Five Essentials for Your Summer Beach Get-Together

Summer is here, and for those of us lucky enough to live in close proximity to a body of water with sandy shores, that means one thing: it’s time to hit the beach! In addition to sunscreen and a swimsuit, here are our picks for the products that will make your summer day on the water a little more fun.

YETI Hopper Portable Cooler

The cooler is an essential component of any beach or outdoor party kit. But it’s time to leave behind the cumbersome, boxy coolers of the past and opt for something a little easier to lug around, like the soft-sided Yeti Hopper. Part cooler and part duffel bag, the Yeti Hopper Two 20 offers the brand’s same legendary cold-keeping capabilities, in a flexible package that you can throw over a shoulder. It holds 18 cans of your favorite beverage (plus ice to keep them cool) or twenty pounds of ice. And don’t let that cushiness deceive you—the Yeti Hopper is still leakproof and extremely rugged.

Takeya Thermoflask

Maybe your beach plans are a little smaller in scale and you don’t need an entire cooler full of beverages. Consider instead the Takeya Thermoflask, which comes in a variety of sizes (up to the gargantuan 40 oz version) and will keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours. The Thermoflask is made of premium stainless steel and fitted with a leakproof, locking lid, so it can take a beating in your beach bag without spilling a drop. Available in a variety of colors.

Sunglasses

This one should go without saying, but you never want to head to the beach without donning a quality pair of shades. They provide a crucial level of protection to your eyes and the surrounding skin—and, of course, they make you look good. Check out our entire selection of designer sunglasses from Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Maui Jim, and more.

Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

What’s a party without tunes? Bringing something to play your music to the beach can be a tricky proposition. You’ve got no where to plug in, and you’re precariously close to water, which most electronics are generally unfond of. But a rugged, portable Bluetooth speaker can solve both of those problems. A device like the JBL Xtreme will stream music from your smartphone or tablet, with startling sound quality, thanks to a pair of powerful woofers. The internal battery lasts for up to 15 hours of playback, and doubles as a charging port for your smartphone. And the rugged and splashproof construction mean you don’t have to baby it at the beach.

Lowepro DryZone 

If you’re the type who brings your camera kit along on every trip, it’s important to protect your gear when you go to the beach, especially if you’re planning to shoot close to the water. The Lowepro DryZone 40L lets you bring along a full kit (a DSLR with attached lens and one or two additional lenses) with total confidence that it will stay safe from the elements. Or remove the padded camera insert and use the DryZone to hold any gear that you don’t want getting wet and sandy.