Planning a beach day can be exciting and overwhelming as the warm sun rises and the refreshing sea breeze calls. Ensuring you have all the essentials for a fun-filled, safe, and comfortable experience requires some preparation. Our article, “Beach Day Essentials: The Ultimate Gear Checklist,” aims to simplify your planning process and help you make the most of your day by the sea.
What Do You Need for a Good Beach Day?
Here’s everything you need to bring to ensure your beach day is successful! Some of these items you will have on hand, and some of them you won’t, so contact a company that can supply you with what you need!
Beach Tent
A beach tent is a portable, lightweight shelter that provides shade and protection from the elements while you enjoy the beach. Beach tents come in various shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same primary purpose – to offer a comfortable, shaded spot where you can relax, snack, and keep your belongings while you enjoy the seaside.
Beach tents are typically made from UV-resistant materials to protect against harmful sun rays, and some models even have a floor to keep your belongings sand-free. They can be handy for families with young children, people with sensitive skin, or anyone who wants a break from the direct sunlight.
When choosing a beach tent, consider factors like size, portability, ease of setup, wind resistance, and additional features like built-in sandbags for stability, or mesh windows for ventilation.
Sun Screen
Even if you invest in a beach tent, it is still imperative that you put on sunscreen. Sunscreen, or sunblock, is a product applied to the skin to protect it from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (U.V.) rays. Two types of U.V. rays can harm the skin—UVA and UVB. UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkling and age spots, while UVB rays can burn your skin. Too much exposure to either can cause skin cancer.
Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering the sun’s rays. Sunscreens contain organic (chemical) and inorganic (physical) particles. Organic particles absorb U.V. radiation and convert it into a small amount of heat. Inorganic particles, on the other hand, reflect U.V. radiation away from the skin.
When choosing a sunscreen, looking for a “broad-spectrum” product that protects against UVA and UVB rays is essential. The sunscreen label’s Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating indicates how well the product protects against UVB rays. Dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of UVB rays.
Life Jacket
The importance of wearing a life jacket cannot be overstated. Life jackets serve as vital safety equipment that increases security around water bodies, regardless of the calmness or familiarity of the environment. Unexpected situations, from sudden changes in water conditions to unforeseen accidents, can even threaten strong swimmers. Particularly for children, who may not have the same strength or experience as adults, life jackets provide an indispensable layer of protection against such incidents.
Furthermore, children often find themselves curious and drawn toward the water, and a life jacket can offer parents peace of mind during these explorations. It’s also worth noting that wearing a life jacket is not just a safety recommendation but a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. Hence, investing in a well-fitted, comfortable, and regulation-compliant life jacket is fundamental to ensuring a safe and enjoyable time near water for you and your children.
Water Floats
If a life jacket is designed for safety, water floats take that idea and make it fun! Water floats are designed for leisure activities in the water. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, ranging from simple ring-shaped tubes to elaborate shapes like unicorns, flamingos, or even full-sized floating islands with built-in coolers and canopies. Water floats are a great way to add some life to your beach day, keeping everyone entertained for a long time!
Paddleboards
Taking a paddleboard on a beach day can add an exciting element to your outdoor adventure. Paddleboarding is an enjoyable and excellent workout activity, offering cardio and strength training. It allows you to explore the waters beyond the shoreline, providing a unique perspective. Additionally, it can be a tranquil and meditative experience, with the rhythmic paddling and gentle waves rocking offering a sense of calm and relaxation.
However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Ensure that the beach allows paddleboarding and that the conditions are safe—calm waters are ideal for paddleboarding, especially for beginners. You’ll also want to consider transportation and storage. At the same time, inflatable paddle boards can be easily packed and transported; solid paddle boards require a roof rack or similar setup on your vehicle.
Cooler
A cooler is a simple and integral addition to your beach day essentials. This item keeps your drinks cold, which will be a massive help once the sun starts beating down on you and your family. Bring a cooler to drink cold beverages and keep your food from going bad!
Beach Towel
A beach towel is another simple addition to your lineup of items. Beach towels are essentially bath towels but larger and thinner. Beach towels have less water to absorb, meaning they do not have to be as thick.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are the final item on your beach day checklist! The reason you need sunglasses is self-explanatory: to protect you from the sun. The sun’s light will reflect off the waters while you are at the beach, and your day will be less fun if you squint the whole time. To avoid this, you need to bring sunglasses!
Experience Outdoor Living!
At Omni Outdoor Living, we make it our mission to help our customers make the most out of their outdoor experiences. We offer quality outdoor products focused on outdoor recreation, DIY projects, entertaining friends and family, or just relaxing outside! If you have any questions about your outdoor experience or our wide range of outdoor products, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
