Beach Gear Must Haves
Sharing my favorite beach gear must haves! We’ve become Jersey Shore experts and so I’ve come to appreciate the beach necessities to ensure we have everything we need without overdoing it.
I'll admit it. In my adult, child-rearing life, I've been a beach hater, with 100% of the blame lying in the schlep. There's not much that I hate more than having to schlep tons of gear onto a long beach whilst sweating, only to get it all coated in sand and salt, then schlep it all back to the car, again, whilst sweating.
Since we moved to a house earlier this year and could actually manage to purchase and store all of our own beach goodies, I spent a lot of time researching and finding the absolute best beach gear that helped to turn this beach hater into a straight up beach lover.
1. The wagon of my dreams. Yes, it's true. I love this wagon so very much. It has large, sand-capable wheels. It holds so many things. It also acts as a table on the beach, so none of my stuff has to sit in the sand and get disorganized and disorderly. This one has a flip up table WITH cup holders, something I never knew I needed until I had it. It's an investment, but one I'd make again and again to aid in my beach enjoyment. Pro tip: I added the strap for $10, which was also worth every penny.
Wagon: Mac Sports Collapsible Folding Beach Wagon with Side Table
2. The chairs. I had a few qualifications while researching beach chairs. I wanted something high off the ground (no butts in the sand) and a nice, wide seat so we could sit comfortably for hours, with little ones climbing on us.
It was also crucial that the chairs have backpack straps so we could wear them on our backs during the hike to the beach, keeping our hands free for pulling the wagon or wrangling the kids.
Another bonus feature? The spacious pouch in the back stored my phone, sunglasses, cover up and water bottle.
Chairs: Rio Beach Big Guy Backpack Chair, Blue/Green Stripe
3. 2 umbrellas. Yes, 2. Because 1 is just never enough, especially when we're talking about a family here. But tbh, even with just the 2 of us, a personal umbrella isn't the worst thing when you're trying to find shelter from the open sun. Plus, if I'm going to carry 1 umbrella, I may as well carry 2. And with the wagon, who cares. Load it up!
4. A great beach bag. I’ve used many beach bags over the years, but my recent favorite is the bogg bag. It’s super sturdy, stands upright and can be hosed down to remove the sand and salt. It holds towels, sunscreen and snacks for all 4 of us. I’m never going back to another beach bag. Ever.
Beach bag: Bogg Bag Original
5. A serious cooler. We upgraded to a Yeti cooler and never looked back. It’s heavy, however, it holds a ton and keeps everything very cold for many hours. Perfect for sodas, fruit, sandwiches and basically anything for the beach.
Cooler: Yeti Hopper Flip - 12 can
So there you have it. All the beach gear must haves that made me change my tune and finally love the beach. I hate to be materialistic, but in this case, having the right 'things' really has made a difference in my enjoyment!
What are your beach gear must have items? Share them below and I'll do an insta round up with all the recommended items!
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