16 Beach Essentials You’ll Definitely Want to Have on Hand This Summer

Rule number one for beach adventures: You can never have too much SPF. And we’re not just talking about the number of bottles of sunscreen you stick in your bag. Despite the FDA’s stance that anything over 50 doesn’t make much of a difference, a recent study suggested that SPF 100 really is better for you than SPF 50. So, if you haven’t already been subscribing to the ‘more is more’ approach, if might be time to upgrade to something more powerful. Many dermatologists and skincare experts also suggest opting for mineral or physical sunscreens as opposed to chemical, especially if you’ve got children tagging along (although buying separate child or baby sunscreen probably isn’t necessary).

Shop sunscreen: Banana Boat ($9); Neutrogena ($15) CeraVe ($18); La Roche-Posay ($25); Kinship ($25)

Similar to sunscreen, you can never have too many towels. Towels to lie on, towels to dry off with after you swim, towels to wrap around your shoulders when the temperature starts to drop in the evening, towels to wipe everyone down before they get in the car, towels to protect your car seats and prevent your steering wheel from overheating in the parking lot. Bottom line: you should probably grab nearly every towel in your home before you hit the beach.

Shop towels: Moda at Home ($30; $15); L.L.Bean ($30); Towel Bazaar ($30 for set of two); Kaufman ($35 for set of four); Shopbop @Home ($40); Funboy ($49)

Unless you want to spend your whole day squinting into the sun, we suggest tossing a pair of sunnies into your tote. Polarized lenses are best for combating glare and reducing the strain on your eyes, however they can make it more difficult to read LCD screens, like your phone, GPS or Kindle. Either way, make sure your sunglasses block UV rays or they won’t do much in terms of protecting your eyes from the midday glare.

Shop sunglasses: ASOS ($19); Dusk to Dawn ($42); Madewell ($65; $45); Quay Australia ($60); Le Specs ($79); DIFF ($85); Ray-Ban ($154)

Besides making you feel like you’re on a fabulous vacation on the Amalfi Coast, a wide, colorful umbrella can help create a mini oasis and escape from the sun for you and your fellow beachgoers—especially the little ones.

Shop beach umbrellas: Stansport ($33); Rio ($43); Songmics ($44); Bungalow Rose ($130; $56); The Home Depot ($191)

Your kids might be A-OK plopping themselves down just about anywhere on the beach, but not everyone is quite so amenable to the idea of spending hours sprawled out on a sandy towel. Whether you spring for a super fancy recliner or a simple beach chair, try to avoid models with metal armrests which are pretty much guaranteed to become too hot to touch within the first 30 minutes of your arrival.

Shop beach chairs: Picnic Time ($58); Breakwater Bay ($66); L.L.Bean ($79); One Kings Lane ($95); Society 6 ($149; $120); Christopher Knight Home ($161 for set of two)

Come prepared for the inevitable call of boredom with playing cards, a volleyball, tennis balls and rackets, shovels and buckets for building sandcastles, frisbee, ring toss, books and anything else that might keep the kids entertained until at least 3 pm.

Shop beach games: Bicycle playing cards ($3); Wilson volleyball ($9); Sun Squad bucket set ($10 for set of 10); Pulsar frisbee ($10); SunnyLife foam bat and ball set ($20); SunnyLife beach bats ($25); Sun Squad 4 Game Combo Set ($30); SunnyLife inflatable basketball set ($35); Sun Squad 2' x 3' Wood Bean Bag Toss ($80)

All that time spent out in the sun, sweating, swimming and running around is bound to dehydrate you quicker than you realize. Grab a few oversize reusable bottles and fill them up with water and ice before you leave the house, so you won’t be forced to pay for an overpriced 12 oz. plastic one later. Even better is they’re insulated so keep your water colder for longer.

Shop reusable water bottles: Nalgene ($11); S’Well ($35); Corckcicle ($35); Frank Green ($40); Bkr ($48); Hydro Flask ($50)

Filling your water bottles with ice will definitely help keep your drinks cool and refreshing for longer, but a designated cooler will do an even better job. Load it up with water, iced-tea, juice boxes and fruit, lunch or even ice pops and you’ll be good to go for the whole day.

Shop coolers: Coleman ($28); Igloo ($19); Ice Mule ($60); Hydro Flask ($75); Orca ($200); Yeti ($350)

Speaking of beach snacks, some are far superior than others for sandy, wet hands. Wraps prevent your sandwich filling from falling out the sides, while frozen grapes provide a sweet treat that’s just as delicious once it’s reached room temp (unlike drippy ice cream). Mixed nuts, trail mix and salty chips can help replenish any electrolytes lost from sweating in the heat, just try to avoid adding chocolate to the mix or anything with a cheesy coating as they can become goopy, melty messes if left in the sun too long.

Shop beach snacks: Power Up Trail Mix ($5); Popcorners Multipack ($5 for box of six); Setton Farms Pistachio Chewy Bites ($6); Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sweet & Savory Variety Pack Crackers ($8 for box of 20); Sahale Snacks All Natural Nut Blends Grab & Go Variety Pack ($21 for box of 12); Bobo's Peanut Butter & Jelly Stuff'd Oat Bites ($27 for box of 30)

You hope your beach day will go off without a hitch, but it’s best to be prepared with a basic first aid kit, just in case. Antibiotic ointment, bandages and pain killers are a good place to start if you’re putting together your own emergency bag, or you can pick up a handy little pre-packed kit to keep in your tote or car at all times.

Shop first aid supplies: Advil Tablets, 100 count ($9); Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic/Pain Relieving Ointment ($10); Band-Aid Family Variety Pack ($10); Be Smart 180-Piece First Aid Kit ($12); Johnson & Johnson 140-Piece First Aid Kit ($12)

While we’re on the subject of first aid, you’ll definitely want to bring along a bottle or two of cooling aloe. Hard as we all try to apply sunscreen correctly and as often as possible, there are times we find a random red stripe somewhere on our body at the end of the day. The sooner you start treating sunburn the better, so slather on that refreshing aloe gel on the car ride home and keep applying regularly until your burn has faded.

Shop aloe: Hawaiian Tropic ($7); Sun Bum ($10); Herbivore Botanicals ($20; $17); Korres ($26); Moroccanoil ($28); Coola ($32)

A giant, wide-brim straw hat can make you feel glamorous and lovely. But more than that, it’s another way to get in some 360-degree sun protection. If you opt for a classic baseball cap, however, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the back of your neck!

Shop beach hats: South Beach ($16); ASOS ($26); O’Neill ($26); Marimekko ($115; $69); Faithfull the Brand ($89); Hat Attack ($120); Sensei Studio ($198); Eric Javits ($225)

This is not the time to break in your new sleek, platform sandals. Walking on sand isn’t exactly easy and you risk walking out of your slides if you opt for styles that don’t strap on to your feet. The surrounding rocks, dunes and boardwalks can also be pretty slippery when wet, so we suggest choosing footwear with some solid traction just in case you want to go exploring (or you have to run after a kid who has that exact idea).

Shop beach sandals: Speedo ($33; $27); Soukeni ($40); Birkenstock ($45); Teva ($50); Olukai ($90); Clarks ($100)

And what to do with all those wet bathing suits and sand-packed towels? Include some water-resistant, zippered bags in your post-beach car kit to keep your dirty laundry separate from everything else. Gallon Ziplock bags are great for wet swimsuits and trunks, while a nylon tote should be large enough to fit all those extra towels you’re now so grateful you packed.

Shop extra bags: Ziploc sandwich bags ($9 for set of 280); L.L.Bean wet bag ($17); The Container Store wet travel bag ($18); FP Movement x Aloha pouch ($30)

It may seem like an obvious inclusion, but having a bag specifically designated as your beach-going tote means you can pack it with all the above necessities and then leave it as is in your hall closet. No need to constantly repack and risk forgetting something important (like, say, your bathing suit), because everything is right there waiting for you to grab on your way out the door.

Shop beach bags: L.L.Bean ($45); Everything But Water ($54); Business & Pleasure Co ($59); Mark & Graham x Steele ($89); Hat Attack ($109); Roller Rabbit ($118); Lululemon ($128); Squeeze de Citron ($140)