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The Insider Pick:
Summer is a great time to get outside and hit the beach. We've rounded up the best beach gear of all kinds so you don't have to waste precious time indoors looking for good beach gear.
Summer's here, and it's time to be by some body of water, doing whatever it is you love to do — swim, surf, read, catch a few rays, or build sand castles. That's why we're here, inside, sorting through the cornucopia of umbrellas, chairs, sunscreen, towels, and more — so you don't have to.
Skip the headache and maybe the heartache of plying the interweb or the boardwalk for the best beach ball, swim trunks, or umbrella, and leave it to us to do what we do best.
We provide multiple options for everything we recommend based on price, function, and style so that, for example, you don't end up making the treacherous mistake of buying a cheap, leaky, and nearly useless cooler bag that will leave you with hot beer and a sopping, sorry-looking mess of barbecue fixings by the time you go to crack one open and light the grill.
Click on a link to jump to a topic or just scroll to see all our picks:
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks for the best beach gear.
The best swimsuits and swim trunks
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Lively makes excellent affordable swimwear that's simple, supportive, and stylish. You can get a onepiece for $65 or a bikini top and bottom for $80. Because Lively is a lingerie startup, many of the bikini tops are based on bra sizing, which makes it super easy to find your fit. We've tried multiple bikini tops and bottoms from Lively (as well as its bras), and we've never been disappointed.
If you want to spend more, you should check out Helen Jon, a company that makes excellent swimsuits in a wide variety of styles and sizes. You can read our full review on Insider Picks. Summersalt also makes great swimsuits, but the sizing can be tricky for women with larger cup sizes.
We love Eloquii's gorgeous plus-size swimsuits, Andie's simple onepieces, and Aerie's super affordable swimsuits, too. Depending on your style preferences and budget, you'll prefer one brand over another. — Malarie Gokey
Faherty's All Day shorts are made from recycled plastic water bottles and a little cotton for comfort. The shorts are sleek for what otherwise looks like a more straight-cut board short, and the hidden drawstring (made to accommodate belt loops on the outside) is a nice touch that lends the shorts well to wear on or off the beach.
If you’re rough on your clothes like I am, a pair of Birdwell Beach Britches is a worthy addition to your collection of shorts. Birdwell Beach Britches have been around since 1961, and have remained a staple among surfers since. They're simple but durable, and double-layered nylon and triple-stitching means that there’s a good chance you’ll unravel before they do.
The nylon prevents them from being the quickest drying pair of swimshorts out there, but it will take more than a few run-ins with the reef to send these to the recycling bin. For a little more length and stretch, look into Birdwell’s Men’s Stretch board shorts.
If you're after the quickest-drying short you can find, Patagonia's Light and Variable are my personal favorite short for surfing and traveling. They scrunch up to almost nothing and have enabled me to travel extremely lightly. Along with my trusty UPF sun- and linen shirts, I'm able to fit an entire 10 days' wardrobe into a small shoulder bag or a board bag and be on my way.
They also dry so well that they're the shorts I make sure I have ready for a last-minute surf or swim before a flight. If you hold them out the window on a taxi ride to the airport, even if it's only 10 minutes, they'll probably be dry by the time you hit the terminal. Ask me how I know.
And lastly, if you still insist on wearing traditional swim trunks with those miserable mesh linings in them which finally fell out of style sometime in the 1990s, at least do that bygone era justice by going with this "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" print by Boardies.
The best sunglasses and sun hat
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Ray-Ban's Clubmasters are a good option for beach shades because they stand up well against sand. If all you want is a pair of cheapies, Gamma Ray's Polarized Cheaters are pretty solid, especially for under $10. You can also pick up a 3-pack for $16.99.
Floating glasses are a good idea, too, especially if you like to take your shades swimming. These bamboo glasses by Swell Vision are fun and sturdy.
A straw lifeguard hat with an oversized brim is always another good choice and does a dandy job of keeping the sun off not only your face, but your shoulders, too, depending on the position of the sun. Headchange offers the lifeguard hat with a one-year warranty.
More style-savvy, Brixton's Jaya Hat is a classic beach hat made from durable Mexican palm fronds and comes with a chin strap for breezy days.
The best beach sandals
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I discovered OOfos sandals at a shoe store about five years ago and I've been wearing them at the beach, around the house, and while traveling ever since. These flip flops offer stability, comfort, and durability. They are formed to fit the curve of your arch, so OOfos' sandals offer much more support than your average pair of flip flops. They absorb impact and they don't move up and down as you walk, either.
I've bought OOfos for a few different family members and they're all converts. Even though the sandals are a bit pricey, they are worth it because they will last and last. You can even machine wash hose them down after a day on the beach to get rid of all the sand they pick up. — Malarie Gokey
Those looking for something either more pared down or styled will more than likely find a suitable pair of Reef sandals.
Hari Mari's Dunes are a lightweight, thin flip flop so they're easy to slip into your beach bag when it comes time to tread through soft sand. I also like that they're a little stiff so that if you do tread the sand with them on, they won't kick it up everywhere. Hari Maris have subtle lines, no unnecessary flare, and are soft, comfortable, and built to last at a fair price. And, of course, there's always a trusty pair of Reef sandals.
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