Beach Bags

If you’re like me, you love going to the beach. Anytime, anywhere. I’ve been to quite a few beaches too – I’ve dug my toes in the sand on the east and west coast of the United States, watched the waves crash along the rocky shoreline in Canada and Nova Scotia, walked the white beaches of Mexico, took in the beauty of the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and watched the sunset over the ocean in Greece. It’s pretty great to think back on all of the amazing experiences I’ve had.

My beach travels have taken me around the globe, through countless bathing suits, hundreds of flip flops, several gallons of sunscreen, a few pairs of sunglasses, and an array of bright colored towels. But through all of that, I have always had the same beach bag, and my photos are living proof; it is the one thing that remains a constant through all of them.

If you’re a frequent beach-goer, a quality beach bag that can hold all of your most important items is essential. There are so many varieties out there (which makes it hard to keep just one!), so there is bound to be a perfect match for any beach bum. Here are some of my favorite types of beach bags:

Canvas Beach Bags – The “standard” out on the sand, canvas beach bags are great for all-around use. They are nice and sturdy, so carrying items ranging from shoes to food and beach toys is really easy. When they are standing upright, they normally hold their shape really well, but if you need to conserve space they can be easily folded down to a smaller size. Best of all, after a few seasons, or just one messy day at the beach, they can be easily tossed into the washing machine for cleaning.

Straw Beach Bags – Normally a picnic favorite, straw bags are also very convenient for the beach, but are not quite as versatile as their canvas brother. Straw beach bags are most useful for an afternoon visit to the beach and then can be converted to a cute accessory bag for the nighttime stroll on the boardwalk. Depending on the design, straw bags can be very rigid or very flexible, but over time they start to break apart and crack, making them a shorter term option.

Backpack-style Beach Bags – If you want your hands free to carry other beach essentials like a cooler and some chairs, a backpack-style beach bag might be better for you. This is not the most stylish of options, but this type of bag usually has several pockets and compartments on the inside and outside, making it easy for you to organize your belongings and keep special items extra safe, like cameras or cell phones.

Insulated Beach Bags – If your main concern is keeping your drinks cool and your food safe, an insulated beach bag might be the best option for you. The inside is lined with a plastic, making it easy to clean up any spills or leaks, and you can rest assured that your snacks will be cool and refreshing, even after a few hours out in the hot sun.

Plastic Net Beach Bags – Carrying towels, toys, chairs and coolers back to your beach house or hotel is enough, but having to cart back a pound of sand with you is a little too much. With a plastic net bag, you won’t have to worry about all of the sand from the beach getting caught up in your tote – you can just let the sand filter through the tiny holes in the netting. These bags are also super easy to clean up so you won’t have to worry about making a mess with food and drinks in them.

No matter what kind of beach bag you decide to purchase, it is important to make sure that it is made of a quality fabric that will be able to hold all of your summertime essentials. There are many options available, and some can even convert from a beach accessory to a bag for a night out on the town. At the very least, the perfect beach bag should be big enough to hold sunscreen, a towel, a bottle of water, your newest beach read, sunglasses, and flip flops. Through my experiences, I have been able to find the perfect one to fit all of my beach-going activities, but you may find that you want to purchase more than one bag to best meet your summertime needs.