The Very Best Beach Essentials We've Tested and Evaluated

The Tommy Bahama AnchorX umbrella was a standout in an evaluation of the best beach umbrellas. Its built-in anchor, long screw base, pull-out handles, and thick polyester canopy with UPF 50 protection make it our top choice. Its canopy measures 6.7 feet in width and is designed with built-in vents that the manufacturer says “provide increased airflow and maximum stability.” Our evaluator also found that the umbrella didn’t budge once in moderate-to-high winds. It stayed straight and steady—no adjustments necessary.

The umbrella comes in two parts and features a matching (and spacious) carrying case with a shoulder strap and drawstring closure.

The worst part of a beach outing may be bringing the sand back home with you. A sand-repellent towel can combat that. We tested the Ephesus Turkish Beach Towel for sand resistance in four different assessments: two times with dry sand while the towel was dry and two times with dry sand while the towel was wet. It impressed us each and every time with its superior ability to repel sand. Our scale detected either no sand left on the towel or just 0.1 ounce. And when our testers ran their hands across the towel, they couldn’t feel or see any leftover sand. 

During the water test, two interesting things happened. The first: The Turkish cotton material seemed desperate to repel water; droplets stayed suspended on the areas where the evaluator poured ocean water, and the towel didn’t readily absorb the water. They made the second discovery after submerging the towel in a tub of water: It was the first of the eight towels we evaluated to dry completely, in about 4 hours.

Made of soft EVA material and with comfortable handles, this Simple Modern beach bag was the standout in our evaluations. Our editor found it well-designed and convenient to hold thanks to its sturdy and thick straps. While this model didn’t hold as much as a couple of other bags we evaluated, it still managed to fit five beach towels and a host of necessities such as a hardcover book, water bottles, sunscreen, and more. The best part? Once you’re home, you can easily wash off the sand without much effort.

For more options: Best Beach Bags

This folding beach tent from L.L.Bean is our top choice for its simple setup, list of features, and higher-quality materials. It’s roomy (it can fit two or three adults and a child) and has an extendable floor for extra coverage. It has the best privacy features of all of the beach tents we evaluated, with a fully private front door that stays in place with secure buckles and loops. Three large windows have fine mesh screens for ventilation and privacy flaps that also stay up and can be secured using a buckle and loop system.

A small zippered pocket is attached to the left side of the tent where you can place your phone or wallet. The tent is made from UV-resistant ripstop polyester fabric with UPF 50+ sun protection, according to the manufacturer.

For more options: Best Beach Tents

A packable chair might just be the workhorse of your summer outings, and this option is prime for the beach and beyond. It’s the heaviest of the beach chairs we evaluated, but for good reason: It comes with plenty of features, like a built-in padded head pillow. It has a footrest that can be raised up or pushed down if you prefer a traditional chair position, and you can recline it to five positions, including fully back, so that it converts to a lounge chair.

Its seat measures 12 inches from the ground and has a built-in cup holder that’s cleverly positioned beneath the right armrest so that it swivels out to the right but takes up zero armrest space. The cup holder itself won’t fit your beloved Stanley cup, but it will fit a can, a Hydro Flask, or other bottles of water.

If squeezing under an umbrella isn’t your idea of a good time, level up with a beach canopy. Available in two sizes, medium and large, we opted for the former. According to the manufacturer, it provides 43 square feet of shade and is ideal for one or two people. Although it doesn’t come with stakes for additional support, our evaluator found this model sturdy, withstanding light to moderate winds and strong wind gusts.

The corners of this canopy feature small storage pockets, which is a nice touch, and the fabric feels thick and sturdy. Another cool feature is that you can purchase a separate grass kit if you plan to use this canopy at a park or backyard barbecue. This beach canopy is available in 13 colors and patterns, such as nautical stripes, florals, and gingham.

For more options: Best Beach Canopies

Whether it’s a trip to the beach or an overnight at a campsite, a small cooler you can easily tote along is a no-brainer. The Yeti Hopper Flip 8 was the top performer in our lab tests, thoroughly chilling eight cans and ice for hours. The semi-soft cooler is claimed to be leakproof and has a heavy-duty zipper that can handle your most extreme outdoor adventures, but it can be tough to open and close. It has a long shoulder strap that makes carrying it easier, although it weighs almost 3 pounds when empty.

Staying hydrated is always a good look, and this Instagram-famous mug is sure to please. In lieu of a plastic bottle, go for a reusable one that can be toted around from the gym to the plane and beyond. The ever-popular Stanley Quencher—available in several colors and sizes—is not one to miss.

For more options: Best Insulated Mugs