16 beach products with a cult following on Amazon—and why they're worth it
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It takes a lot of preparation to go to the beach. You need to make sure you have all the essentials: towels, chairs umbrellas, sunscreen, flip flops, and sunglasses for starters. But, what if you get hungry or thirsty? You need to make sure you have a cooler packed with snacks, lunch, and a few drinks to last you through the day. Plus, you need room in the car for toys and floaties.
Figuring it all out can honestly be exhausting, but you’ll be happy you’ve brought everything in one trip instead of heading back to the rental house each time you’ve realized you forgot something. If you still think you’re forgetting something, check out this list of cult-favorite beach products, according to tried and true Amazon reviewers. From sunscreen to beach games, we’ve got you covered.
1. The ultimate beach chair
Dragging things to the beach is hard enough, which is why you need a chair that can be carried like a backpack. This one from Tommy Bahama is iconic because it also has a cooler pouch and can be adjusted for full sun exposure. Beachgoers say this chair is light and comfortable, too.
Reviews: 1,511
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Rating: 4.4
2. An umbrella that actually stays in the ground
After laying in the hot sun, you’re going to want some shade to cool off. This one from Sport-Brella offers eight feet of coverage, so you can fit the whole gang under there. Plus, reviewers agree that it’s easy to setup and holds up to strong winds, but also warn you should be aware of the wind direction before putting it in the ground.
Reviews: 2,797
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Rating: 4.4
3. An umbrella anchor to keep things in place
If you don’t want to invest in a huge umbrella, you going to still want an anchor to hold your shade in place. This sand anchor from RIO is rust-proof, withstands winds up to 30 miles per hour, and is easy to twist into the ground, according to users.
Reviews: 529
Average Rating: 3.9
Average Rating: 3.9
4. A cooler that’s easy to carry around
Lugging around a cooler filled with ice, water, snacks, and drinks is exhausting. But a soft cooler with a comfy shoulder strap makes things a bit easier, which is why this one from Coleman has thousands of positive reviews. It also has a removable hard plastic lining and can hold up to 16 cans.
Reviews: 2,113
Average Rating: 4.5
5. A mat to lay out without touching sand
When it’s finally time to eat, you definitely don’t want sand in your food. That’s why people turn to this weatherproof mat from Camco. Reviewers love it because it’s lightweight, durable, and large enough to have a picnic for a family of four on. Plus it folds up for easy carry when it's time to head home.
Reviews: 1,898
Average Rating: 4.5
Average Rating: 4.5
6. A waterproof phone case
We’ve all been there. You’re at the beach and your phone gets wet or sandy and just stops working a day or two later. Next time, you should slip your phone in a waterproof pouch, like this one from Mpow, for an added sense of security. Reviewers claim you can even go underwater with your phone in it without any damage, but the touchscreen isn't usable in the case.
Reviews: 6,014
Average Rating: 4.5
Average Rating: 4.5
7. A game everyone can join in
Once you learn the rules, Spikeball is pretty easy to play anywhere and a ton of fun. Some reviewers describe it as “volleyball meets basketball” and always bring it on their beach trips. Plus, it comes in a drawstring bag for easy transport.
Reviews: 1,664
Average Rating: 4.5
Average Rating: 4.5
8. A durable football to toss around
Instead of bringing along a leather football to the beach, invest in one that’s buoyant and won’t get damaged by the salt water. COOP makes the popular Hydro Football that is both soft and durable. Reviewers love it because it’s easy to catch and smaller than a regular football, which makes it perfect for kids and adults.
Reviews: 106
Average Rating: 4.0
Average Rating: 4.0
9. Insulated koozies to keep your drink chill
To prevent your beers or cans of seltzer from getting hot and flat, you’re going to want to get an insulated koozie. This one from Thermos keeps your drinks cold for 10 times longer than the can alone and reviewers claim it works just as well as the Yeti koozie—for half the price.
Reviews: 2,998
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Rating: 4.4
10. A towel that promises a quick dry
There’s nothing worse than laying down on a wet, sandy towel. But this microfiber beach towel claims to dry three times faster than a typical cotton towel and is sand resistant too. Reviewers agree they dry pretty quick and are great for avid swimmers.
Reviews: 474
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Rating: 4.4
11. A Kindle Paperwhite for a portable library
Whether you like reading crime thrillers or Nicholas Sparks’s novels at the beach, you’re going to want an e-reader so you have some options. The Kindle Paperwhite is our favoriteand has more than 60,000 reviews on Amazon. We love it because it’s lightweight, portable, and easy to hold, and you don’t have to deal with the glare of the sun, unlike other tablets.
Reviews: 60,621
Average Rating: 4.5
Average Rating: 4.5
12. Hypoallergenic sunscreen for sensitive skin
Not only does Sun Bum have amazing packaging, but it actually works too. This sunscreen provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Reviewers love it because it doesn’t have that typical “sunscreen smell” and they say it prevents more burns compared to other brands.
Reviews: 1,384
Average Rating: 4.6
Average Rating: 4.6
13. A waterproof portable charger for extra juice
The combination of the heat and our phones at maximum brightness to counteract the sun tends to make them die a little bit faster than usual. This portable charger from Unifun is waterproof, can charge your phone up to five times, and has a built-in flashlight. Many reviewers bring it along for traveling and hikes.
Reviews: 1,820
Average Rating: 4.2
Average Rating: 4.2
14. A speaker to bring the jams
If you want to safely play your music aloud on the beach, you’re going to need a waterproof speaker. This one from Vtin can last in the elements and has up to 30 hours of playtime. Reviewers claim it’s not the loudest speaker, but it can withstand the beach environment and you won't have to worry about being too bothersome to your neighbors.
Reviews: 1,437
Average Rating: 4.4
Average Rating: 4.4
15. A bag to hold the essentials
Before leaving to the beach, you should make sure you have your phone, your Kindle, your headphone, your water bottle, your towel, and your snacks. Having a bag to carry it all in will make things much easier. Reviewers love throwing their beach supplies into this mesh bag from Speedo because it’s durable, has pockets for phones and wallets, and holds everything they need.
Reviews: 706
Average Rating: 4.7
Average Rating: 4.7
16. A boogie board to catch some waves
Boogie boarding is the ultimate way to ride the waves (if you’re not an experienced surfer). Beach lovers adore this board from Lucky Bum because it's lightweight and will survive being thrashed around in the ocean.
Reviews: 500
Average Rating: 3.5
Average Rating: 3.5
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