We Tested Over 100 Beach Essentials—Here's What We’re Taking to the Beach All Summer Long

A beach tent, like the Coleman beach shade canopy tent, will help keep you and your family protected from intense UV rays on sunny days. We tested this beach tent on a windy beach and it stayed firmly in place without any rips or tears.

If you plan on carrying other beach essentials, this tent is great because it’s lightweight at about 6 pounds and it comes with a bag for easy carrying.

It easily fits two adults with plenty of room for a beach bag. It took us about 25 minutes to assemble the beach tent the first time we did it, but it only took 15 minutes the next time.

The instructions were easy to follow, and once we figured out which poles went in which pockets, it was easier to set up the next time, especially with two people. It only took about five minutes to take the beach tent down, and we were able to roll it back into the carrying back with ease. 

The wind gusts got up to 25 miles per hour on the beach during testing, and the tent stayed firmly in place thanks to seven stakes and three sandbags. The tent had air vents to allow a breeze, and we liked the storage pockets for holding phones, sunscreen, or bug spray.

If you want the shade of a beach tent but feel of a sea breeze, the Neso 1 Beach Tent is the way to go. It has a “roof” but no walls so it provides coverage without being confining. 

We tested this canopy on a beach in New Jersey the day after a tornado watch, so the beach was fairly windy. The first time we assembled the canopy, it took us 45 minutes—mainly due to the wind and compacted sand from recent rain. The winds got up to 40 miles per hour on our initial testing day, and we had to add more sand a few times to make sure it was secure.

When we set it up a second time on a less windy day, it only took about 20 minutes. The instructions are clearly written and concise, and we appreciated that they were printed on the side of the included carrying bag. This was helpful because we didn’t have to worry about keeping up with a piece of paper or getting it wet and ruining it. 

It provided enough shade without obstructing our view, and we liked that it was lightweight enough to carry with our other beach gear. The 7 x 7-foot canopy can fit two to four adults and offers UPF 50 protection.

If you prefer lounging in a beach chair rather than a beach towel, the Homevative folding backpack beach chair was our favorite beach chair after testing.

Because it has straps and only weighs 8 pounds, it was easy to carry on our backs as we hauled our gear along the beach. The backpack design allowed our hands to be free so we could use them to carry other beach essentials.

The beach chair can be adjusted to multiple positions, and there is a cooler on the backside of the seat, which is perfect for holding a few cans of sparkling water or hard seltzers. If you plan on going to the beach with a group of friends or your family though, the cooler won’t be big enough to hold more than a few cans. 

The chair also comes equipped with a cupholder, a gadget holder, and a pillow. A rack on the back of the chair doubles as a drying rack for a beach towel or as extra support when the chair is reclined.

If you don’t want to assemble a beach tent or canopy, a beach umbrella is easier (especially for one person) and will help you stay cool and protected from UV rays.

After testing, this Tommy Bahama beach umbrella was one of our favorites. It was easy to set up since it only comes with two pieces—the pole and the umbrella. The pole twists into the sand, and the umbrella slides into the pole and locks into place.

It took us less than five minutes to set it up, and taking it apart was just as easy. The beach umbrella also comes with a storage bag with a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder and carry it to and from the beach. The pole is 4 feet long when it’s not assembled, so it may be difficult for some to carry, depending on their height.

We love that it has a table and cupholders for snacks, drinks, and beach reads. The umbrella provides enough shade for two people and helps protect you from the sun thanks to the UPF 50+ polyester material. While it shook a bit in strong winds, it never became untethered or flew away.

If you’re going to the beach with a group of people, a large, hard cooler like the RTIC Ultra-Light 52-quart cooler is a must.

With a 76-can capacity, there’s plenty of room in this cooler for canned beverages, sandwiches, fruit, and other summer snacks and treats.

It weighs 21 pounds when empty and the rope handles made it difficult for one person to tote, but it was much easier with another person to help.

After we left this cooler in the sun all day, every can was still cold and plenty of ice remained. Despite the external temperature reaching 90°F, the internal temperature remained at 32°F all day. 

When we tipped the cooler over, there were no leaks. But when we were ready to drain the cooler, the process was easy thanks to the two drainage holes.

An absorbent, fast-drying towel is a beach essential, and our favorite beach towel is the Brooklinen cabana stripe beach towel. Whether you’re using it to lounge on or to dry off after a dip in the ocean, you’ll love how soft and relaxing it feels.  

When we used this 100% cotton towel to relax on the sand, we were impressed with how comfortable and thick it was. It was also fairly easy to shake sand off of the towel.

After swimming, we used the towel to dry off and were pleased with how absorbent it was and how quickly it dried. And at 70 inches long, we were able to comfortably cozy up in the towel.

Our only complaint with this beach towel is that the dye bled the first time we washed it, so be sure to wash it either by itself or with like colors. The dye didn’t bleed during subsequent washes, and we found that it was surprisingly durable after frequent use and washings.

Post up between palm trees or under a pier with the Wise Owl Outfitters camping hammock, which was one of the best hammocks we tested. This portable hammock is incredibly compact and lightweight at just less than 2 pounds, so it’s easy to pack and walk with it across the sand. 

It took less than 10 minutes to hang this hammock from two trees, and about the same amount of time to take it down. Made with durable nylon, it has a weight capacity of 500 pounds and always felt secure. 

We also love that it comes in a variety of colors, and each hammock comes with a carrying bag, straps, and carabiner clips. The straps are long and took some trial and error to get the hammock taut, but once we figured out the process, it was easy.

Grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs on the beach with the Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill. This 14-inch portable grill weighs less than 10 pounds, so it’s compact enough to add to your beach wagon. 

Assembling the grill was fairly simple, but we did have some trouble attaching the legs since they screw into both the base and ash catcher. But once it was put together, it was sturdy. During our testing, no food stuck to the grates and we were able to flip burgers effortlessly. 

When we were finished and the grill cooled down, we cleaned it by wiping it with a paper towel and emptying the ash tray. The lid doesn’t have a lock on it, so be careful when you’re moving it. 

Be sure to check local beach and wildlife regulations to make sure grilling/flames are permitted.