BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Because the beach is fun until your phone hits 3%, your water is lukewarm, your towel starts attacking strangers in the wind, and your snacks taste just a tiny bit like sand.

I'm a fellow on BuzzFeed's shopping team who loves finding products that are delightfully strange or useful (or both).

The lightweight microfiber fabric folds down compactly and includes a sewn-in handle for carrying or hanging up afterward. The brand also carries sizes for both kids and teens.

Promising review: "I LOVE my SunCube! Got the pretty teal. And it's so soft! I was iffy about microfiber, as sometimes that can feel like shammy cloth. Ick. But not so with this robe. Feels just like a terry robe, inside and out, but better, because you're not driving home in a 'wet towel,' wet car seat. It's super absorbent but stays dry. Magic! And it is the perfect shape/size. You'd think something called Cube would look boxy and embarrassing to be seen in, but it's really not!! Can't recommend highly enough, especially for the price!" —Sus

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in one size that fits up to 3X, according to reviewers, and in 10 styles).

It comes inside a waterproof PVC carrying case with a keychain, making it easy to clip onto a beach bag and keep it protected from splashes.

Promising review: "We originally bought this sand remover mitt for a trip to Hawaii last year, and it worked so well for my 10-year-old son that it’s now the first thing we pack for every beach trip. If you hate the 'sticky sand' struggle at the end of a beach day, this is a must-have. The built-in carabiner clip is a lifesaver. I clip it to the outside of our beach bag, so I’m not digging through towels and snacks to find it when we’re ready to head back to the room or the car. My son actually enjoys using it because it doesn’t scratch or irritate his skin like a dry towel does. It’s very soft but effective. Since the powder is contained inside the mitt (or used with it), you don't have to worry about a cloud of powder blowing into your face or all over your beach bag. It has saved our rental car floors!  Bottom Line: This is a simple, high-quality tool that makes beach cleanup 10x faster. We won't go back to Hawaii without it!" —Kat P.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in six animal prints, in packs of up to three).

Promising review: "These are perfect for the beach — easy to transport, easy to jam into the sand, easy to clean. Keep your drink and your phone within reach and out of the sand." —dcchick

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.88.

Promising review: "Perfect, roomy and inconspicuous enough to stash my cash, hotel key, ibuprofen, earplugs, lip balm, and my gf's allergy meds for a concert I went to. I wore one on my wrist as an accessory, and it was perfect. You can definitely fit cards in these, but obviously, it will be far less inconspicuous. Unless you get very creative about how you wear or style these. My gf has found a few ways you can, if you have long hair, to style it. You just have to get creative. These are also just great for day-to-day use as well! Perfect for carrying lipbalm, money, and other small things you may need but don't have pockets." —BlueeyedTroll

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in six styles, including all-black or all-white).

The TPE material can be washed and boiled for a more thorough cleaning.

Promising review: "This applicator is GREAT. I've been thinking about getting something like this for a while, but I wasn't in love with the other styles. This has a lot of thoughtful design elements — folds so it can be stored in a drawer or cabinet; washable/removable applicators; can be used three ways (shower gel, lotion/cream, and backscratcher if you flip the head). The back scratcher is rounded enough to be comfortable, but firm enough to be effective. It feels and acts like a high-quality product. I'm not paid or compensated in any way for this review; I'm just a big fan. :) I wasn't sure it would be worth paying $10 more than the wooden ones that are all over, but it absolutely is. Love it!" —BlinkBlankBlunk

Promising review: "These diversion safe bottles have proven to be an ingenious solution for safeguarding valuables while enjoying a day at the beach. Each bottle offers ample space inside for storing essentials such as keys, cash, credit cards, and small electronics like smartphones or earbuds. They open and close like regular sunscreen bottles, ensuring quick access to your belongings when needed. The secure screw-on caps provide peace of mind, preventing accidental spills or leaks that could damage both your valuables and the contents of your beach bag. I’ve been impressed with the durability of these safe bottles. They are made from sturdy materials that withstand the rigors of beach activities and prolonged sun exposure. The labels are well-adhered and do not peel easily, maintaining the disguise effectively over time. As someone who values security and peace of mind while at the beach, I appreciate the added layer of protection these diversion safe bottles provide. They allow me to relax and enjoy the sun and surf without constantly worrying about the safety of my valuables." —Jenny

It’s better for phones, cash, cards, keys, earbuds, and other smaller items than bulky gear. The 3.3-foot cable gives you some flexibility when securing it to your setup.

Promising review: "Great bag for the beach or pool- even though we didn’t lock it much, it’s good at keeping sand and water off your essentials. Well constructed and worth the money." —Katherine

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three solid colors and one beach-themed print).

Promising review: "Love this! I bought an extra of this to have in my bag in case of emergencies because I like it so much. I have fine hair, and so does my toddler. I use this almost daily on both of our scalps whenever we are going out in the sun, sunburn on the scalp is awful and so painful, I had one little sunburn spot where I parted my hair and I vowed I would never let it happen again. This spray works super well, and the atomizer actually distributes the product very nicely if you spray an appropriate distance from your scalp. Even though this is not kids' sunbum, it is super easy to use on kids too, as I can grab my daughter quickly, spritz, and send her on her merry way without too much fuss. Remember to reapply if you go in the water!" —BryantFamily

Promising review: "I've been using this as a bath towel since 2021, and it's fantastic. Never faded. Literally does get better the more you use it. Dries in almost no time. Looks cool in my bathroom. The size is perfect, I'm not small, and it's more than enough to wrap around myself securely. I don't wash it separately, but I do like to hang dry when I have time. Also, have never used fabric softener on it — that defeats the purpose and function of the towel. 10/10 I've even started giving them as gifts to other people." —Jessica L

Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in 34 colors).

The 30-inch surface provides plenty of standing room, while the leak-resistant construction helps keep moisture, debris, and odors contained during the trip home.

Promising review: "I love that I can take off muddy boots and dripping wetsuits under a comfy towel robe (also from Suncube), put pants on, put slides on, and step out and tie it up. Don't forget to dry the stuff and clean it, later!" —ritchan1

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).

The built-in cable setup means you don’t have to pack a separate cord for every device, and its protective design is made to handle splashes, sand, and general tote-bag chaos. The power bank comes with safety features to help prevent overcharging, overcurrent, and short-circuiting.

Promising review: "This was a great buy! I bought it a few days before my trip to El Salvador with my wife’s family. It was super helpful, especially in the countryside where electricity is limited, or maybe you forgot to bring a charging cable. The flashlight and lamp function was also helpful! Highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a portable solar panel charger. What are you all waiting for!? Buy one, and you won’t regret it!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).

The wipe-clean material is handy for beach bags, pet hair, dust, and general summer chaos. It’s designed for many smaller Kindles and e-readers, but you’ll want to check the measurements since it doesn’t fit every model. You can also buy a page-turning remote separately, which clips onto most e-readers and lets you turn pages without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, ideal for when your hands are sandy, sunscreen-y, or just tired of turning while trying to relax by the waves.

Promising review: "​I absolutely love this clutch for my Kindle. The silicone material is great because it makes it completely waterproof and dustproof, so I don't have to worry at all when throwing it in my bag or taking it outside. It fits perfectly, feels really nice to hold, and gives awesome peace of mind. Definitely recommend it!" —Gabrielle

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Super cute!! The colors are vibrant, and it can hold three+350-page books and my Kindle safely. The zipper pocket is useful for additional protection. Honestly would recommend this to any book lover. It is durable and waterproof. Light spills are no match!! It has survived a wash as well. Zipper does get stuck, but it is good quality." —Myah

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 30 styles or a pack of four wildflower prints).

The padded top gives it a plush feel, but it still packs down into a compact carrying case so it won’t hog precious tote space.  

Promising review: "I'm a big outdoor/pool/natural waterways person, living in the area where I do, we are out by the water at least a couple of times a week for the majority of the year. I waffled on getting this for over a year. I finally bit the bullet as a birthday gift to myself. Well, friends, you will not be disappointed if you decide to throw caution to the wind and invest in this outdoor pillow. It is SOFT, it is LIGHT, super packable, very CUTE, and works exactly as promised. Putting sand in the little pocket as a weight? GENIUS. The nozzle where you inflate it is REVOLUTIONARY; I've never seen anything like it. It blows up super fast, is really flat, seems to stay clean, and also deflates super fast. It's just quality you can feel, hence the price." —OkieSarah

Get it from Amazon for $36.95 (available in 15 styles).

The quick-drying, breathable fabric helps keep things more comfortable on hot days. The brand also offers a version designed for fellow boob owners, with an expandable upper section for comfier face-down lounging.

Promising review: "They thought of everything. The padded face cradle for tanning on your stomach with arm holes so you can read or text beneath the chair are great. The flip-down fabric covers the face cradle for when you want to lie on your back. The material is high quality, and it is incredibly easy to fold, unfold, and comfortable/light to carry with the shoulder strap. I bought two, and I can’t wait to take them on more beach trips this summer!" —Devin dotson

Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in 14 styles).

The roomy main compartment can handle towels, books, swim accessories, and snacks, while the exterior zippered pocket keeps valuables from getting lost in the chaos. It also has padded, reinforced handles and a shoulder drop for easier carrying.

Promising review: "Obsessed with this beach bag! I bought it for my cruise to Bermuda, and it was perfect. Super stylish and incredibly useful, my favorite two things. It’s large enough to fit a ton of stuff, while also not being too bulky to carry around. The bottom part is a fully removable cooler which I had no idea about (clearly didn’t look too hard at the listing, but happy with my purchase either way!) it fit my towels, a beach blanket, there are small pockets for wallet/jewelry, side pockets for a water bottle or sunscreen, and the mesh/other materials make it perfect for the sand and water. One day I used the cooler section for my wet bathing suit, which was genius, I cannot recommend this bag enough!" —Molly Gurska

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in ten styles).

It’s also compact enough to toss in a beach bag for pool days, vacations, camp, and general summer chaos. 

Promising review: "As soon as I saw the ad for this thing, I bought it. My son refuses to sit still and let us apply sunscreen, and then if it's not blended all the way, as soon as he sweats, it gets right in his eyes. This lets you apply with one hand and hold your kiddo with the other, all while you avoid having super lotiony hands. 10000/10, highly recommend." —Audra Headley

Get it from Amazon for $15.98 (available in 13 styles).

Promising review: "This is the perfect eyeliner. I live in Florida and am always at the beach, sweating and outside in the sun. I have had some long beach days full of sweat, and my eyeliner stays perfectly. I run races 3.1 miles in the blasting heat, and my eyeliner stays perfect. You will need makeup remover to remove all of it, but if you take a long hot shower, it does run." —Jenae

Get it from Amazon for $9.83 (available in four colors).

The set includes eight reusable stakes in one randomly selected color (how fun!), with possible options including purple, red, gray, or transparent.

Promising review: "I wish I had gotten these sooner! They do a great job at holding down my towel at the beach and are a good size to be able to throw in my beach bag. They hold up well against the wind, and 8 for this price is fair!" —Ari

Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $11.99.

The covers are lightweight and take up very little room in luggage or a tote. If one starts slipping, the brand recommends washing and fully drying the inside, and soaking a loosened sleeve in hot water can help it bounce back into shape.

Promising review: "Why did I never think to put something like this on my bottles with annoying flip-top lids that don’t like to stay closed when suitcases are abused by airport employees?! I put my toiletries in a dedicated zipper bag, so if they do leak, the mess is generally contained. But you still end up losing whatever product was spilled. I came across these silicone covers a while ago and finally decided to add to cart when I traveled recently. I was concerned that they might be too big for the bottles I had, but that was unfounded. The silicone covers are stretchy, so they’ll fit relatively large bottles well and normal bottles as well. They even work with travel-sized products! I had a small travel-sized container of baby shampoo since that’s my secret to removing makeup, and the lid of that bottle is just as annoying as the full-size version. It’s the same! The silicone cover handled it wonderfully." —Miss Beckworth

Get a five-pack from Amazon for $5.39 (also available in packs of up to 32).

It’s made with waterproof, washable polyester and has enough space for cosmetics, electronics, lunch, workout clothes, swimwear, and other small essentials. Just make sure soaked items are fully wrung out before putting them inside, since excess water can still cause seepage.

Promising review: "Great quality. True to the photo. Love the texture of the fabric. Perfect to tuck in your beach or pool bag for a wet swimsuit. Love the blue and white nautical theme. Gave this as a gift with a beach bag and other items. My mil loved it." —Brendan P. O'Reilly

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 22 styles).

Promising review: "This thing SAVED my phone recently up north kayaking on the lake. It is way better than other waterproof phone bags because it doesn’t stick to the phone and make it nearly impossible to take it back out. Also, it’s just so so cute. I love that I can fully use my phone and the camera (front and back) super easily while literally on the water with wet hands, and don’t have to worry. The neck strap is perfect and comfy. It’s a bit big for my phone, but I really don’t care. I also love that if I were to lose it somehow, it would float. The value is great, I’m really glad I went with this one, even though it’s a tiny bit more expensive than others like it. Like I said, with the ease of use and taking your phone in and out of it, it is worth it to me. I got the soap bubble style and the iridescent purple is stunning!! Took a pic on the lake using my phone in the bag, pics turn out the same as out of the bag." —Rachel

Get it from Amazon for $19 (available in 15 styles).

Promising review: "I like that there's an internal lining that can be turned inside out to clean as needed." —Joanna Hathcock

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors and in 1, 2.6, or 4 gallons).

Promising review: "I've had several of these, and I've given away a couple as gifts. People absolutely love them, and you can't go wrong with such a cool, budget-friendly gift! They are totally waterproof, and as expected from a Hoyle deck, they are easy to shuffle and work perfectly right out of the box. They are the exact size everyone expects from Hoyle, the design is nice looking but not at all relevant to my uses, they're just great quality, nice looking, and fun." —ohiobuckeye15

It holds 24 ounces and has a push-to-open lid with a locking carry loop for easier packing. The wide mouth makes it easier to clean or add ice, and the cup holder-friendly base is handy if your beach day starts with a drive.

I personally never got into water bottle trends, like Stanley Cups, until one of my friends brought this one to the beach. We were baking in near-100-degree weather because we decided, for some reason, that a heat wave is a fantastic time to travel an hour to the shore. She had an Owala, and her water was SO cold (literally still had ice after two hours). It gave me life. I ended up getting one with Baby Yoda on it. It's extreeeemely cute and so good at keeping drinks cool.

Promising review: "If you have been debating on whether or not to get this water bottle, do not hesitate any longer! This water bottle is seriously the best one on the market right now. The temperature retention on these is seriously impressive — I went to the beach in 92-degree weather and left it sitting in the sun, and by the end of the day, some of the ice had still not melted! Is 100% leak proof, relatively lightweight considering the amazing material, and has the perfect handle to make transportation easy. ALSO, you can either use the straw or drink out of it without the straw, which is so cool. Plus, the detachable straw makes it super easy to clean. Owala will forever and always be my favorite water bottle brand<3." —Sophia Howell

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in 23 colors). 

The ultralight design takes up way less room than a hard bottle, especially after you’ve finished drinking. It’s also dishwasher-safe, freezable, abrasion-resistant, and has a flexible handle for carrying or attaching to a bag.

Promising review: "I was going on a trip and was unsure how available water would be during my adventuring, so I wanted to be able to bring a liter of water if necessary, but didn't want to always dedicate bag space to a liter bottle. This is perfect because if you put in less water, it takes up less space. And since it's flexible, it fits in a bag much more easily and also decreases in size as you drink. I also found it was great for the plane because I just kept it in my lap for easy access, and it didn't roll away. Honestly, awesome." —Keyboard Monster

Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 12 oz, 17 oz, and 1 L in four colors).

Its five-panel canopy is made from recycled RPET fabric and supported by a lightweight aluminum frame. A built-in folding handle helps with installation, while the design collapses to a size small enough to fit inside the brand’s swim bag or your luggage. 

Promising review: "A perfect little one-person sun shade. Great when I’m at the beach supervising the kids, so I can have a little bit of shade to sit in, but not have to lug a massive umbrella or cabana. Very sturdy and easy to adjust with the sun. Has had heaps of use this summer, highly recommend." —Kathryn M.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: Our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.