How To Pack for a Day at the Beach

By Berne Broudy

Nomadix towels in their National Parks Collection

Most everyone looks forward to a day at the beach. Having the right gear can make the day the best it can be. Here are a few suggestions for what to pack:

COVER UP

You’ll have more fun in the sun if you don’t get sunburned. Throw on a rash guard like Columbia’s Kids’ Sandy Shores Long Sleeve Sunguard Shirt (columbia.com, $30). It blocks ultraviolet rays from the sun and keeps you from getting scratched by the surface of your surfboard or boogie board.

Pair your rash guard with quick-drying shorts, like Columbia’s PFG Backcast II Shorts (columbia.com, $25) or Columbia’s Sandy Shores Board Shorts for girls (columbia.com, $25). Both are treated to dry quickly, have hand pockets and feature fabric that blocks harmful sunrays.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield your face, ears and neck. We like Dakine’s broad-brimmed Pindo Straw Hat (dakine.com, $32), which comes with an adjustable chin strap to help keep it in place.

For eyewear, goodr makes the best bang-for-your-buck sunglasses (goodr.com, starting at $25). They’re fun, colorful and fit all face shapes and sizes. The polarized, glare-reducing lenses make it easier to see in and around water, and they protect your eyes.

Protect your feet from the hot sand with a pair of flip flops, like the Reef Ahi (reef.com, $25), or sandals that have ankle support. The Teva Original Universal (teva.com, starting at $40) is a good sandal for running around on the beach or in the water.

DRINK UP

Bring an insulated water bottle. It’ll help your water stay cool in the heat. Drink lots of water to help avoid dehydration. Try an Iron Flask water bottle (ironflask.com, starting at $17.95). These stainless-steel bottles with double-walled vacuum insulation can keep your water cold up to 24 hours. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from 12 to 64 ounces.

SLATHER UP

Any skin not covered by clothing should be covered with sunscreen, one with SPF 30 or higher. It should be one that’s reef-safe so it won’t harm coral and aquatic animals.

Nothing is 100% effective, so remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Let it dry before getting back out there. We recommend Sun Bum’s Baby Bum Mineral 50 (sunbum.com, $16.49), which is SPF 50. It’s also water-resistant and provides broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.

If you have sensitive skin, consider sunscreens marketed for babies or kids — they’re often mineral-based and fragrance-free.

CHILL OUT

When you’ve conquered the surf, take a break in the shade. The best beach shelters, like the Kelty Cabana (kelty.com, $109.95), have sandbags, extra-long tent stakes and plenty of cross ventilation. Add a couple of portable seats, like the Kelty Camp Chair (kelty.com, $29.95); a cooler, like the Otterbox Lunch Cooler (otterbox.com, $49.99); and a quick-dry beach towel, like one of the cool Nomadix towels in their National Parks Collection (nomadix.co, $39.95); and you’ll have it made.