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Beach Gear You Don’t Need, But that You Definitely Want Anyway
If Type-A personalities are the sort of organized individuals that make sure they have all their sunscreen, swimsuits, and sandwiches packed before they hit the beach, this article is for the Type-B through Z personalities. The people who already know about the necessities (or already know someone else is handling all the “responsible” things) and would rather focus their energies on what really matters: the cool gadgets to make your beach experience something to remember. We’ve got you covered with six beach items you’re definitely going to want to bring alongside the essentials.
We dare you to make it to the end of this article without adding something fun but frivolous to your cart.
Cooler with Built-in Bluetooth Speakers
First on our list is a two-in-one combo that combines function with style (which is our bread and butter on this site, actually). A cooler with built-in Bluetooth speakers allows you to store your favorite cold and refreshing drinks at the same time it’s providing the tunes for you and your friends to jam to to work up a thirst. Best of all is the novelty effect. These gadgets are sure to draw looks and compliments from passersby based on sheer ingenuity.
We like the Igloo KoolTunes Bluetooth Boombox, which has two color options (one that’s very 80s and a more restrained white option), Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. If you’re worried about carrying capacity, this bad boy can hold up to 26 cans!
Portable Phone & Tablet Charger
We can’t be the only ones that treat leaving the house on a vacation sort of like an adventure. Your group maps out the plan for the day, gathers all necessary supplies, and heads out for hours of sun and fun. The only thing that ruins the mood is a sudden case of “phone’s dead.” That’s why we recommend having a portable charger (with multiple ports) so you can stay outside for hours.
There’s a reason the INIU Portable Charger has such a good rating and over 100,000 reviews. This powerhouse comes with enough charge to fully top up an iPhone 8 3.6 times and can fill an iPhone to 78% charge in just one hour. The INIU has a built-in 15-Layer SAFE Charging to reduce any chance of overheating risk or battery damage, has a USB-C port for direct connection, and comes in five different color options to choose from.
Insulated Tumbler
Want to keep the heat and sand from ruining your favorite beverages? The solution is snagging a high-quality, stainless-steel tumbler. Convenient, portable, and most of all, cool, these are pretty much a must-have to keep your fluids up while you’re in the sun.
The 20 oz. YETI Rambler Insulated Tumbler is our tumbler of choice. It’s Dishwasher safe, so you can easily clean it if you’re staying at an Airbnb or beach house. No dishwasher? No problem. This tumbler doesn’t have a straw, so you don’t have to worry about getting creative about accessing any hard-to-reach areas. The Yeti comes in thirty-nine different colors so you can truly make it yours, and it stands nearly 7 inches high. Fill it up, stick it into your beach chair’s cup holder, and chill out as you soak up the beach views.
Fake Soda Can
Sometimes the cleverest thing you can do is go low-tech. A fake soda can safe is just about the epitome of thinking smarter, not harder. Store your keys, phone, and other gadgets in this novel container and rest safe that no one’s going to try and steal it while you’re splashing about in the water. Just make sure you know the difference between this can and the other ones you’re actually drinking from. More on that later.
You can’t go wrong with the Dr Pepper Diversion Can here (well, I suppose you can go wrong if you bring a bunch of real Dr Pepper with you). This fake can comes with a screw off top and has a dimension of 2.8 inch diameters times a 5.2 inch width and 2.6 inch height. If you’re beaching in California, we know what you’re thinking. Isn’t someone going to recycle my worldly possessions disguised as a can of soda? We strongly recommend sticking this can in a dry bag away from your empties, so no one tries to save the Earth by recycling your car keys. It’s also not water resistant, so don’t put it in your cooler.
Beach Canopy
Beach umbrellas are classic. Beach tents are heavy and never provide as much shade as you think they will. Both are common. They’re 2024. But we can go 2124, and we recommend you do so by investing in a portable Beach Canopy. Providing larger square footage of shade, designed for easy setup and breakdown, and having a style effect that can’t be denied, these tools are a great tool to take a break from constant sun.
We highly recommend you go with the Shibumi Shade if you have a small group of 3-6 people. Powered like the sails of a sailboat, this beach canopy provides 150 square feet of shade and UPF 50+ sun protection, not to mention the room left over for bags, coolers, and beach gear (like the tools we’ve mentioned in this post wink wink nudge nudge). The Shibumi Shade is powered by wind, functioning with as little as 3 mph of breeze. Lightweight at 4 pounds and foldable to a compact size, this is super easy to set up and put away.
Backpack Cooler
Are you or your friends the type to stroll up and down a beach for hours, vanishing into your own zone? Then we highly recommend you bring along a backpack cooler for storing drinks and gadgets so you can move about worry-free.
The Sparter Backpack Cooler is leak-proof, insulated, and lightweight, providing a convenient option for storing any drinks, dry foods, gadgets or anything else you might have brought along for the day. Water-resistant and leak-proof, you don’t even have to worry about waves, sand, or sweat getting into this container, which has a capacity large enough to hold up to 33 cans. Meals, drinks, and other necessities can be easily transported around hands-free with this on hand.
Stay Cool in the Summer
Vacations, daycations, and staycations are all a break from the routine —there’s no reason for them to become routine. Once you’ve got all the necessities for a standard beach trip at hand, we firmly believe it’s time to start having fun with more options to make the whole trip more exciting. With these gadgets, you’ll be able to do just that. And you’ll leave an impression on friends, family, and strangers alike.
Don’t forget to check back with Shopper Advocate for more tools to bring a little style to your life.
