The Best Beach Essentials For Summer

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It’s June, we did it, we made it to summer. Congrats everyone, let’s raise a glass and toast to endless warm, exuberant days that almost make it feel as though we have no responsibilities at all and can surf all day long. And hey, maybe you don’t have any responsibilities at all, in which case, we’re deeply envious.

Anyway, you’re undoubtedly headed to the beach, maybe even right at this moment. If beach days are as big a part of your summer as they are ours, you’re gonna love this list of our fave beach toys for surfers. Or, essentials, actually. Tools, even. Basically all the accessories you need for a solid beach hang…aside from your board, trunks and a bar of wax. From a cooler to speakers to the best beach towel ever made, the following must-have essentials will make your beach days a little brighter, a little less sandy, and, we’re pretty sure, even a little bit longer.

Must-Have Beach Gear This Summer

Camelbak ChillBak™ Pack 30 Soft Cooler & Hydration Center

Hands down, the handiest, frostiest backpack cooler on the market. This big boy holds 24 12-ounce cans of whatever you want, and up to 15 pounds of ice to keep things chill for an entire day baking on the hot, hot sands. It’s comfy to carry, roomy, and the rectangular shape makes it stable when stood on the ground and easy to pack and retrieve your goods. It also comes with a hydration pack and a little dispenser tube, so ice-cold water is always at the ready. Forget lugging a heavy cooler to the beach. Parking is tough out there, so bring this pack for no worries if you’re parked many blocks from the beach.

CG Gear Sand Mat

We’ve covered the miracle of this sand free mat/blanket deal before, but really, if you’re going to the beach without this thing, you’re getting your stuff all sandy for no reason. It’s such a joy to leave the beach, pick up the mat, give it one shake, and say “bye bye” to sand. Don’t beach without it.

Outdoor Tech Bolt

There are 8 bajillion Bluetooth speakers on the market and no shortage of good ones. We like the Outdoor Tech Bolt because it’s magnetic (so it can stick to your car), feels good in the hand, has a nice strap to hang it, and it sounds good. Plus, it’s water resistant, so splash away.

Outerknown & GOT BAG Large Tote

Outerknown stuff is good. It can be pricey, but it’s well-made with serious attempts at legit sustainability baked into their business model. This tote is plenty big for your towel and mat, has sleeves for water bottles, multiple zippered pockets, including a hidden pocket at the bottom for valuables, and it’s made from recycled plastic. Plus, it’s only $80.

Kelty Cabana

Umbrellas suck. Any kind of wind and they’re cartwheeling all over the beach, impaling children and dogs — it’s a real mess. What you want is an open-walled tent like the Kelty Cabana. It’s essentially a three-sided tent. Roomy with a 45.5 square-foot floor, it’s robust, easy to set up, can be staked down, and is lower profile than most umbrellas, so it’s harder for the wind to get hold of it.

Nomadix Original Towel

If you don’t own a Nomadix towel, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s just a towel, though, right? Who cares? No. Nomadix towels make toweling better. They just do. Super soft, but also durable as hell, sand-resistant, very absorbent, quick-drying, and they’re made with 90% recycled materials. Plus they usually look cool as hell. And, they’re like $40. A steal.

RAEN Zouk

These Mikey February signature edition sunglasses will make you surf exactly like Mikey himself. Or, maybe they won’t. Who can say? Are you willing to take that chance? Either way, they’re sturdy, quality sunnies with a ton of character that feel like they should cost a whole lot more than $150.