Beach Essentials: Gear You Can Use For Many Summer Days

Pack well once, use everything for years. This guide helps you plan your beach bag with no throwaway items.

Pack only what you will actually use

Many people overpack for the beach, carry half the items home unused, then leave them in a cupboard until they get damaged. Instead, lay everything out on your bed the night before. Pick up each item. Ask: will I touch this at least twice tomorrow? If not, leave it. You only need a handful of things. That way you never carry extra weight, and you never buy things just for one trip.

You don't need three different hats. You don't need a separate bag just for snacks. Use things you already own first. That towel you use for showers? It works well at the beach. That water bottle you take to work? It will keep drinks cold all day at the shore too. You don't need to buy special items just to go to the beach.

Browse Travel Essentials for simple items that work both at home and away.

Sun protection that works for you

Sun protection is the first thing to sort for any beach day. Start with clothing first. A loose long sleeve top, a wide brimmed hat, and trousers you can roll up will block sun far more reliably than anything you rub on skin. Wear these for the first and last two hours of the day when sun angle is lowest.

For skin you leave exposed, always follow the instructions written on the product label. Reapply exactly as directed, after swimming, after wiping yourself with a towel. If you have any questions about a product, ask a pharmacist or doctor if unsure. Don't buy small travel sizes just for one trip. Buy one bottle that fits in your regular bag, and keep it there for all outdoor days.

You will find daily suitable options in Skincare & Personal Care.

Choose items that wash and dry well

Beach sand and salt water will test every item you bring. Before you take anything to the beach, check how it cleans. Towels should shake free of sand easily, and dry fully overnight hung over a door. Bags should wipe clean with a damp cloth. Swimwear should hold its shape after being rinsed and hung to dry.

You do not need anything fancy. The test is simple: can you clean this item when you get home, in ten minutes or less, without special products? If not, leave it at home. Items that are hard to clean get put in the back of the cupboard, and never get used again.

Browse Swimwear & Cover-Ups, and read the Fabric care guide for care tips for every fabric type.

Plan your food and drink for the day

Bring all the drink and food you will need before you leave home. Pack everything in boxes and containers you already use in your kitchen. You don't need special cool bags. A regular towel wrapped around cold bottles will keep them cool for four hours.

Take only as much as you will eat. Bring one empty bag with you just for everything you take home. Nothing you bring to the beach should be left there at the end of the day. This means you never end up buying wrapped single items while you are there. It also means you walk home with exactly what you arrived with, no extra.

It is fine to bring ordinary kitchen plates and cups. They will not break if you wrap them in a towel.

Look after your gear between trips

When you get home from the beach, don't dump the whole bag in the hall. Empty everything out within one hour of arriving. Shake all sand off outside. Rinse swimwear and towels in cold water. Hang everything to dry fully before you fold it away.

Wipe out your bag. Check for small pieces of sand in the corners. Put everything back in its place the same day. Do this every single time, and the items you bring to the beach will last you for tens of trips. You will not need to replace them year after year.

Browse Luggage & Travel Bags for simple hard wearing options. 5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose.

Test things before you go

Never take a brand new item to the beach for the first time on a full day trip. Use it once in your garden first. Sit on the blanket. Drink from the bottle. Shake sand over the towel. Check that it works the way you expect it to.

This stops you arriving at the beach and finding the hat falls off when the wind blows, the towel soaks straight through, or the bottle leaks all over your things. You will avoid wasting money on items that look good in photos but do not work when you need them.

You will find all outdoor use items in Garden & Outdoors.

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Questions people ask

What is the one thing everyone forgets for the beach?

Many people forget a small empty bag for rubbish and wet items. You can use any old cloth bag for this. It will save you hunting for somewhere to put damp towels or apple cores at the end of the day.

Do I need to buy special beach gear?

No. Almost everything you need for a good beach day is already in your home. Test what you own first. Only buy something new if you will use it for at least ten trips.

How do I get sand out of clothes properly?

Always shake clothes fully while they are still completely dry. Do not put sandy items straight into the washing machine. Rinse cold first, then wash normally. Full instructions are listed in the fabric care guide.

Can I see how beach items will look before I buy?

Yes. You can try swimwear and hats on your avatar in the Avatar Studio. For blankets and bags, you can preview them in your own space using Magic Mirror · Home.