If you’re heading to the beach this summer, you’ll need to pack some beach essentials that will keep everyone organized, hydrated, and happy. While every family has different needs, the best beach vacation essentials are durable, functional, and easy to carry down to the sand. While you think you may have everything you need for a beach day, our beach essentials checklist will ensure you pack the right things for your next trip to the shore.  

Beach essentials to add to your checklist

Our checklist is broken down into categories like essentials for swimming in the ocean and beach essentials for fun. This will help you decide if you have everything that you need for a beach day, no matter what you plan to do once you’re in the sand.  

Essentials for lounging on the beach

Original Bogg Bag

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While lounging on the beach, keeping all your belongings in a central area is a good idea. The Original Bogg Bag is a great option to keep your beach essentials contained. The washable, tip-proof bag can carry up to 40 pounds. Additionally, there are Bogg Bag accessories that you can purchase to make a beach day even easier, including a beverage holder and clear bag inserts that can keep your phone, cards, or ID all in one safe spot.

Home Queen Beach Cup Holder

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No one wants to get their cup, sunglasses, or phone dirty at the beach. That’s where the Home Queen Beach Cup Holder comes in handy. The plastic holder has a spike on the bottom to get it wedged into the sand and keep your beach essentials up off the ground. The round section can hold refillable cups or cans, while the rectangular back section of the holder is a great spot to put a phone or pair of sunglasses.  

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen

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Sunscreen is one of the top beach bag essentials for everyone heading to the beach. The Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen is ideal since it’s weightless, scentless, and oil-free, so it never feels greasy on your skin. The broad spectrum formula is water and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes.  

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Swimsuit cover-ups are beach day essentials for many women. This option from CUPSHE is a trendy crochet option that can be worn from the parking lot to the beach, and even to a beachside restaurant after packing up the car for the day. We also love this as a little more coverage under an umbrella if the breeze is chilly in the evening.

Buy it now at Eddie Bauer

Every beach essential list needs a good lounge chair, and we love this backpack chair from Eddie Bauer. The beach chair can fold flat and be carried like a backpack, making it easy to carry this down to your ideal spot on the beach. Additionally, the chair has a six-can cooler below the seat, which can be loaded once you’re at the beach so cold drinks are always close by. The chair has five different position adjustments so you can sit up, lay back, or something in between.  

Essentials for swimming in the ocean

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Protecting your skin while swimming in the ocean is a necessity. Besides sunscreen, try wearing a long-sleeved sun protection shirt or rash guard. This particular option is made with fabric that’s UPF 50+ to protect from the sun’s rays. It’s also quick-drying and slightly loose-fitting for an overall comfortable feel.  

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Whether you’re wading or swimming in the ocean, you’re going to want to take some pictures at the water’s edge. Keep your phone protected with this waterproof phone pouch. The beach day essential is compatible with most smartphones and is waterproof up to one meter deep. The pouch design makes it easy to access any side buttons, and the clear window that shows your phone screen is sensitive to touch, so you can snap photos or answer calls quickly.

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If you’re taking kids to the beach, give each of them a waterproof disposable camera. The camera has a rubber wrist strap and large buttons, which make it easy to operate underwater. After the photos develop, you can see the trip through their eyes, including what they may have seen under the water.

Sun Bum Original SPF 45 Sunscreen Face Mist

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Something that should always be on your beach essential list is Sun Bum Original SPF 45 Sunscreen Face Mist. This is the ideal sunscreen for swimmers because you never have to worry about getting sand or sea salt in your eyes like you would applying traditional sunscreen. The bottle has a small pump that sprays the SPF 45 sunscreen on your face. You should reapply this sunscreen regularly if you’re swimming for a long time.  

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No beach essential list is complete without a good wide-brimmed hat. We love this one from Hemlock Hat Co. since it’s got UPF 50+, comes in multiple prints and styles, and the straw weave is lightweight. The hat is great to wear into the ocean because its drawstring neck strap can be tightened to ensure it doesn’t fall off and drift away.

Beach essentials for comfort

Corkcicle Eola Bucket Cooler Bag

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Coolers come in all shapes and sizes, but if you’re looking for a cooler that’s easy to carry for a beach afternoon, the Corkcicle Eola Bucket Cooler Bag is ideal. The backpack-style cooler is made with vegan leather or neoprene, depending on what color you pick. The cooler can carry up to 12 cans or eight cans plus two bottles of wine. No matter what you bring, be sure to also pack some water to stay cool and hydrated.

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The Sport-Brella Premier XL is great for shade and comfort at the beach. The nine-foot canopy means multiple people can sit in the shade without being on top of each other. The umbrella also has two side panels that can be secured into the sand for additional sun protection. And don’t worry if you think the umbrella will be too hot, because it has a zippered window that can be opened for airflow.  

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Sometimes, comfort at the beach means peace of mind. As part of your beach day essentials, bring this portable lock box with you for your valuables, like your phone, wallet, and car keys. The lock box uses a four-digit combination of your choosing, and you can secure the box to a chair, umbrella, or cooler with the cable included.  

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There’s nothing like lounging on a big beach blanket and taking a nap in the warm sun. This massive option is 9x10 feet, so there’s room for the entire family. The blanket comes with stakes so you can tie it down on windy beach days. It’s also waterproof, so it’s easy to clean up and pack up when it’s time to head home.  

Sand Cloud Turkish Beach Towel

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If you’re taking a solo beach trip and don’t need an extra large blanket, the Sand Cloud Turkish Beach Towel needs a spot in your beach bag. Because the towel is sand-resistant, all you have to do is shake it out before leaving the beach and you won’t be tracking sand everywhere you go. Additionally, the towel is fast-drying so it never feels heavy in your bag even if you lie on it after hopping into the ocean.  

Beach essentials for fun

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For some, the fun of the beach is having a picnic and enjoying time with family. For those who have large groups going with them to the beach, necessities should include this Igloo cooler, which can hold up to 112 cans. The 70-quart cooler has oversized wheels and a telescopic handle, making it easier to get to your perfect beach spot. The cooler weighs about 35 pounds without anything in it, so be sure to have a buddy to help you bring it down to the beach once it’s full of food and drinks.  

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If you’re traveling to the beach with little kids who love making sand castles, consider getting them their own pop-up beach tent with open sides so you can still see them at all times. This tent comes with a beach blanket, a carrying bag, a shovel, and a shade canopy. The tent can handle wind up to 20 miles per hour, so it’s unlikely to blow over. Even better is that the tent can be taken down in just a few minutes, making packing up from the beach even easier.

Spikeball

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Having a game to play at the beach helps pass the time, and it’s just plain old fun. One game that keeps adults and kids entertained is Spikeball. The game can be carried to the beach in the included drawstring bag. The set comes with three balls, the game roundnet, and a rule book. The game is easy to set up, so you never have to worry about wasting time to get everything ready to play with.

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No beach vacation essentials list is complete without a reusable cup, but what makes this one stand out is the integrated Bluetooth speaker on the bottom. Fill the cup with your drink of choice, twist off the speaker, and place it nearby to hear your favorite tunes at the beach. The speaker has eight hours of playback time on one charge, so you can listen to music all day without fearing the dreaded drained battery just a few hours into your beach session.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 

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There’s nothing like sitting down to a good book while listening to the waves. You can do just that on the beach with the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. The e-reader has a 6.8-inch display and an adjustable warm light so you can read without a glare. This Kindle also has up to 10 weeks of battery life, so if you remember to charge it before your vacation, you should be able to read for your entire trip without recharging.  

Frequently asked questions

What are some beach essentials for men?

Men will want to bring items like a rash guard, sunscreen, a chair backpack, and a Bluetooth speaker to the beach. These items will ensure that a beach day is both fun and safe.  

What are some beach essentials for women?

Beach essentials for women include a swimsuit coverup, an e-reader, a cooler, and sunscreen. Additionally, women will want to be sure to bring a beach blanket and a   pop-up tent for extra comfort.  

What to pack in a beach bag?

Your beach bag should be easy to carry and have enough room for essentials like sunscreen, a reusable cup, a waterproof phone pouch, and a cup holder. Consider packing a few snacks and drinks in your beach bag if you don’t plan on bringing a cooler with you to the beach.