The longer days and hotter temps call for a reassessment of our wardrobe, as well as a retooling of how we spend our leisure time. One of those ways is — you guessed it — making a beach trip. Packing for a seaside excursion, however, can be a little challenging. That’s why we’ve compiled a checklist on what to wear, pack, read, and carry, so you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the shore.
Sunscreen: Oars + Alps Go Stick
Applying sunscreen to the face can be a bit tricky at times — and let’s not forget painful, too. Oars+Alps Go Stick resembles a deodorant container, but it’s filled with a gel-like SPF 35 formula. Just screw off the cap and rub it on all parts of the face. No sunscreen in your eyes and no slippery hands. The only downside is you won’t be able to blame your sunscreen for not catching the football now.
Beach Hat: Yankees Classic Baseball Cap
The NY logo has solidified itself in fashion over the years, which means you don’t necessarily have to be the biggest baseball fan to wear it. Go with this New York Yankees ’47 Brand cap. This hat is both practical and fashionable and has a nice soft feel and it will only look better with age.
Swim Trunks: Fair Harbor The Anchor Trunks
This New York upstart has made waves with its eco-friendly swimming trunks made from recycled polyester. Not only are these eight-inch shorts good for the environment, but they also feel incredibly comfy, thanks to their soft boxer brief lining.
Sandals: Indosole Soil Slide
Another sustainable fit, these sleek slides are designed using recycled tires, which also means they’re extra durable. Even better is the fact these sandals also come in larger sizes.
Sunglasses: A.J. Morgan Grad School Round Sunglasses
A.J. Morgan makes sunglasses so affordable, you can lose or crush them a million times and feel zero guilt afterward. Grad School’s are their take on the timeless round silhouette.
Cooler: Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 Soft Cooler
The Hopper Backflip 24 maintains the same high-quality features every other Yeti cooler has, plus it’s a backpack. Coolers are notorious for taking multiple hands to carry. Now you can simply throw it over your shoulder and trek your beverage around the beach without any worries. Pure bliss.
Beach Read: Pirates You Don’t Know, and Other Adventures in the Examined Life
For a thoughtful beach read, we suggest pouring over this beautiful collection of essays from John Griswold, a staff writer at the Common Reader. In it, he explores class, poverty, and fatherhood through his seemingly multiple lives as an adjunct professor, army deep-sea diver, and writer.
Beach Shade: REI x West Elm Outward Shade Shelter
If you’re looking for a beach tent, REI recently partnered with West Elm on a line of outdoor gear that’s as sturdy as it is stylish. We especially love their shade shelter, which features enough room for two, and comes in a compact package that’s easy to carry and assemble.
Beach Chair: Helinox Playa Chair
Because beach chairs are notoriously stumpy, they don’t always accommodate taller guys. Not so with this 37-inch-tall seat from Helinox, which is spacious enough for men who are over six feet tall, and is surprisingly light considering its size.
Beach Bag: Sea Bags Maine Blue Ogunquit Beach Tote
Sustainably made from recycled sails, this nautical tote features durable rope handles, water-resistant pockets to stash wet trunks, and an interior roomy enough to keep your booze, gear, and clothes in place.
Beach Towel: Tesalate The Alchemist Towel for Two
Tesalate has built a sizable following thanks to the brand’s beautifully rendered microfiber towels that easily wring out sand, and this multi-patterned offering is no exception.
Headphones: Jaybird Vista Headphones
When we’re seaside, we prefer enjoying our music and podcasts in solitude, particularly with these Bluetooth headphones. They’re waterproof and feature premium sound quality and seemingly endless battery life.
Portable Charger: NITECORE NB10000 Power Bank
Sometimes it takes a little bit of a hike to get down to your desired spot on the beach. To avoid going back and forth to your car to get some juice, take with you this NITECORE Power Bank. It holds hours of battery life and it’s durable enough to withstand all of your future adventures.
More Great Beach Gear Essentials
Birkenstock Arizona Essentials
Rubber Birks are perfect for moving through the elements: mud, water, sand, you name it. You get Arizona’s classic silhouette and a high comfort level for a fraction of the price. Save your cork Birks for tamer environments.
Apple AirTag
The beach might take the crown as the place where you’re most likely to lose your keys. Luckily, Apple AirTag is available to save your butt when this happens. They’re incredibly detailed in their location tracking and they pair seamlessly with your iPhone and other Apple products. A must-add to your beach gear.
Vintage Summer Solid Wash Nylon Swim Trunk
Vintage Summer makes these nylon swim trunks that look just as good out of the water as they do in it. What’s great is the nylon material will dry quick, and the washed green colorway they come in will pair wonderfully with a number of different outfits.
Maui Jim Cruzem Sunglasses
Maui Jim’s have an incredibly loyal fan base for a reason. They’re durable, lightweight, and fit comfortably snug on the wearer’s head and nose bridge. Add the fact they come with super-thin polarized lenses with 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays, and you’ve got a winner.
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
L.L. Bean guarantees durability in everything they make. The Boat and Tote is made with 24 oz. heavy cotton canvas and it features strong double seam stitching and a zippered top.
Every Man Jack Activated Charcoal Face Wipes
Constantly reapplying sunscreen throughout the day can leave some serious layers on the skin. If you want to freshen up out on the beach or en route to the tiki bar, Every Man Jack makes an easy-to-use charcoal cleaning wipe. Apply the wipe to your face and neck, and within seconds your skin will be feeling nice and clean. Keep the resealable pack in your bag at all times.
