When I was in high school, going to the beach was easy. My friends and I would grab a towel and a Frisbee, jump on our bikes and ride a mile to Theodore Roosevelt Park, in Oyster Bay. In college, we’d pile into someone’s car and drive to Jones Beach or Robert Moses State Park. Since we’re older and we’re all married, and many of us have kids, going to the beach is decidedly more complicated. Now that the Fourth of July has passed and we’re in full-on Summer Fun-time mode, we here at B&H thought we’d help all of you out with some beach gear to make your days lounging in the Sun a bit less stressful—which is what lounging in the sun should be all about.
Going to the beach doesn’t start in the car; in my house, it starts the day before. Making food, chilling beverages, finding the beach blankets, charging electronics… the list goes on. Between smartphones, tablets, portable speakers, and battery packs, we’re hauling a lot of valuable electronics to an environment that seems intended to destroy them: sand, salt water, hot sunshine, crowds with running children and adults… the hazards are endless, so when it’s time to pack, make sure you take this into account. From dry clothes to protected electronics, you’ve got choices.
OverBoard makes waterproof bags that come in sizes from 5 to 60 liters. The bags are specifically designed to keep all your stuff safe from the elements, and float if they go in the pool or fall off a boat. They come in a rainbow of colors, so there will be one for you. Some models have a view-through window so you can take inventory without exposing the contents to danger. For smaller stuff like tablets, smartphones, wallets, and keys, LOKSAK makes the aLOKSAK Waterproof Bags that come in sizes from 3 x 6" all the way up to 16 x 24" in packs of the same or assorted sizes. There are also accessories for these that allow you to wear them around your waist, neck, or arm. If you’re looking for a dedicated smartphone holder, DiCAPac has a line of cases that not only protect your phone, but maintain touchscreen accessibility and allow you to talk right through the case if you need to take a call.
With your electronics and gear packed in dry bags, it’s time to turn to food. Of course, bags of salty snacks are safe, but what about sandwiches, salads, and other perishables? Picnic Time’s Metro Basket Cooler, available in eight colors, is an ideal choice. Made with an aluminum frame and a polyester body to make it light, it has an insulated inner bag to keep your food from spoiling in the sun. What I like most about this cooler is that it’s fully collapsible, so at the end of the day, you can fold it down to make packing up easier.
As anyone who’s ever gone to a popular beach destination, like the Hamptons or Jones Beach, knows you’re rarely parking close to the water. If all you’ve got is a blanket and backpack, the walk is annoying. If you have kids and all the gear they require, it’s nearly impossible. Again, Picnic Time has your solution: the Adventure Folding Utility Wagon. Outfitted with all-terrain wheels and a maximum load weight of 110 pounds, it’ll carry all your family’s stuff without breaking your back. Like the Metro Basket cooler, the wagon also folds up when not in use, so when you set up lounging area, it stays out of the way.
For me, organization is key to, well… everything. That’s why the Mountainsmith Modular Hauler system is awesome. The first part of the system is Basic Cubes. Each one holds up to 20 pounds, with a capacity of 1,600 cubic inches, and comes in four colors. With carry handles and zipper lids, this is the ultimate organizer. To make hauling them easier, you can pick up the Hauler. Offered in two sizes, three-cube or four-cube, the Cubes fit neatly to keep them all together.
OK… so you’ve made it to the water and staked your claim to a patch of sand. First thing you need to do is set up your basecamp. I like to lay a large blanket down upon which my towel will then lay. This helps to keep the sand off the towel. Again, we turn to Picnic Time for the Blanket Tote. This 59 x 51" blanket features a water-resistant bottom and folds down to a convenient 12 x 12 x 4" bundle and comes with a shoulder strap.
If you’re planning on being there all day, or you have small children who need to be out of the sun all or part of the day, I recommend a canopy. The Kelty Cabana has a huge front opening and large windows for cross-ventilation to provide important shade without being stifled. A smaller alternative is the Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade, which is similar in function but is made for a single person. If a canopy is too much to handle, you can simply grab a portable beach umbrella for fast shade that’s easy to move with the sun.
I like to read at the beach when I’m not in the water, and I especially prefer to sit when I read. The GCI Outdoor Everywhere Chair is a quick and easy sitting solution that even has a cup holder, or if you want something a little bigger, then their Big Surf Beach Chair might be worth a look. A slightly larger and taller chair, this one comes with a sliding side tray for snacks and beverages. To truly max and relax, grab Coleman’s Oversized Quad Chair. With adjustable armrests, cup holder, mesh pocket, and an armrest cooler that holds up to four 12-ounce cans, relaxing in this chair will make you the envy of any seashore scene.
One of the most important accessories for you and your kids is sunglasses. As I wrote in my seminal article on eyewear, A Guide to Sunglasses as Safety Gear, radiation is one of the primary hazards to our eyesight, and sitting on the beach even on cloudy days can cause damage to your eyes. Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection, and if you want to enhance your views, get a pair with polarized lenses. One note here on polarized lenses: looking at some display screens on phones and tablets through polarized lenses might make them extremely dark or appear completely blacked out. Before you head out, look at the device you’re going to be using with your sunglasses on and see if you can read the screen. If you can’t, try rotating the device 90-degrees and that should clear it up. B&H carries an array of polarized and non-polarized sunglasses, by such brands as Smith Optics, Tifosi, and Oakley, in a dazzling assortment of frame styles and lens tints, so you’ll be able to find a pair or three to fit your individual style.
For a diversion, to help find your lost car keys, or to help subsidize your trip to the beach, you may want to consider a metal detector. Available for all budgets and ages, you can pick up a decent one that might just pay for itself in a single day. This is a great activity to do with your kids, not only at the beach, but pretty much anywhere.
A day at the beach can be as easy or complicated as your life needs it to be, but with the right gear, it can be fun and relaxing—which is nice, because that’s pretty much why you’re going to the beach in the first place. So grab your gear, pack up the kids, and go enjoy the summer. You’ve earned it.
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