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Because any ol’ day could be a Beach Day.

As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.

If you're really looking to take advantage of all the sunshine this summer, there's a bit of preparation that'll help you get up and to the beach so much faster. After all, you want to find that *just right* spot that keeps you safe from the tide but not too far from the actual water. As someone who has a beach bag and takes public transit (ferry or subway!) to the beach, I find that this time of year has me re-evaluating what's in my own beach bag so I can quickly head out for a beach day. So I assembled the products below for sorta selfish reasons so I can refresh my own bag for 2026!

Promising review: "Great size to fit several swimsuits within one bag. We use them for swimming lessons, beach trips, community pool trips, etc., etc. They really are waterproof! The outside is totally dry when we put a dripping wet suit inside." —cam

Get two from Amazon for $14.99 (available in several combo patterns).

Promising review: "Price is great for these. Used several times on several different vacations, never had a leaking issue. These are a staple vacation item to pack. You’re able to get those prime pictures you otherwise couldn’t. You can be involved, swimming and playing too, right in the mix while also still being able to take pictures. No sideline pics from the shore or your lounge chair. Honestly priceless." —M&L

Get two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 22 pack options).

Promising review: "This neck fan is awesome!!! It fits comfortably around the neck and is very lightweight. Love that the vents are all the way around so you feel the cold air around your whole neck. Cools you down quickly. Would buy again!!! If you are reading this... Do not hesitate to buy this, get one now before they run out." —Kathy Jones

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "Best fan ever. Ordered one for my Barbados trip, and it never failed me. I took it to the beach. And not thinking, went toward the water and the wave took me in fan and all. Long story short, the fan was dead to the world. Glad I didn't throw it away. Started working as if nothing once it was dry. Not sure if I got lucky or it wasn't in the water long enough, but it's working just fine." —Jeanne Polanco

Get it from Amazon for $9.48+ (available in nine colors). 

Parents especially love this because babies and toddlers can lay on it without getting sand in their mouths. 

Promising review: "Perfect for the beach. This thing is great. The corner pockets are a smart touch — you just fill them with sand, and it actually stays in place. It’s super small and lightweight, so it’s easy to pack and carry for a trip. Definitely a solid buy." —JR0

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).

The bow straps are only available in the Large size. The Mini size has a top handle and an adjustable/detachable crossbody strap.

Promising review: "I’ve been wanting a sturdy and cute beach bag that was not mesh or a basic tote. This is it! It comes with a dry bag for the phone. The handles are thick. The iridescent color looks so cool in the sun, and it’s the perfect size. I fit two towels, a sunscreen bag, two changes of clothes, a speaker, goggles, and snacks, with extra room too." —Daniela G

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "Love this! I am a flight attendant and keep it in my suitcase for various uses, but it's an outstanding for beach or picnic blanket. It weighs nothing, beautiful, and great quality! My new go-to gift item." —Laurance F. Haun

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 18 patterns). 

I was on a group trip and all the girls decided to get matching Havianas from a store a few blocks from Cococobana Beach, and then wore them to the beach! They were comfy right from the start and dry out pretty quickly, which was extra convenient because I wore them to the beach less than 24 hours before I flew home.  

Get them from Kohl's for $34 (available in sizes 6–11/12).

Promising review: "Guys. If you’re going on a trip and need a cute hat but don’t want to worry about it getting smashed…look no further. I bought this hat last summer. It’s been as far as The Maldives, all over Europe, and I wear it on the reg in southern California. It’s totally kept its shape, and I’m not shy of shoving it in bags. 10/10 recommend! I’m sitting on a bus in Croatia right now thinking how awesome this hat has been and decided to write a review, as I rely on reviews for my purchases on Amazon. Hope this helps someone!" —Lyra S.

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in 14 color combos). 

Ponyflo is a small biz specializing in ponytail-friendly hats. 

Promising review: "I purchased this hat for the beach to cover my face and ears. It did the job and was way cuter than I thought! If you’re looking for a hat for the pool, beach, or a sports mom, this will be great!" —Matthew & Brittney Odom

Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in 11 colors). 

Check out a TikTok of the insect spray. 

Stay Away is a small business that specializes in pest-removing and repelling products. 

Promising review: "Deet doesn’t work for me, but this does! I’m the person who gets bitten while everyone else is fine. They follow me, and most repellent isn’t very helpful. This worked great! They came near but didn’t bite. The smell isn’t bad either! I didn’t mind it, and my sister has requested some also (she gets bitten even more than I do). I would have preferred a continuous spray nozzle, but I’m very impressed with how well it kept those dang mosquitoes away in Texas! I did sweat a little, and it didn’t change how well it worked." —eve

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $26.99 (also available in a bottle). 

Cliganic is a small biz specializing in health and wellness products. 

Promising review: "I bought this to take on a cruise. Never had issues with bites. Once back home I put them on my son who is allergic to some bites and always itchy after time outdoors. Since he’s had these on outside it’s hardly an issue anymore. Very cool." —MardiGrasGirl

Check out a TikTok of the towel clips in action. 

Promising review: "I purchased these for a family of eight going on a cruise and they loved them! So easy to use, just put your towel on the beach chair and clip down with these. They said they were especially awesome on windy days when others towels were blowing away if they were not sitting on the chair. The family was able to go to lunch or take a walk and not worry that their towels had been blown away and someone had then snagged their seats. Very inexpensive and functional clips." —TypeA

Check out a TikTok of the sunscreen stickers in action. 

Promising review: "Just used this product on a recent trip to Florida. I made sure to wash my skin before application and it lasted about two days on my skin without coming off. When out of the sun or behind UV glass, like in a car, the spot turns clear. As soon as you step into the sun it turns purple. If you use a sunblock it starts to become clear or semi clear. After being on the beach and having gone into the water a few times the spot started seeing purple and I applied sunblock again. In a minute the spot was clear again. So this is very effective In alerting me when to reapply." —RGTorque

Get two 16-counts from Amazon for $31.25 (also available as a 48-count). 

Promising review: "LOVE this. I no longer forget to put on sunscreen as this is part of my new routine. Love the shimmer (much more than anticipated), especially on my arms and legs. Face might be a bit much, but prevents a burn for the win." —Tawny Stammen

Check out a TikTok of the Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar in action. 

Promising review: "NO WHITE CAST! I've been looking for a stick sunscreen and this was just exactly what was needed!! I'm a medium-toned Black woman and looking for something without a white cast is always a challenge. I have applied it on my bare skin and there isn't a white cast at all! It's a 'soft matte' finish, for sure, and looks like natural skin. Like you're not wearing anything at all." —Martina

I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation in 2021 years ago when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works. 

And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination. 

Promising review: "Used for the first time today on my 7-year-old. First time in his life he actually enjoyed having sunscreen applied to his skin! Very easy to use and not messy at all. Extremely pleased with this purchase!" —amyj

Get it from Amazon for $15.98 (available in 13 colors). 

Black Girl Sunscreen is a Black woman-owned business whose sunscreen is designed not to leave a white cast on melanated skin. It's ultra sheer, water-resistant, and super nourishing thanks to its all-natural ingredients. Plus, it's cruelty free! They also make sunscreen for kids with SPF 50.

Promising review: "I’ve been using this creamy SPF daily and it's a game changer. It absorbs easily, zero white cast, even with darker tones, and feels more like a moisturizer than heavy sunscreen. Makeup goes on smoothly and without streaks." —Kiki

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (cruelty-, fragrance-, oxybenzone-, octinoxate-, silicone- and aluminum-free, and vegan).

Promising review: "My kids will only use spray-on sunscreen (for their bodies and the stick for face and neck). This spray is easy to use and protects their delicate skin from harmful UVB rays. It's waterproof and sweat-proof, which is a big plus. Would highly recommend!" —S. Pme

Get it from Amazon for $13.49 (clip the coupon on the product page to get it for $9.49).

After trying what feels like every last lip product with SPF on the market, this is probably the first that made me forget I'm wearing sunscreen. It doesn't have that sunscreen-y taste at ALL! (Psst, AAD Guidelines recommend using sunscreen with at least SPF 30, so this meets that recommendation!)

Shakalo is a San Diego-based small business started to figure out a way to help people, especially parents remove sand before leaving the beach. The soft fabric pouch allows the powder to remove the sand without scattering everywhere.

Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1x–2x a week. I even use it on my dogs paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes).

I've been using this product for a couple of years now, and it tends to last me quite a long time. I also like to spray it along my hairline where I tend to be a little less vigilant about sunscreen application. It *does* smell like traditional, beachy sunscreen so if you hate that smell, I wouldn't rec. Oh, and it's vegan and reef-safe!

Get it from Amazon for $17.49 (oxybenzone-, octinoxate-, gluten-, cruelty-, and paraben-free).

Promising review: "My car sickness has been getting worse for years. I drive often with my family back to my hometown about five hours away. I put these on and was finally able to ride without constantly fighting nausea. They fit comfortably and I quickly forgot they were on. This feels like a simple, cost efficient fix." —Breya Porter

Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53+ (available in adult and children's sizes).

Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot — and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of four). 

Splash Splace is a small biz specializing in swim accessories.

Promising review: "My 2-year-old needed goggles. I know she’s young for goggles, but she’s a great swimmer, and her big sister wears goggles. She always cried when I put them on her, but these were so comfortable that she put them on and took them off by herself. They were great, and do not let water in." —Bethanie

Get them from Amazon for $25.95 (available in 10 designs, and more on the store page).

Promising review: "So glad I got these for my trip to Hawaii. These shoes saved my feet getting into the coral-covered beaches of Kaua'i. Great on the hot sand, too. Much more comfortable than the ones I got for my daughter at Target." —jaspy106

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in seven sizes and a variety of colors).

Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action. 

Promising review: "I am obsessed with these! I bought one for myself and immediately turned around and got a four-pack so I can keep extras in my desk at work and my car and give a few to friends. The cardboard carriers that you usually get from restaurants are wasteful and still need to be supported with two hands. With this, I can carry two to four beverages and a bag of take out food all in one hand with a hand free to open doors and such! There is no support underneath so you cannot leave them sitting in the carrier once you're in a car, but I wouldn't trust a cardboard carrier on the seat of my car full of drinks anyway. It is incredibly sturdy and everywhere I go I get constant compliments when I use it! I have run into very few cups that are too large, overall this is a total win! Can't recommend enough." —Allison

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five colors). 

Promising review: "I am super happy with this cute wrap. I wore it over a bikini to a yoga party. Was comfortable, tied easily and stayed put. The black fit just the same." —MCK

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 28 color combinations).

Promising review: "Bags held up great at the beach and the scoopers are very sturdy. My girls loved the cute bags to keep their shells in." —Kayla

Get a set of two from Amazon for $15.99 (available in three styles).

Promising review: "I used to play Ultimate Frisbee in college and it took me a lot of practice to get my throws down. Wanting to teach my kiddos how to throw, I researched and ended up buying these. I REALLY like them! I bought one set of two. And want to buy more. They are super easy for beginners to learn on and almost always fly true. They also don’t hurt when they hit you and my kids can catch them. Win. Win. Great colors and design! And they can skip a little bit. 🥏💗" —asnowmomma

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two colors). 

Promising review: "This was an impulse buy and so glad I did it. Took them on vacation and they worked so well on the beach and sand. A must-have." —paul molacek

Promising review: "Saved us at the beach. My kids used this at the beach and it worked great!" —psychologistneedingbooks

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "We've had this table almost a year and have used it everywhere from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. It's sturdy enough to support all your drinks, snack, and phones while still small and light enough to be packable and portable. Highly recommend!" —Kacey

Get it from Amazon for $13.55 (available in four styles). 

Pole-R Bear is a small biz specializing in this product. 

Promising review: "Super easy to put on an umbrella. I have one Tommy Bahama umbrella from Costco, and another large umbrella that we used in the center of our table. The hook fits both umbrellas very easily. We used it for a week at the beach. It did not slide down, and I felt it held quite a bit of weight. I have attached a picture of my beach bag with two towels, sunscreens, and various snacks in it. Another bag with water and sand toys. I am going to order another one!" —Amazon Customer

It's made to stay inflated at least 5–6 hours, and comes with a stake for easy securing to the ground once inflated.

Promising review: "Took a couple of attempts at first to figure out how to get it filled but once you do it’s easy (although I always feel a little dumb running with it to fill it lol). It’s super comfortable and even taking it to the beach it was easy to get the sand out of it. So glad I bought it!" —Jen

Get it from Amazon for $38.98+ (available in 21 colors and patterns).

Promising review: "We have a dog who loves going to the beach and this is so easy to pack for a beach day!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors and two sizes). 

Promising review: "Easy to travel with, and clean off. Folds up easily and is very durable, with no holes or anything yet. Great value for the money, perfect for vacation." —Jillian

Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four styles).

Promising review: "This is an amazing speaker for traveling or going to the beach. It's portable, and you can hang it so it doesn't get dirty with sand or dust around you. It is very useful in hiking because it is light, which makes it easy to carry as you can see in the picture. The battery life is really good. I've used it three times and still doesn't need to charge, so it's about 10 hours of music. I really liked the sound quality and my friends say that they liked it, too." —Tifanny Angulo

Get it from Amazon for $54.95 (available in 16 colors). 

And there are LOTS more uses for this than just a beach day!

Promising review: "Excellent carriage, perfect for the beach." —katherine hartnay

Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in two colors).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.