8 Summer Beach Essentials For Guys
Sun, Sand, and the Perfectly Packed Beach Bag
By Style Girlfriend | Last Updated: Jul 17 2020
Beach days don’t hold quite the same appeal they used to. You want to be enjoying the salty air and beach bumming, set to a Carly Rae Jepsen soundtrack, not worrying about the neighbors who just plopped down next to you on the sand what looks about six inches — not six feet — away.
Assuming you’ve found a socially distanced spot in the sun, the next priority for a day at the beach should be traveling light.
The bulkiest item should be the 12-pack of beers you’re bringing, and those will be getting recycled on the way home anyway. Who wants to lug around a heavy tote bag of stuff you’re not even sure you’ll need? Nobody. For the beach (or pool!) day essentials guys need, check out this #SGapproved list.
Below, the 8 beach essentials to pack in summer 2020:
1. Sunscreen!
SG Says: There are beach essentials, and then there are BEACH ESSENTIALS. Sunscreen falls in the latter camp.
It’s literally crazy how many bottles of sunscreen we pull out of friends’ bags that look like they were purchased pre-Y2k. That sh*t expires, guys! And with all the advances in formulation and application these days, there’s no excuse not to be protected.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- Art of Sport (above), $12
- Sun Bum, $10
- Koa Anti-Pollution SPF 45+, $27
2. A chic beach towel
SG Says: Sure, you could use whatever beach towel your mom sent you off to summer camp with when you were a kid, but spreading out a towel that’s chic af is one of those, “This guy has his act together” moves that women low-key love.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- Pendleton (similar to above), $40
- Madewell x Free & Easy, $40
3. A durable tote bag
SG Says: A canvas bag you can throw over your shoulder offers the perfect balance of beach day utility, durability, and yes, masculinity. We get that a straw tote isn’t necessarily for you!
Wet trunks and sandy flip-flips? Throw ’em in there without thinking twice.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
4. beat-up-able sunglasses
SG Says: You probably won’t forget to wear sunglasses as you leave the house to head to the beach or pool, but do you really want to wear the nice sunglasses you are trying to make last through August without breaking or losing them?
That’s why stuffing a cheap-o “on call” pair in your bag is a summer beach essential. Wayfarers with a plastic frame are ideal for not worrying about sand, chlorine, or an errant foot during an especially lively game of sand volleyball.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- Knockaround (above), $15
- Old Navy, $10
- Target, $15
5. A face mask
SG Says: Yes, you should bring a mask with you to the beach or pool.
Even if you’re not wearing one while lounging, putting one on to hit the snack stand or bathrooms is the respectful thing to do (if not the law, depending where you live).
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- Old Navy (above), $13 for 5-pack
- Reebok, $20 for 3-pack
- Proper Cloth, $25
6. Functional flip flops
SG Says: It feels like you guys think we’re anti-flip flop in an all-encompassing, comprehensive sense.
Which is not true! Summer days spent at the beach or pool are the exact right time to wear flip flops.
Keep a pair in your beach bag and change into them when you get out of the car at your hydration destination. (Pssst, this is a great time to put on your sunscreen, too.)
It should be noted, however, that a pair of slides works just as well and have the added bonus of actually being in style right now. But y’know, when in Rome and all that…
Shop #SGapproved picks:
7. A beach hat with a brim
SG Says: A good hat can be the unsung hero of your day in the sun. It’s easy to forget to reapply sunscreen, and sunglasses only protect so much of your face.
A baseball hat will totally suffice, but if you’ve ever wanted to indulge in that #floppyhatlife, now’s the time.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- J.Crew, $40
- Club Monaco (similar to above), $50
8. Sun-safe hair product
SG Says: Multi-task during your time in the sun with a product that moisturizes your hair like Bumble and bumble’s invisible oil primer. You’re already working on your tan, so you might as well use some of that heat to nourish your locks.
If your hair is particularly dry or brittle, using this leave-in treatment will keep your head from looking like a bird’s nest at the end of the day, while providing UV and heat protection to boot.
As for après-sun?
Hairstylist Vaughn Accord recommends a tonic for your hair and scalp. You want something that “soothes the scalp and moisturizes hair after a day of sun and saltwater,” says Accord.
Shop #SGapproved picks:
- Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer, $28
- V76 Tonic Hair & Scalp, $16
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Want more summer shopping inspiration? Check out the swim trunks and linen shorts to add to your summer wardrobe.
