Simple Tides / Guides / Beach Gear
Beach Gear Essentials: What to Pack
A great beach day is won before you leave the driveway — and the tide decides half of it: where the dry sand starts, when the pools open, and when the water’s at its best.
Pack for the tide, not just the sun
The beach at high tide and the beach at low tide are two different places — our rip current safety guide covers reading the water once you’re there. This page is what to bring: shade, seating, and hauling gear chosen for sand, salt, and a full day out.
The gear
Windproof beach umbrella
Cheap umbrellas become kites in the sea breeze. A vented, windproof canopy with a sand anchor stays put all afternoon — and the UPF rating matters more than the color. Position it with the tide in mind: high tide steals beach fast.
Low beach chairs
Low-slung chairs put you at conversation height, catch the breeze, and pack flatter than full-height loungers. Look for rust-proof aluminum frames — steel dies its first season in salt air.
Beach wagon
Chairs, umbrella, cooler, toys, towels — the wagon turns four sweaty trips across soft sand into one pull. Balloon wheels are non-negotiable: narrow wheels dig in and stop dead.
Wheeled cooler
Ice that lasts the day and wheels that survive the parking lot. A 45-quart hits the sweet spot for a family beach day — big enough for drinks and lunch, small enough for one person to haul.
Reef-safe sunscreen
The reefs you swim over thank you: mineral sunscreens without oxybenzone and octinoxate protect your skin without bleaching coral. Reapply after every swim — ‘reef-safe’ doesn’t mean ‘all-day.’
Waterproof dry bag
Phones, keys, wallets, and the car fob — everything valuable lives one wave from disaster. A roll-top dry bag doubles as a beach pillow and keeps sand out of the charging port.
Snorkel set
Low tide opens the rocky edges and the nearshore reefs — a decent mask and snorkel turn a swim into an aquarium visit. Tempered-glass lenses and a dry-top snorkel are worth the step up from the toy sets.
Pop-up beach tent
For full-day shade without the umbrella wars: a pop-up shelter goes up in minutes, anchors against the breeze, and gives kids and coolers a home base. Check the wind rating — gusty beach afternoons sort the good from the kites.
Set up smart, swim safe
Check your tide chart before you go: arrive as the tide falls for maximum beach, and swim the slackest water. Then enjoy it — that’s what the wagon was for.