The Best Beach Accessories of 2024

Our favorite reef-safe sunscreen has a leg up on the competition — it doesn’t leave a chalky white cast on your skin, as many mineral sunscreens do. It also has a non-greasy feel and a hydrating effect, which we consider a crucial element of any sunscreen. With 80 minutes of water resistance, it’s a must-have for ocean swimming.

Since I was a kid, I’ve hated the greasy, icky feeling of sunscreen. These days, I’m thrilled that “invisible” sunscreens exist, and my favorite right now has to be Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. While most sunscreens are marketed as lightweight non-greasy, I find those claims to be largely untrue — but not here. The gel-like sunscreen applies clear (no white cast!) and absorbs immediately, leaving my skin feeling soft and velvety, as if it were a moisturizer rather than just a sunscreen. If I were to critique it at all, I’d have to note that the sunscreen only lasts 40 minutes in the water, so you’ll need to reapply regularly if you’re sweating or going for a swim. (And to be fair, you should be regularly reapplying anyway.)

As someone who hates the sensation of sunscreens, I find spray sunscreens to be marginally better than lotions, simply because I don’t have to rub it in. I can air dry and hope that the product doesn’t feel greasy. But with Naked Sundays’ sprays, I’m delighted by the gentle mist that doesn’t immediately feel sticky or oily on my skin — in fact, it’s even moisturizing thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid.

There are two versions of this sunscreen, one for your face and one for your body, and both feel refreshingly lightweight, leaving a gentle glow to your skin. Something else I like about the product is its scent, which incorporates Australian botanical extracts for a fruity effect. The most important thing to know about this sunscreen though is that it’s not designed to be a base layer. Instead, it’s a top-up spray to be used over a base layer when you reapply throughout the day.

A cooler will keep food and drinks cold for extended periods of time in the sun, making it an essential beach accessory. This 8-liter option from Yeti is one of our favorites for a few reasons. Though it’s pretty compact, the interior fits more than it seems like it would. And while there is just one large compartment, the outside of the cooler has the brand’s HitchPoint Grid, which allows you to attach other things to the outside.

When it comes to travel-friendly portable speakers, I always think easier is better, and it doesn’t get easier than this waterproof speaker. It takes about two seconds to connect a phone (at a distance of up to 130 feet), and the controls are super simple: there’s a power button, a Bluetooth connection button for pairing, a play/pause/skip button, and big plus and minus buttons for volume.

The speaker also features a secret weapon: flip it upside down and you’ll find the “Outdoor Boost” button, which adjusts the sound for outdoor use — you’ll probably want to use this feature for your beach days. You can also pair the speaker with another one to double up on volume or provide stereo sound. As for the quality of that sound, I find it to be perfectly suitable for a beach day. Plus, it’s IP67-rated, meaning it’s protected against dust and water.

There’s a reason you see this chair all over the beach. Between the sturdy strap for easy carrying, handy cup holder for drinks, and full recline for the ultimate sunbathing (or beach napping), it truly hits all the marks. Overall, it’s quite lightweight, which makes toting it from the parking lot to the beach a breeze. It also comes in a wide array of colors and designs.

Shade is crucial for a long beach day, but umbrellas have an unfortunate reputation for blowing over. This umbrella, however, has a feature to combat wind gusts — a sand anchor. The anchor is a tarp that you fill with sand and wrap around the pole, creating a heavy weight that stabilizes the umbrella. It was easy for us to set up, and it nailed its most important job: protecting us from the hot sun.

This is a durable backpack cooler that can handle multiple trips without breaking, leaking, or losing its cool — you can toss up to 42 cans into the bag, and they’ll remain chilled for hours. We’re particularly fond of its roll-top opening, which makes it easy to load and unload the bag so you can spend more time taking in the beauty of the beach.

Thanks to oversize wheels with treads and a high ground clearance, this cooler can handle all sorts of terrain, from sand to gravel paths to dirt roads. This is the cooler to wheel out to the portable fire pit. When you’re taking it to the beach, you can fill it up with up to 112 cans. Toss in some ice, and your cans will stay cool for up to four days. It’s also loaded with features like an umbrella holder and butler tray.

We love these sandals for their cushioned fit, arch support, and sturdy construction. They fit true to size, but having the ability to tweak the sizing a bit with adjustable velcro really makes a difference in how they fit and puts an end to blisters. They also have a nicely passed footbed, thick sole, and plenty of traction for comfortable walks to the beach and beyond. They feel durable enough that we feel they will last for years to come.

Commerce Editor and PADI-certified diver Taylor Fox has taken this snorkel set all over the world from Greece to the Bahamas to Indonesia. It includes a mask, short fins, and a snorkel — in other words, the three essential items you need for snorkeling. The mask is made from tempered glass with a hypoallergenic silicone skirt, while the snorkel has a “dry” design that prevents water from getting in the top. As for the fins, they only come in two sizes, but they’re open-back with an adjustable strap. Fox suggests you might want to get better-fitting fins for a long day of snorkeling or for frequent adventurers, but for a casual outing, these do the trick.

With a subtle cat-eye shape, weightless feel, and glare-reducing lenses, these sunglasses are your ticket to all-day comfort and style at the beach. We tested them in multiple lens and frame colors and found that every combination offers top-tier UV protection. When it comes to comfort, the arms and bridge apply just enough pressure to feel secure without causing irritation.

I love a good lazy beach day, but when I’m at the beach with an active group, this is the game I like to have on hand. Spikeball is a cross between volleyball and four square — the official rules have two teams of two spiking the ball onto a center net, attempting to thwart the other team’s return. But you can really adapt the game to your liking, whether that’s attempting to keep a rally going for as long as possible to changing the number of players. Best of all, it breaks down and packs up into a bag for easy transport (or you can even buy a branded Spikeball backpack for the kit!)

Long gone are my sun-worshiping days — I’m now all about keeping my skin protected. And for me, that means donning a hat while I’m at the beach. Buff’s Booney Hat hits the mark for me for four reasons. One, it’s rated UPF 50. Two, it’s ventilated to keep my head cool. Three, it has a chin strap so it doesn’t blow away. And four, it folds into a tiny pocket in its own interior, making it ultra-packable. (I am still sore about a non-packable sun hat I accidentally left behind in a ferry terminal more than a decade ago, so knowing this folds down to fit into my bag is a great feature.) Sure, it’s definitely got a more outdoorsy look than a fashion-forward one, but that suits me just fine.

Rash guards aren’t just for surfers. If you plan on swimming or snorkeling, rash guards like this one can protect you from the sun, from sharp coral, and even jellyfish stings. This one is made from recycled jersey fabric and has a UPF 50 rating for solid sun protection.

This quick-dry rash guard has a UPF 50+ rating to protect your skin while you’re doing any sort of outdoor water activity. Though this is a form-fitting shirt, it does have a four-way stretch for the ultimate freedom of movement. We also appreciate that the branding is somewhat subtle.

It might seem counterintuitive to wear a hoodie when you’re at the beach, but this isn’t your classic cold-weather hoodie — it’s a lightweight sun hoodie designed to protect your skin from rays. It has a UPF 50+ rating, and you can use the hood and thumb holes to ensure you’re covering as much skin as possible.

This super-soft hoodie is comfortable to be worn regularly, but it has some features designed for active use: It has a UPF 50+ rating, an antimicrobial treatment to reduce odors, and moisture-wicking and quick-drying tendencies. Wear it during your beach day for skin protection — or if you’re feeling slightly chilly as the sun goes down.

When I want a drink to stay cold all day long — and I need a hefty amount of hydration throughout the day — I immediately go for my Yeti Rambler. The insulation on this large water bottle is top-tier, keeping my drink perfectly icy. But the real feature that seals the deal for me is the chug cap. While you can unscrew the entire lid to load up the bottle with your drink of choice and plenty of ice, the chug cap allows you to enjoy the drink without fear of spilling ice all over your face. (Yes, I’ve been there.) The only downside is the water bottle doesn’t fit in most cup holders, but at the beach, I just leave it in the sand.

Love or hate the sand, you’re going to have to deal with it at the beach. And these cup holders are the perfect way to put that sand to work in your favor. Simply stick them into the sand, and you have a place to hold your drink — there’s even a separate compartment for your keys or phone!

You never know what’s buried in the sand, which is why you might want to invest in a metal detector for some next-level beachcombing. This is a solid one for beginners who are ready to take metal detecting seriously, but be forewarned that buying a metal detector is not a budget-friendly act. 

For some classic sand toy action, this kit comes with all the essentials, from numerous molds to shovels, rakes, sifters, a bucket, and even a watering can. They’re all stored in a mesh carrying bag, which makes it easy to shake out sand when you’re ready to leave the beach. You can even hose down the toys when they’re in the back for a quick rinse.

Fancy a blended drink at the beach? We love the BlendJet for blending on the go — despite its compact size, it’s powerful enough to perfectly blend up drinks wherever you go. The blender is single-serve, though, so it’s best to have a few of them if you’re traveling with a group. That said, it can handle up to 15 blends on a single charge, so you can share. We also like the compact size of the blender for storage at home. Oh, and did we mention it comes in dozens of fun colors and patterns?

I have to admit, I’m not much of a tote carrier — I find they usually slip off my shoulders. But I do recognize the convenience of a tote at times, particularly at the beach, when you need to pack personal items like sunglasses, a swim cap if you want to protect your hair, a water bottle, and more. That’s why I love the Fjällräven Kånken Totepack, which has three different handle configurations for easy carrying: there are handles, a shoulder strap, and backpack straps. But for me, the most important element of a beach tote is a zippered main compartment, as I hate getting sand in my bag. And yes, the Kånken Totepack has that, too. It’s also water resistant, which is ideal for a beach trip.

Here’s the thing about most waterproof bags — they’re often a somewhat cylindrical shape with a roll-top. I personally find those a little difficult to use from an organization perspective, since you have to dig through to get to your items. And that’s why I love the Rux Waterproof Bag as a wide-mouthed alternative. This bag is more like a traditional beach tote in shape, but it is fully waterproof (and comes with a lifetime guarantee) when you seal it up with its roll top. Alternatively, you could also carry it as a standard tote without the roll top, which is great for stashing things quickly and easily. Plus, this is a heavy-duty, highly durable bag that works for rugged adventures just as much as it does a leisurely day on the beach.

This beach blanket is serious about getting the job done. First and foremost, it’s thin and lightweight yet absorbent — it does an excellent job of drying you off and drying out quickly afterward. But it also repels sand, which makes it my top pick as a beach blanket. I’m also a fan of its packability (and its numerous color options), even in its beach blanket size, which is twice the size of a standard towel. But if you’re traveling with a group, you might find it a tad small.

Most phones are water-resistant these days, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should keep them submerged for extended periods of time. For genuine waterproofing, I use this Pelican phone pouch, which also floats. (Ask me about the time I saw someone drop their phone into the ocean, and you’ll learn why floating is now at the top of my mind.) Overall, I find the pouch pretty easy to use, though it helps to have longer nails to open the fasteners that keep the pouch shut. While you can your touchscreen through the plastic, it does feel a bit clunky. I have, however, taken fairly good photos through the plastic window over the lenses.

When I got my first GoPro, I found I never used it — I didn’t find it particularly user-friendly and didn’t take the time to learn. Years later, I now have the GoPro Hero12, and I’ve stepped up my game (and it really wasn’t as hard to learn as I thought it was). For me, GoPro is ideal for swimming and snorkeling, particularly when paired with accessories like the floating hand grip and the high-vis case. That way I don’t have to worry about it sinking if I accidentally let go while in the water. I find that my GoPro is generally better at video than still photography, at least when it comes to my photography tastes, but I do love that you have options to shoot both. And because the camera is waterproof on its own, that makes it perfect for beach or pool use.

Toss this portable charger in your beach bag and you’ll never have to worry about your phone running out of juice. (It can also be used for portable speakers with USB chargers!) What stands out about this specific charger is that it has an IP67 rating, which means it’s both waterproof and dustproof.

Beach days are, more often than not, a little sweaty or salty at some point or another. When you need to clean up, use these gentle wipes to feel refreshed. They’re infused with aloe and vitamin E to soothe and moisturize your skin — something you’ll probably need after a day in the sun.

Able to carry up to 300 pounds of goods, this heavy-duty wagon isn’t actually heavy at all — it’s extremely lightweight yet quite durable. During our beach wagon testing, we loved its rugged wheels that handle everything from cobblestones to sand, as well as the ease of its set-up and take-down. (Yes, it’s collapsible!) The spacious build allows us to bring all our oceanside essentials along without an ounce of hassle, and features like mesh cup holders and easy-to-clean fabric make using it even more of, well, a day at the beach.

This large beach towel comes with a set of four stakes that can be used to secure it to the sand. This means no more stressing about it blowing away in the wind or getting kicked up by people walking by. The material also absorbs moisture quickly, making it great for drying off after a swim.

This portable misting fan can be taken to the beach to help you cool off on the hottest days. It can run up to 15 hours on a single charge and can be recharged with a USB cable at home. It also features a mist setting that allows you to mist yourself with water while the fan is running.