41 Beach Trip Essentials That Reviewers Swear By

Apr 26, 2024

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

You too will be glad you splurged on the can cooler that'll keep your bevvies chilled for hours under the hot sandy sun.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "All the cheap-os EVERYWHERE were sold out (June), so I had to buy more expensive chairs for our beach trip. I was a little apprehensive about these....between reading some of the reviews and the price, but SO GLAD I bought two. They are very comfy, beautiful-looking, easy to setup and carry. Worth the money!" —Kevin S.

Get it from Amazon for $36.88.

Promising review: "I was a bit hesitant to buy this. Boy I'm glad a made the purchase. They were so useful during our beach vacation. ⛱️" —mgkeithley

Get them from Amazon for $59.99.

Promising review: "These came in handy for our vacation. With three, one was in the beach bag, one was in the beach house, and one held all my daughter’s migraine rescue meds. It was a great price for a great product." —delilah1024

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.97.

Promising review: "I bought this to use on our beach vacation, and I’m so glad I did! It turned a pretty bad sunburn into a tan in 1–2 days. Really helped take the sting out of the burn and has minimized dry/peeling skin! My kids didn’t love the smell but it’s not terrible! It’s definitely worth having on hand!" —Bethany Hanks

Get it from Amazon for $7.69.

I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation last year when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works.

And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination.

Promising review: "First time trying this product, but won’t be my last. I took it on a beach trip last week and used as directed on my face. It WORKS! No sunburn whatsoever on my face. This is a winner!!" —NattyNat

Get it from Amazon for $9.10.

It comes with one handle and one blade refill!

Promising review: "I have two of these that I keep permanently packed in my beach bag — it's small enough to fit in my makeup case, and I also like that it has a little case so that there's not an open razor in my bag. Love the pink color, and I find that Venus razors last a pretty long time." —ccgirl

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "This was an impulse buy and so glad I did it. Took them on vacation and they worked so well on the beach and sand. Must have." —paul molacek

Get them from Amazon for $5.97.

Recommended for adults.

Promising review: "At the beach, in the yard, by the pool, you'll be playing Spikeball. It's so much fun. All of my friends wait around calling 'next' whenever we're playing. Never met a person who has played and doesn't love it. Just get it. You'll be glad you did.On a separate note...$50 seems steep, but the game is freaking great and I'm of the opinion that if you come up with a product that makes the world a better place (like Spikeball) then you deserve to get paid. If you're on LifeKraze ([...]) you might get lucky and catch a $10 discount." —J.E.T.

Get it from Amazon for $69.95.

Promising review: "I was going back and forth between this and an off-brand to save a few dollars. Glad I got this, though, it really works great. My drink was cold hours later, even in 80 degrees at the beach." —roni

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 31 colors).

After putting this in MANY travel stories, I bought one for myself for a summer European vacation where I found myself at several beach clubs. It was perfect for keeping mine and my friend's belongings safe while we dozed in our beach chairs or swam in the sea. Plus, it's the perfect size to hold phones or wallets, and easily carry in your beach or tote bag.

Promising review: "Glad I had this on a beach vacation! Easy to use and made me feel safe about my things while away in water." —Vanessa

Get it from Amazon for $25.69+ (available in two colors).

I bought this specifically for my weeklong trip to Europe in December when I knew I'd be taking a million videos of adorable Christmas markets. But! I keep it in my bag all the time, even when I'm not on vacation. I use Google Maps to get around NYC, and any New Yorker will tell you that when you leave your home on a quick errand at 10 a.m. on a Saturday, you may not get home until 3 a.m. because there's always something cool to do, and friends constantly reach out with impromptu plans. This little charger has saved me on several days while I'm out and about. No more need to bring your pal a phone charging cord when you're meeting for happy hour and searching the bar for stools near an outlet.

Promising review: "It's perfect. Small, easy to carry, great battery life. I took it to the beach for my week-long vacation, used it every day on the beach, and only had to do a full charge once the entire trip. 10/10 recommend." —Katie Mills

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "This little charger is a lifesaver! Small enough to fit in my purse, but will charge my iPad for a day at the beach! And with two outlets, I can charge my iPhone and my iPad simultaneously. It’s perfect for extended time periods away from an electric outlet when phones or tablets need charging." —GirlInTheShadows

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors).

Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon as a way to eliminate single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.

Promising review: "These are so great, I'm ordering another set. At first, I was surprised at the size, thinking they couldn't possibly hold enough product. Wrong. I recently took them for a 5-night beach trip followed by a 4-night desert trip, and they are finally running low." —Jillian B.

Get a set of six from Cadence for $76 (originally $84; also available in sets with various-sized containers).

I wear a size L/XL in clothing and sometimes waist bags just don't work out so well for me. With this one, I can confirm that it fits around my waist comfortably without outerwear, across my chest without outerwear, *and* over a thick coat and several layers. The pockets inside are so handy and I even had room to spare throughout my Iceland trip. This was the only purse I brought for the whole trip and it performed its job flawlessly. Just make sure that you zip the zipper ALL the way because the zipper goes down pretty far on the sides for easier access to contents. Having my hands free was wildly convenient for a number of reasons, including crawling around inside of an ice cave and putting out my hands for some extra balance while walking on sheets of ice along cliffs. Oh, and it comes in so so SO many colors.

Promising review: "I have a more expensive one of these in a different color, but I really didn’t want to yuck it up at the beach. So I got this one for vacation three months ago and I haven’t stopped using it since!!" —Mady

Get it from Amazon for $18.98 (available in 31 styles).

And they come with a hand pump for travel!

Promising review: "It’s amazing how much you can put in these bags !! We use them for our annual beach trips. Save a lot of space in suitcases and in our cars!" —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $22.99+ (also available in a ten-pack and in five bag sizes).

~Trust me~ when I tell you that these will work in a pinch. I bought them a few years ago to take on a bachelorette party in New Orleans, and everyone in the Airbnb was grateful I did. Since then, I always pack them on a vacation whether it's a go-go-go adventure or just sitting on a beach and downing some tropical drinks. On recent trips, I've taken to drinking one in the morning when I wake up and one before I go to bed...that is if I can remember to do it. I swear by these and think they're why I'm able to do some marathon adventuring and just be normal tired after (and not dehydrated tired).

Promising review: "I'm a grown man and I drink the hell out of this! Great for hangovers, days on the beach, or when you're outside for extended periods of time and need a little more than water to help you hydrate." —Allison Schumann

Get a 24-count from Amazon for $25.59.

It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It also keeps out sand, dirt, and rain.

With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. So for a trip, I'll buy 2–3, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at The Blue Lagoon. And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of the rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then we went inside and at lunch at the Lava Restaurant and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch. So this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So I really trust these!

Promising review: "We visited the Philippines during spring break and spent most of our time on the beaches. My kids loved using it in the ocean. This product kept out water and sand throughout. Excellent product." —AJ

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 15 colors).

Promising review: "Perfect when traveling! We rented a cottage at the beach for four nights and it only had a shower. So glad I ended up ordering this prior to our trip. Super easy to blow up and gets the job done. Well worth the money!" —Jordan Rivalt

Get it from Amazon for $13.17.

Promising review: "This tent is awesome! It is so easy to set up (literally, it pops itself open), and pretty easy to put away if it happens to start raining at the beach..that’s just what happened to us! Dad and baby easily fit in, it comes with stakes so it’s secure to the ground, and it’s nice to just toss stuff in there. We did watch some tutorial videos before going so we knew how to close it up properly. It can be tricky but once you do it a few times it gets easier. Definitely glad we bought it!" —Ang

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "My son is obsessed with these!! It made a 12-hour trip to the beach with a toddler a lot less difficult!!" —mboyt00

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $17.76.

Promising review: "BEST BUCKETS EVER! I’ll be buying more! I love that they collapse! I bought them for the beach and I loved that they didn’t take up room during travel. And now they don’t take up room in our outdoor toy bin!" —KB

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $18.99.

Promising review: "So glad we bought these for our beach trip this year. My 5- and 2-year-olds had so much fun making multiple sandcastles using these. With the right amount of water and sand mixed, they were easy to use. Also great to use them as baskets!" —HS

Get a set of four from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "We bought these for a trip to the beach this summer and I am so glad we did. Both our 4-year-old and our 16-month-old loved having them. They were great for eating on the go, coloring and watching their tablet." —Kady

Get it from Amazon for $26.99.

Promising review: "Saved us at the beach. My kids used this at the beach and it worked great!" —psychologistneedingbooks

Get it from Amazon for $8 (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "Used this at the beach and loved it! Plenty of space for everything, and I have three kids. Love the bottom part that is a cooler so I don't need to haul around a separate cooler. Works better with ice packs rather than ice cubes only because the water will leak out the bottom and will then collect sand if on the beach or get your blanket wet, but like I said, the ice packs will prevent that. Glad I bought it and will definitely use it again!" —MJ

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors).

See it in action on TikTok here.

Shakalo is a San Diego-based small business started to figure out a way to help people, especially parents remove sand before leaving the beach. The soft fabric pouch allows the powder to remove the sand without scattering everywhere.

Promising review: "As someone who loves the beach but hates the sand, this product is a lifesaver! It was very easy to travel with and came in handy many times. Some would say it’s a non-essential, but I will never visit the beach without this product!" —Mackenzie Lindenberger

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes).

See it in action on TikTok here.

The Fileist is an LA-based woman-owned small business that creates fashionable and functional accessories to make your life easier.

Promising review: "I went to Cabo with this hat clip for the first time last week! Wow! It held my hat perfectly! Love this design!" —Brooke

Get it from The Fileist for $55 (available in two colors).

Check out a TikTok of the beach umbrella table in action.

Promising review: "Glad I bought this. Easy to attach to umbrella. Great for drinks and phones etc." —lindsay

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four styles).

Promising review: "We just used our table for two days at the beach. It worked great to keep things out of the sand. It is so lightweight but plenty sturdy!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in small or large and in four finishes).

Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action.

Promising review: "Easily transport drinks from the bar to the pool or beach. You’ll be the envy of the resort if you are carrying this." —Simon C

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in multipacks).

Promising review: "I purchased this for our little great-nephews who are 3 months away from turning 6 and 4. We gave them these during a recent visit to a beach house their parents had rented. They loved the way they could hold the rings to easily toss them and both were quite good at catching them. We taught them to try to catch them on their arm which was easier for the older boy but the younger will get it in time. They were running, giggling, and squealing with delight because they were having so much fun. Everyone was glad we had brought them since they were perfect for playing on the sandy beach." —asnowmomma

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in nine colors).

It can hold up to 65 pounds.

Promising review: "We have owned this picnic basket for a couple of years. We take it to the beach, sporting events, and road trips. It has been great for our family. Refolding it was an education, but with a couple a tries it was pretty easy. All in all, glad we purchased it." —JANAY

Get it from Amazon for $44 (available in eight colors and patterns).

CurlCap is a Black-owned apparel company founded by Britney Sade that specializes in caps designed for natural hair with an open back and flexible scrunchie design.

Promising review: "The hat is a great value and color. It runs a little large. I wish it were adjustable. I remedied that issue by using bobby pins in the back. This prevented the hat from flying away or moving. My hair hid the bobby pins. I used the hat at the beach and on a cruise without it flying away or slipping off. I will order other colors. It is great for natural hairstyles." —S

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 11 styles).

Promising review: "Maaaannnnnn, I bought these for Cancun, and they’ve been used and abused here in the saltwater pool and beaches, but they are worth the money in my opinion! Yes they feel a tad bit cheap, but hey, they’ve opened so many bottled beer and sodas, and I like how they look. I’m happy with my purchase! Will be buying more to keep in my car and in my work truck." —Erik Perez

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "We used this on a VERY windy day at the beach. It was fairly easy to install and pack back up (wind was not helpful) and it was incredibly nice to keep our belongings sand-free. So glad we have it! I plan to use it more as the weather warms up!" —browneyes

Get it from Amazon for $27.90+ (available in three colors).

It's made to stay inflated at least five to six hours, and comes with a stake for easy securing to the ground once inflated.

Promising review: "Took a couple of attempts at first to figure out how to get it filled but once you do it’s easy (although I always feel a little dumb running with it to fill it lol). It’s super comfortable and even taking it to the beach it was easy to get the sand out of it. So glad I bought it!" —Jen

Get it from Amazon for $38.95+ (available in 16 colors and patterns).

Psst — it's also gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free!

Promising review: "Life saving nectar from the gods! Me and three other people went beach hopping to four beaches, snorkeled at each one, and hiked a 1.5 mile rocky uphill downhill trail on St. John Island. We were absolutely exhausted and cranky when we made it back to the car, even though we had been drinking water all day and eating healthy snacks. After drinking this, within 10 minutes, we were happy and energized and ready to hit another beach before taking the car ferry back to St. Thomas. This stuff is a lifesaver! Also, not bad as a hangover prevention, way better than Gatorade in my opinion." —Abigail Brooks

Get a pack of 16 for $23.45.

Promising review: "So glad I got these for my trip to Hawaii. These shoes saved my feet getting into the coral-covered beaches of Kaua'i. Great on the hot sand, too. Much more comfortable than the ones I got for my daughter at Target." —jaspy106

Get it from Amazon for $8.68+ (available in seven sizes and 44 colors).

The seller recommends checking the size chart, which details the best size for your foot length. The back strap is also adjustable!

Promising review: "Whether I’m on the beach or in my yard, these are so convenient! Cute and indestructible slide-ons. So glad I got them!" —~donna

Get them from Amazon for $17.99 (available in sizes 6–10 and two colors).

Promising review: "We have a dog who loves going to the beach and this is so easy to pack for a beach day!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.29+ (available in two colors and two sizes).

And there are LOTS more uses for this than just a beach day!

Promising review: "Got this wagon for a beach vacation and I’m so glad we did! We had a two-block walk to the beach so we put our bags and cooler and toddler inside the wagon with no problems. She loved riding in it and it was very smooth. My husband said it was easy to pull through the sand. It is sturdy and collapses easily. Great purchase!" —Natalie

Get it from Amazon for $129.08.

RIP, Big Ang. You would've been the best beach day buddy.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.