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Enjoying the sand and sun is a quintessential part of summer, whether you’re on a tropical vacation or visiting a local beach. And while there’s always room for spontaneity, a truly enjoyable day at the beach requires a bit of planning and forethought for most of us. (I’m not the only one who’s been burnt to a crisp because I thought I brought sunscreen, right?)
Building a solid list of beach bag essentials requires trial and error as well as time. To save you the stress, we asked beach lovers and those who travel to sandy locales regularly about their tried-and-true essentials. Keep reading to see what dozens of super-travelers are carrying in their beach bags this summer.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Kaitlyn Menza.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, travel writer and on-air travel expert
“I'm on a plane for my work as a travel writer three weeks out of every four, most often headed to Caribbean resorts. So when it comes to beaching it, I'm an expert. I always have sunscreen, a long-sleeved swimsuit, and a water bottle with me. For my body, my longtime favorite is Supergoop's Unseen body sunscreen, which goes on smoothly and is completely invisible on my skin. The brand's Glowscreen in the shade Sunset makes my face look airbrushed, with a subtle lit-from-within sheen.
I want to protect my skin from the sun, but I want to do it in style. Long-sleeved swimsuits and rashguards are a staple in my swimwear collection, and I'm always drawn to colorful versions. I've had this one from Axesea for several years and it hasn't faded—still looking good as new.
Hydration is key when you're basking in the sun, so I always have my own bottle with me for ice water (and the occasional rum punch to-go). I have 19-ounce and 32-ounce FreeSip bottles from Owala. I love them because they keep drinks cold all day, never leak, and come in bright colors.”
Rani Cheema, founder and travel business coach at Cheema's Travel
“I like to keep it simple when I go to the beach because I despise carrying the whole summer seasonal section of Target with me. I never regret bringing a beach umbrella that sits low to the ground. Not only does it protect me from the sun, but it also protects me from sand that gets kicked up by the wind. I would love to upgrade to a pop-up tent/canopy. Another must-have is my backpack cooler. I love having my arms free and carrying a bulky cooler across the sand is never fun.”
Diana Bernal, communications specialist & travel designer
“I'm all about keeping my beach bag as lightweight as possible while bringing everything I might need for the day. My essentials include a lightweight sheet or Turkish towel, my collapsible HydraPak Stow Water Bottle, a light-colored baseball cap, and a waterproof Aloha pouch to stash my phone, AirPods, and Kindle. I also never leave home without my SPF lip balm, mineral sunscreen, and an electrolyte drink mix, like Liquid IV, for extra hydration. I love to hang out till sunset—my favorite time of day—but golden hour can also bring mosquitoes, so I make sure to pack a stick of natural, lightweight Quitch repellent balm to keep the critters at bay.”
Chris Leavitt, content creator and mixologist
“I tend to be pretty minimalist when it comes to the beach and fit nearly everything I bring into a tote bag. The must-haves are: my favorite Wu-Tang beach towel, sunblock, my go to Ray-Bans, a small Bluetooth speaker, a refillable water bottle, and a book I’m currently reading. If I know the concessions nearby are going to be abysmal, I’ll grab a cooler and stuff it with a hoagie and a local canned six-pack.”
Ava Jules, Hawaiian beauty and lifestyle YouTube and TikTok star
“Every time I go in the ocean I make sure to use reef-safe sunscreen. This mineral option from SunBum is my favorite. My all-time-favorite bucket hats are from Lack of Color, and I can’t go anywhere without a lip balm. Glossier's smells like cherries and has a cute red tint.”
Jennifer Ploszaj, chief marketing officer of WATG
“I love my sky blue Goyard Saint Louis PM Bag as a beach bag—it’s super lightweight, easy to carry, and the attached interior pouch keeps my valuables compact and within easy reach. I never leave home without my waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, Tom Ford Jennifer sunnies, and the Epionce tinted sunscreen. Because I love to swim in the sea, I also pack the Baby Bum conditioning detangler. If I bring Ozzy, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I bring his Chuckit! Ball (which floats), as well as extra treats, a towel, travel water bowl, and his puppy umbrella.”
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Ashley C. Ford, New York Times best-selling author of Somebody’s Daughter
“I didn’t learn to love the beach until I realized I was allowed to love the shore more than the water. I pack my bag with a new book—hopefully something compelling—a bottle of water, a wireless waterproof speaker, snacks that won’t get sandy or soggy, a big towel, and I carry an even bigger umbrella. It’s all about comfort.”
Emily Cheng, travel nurse and CEO/co-founder of MedVenture
“Summertime is prime time to soak up all the Vitamin C and D. Some of my favorites for a fun and sustainable beach day include my UST Flexware Mess Kit to keep fresh fruits, hummus, and pretzels, or seaweed salad free from sand; my lightweight yet warm UST Capen 1P blanket to keep me bundled while I watch the sunset; my recycled Sunski sunglasses; and iced tea in my refillable Takeya water bottle.”
Sofia Ancira, founder and co-designer of Sanlier swimwear
“For individuals with fair skin like me, safeguarding that skin is a daily routine. This Colorescience shield is hands down the best face sunscreen and comes recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It doesn't leave me sticky or greasy, has a matte finish, and has no weird sunscreen smell.
For my lips, I use Dior Addict Lip Glow as chapstick. I must have my favorite sunglasses by Illesteva. The Wynwood Ace sunglasses are affordable, comfortable, and super lightweight. For added sun protection, I grab my Summer Romero handmade straw hat.”
Alex Michael May, content creator
“I always make sure my favorite straw visor is in my beach bag to protect my skin and eyes and shade my face from the sun while looking stylish with any swimsuit or outfit. My visor from the small women-run business Caminito Co. rolls for easy packing and won’t fly off in the breeze like many hats. Lugging bulky towels or dealing with a bag full of sand can be a bummer after a lovely beach day, so I’ve taken to packing towels that are highly portable and repel sand, like this one from Venture.”
David Pirrotta, founder of Materiae and host of the podcast Living in a Materiae World
“I love a summer glow, and am pulled toward beaches in the Mediterranean during the European summer months. My tried-and-true bag for travel, work, and the beach and is the Lotuff Leather Working Tote—its interior pockets carry beachside essentials like the UV protecting Sachajuan Hair in the Sun.”
Amanda Gunawan, founding principal of OWIU
“The key to a good day at the beach is a comfortable chair. I love the low beach chair from Japan-based brand Snow Peak. For sunscreen, it’s important to find one that’s over SPF 40, has zinc, and a PA rating of PA+++. The Tizo Ultra Zinc body and face sunscreen checks all the boxes. I always love to pack a film camera to capture special moments—I usually use a ContaxT3 because of the image quality. Lastly, I love the Walden Original Meditation Cushion—it’s those extra items that really enhance your day by the water.”
Laura Liles, founder and creative director of Kinga Csilla
“I always pack a large Kinga Csilla Kantha case; it fits sunglasses, a book, sunscreen, and even my water bottle, and protects all your special items from sand. I have young [kids] so good snacks are essential, too. A small Yeti cooler filled with berries, water, and a cold pressed coffee is standard procedure. If you're out of town, it's a great way to transport local produce to a beautiful location. Muslin or linen wraps work as great alternatives to bulky towels—they look chic and take up way less room.”
Conner Coffin, professional surfer
“One thing I always have with me is a Leus beach towel. They make eco-friendly towels with fun vibrant prints. My go-to sunscreen is Shiseido. It’s the softest, nicest-feeling sunscreen I’ve ever used, and I’ve been wearing it since I was a little kid. A good reusable water bottle is crucial. My go-to is a Hydro Flask; the double walled construction keeps your drinks cold.”
Lauren Williams, cofounder of Will & Bear
“This on-the-go rug comes with a carrying strap so you can bring it anywhere; and it's waterproof, so I’m free to nest wherever I like. A comfortable, sustainably made bikini is an absolute must for me, too.”
Kate Bock, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and chief brand officer at Pompette
“I first discovered Bond-Eye swim on an SI shoot, and the swimsuit I wore was one I knew I had to take home! I’ve been a fan ever since. I love the texture of its fabric, and how flattering the brand's high-rise one piece is on my legs.”
Jordan Salcito, sommelier, CEO, and founder of Ramona canned spritzes
“I love everything about Marysia bathing suits, from the founder's story (she’s a former ballerina who then got her degree from MIT), to the flattering fit, to the gorgeous sustainable Italian fabrics. Celine sunglasses manage to be universally flattering, somehow, and the milky hazelnut acetate coloring is perfect for summer. A cooler bag of ice and Ramona—dry grapefruit is my pick for the beach, but I usually bring an assortment. I'm obviously biased, but Ramona remains the one organic, velcorin-free, ethically sourced canned beverage available.”
Marianna Hewitt, co-founder of Summer Fridays
“I saw this phone case on an episode of Shark Tank and immediately needed it—it is basically a drink Koozie for your phone to keep it from getting too hot and shutting down. It also works in cold temperatures if you’re on a ski trip.
For sunny weather, I not only slather on SPF but I get additional shade from a hat. I love the look of a beach hat but it isn’t so convenient to lay down in a beach chair—so now I’m really into visors. For my hair, I’ll apply a leave-in treatment or hair oil like Ouai’s Rose Hair & Body oil [on damp hair] and then I do a loose braid with a skinny Slipsilk hair tie. It leaves me with beautiful, beachy, air-dried hair.”
George Fleck, vice president and global brand leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
“While Neutrogena SPF 50 is a quick go-to to throw in my bag, I do invest in a really great face sunscreen like Biotherm Homme UV Defense. A great vintage classic book like Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, and a Turkish bath towel from Serena & Lily.”
River Jordan, photographer
“I always have this Leica M10 with a 35mm Summicron lens in the bag. It's a low-key camera that isn't intrusive. I must have filled up 50 Moleskine notebooks over the years. They are a great place to keep travel info, jot down ideas, and sketch my surroundings. [I like] Kiehl’s Super Fluid Sunscreen; a little goes a long way and it doesn't leave my cameras all greasy.
I love how light and comfy Patagonia's Hydropeak Boardshorts are. They roll up small, dry fast, and last forever. My Filson 48-Hour Duffle Bag fits everything, and the longer I have it the better it looks. It's a perfect carry-on, beach bag, or overnight bag.”
Malu Hilmy, senior marketing executive at Coco Collection in the Maldives
“One of my go-to sunscreens is EltaMD’s wallet-friendly UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum. It’s oil-free, dermatologist-recommended, and great for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Another must-have is TopTote’s Leather Hat Holder. Instead of needing a bulky hat box when you travel, the TopTote clip keeps you hands-free. Basically, you attach one of their clips to your hat's brim, and then hook the carabiner ring onto your bag, carry-on, keychain, or luggage tag.
Viktoria Riley, director of marketing at The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort in the Bahamas
“I normally already wear an oversized beach hat, cover-up, and sunglasses (I have Ray-Ban Jackie Ohhs in every color) and I never arrive at the beach without The Ballast beach pillow in my bag.”
David Schottenstein, founder and CEO of Privé Revaux Eyewear
“Apple EarPods—not AirPods, specifically EarPods. I’m a wires guy. I tried AirPods for a while, but the battery kept dying, and I lose patience and forget to charge them. I have the greatest bathing suit from Shinesty—it’s a real conversation starter.
