Everyone loves a beach days till the umbrella blows over for the fourth time, the cell phone goes dead, your neck aches from craning over that potboiler of a novel, and sand has crept into places it doesn’t belong. Ick!
Short of securing your own cabana— complete with handsome butlers at your beck and call—these ingenious new tools can help make your day at the beach well, a day at the beach!
1. The Noblo Umbrella Buddy
Here’s a truly inspired, inexpensive way to keep your beach umbrella from going airborne when the wind kicks up. The Noblo Umbrella Buddy anchors umbrellas using—what else?—sand! No need to dig a deep hole, either. Just fill the lightweight bag with sand, velcro it to your beach umbrella, and commence chillaxing in the shade. When it’s time to go home, just dump and done.
2. Bogg Bag
It’s the same problem every summer: Finding a bag that’s roomy enough to fit your towels, sunscreen, snacks, reading material and all the other must-haves—that won’t fall over or get filthy or moldy when the water bottle leaks and the sunscreen explodes. Enter the Bogg Bag, inspired by Crocs clogs.
Like the popular waterproof sandals, it’s made of durable plastic, so you can leak all the lotion you want and then just hose it down at the end of the day. It’s also got sturdy sides and a flat-treaded bottom, so it won’t tip over, and it comes in three sizes and nine colors. You can even accessorize the bag with decorative Bogg Bits (like your initials), the same way kids customize their Crocs with Jibbitz.
3. Solio BOLT Solar Charger
Never get that ominous “low battery” signal again, even when it’s nearly sunset. Techies trust the lightweight Solio BOLT solar charger to help them stay online and in touch on-the-go. With rotating solar panels, the cute, handheld Solio BOLT charges all your USB-powered gadgets, from your iPhone to your Kindle to your GoPro Camera—and at the same speed as a typical wall charger. Your smartphone will go from zero to full in just 90 minutes when you plug into the sun.
4. ZipTowel
If you hate to leave your wallet, ID, glasses, car keys, phone, watch and other valuables on the beach while you frolic in the surf, check out the ZipTowel. Just zip your goods into the pockets of this lightweight, 100% cotton towel, toss it over your shoulders, and head on down to the waves worry-free. It comes in 16 different colors with the option of adding a pink ribbon, pirate or Beach Baby logo.
4- Gama Sonic Rechargeable 15-Inch Cooling Fan with AM/FM Radio
It’s not exactly an air conditioner (or a harem waving palm fronds), but it’s the next best thing: The Gama Sonic Rechargeable 15-Inch Cooling Fan with AM/FM Radio is a portable dual-speed oscillating fan that emits a gentle breeze for up to four hours on its rechargeable battery (or add a second battery for eight hours of run-time). The built-in AM/FM radio plays tunes for your seaside listening pleasure. Includes a wall plug for continuous use at home.
5. Grand Trunk Beach Parasheet
Beach blankets and towels have a way of getting either soaking wet and sand-strewn or so sun-baked that they burn your bottom. Enter the Grand Trunk Beach Parasheet, made of silk nylon, the same lightweight, durable material used in parachutes. It stays cool and dries quickly—and sand shakes right off. It also resists mildew so you won’t get funk in your trunk. Folds compact for easy toting.
6. Sphinx Personal Lounger
Avoid craning your neck and getting cramps in your elbows while trying to read on the beach. The Sphinx Personal Lounger inflates easily (with just 12 breaths) to act as a bolster, providing ergonomic support as you read, sunbathe, meditate or just watch the clouds go by. Use it to read on your belly, as a lap tray, or as a meditation cushion. It even has its own cup holder and cooler, and comes in a handy mesh carry bag about the size of a notebook.
7. Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite
Sun glare makes it tough to see your e-reader, and then there’s the danger of it getting soaked or splashed. No, you don’t have to go back to lugging paper tomes. Solve both problems with the made-for-the-beach Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Generation). It’s got waterproof custom coating that protects against high tide and spilled sangria, and its e-ink is easier to read in bright sunlight. Rechargeable battery life of eight weeks.
8. Mott 50 Aretha Hooded Cover-up
With melanoma rising 800% among young women over the last 40 years, that lotion or spray in your beach bag may not keep you safe from the sun’s angry rays, especially if you forget to reapply, as most of us do. (Mea culpa!) Here’s a smarter idea: Wear clothing that has its own SPF.
While the average white tee has a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor—like SPF for clothes) of only 5, special sun-protective clothing blocks 50% of wrinkle and skin cancer-causing UVA rays. We like the trendy, comfy, quick-dry collections from Mott 50, which includes the requisite hats and scarves but also dresses, tops, pants and surf- and swimwear plus lines for men and kids. Check out the Aretha Hooded Cover-up, made of soft-spun bamboo and spandex.
9. Sand Gone
Sand is not a souvenir you want to take home from your beach day, especially when it’s everywhere. And that trickling stream of a shower on the boardwalk helps only so much. Enter Sand Gone, a dry powder that removes the sand (and salt) that’s clinging to your body, leaving skin soft and smooth. Made with non-toxic, non-talc ingredients and with a mild coconut fragrance, Sand Gone works on both wet and dry sand. Comes with a machine washable microfiber applicator.
10. Kids’ sand toy set
The children’s summer beach set is comprised of plastic shovels, buckets, and toys. The items are lightweight, weighing only 486 grams, and small in size. And the set is suitable for kids over 12 months. Finally, the items are thick and wear-resistant.
