And because it is soft-sided and bit smaller than a large hard sided cooler, it takes so much less space in your car during your road trip to the beach.
We borrowed one this umbrella from some friends for a beach trip when our kids were little, and we loved it so much we came home and bought one. It provides a great amount of shade, and it folds down so much smaller than a pop-up tent when packing up your car. It also works great for kid’s sports games and camping.
A few years ago, we switched most of our towels (bath and beach) to 100% cotton Turkish towels. Not only do they take up a fraction of the space in your suitcase and your linen closet, they also dry so much faster! Plus, I love all the fun colors available!
I have spent way too many hours of my life researching a better beach chair, and when I found this one, I knew my search was over! They have thought of all the things with this chair -
1. backpack straps for easy transport
2. five different positions including completely flat position
3. some kind of magical technology which protects fingers and hands from getting pinched
4. a towel bar for your beach towel
5. a side mesh pocket for keys, phone, wallet, etc.
6. a cooler and cup holder
So, you have bought all the must-have beach gear, now how the heck are you going to get it all to the perfect spot you scouted on your sunrise beach walk this morning? If you have been on a family beach trip, camping trip, park picnic, etc. you have done the balancing act of trying to haul approximately 47 things of varying sizes and weights from point A to point B. This heavy-duty, foldable beach wagon with extra-wide, all-terrain wheels makes that journey one thousand times easier!
These classic sunglasses in a variety of fun colors are the perfect eye protection for everyone in your family. The glasses are also so durable, that even my two wild kiddos have not managed to break theirs.
If you have been to the pool or the beach in the last couple of years, you have probably seen this popular bag. It makes me think of the bag version of the popular shoes, Crocs. The bag comes in so many great colors, and you can purchase a sundry of accessories to go with it. But some of the biggest selling points for me are that it is waterproof, washable, tip-proof, durable. I love that I can throw all our wet, sandy beach stuff in there, and when I get home I can dump it out, hose the bag off, let it dry, and repeat again tomorrow!
I am always looking for a pair of flip flops that will last me more than one summer. Not only are these durable, they are also comfortable on day one, so you don’t have to worry about breaking them in! They also have great arch support and thick enough soles that they are comfortable to wear all day long!
My husband swears these are the best flip flops he has ever owned, and that he will never buy another brand of flip flops again! These are a bit more expensive, but they do last for several years, and living in the south, our family wears flip flops nearly year round.
I love everything about the kid’s Rainbow sandals - the company’s story, the price point, the Rainbow Agreement (warranty), the back strap for your littlest wearers, the color options, and of course the flip flops themselves!
I like this hat because not only is it helping to keep the sun off my face and neck, but it is also so cute. Plus it is travel friendly - it is packable!
This unisex hat goes beyond the beach to your camping trip, on your hike, to your kid’s soccer game, and so many more places. It is so versatile it is a great year-round hat. The size is adjustable and it has a moisture wicking headband. Plus, the hat’s nylon material makes the hat lightweight and packable.
This hat is the quintessential men’s beach hat. I mean, what is more synonymous with a man's beach hat than Panama Jack? This safari sun hat marries style and function in one package. Who could ask for more?
This adorable kid’s beach hat comes from a company owned by a skin-cancer survivor and mom of three. The adjustable head and chin strap allow it to fit kids of all ages and sizes. And again, it is collapsible, so it will fit perfectly in your kid’s suitcase!
Not only does Blue Lizard Sunscreen stand up to the elements and come highly recommended by many dermatologists across the country and beyond, it also is better for the environment. We love this mineral based sunscreen for our entire family for those long days on the beach, at the pool or on the ball field!
Several of our family members have a history of sensitive skin. The EltaMD sunscreen was recommended by our family dermatologist for those of us who needed a gentler sunscreen that still does a great job protecting from the sun.
Do you have a little (or not-so-little) one who insists on “doing it myself”? This sunscreen stick is the absolute best especially for little faces. It glides on easily (think of a deodorant stick), and works really well even after a long day in the pool or ocean. Bonus, it smells so good!!
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