Beyond merely providing room for your swimming suit, towel, and sunscreen, modern beach bags provide a ton more. They are large, sand-proof, waterproof vessels that look great and can carry everything you could ever need.When packing for a beach vacation, you need to make sure you have the right beach bag. But how do you find the right one? Here are some important things to think about and the 11 best on the market right now.
What to Think About in a Beach Bag
Consider the following before you purchase since not all beach bags are made equal:
Material
The best beach bags can be made from a variety of materials, depending on your taste. These things are:
Canvas
Canvas is the most traditional material for beach bags, and it’s still one of the best. Canvas bags are strong, look good, and are easy to clean after a day at the beach.
Straw
Straw bags are beautiful, airy, and easy to clean and get rid of sand from on the go. They are the perfect summer bags. Even though these don’t protect against water very well, they look beautiful.
Nylon or Polyester
More and more beach bags are being made from man-made materials like polyester. Polyester/nylon bags are resistant to water and can handle the sand and dirt you can pick up by the ocean. They are lightweight, durable, and come in a wide range of colors and sizes.
String or Mesh
You can, quite literally, throw your towel in a string bag. Mesh bags can hold a few more important things, like sunscreen and sunglasses. Both are easy to clean, don’t leak, and can be washed. But you shouldn’t put your valuables in these. They are best used as extra bags.
Size
When it comes to a beach bag, size is important. It needs to be big enough to hold all of your beach towels and swimsuits, but light enough that it won’t hurt your shoulders on the way there. If you need to bring a lot of extra things with you, like snacks, drinks, and valuables, you might want to look for a bag with a lot of extra pockets and a lot of space inside.
Straps
Size, length, and type of straps are crucial for beach bags since they must be flung over your shoulder. You’ll be more comfortable with a wider strap, and you’ll want to make sure it’s reinforced so it can hold the weight of all your swimming gear.
You could decide to carry a hand-held beach bag made of straw or string if maintaining your cool while wearing beachwear is a top priority. You can use these, too, but make sure they aren’t too heavy or you have a long way to walk because the handles can dig into your palms.
Compartments and Organization
It goes without saying that the large compartment is made for towels and swimsuits, but other zippered compartments and extra sections can be useful if you want to bring other things with you. Put your phone, portable speaker, tablet, or e-reader in a padded, zippered pocket. Put your travel wallet, keys, and sunglasses somewhere they are easy to get to.
Hot tip: If you want to keep your cold drinks cool, look for a bag with insulated pockets or a built-in cooler bag.
Extras
Before you buy a beach bag, check out what else it has to offer if you want it to be more than just a beach bag. Some bags, for example, come with a separate “wet bag” for wet swimsuits, while others can be folded up into small packages that you can carry in your regular purse or suitcase.
Bottom Line: You should think about whether you want an opening that goes from edge to edge so you can stuff it full or one with a zipper, snaps, or a drawstring for more security.
