This post is all about essential summer beach accessories for your beach bag.
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Summertime is near so it’s time to find some summer beach essentials! Imagine lying under the sun, hearing the strong oceanic waves with a fresh cocktail sitting next to you. It’s heavenly! Some vital beach essentials to take to the beach are sun protection, food, towels, swimwear, flip-flops, and sunglasses. The beach is a nice getaway after dealing with daily stress at work or it can be a place to take a break from reality.
Some other great items to take to the beach are books, music speakers, and a volleyball. Playing beach sports with friends or having a nice picnic at the beach is so fun and exciting. It’s also the perfect time to sit back and write in your journal or catch up with friends. If you are an adventurer you would love going to the beach to go surfing, snorkeling, or deep dive.
This guide is to help set up your beach bag essentials like preparing items like hair ties, towels, waterproof phone cases, books, makeup bags, and lip balms. Besides, I always try to be prepared and have everything readily available because the beach is about two hours away from my home. It’s also always a good idea to write a checklist of your favorite essentials to take to the beach and then check it off the night before. (I can probably make a list for you guys and insert it for you here later). Beach Accessories Checklist Download Here. Some of my favorite accessories to take to the beach include hair clips, sunglasses, tumblers, and a Polaroid.
There will be another post on what to wear to the beach but for now, here are the must-have summer beach accessories for your beach bag!
Summer Beach Accessories
Summer Beach Bag
Starting with the beach bag! We all have one to hold our most precious cargo and these bags are sometimes transparent to help locate our items. I love a good beach bag because they’re unique compared to any other travel bag. They are usually made to be waterproof and sandproof, which makes them easy to clean. They are most commonly made with mesh, neoprene, transparent vinyl, or other knit materials.
These bags sometimes come with pockets which prevent the loss of items. They are great for keeping everything organized, and they are also versatile. Wear them to the beach, picnics, pool parties, outdoor concerts, or sporting events. They are also made sturdy enough to deal with the rigors of outdoor activities so the wear and tear will most likely take a while.
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Hair Clips and Hair Ties
Taking hair ties or clips to the beach is helpful when it comes to uncertain weather conditions. I use hair clips because the wind blows your hair out of control. It’s also helpful to place your hair up after drying it up to go home. I would recommend taking a multi-pack just in case you lose some claw clips.
Style your beach look with some cute claw lips and hair ties. Go for the clean girl aesthetic if you want to sunbathe or go in a messy bun if you want to ride the waves. If you have a lot of hair, I recommend using larger claw clips compared to the little ones because they will not hold all of your hair. I’ve made this mistake before and it has led me to regret my purchase.
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Sunglasses
Eye protection especially during those intense sun exposure days like in the middle of summer is vital. Sunglasses protect you from UV rays but also help improve glare, prevent eye fatigue, and protect your eyes from the wind and dust. Besides increasing vision quality sunglasses look fabulous with any coordinated beach outfit.
In terms of choosing the right lenses, consider choosing lenses according to your preference and the beach conditions. Grey lenses provide true color perception and reduce brightness without distorting colors, which makes them great for sunny days. Brown or amber lenses enhance contrast and depth perception, making them ideal for partly cloudy or overcast beach days. As for mirrored lenses, they often reduce the glare and add a stylish look to your beach look.
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Tumblers
Taking a tumbler to the beach is both convenient and eco-friendly. It’s a great accessory because carrying a tumbler helps you stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste. Some important key features in choosing the right tumbler are to choose a tumbler that is insulated, durable, large in capacity, leakproof lid, and easy to clean.
It’s a great hydration reminder to drink water regularly, especially for those hot summer days at the beach. You can also consider using a reusable straw instead of using plastic straws. Accessorize your tumbler with an easy carrying case or attachment to your bag or backpack.
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{Related Post: The Best Stanley Cup Dupes}
Beach Mats
Beach mats are made for comfort to lounge, sit, or lie down on the sand. Towels can blow away and get full of sand, however, beach mats provide a stable and comfortable area to relax and enjoy the beach. You can use these for the beach or picnics. It’s light and portable so you can take it anywhere and they are easy to maintain.
Whether you are sunbathing, picnicking, or playing in the sand a beach mat is that valuable accessory you want to have to enjoy your trip to the beach. Beach mats also have UV protection features like offering a layer of protection against sunburns or UV damage. This is especially important for those who have sensitive skin.
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Towels
The first thing on your summer beach accessories list is a towel. Towels are a basic essential to dry ourselves after swimming. You can also use a towel to protect yourself from those scorching hot summer days. For example, place your towel on your beach chair or lay it on the sand. Towels are also great for cleaning up spills, wiping away sand or sunscreen residue, or removing extra water from surfaces like beach toys, coolers, or picnic tables.
They are eco-friendly and versatile, you can have makeshift pillows for napping, or create an impromptu shade when dropped over a chair or umbrella. A beach towel is one of those essentials that everyone needs.
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Sun Protection or SPF
SPF is an indicator of how well a sunscreen protects the skin from ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun. The SPF rating of a sunscreen is compared to the time it takes to burn without any protection. For example, if you typically burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen, using sunscreen with SPF 30 would theoretically allow you to stay in the sun 30 times longer which is 5 hours.
I usually recommend SPF 50 or SPF 50+ because they offer very high protection against the sun’s rays and will block around 98%-99% of UVB radiation. It’s also important to choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection. It’s also important to seek shade or avoid the sun’s peak hours for protection. The sun’s peak hours are 10 AM to 4 PM.
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Flip Flops or Sandals
Flip flops are great for the beach because they are easy to clean and comfortable. Choose a waterproof sandal, rubber, or any other synthetic material. These are common materials that are quick-drying and ideal for beach environments.
You can go for a classic thong sandal or sporty slides to fit your taste. It’s important to remember that if you head to the beach even after the sun’s peak hours the sand will be also extremely hot. I would advise taking some sort of slip-on sneaker if you’re going to walk long distances from where you are parked. Wearing sandals is ideal once you’re close to the water.
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Lip Balm
I’m recommending lip balm because of the intense summer heat. Getting dry lips after being in the sun or outside for hours is common in the summer. Lip balm protects your lips from the sun and keeps your lips hydrated. This will make your beach experience that much more comfortable.
One of my favorite lip balms is the laneige glowy balm. There are many types of lip balms with different benefits, but it’s best to pick one that is both lightweight and hydrating. Don’t forget to add a lip balm to your summer beach accessories list!
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{Related Post: Unveiling The 11 Best Lip Gloss Brands You Need To Try}
Makeup Bag
A makeup bag is necessary to hold all of your small items. Even if you don’t need to take makeup to the beach. I recommend adding a small makeup bag inside your beach bag to place your hair ties, hair clips, and sunscreen. That way you don’t have to be ravaging through your purse to find all the small items in your bag.
You can choose a makeup bag that is also transparent to help you locate your items. It’s convenient, easy, and versatile to have in your bag even in your daily tote bag or handbag. I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but I love to stay organized so I love having little bags where I carry all of my hair accessories, makeup, or even ones for loose change.
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Books
Books are great to help you relax and enjoy your beach vacation. A book is great to help enjoy the calm setting of the beach. You can take some light reads like novels, magazines, short stories, or poetry collections for leisurely beach reading.
Instead of bringing your beloved hardcover books bring your paperback books or your e-readers like a Kindle. They are lighter to transport and you don’t have to worry about ruining your best books. On the other hand, protect your Kindle or paperback books from sand and water by placing them in a ziplock bag or a waterproof case.
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Beach Games or Activities
Taking sports balls to the beach is fun and exciting! You can provide a lot of opportunities to play with your friends on your beach outing. Take a beach volleyball, soccer ball, or frisbee to play with your puppies. It’s also important to be mindful of other beachgoers and follow the guidelines of the beach. Also, consider the size of the beach and the space available when participating in your favorite activities.
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Waterproof Phone cases
We love our phones and can’t live without them so why not buy a case that protects them from water? A waterproof case for your phone is an incredible essential when going to a beach or anywhere near water. When looking into waterproof phone cases checking the rating is important. They are typically measured in meters or feet and it’s important to note that this represents the feet you’re going to submerge your phone in when swimming.
If your phone is touchscreen then it’s important to find compatible cases and also consider additional features like straps, lanyards, or extra storage compartments. These come in handy to take pictures underwater or while you’re swimming in the water.
Portable Polaroid Cameras
The self-developing pictures after taking a picture are so convenient and so nice to have for those who love to keep tangible memories. You can use a Polaroid camera to snap some pictures of your favorite beach moments with your best friends. Make sure to charge your camera or have new batteries placed in the camera before heading for the long trip. I also recommend checking for camera printing quality by making sure that the pictures are developing correctly.
Look for extra accessories like waterproof cases, straps, lenses, filters, and frames to enhance your camera experience. I recommend shopping for a portable camera that fits your needs in terms of print size and quality, price, size, and portability. Another great option for smartphone users is to purchase a smartphone printer that connects to your phone via Bluetooth.
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Hats
Hats are very often used to protect the face, neck, and shoulders from UV rays. On the other hand, a hat like a straw hat or a baseball hat will just cover your face from the sun. They protect your hair and help you keep cool along with protecting your eyes. Some great materials to wear for hats are lightweight and breathable materials, such as straw, cotton, or linen, that allow air circulation and keep your head cool and comfortable in hot weather.
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Having a beach bag with your favorite summer beach accessories makes a beach trip so much better. I hope this guide provided some help in preparing for your next beach vacation. And remember, while we’re all about fun in the sun, a first aid kit is like the superhero in our beach bags – there to save the day in case of any unexpected bumps or scrapes. So pack your sunscreen, grab your beach towel, put it all in your beach bag, and get ready for some sandy adventures!
