Packing for a beach trip can be a feat; it takes a lot to make a beach day perfect! Obviously you need a bathing suit, but there are a few things that you will want to add to your beach packing list to make your beach trip more enjoyable! Things I didn’t even know I needed until I was on the beach 😍
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Perfect Seating for the Beach
- Lounge Chair
- My favorite lounge chair is the Ostrich Chair with the face hole with the boob hole for lying on your stomach. It also has arm holes so you can lay facedown and read without killing your neck or squishing the goods!
- Short chair for ocean
- Have a smaller, more mobile chair to take to sit close to the waves for when you start to sweat to death.
- Beach Blanket
- Not necessarily a requirement, but if you prefer lying flat or not transporting chairs this is a good option for the beach!
SHOP
Some Form of Shade
1000% do not go to a beach without having some sort of shade, you won’t make it long without it.
In the past we have taken the traditional tents that I call “tailgating tents.” However, a downfall to these is that they sometimes don’t hold up to the wind well.
- Beach Tent
- There are lots of options on beach tents ranging from $50 to nearly $400. The price usually changes with ease of assembly and weight. Here are a few options in different price ranges and pictures are linked below⬇️
- Shimbumi Shade
- 150 ft of shade, only weighs 4pounds and takes 3 minutes to assemble!
- It is one of the best beach tents available due to ease of putting it up and how lightweight it is. Assembly requires one pole and one string to tie it down.
- However, you are going to pay for what you get. It runs about $300 USD.
- Neso Tents
- Another lightweight and easy to assemble option is the Neso Tent which weighs 6.5 pounds . Assembly is a little more due to having to fill up four bags with sand, but still has a rather easy assembly.
- Price is half that of the Shimbumi Shade at $140 USD.
- Traditional Beach Tent
- The most affordable option in beach tents are the traditional beach tents. Depending on the size (3 person, 4 person, etc), you can find them for $50 and above.
- These are pretty lightweight, but cons to this type of tent are the need to assemble like a traditional camping tent.
- Shimbumi Shade
- There are lots of options on beach tents ranging from $50 to nearly $400. The price usually changes with ease of assembly and weight. Here are a few options in different price ranges and pictures are linked below⬇️
- Umbrellas
- The pro to having individual umbrellas is that you can move them around easily and adjust to the sun and shadows moving (which happens quickly and often!) However, if you are opting to get beach umbrellas, you need to splurge on the heavier-duty, wind-resistant beach umbrellas!
- Tailgating Tent- Take it or leave it?
- By “traditional tailgating tent” I mean the metal-framed, square tent that you put the canopy on top of. They can be a good option if you already have one. They definitely provide shade.
- However, they can also be heavy and in high-wind conditions they can catch the wind and their rigid frames are prone to breaking rather than bending with the wind. Therefore, its best to invest in a more wind-friendly option, but if you have it already, make it work.
SHOP
Linked above is the Shimbumi Shade tent, Neso Tent, a traditional beach tent and a sturdy beach umbrella, respectively.
Food and Drink Essentials
- Ice chests
- You are for sure going to want ice chests at the beach. However, be careful with what kind you choose and how much you load it up. Again, whatever you take to the beach is likely going to require transportation from your accommodation down to the beach.
- I recommend bringing one for food such as sandwich ingredients or fruits and then bringing a separate one for your drinks.
- Foldable Table
- Something I didn’t know I needed until I was at the beach; a foldable table to hold things like books, speakers, snacks, DRINKS, etc.
- The one linked below only weighs about 4 pounds and has an additional pocket on the bottom to hold more. However, there are also options with just the top part for a cheaper price.
- Cup holder
- If you opt for the table with drink holders, maybe you don’t need this. but these were SO HANDY at the beach last time we went. They are affordable ($19 for a 7 pack) and help keep the sand off of your drinks.
- Insulated Cup or Bottle
- You will want something to keep your water and/or beverages cool in the heat of the summer. It is even good to have an insulated cup or bottle for both!
SHOP
Entertainment for the Beach Packing List
Beach days can be long. You are going to want things to entertain you!
- Speaker
- There is nothing better than a good beach playlist! Make sure you have a beach-friendly speaker.
- Book or Kindle
- Beach + Book ❤️ I read through multiple books on a beach trip and never know how many I will need, so my kindle is my best friend on a beach trip.
- Games
- Having active entertainment is good, especially for those who do not read. Good options are:
- Baggo
- Beach volleyball
- Spikeball
- Having active entertainment is good, especially for those who do not read. Good options are:
- Toys if you are traveling with kids
- Don’t forget crab nets!
- A blowup pool is a great thing to have for the kids too- some don’t like the ocean but the pool keeps them cool.
SHOP
Beach Bag Essentials
- Towel- I like the beach towels that are quick-drying and wick the sand away a little better.
- Sunscreen- Bring a lot! And get some that stays on better in water.
- Chapstick- Get the kind with the sunscreen!
- Hair accessories – Clips, hair ties, small bands . Bring a variety; beach hair is hard to deal with.
- Hair Brush- Get the wet brush! And maybe some detangler 😅
- Hat- Baseball caps are better for wearing while lying down. Brimmed hats are better for being in the water and covering more.
- Loose, long sleeve beach shirt- The SPF shirts are great, especially when you are on your last days at the beach.
- Waterproof Phone Case- The one linked below can be used underwater.
SHOP
Transportation Essentials
If this sounds like a lot, its because it is. It takes a lot of things to make for a perfect beach day! So don’t forget you are going to need to get your beach essentials from your hotel/condo/house to the beach. Add things to you beach packing list to make this easier!
- Wagon
- These are GAME-CHANGERS for transporting all of your beach things from your accommodation to the beach. Be sure to get one with thicker wheels that will roll on the sand easier.
- Beach Bag
- Keep your personal stuff organized and sand-free in a beach bag. I recommend one that zips, has compartments to separate and organize, pockets on the outside to get to your sunscreen easily and frequently and one that is pretty waterproof to keep the goodies dry.
- Beach Toy Carrier
- Every time I’ve been to the beach with kids, it amazes me how the beach toys seem to triple in numbers. Take a mesh bag that can dump the sand and fit all of the toys when you go back to your accommodation!
SHOP
Beach Clothes Essentials
I’m not going to go into too much detail on what clothes to pack for the beach; it seems a little straightforward. However, a few things to remember to add to your beach packing list are several swimsuits, beach cover ups, dresses for dinner, loungewear after the beach, daywear when you aren’t at the beach, and maybe a sweatshirt in case it is chilly on the beach at night!.
SHOP
What Do you Do if You are Flying to the Beach?
I’ll admit, heading to the beach via airplane is a little more challenging in the packing department. The best ways to get all of your stuff to the beach when you fly is:
- Book the Right Accommodation
- A lot of the US beach house rentals will have beach chairs, umbrellas, and sometimes wagons that you can use while you are staying. When you are looking for accommodations, check their site or message the owner to see if they have any beach things to use.
- A lot of the hotels and condos offer beach chair and umbrella set ups on the beach that are included in the price or for additional cost.
- Check the Bigger Necessities
- Some form of shade is a necessity. If your accommodations don’t offer shade, check your collapsable beach tent with your luggage.
Beach Packing List Recap
Packing for the beach is not for the faint of heart and the beach packing list triples when you throw kids into the mix. As long as you have some shade, something to sit on and something to entertain yourself, you should have a good setup for a great beach day!
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