It’s officially summer. Here are the beach hacks we swear by. |
 | | Source photos by Baggu, Tommy Bahama, NYT Wirecutter |
Welcome to summer. If you’re anything like many, many a Wirecutter journalist, you’ll agree this time of year is best spent in the sand. To that end, here are a few of the hacks and beach-bag essentials we swear by to make our days at the ocean, pool, river, or lake as drama-free as possible. Enjoy — and a happy splish-splash to you. - The case for bringing a hand towel to the beach: Writer Caroline Mullen always packs a hand towel in addition to her beach towel — for everything from drying her face, to getting sunscreen out of her eyes, to covering her face when it gets too hot. She likes this very charming set of reversible Baggu hand towels, but any small-ish towel would work.
- A swimsuit you really love: We asked style writer Zoe Vanderweide for her personal favorites from our recently updated guide to the very best swimsuits. “The Left on Friday one-pieces are my favorites — they’re so snatching and cute, and they’re great for actually swimming in. I also love this little rash guard top, which is great for a beach day.” We think either would pair well with a wide-brimmed hat and a great pair of sandals.
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- To prevent tangled hair: Deputy editor Annemarie Conte has a few cheap beach must-haves she swears by. But paramount on that list is a humble hair tie. “If it’s breezy and you don’t have one, it will absolutely ruin your day,” she says. And if your hair does get really, really knotted? Use this detangling brush.
- The best beach chair: Our experts have loved Tommy Bahama beach chairs for years. “They have two pockets on the back (one of which is a cooler), so they’re great for storing your drinks, sunglasses, and valuables while you’re hitting the waves,” raves editorial assistant Abby Balter. “Plus, the chairs have backpack straps — so they’re blessedly easy to carry from car to sand.”
- A tether to keep your phone safe: Editor Grant Clauser recommends attaching your phone to something secure for your days spent by the shore. He says: “When I’m wading in a river or paddling my kayak, I make sure my phone is attached to me with one of these cell phone lanyards. I attach it with a carabiner to my belt, backpack, or life jacket. iPhones may be waterproof, but they still sink.”
- Beach ponchos are a thing of innovation: “I’ve recently had my eyes opened to the magic of a good towel poncho,” says writer Ciara Murray Jordan. “It’s perfect for every scenario where you need to change in or out of your swimsuit in public, and you can dry yourself off while changing back into your clothes without any stress.”
- And for the kiddos, these zip-up terry hoodies: Editor Signe Brewster likes these terry hoodies for her toddlers. “We don’t even have to bring spare clothes to the beach or pool — they just wear these there and back,” she says. “Wrestling tiny whirling tornadoes, who also happen to be wet, into dry clothes without getting sand everywhere is one of my least favorite things, but these hoodies are super easy to just zip on and go.”
- A great knife for eating at the shore: “If we’re bringing or buying food at the beach,” says writer Tim Heffernan, “I always pack this foldable knife. It’s compact, extremely sharp, and great for dividing up sandwiches, slicing fruit, spreading condiments, cutting burgers in half, and more.”
- Really (really) massive ice cream sandwiches: If you’re lounging poolside this summer and you have access to a freezer nearby, might we recommend stocking up on these truly massive ice cream sandwiches? Kitchen editor Gabriella Gershenson says they’re “as much cookie as they are ice cream” and very shareable. If you’re feeling generous, that is.
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All the best beach and surf gear: Towels, totes, coolers, and more |
 | | Eve O’Neill/NYT Wirecutter |
We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing the best towels, sunscreens, chairs, and other gear to make your next trip to the water as fun and relaxing as possible. Including a currently on-sale beach towel and a monogrammable tote→
Your daily deal: A luxe sunscreen in a big ol’ jug |
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This chemical sunscreen rubs in easily, has a light and pleasant scent, and appears nearly transparent once applied. Plus, it comes in a giant jug — we like to park the whole thing by the door as a convenient reminder to slather up before heading outside. Use promo code WCSUMMER25 to get it for $14 off.
Get the deal→ | |
READ THE REVIEW “This sunscreen is worth the splurge”→
Plus: The right way to pack a cooler |
 | | Rose Lorre/NYT Wirecutter |
Our easy-to-follow cooler-packing plan keeps your precious beach lunch from getting soggy and spoiled. Start with a big-enough cooler, line the bottom with block ice, and put the most delicate food on top. Plus, why you should chill your cooler before you pack it→
One last (completely essential beach) thing: Glow sticks |
 | | Ivy Elrod/NYT Wirecutter |
A tip from writer Ivy Elrod for sparking laughs on the beach after the sun goes down: glow sticks. “Last year my sister brought a ton of glow sticks on our beach trip, and at sundown we attached them to everyone,” she says. “Seeing my family as little stick figures running around the beach … it was the funniest night of my life.” Happy summer. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you. |
