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The Best Gear for the Beach This Summer

Whether its for entertainment, safety, or comfort, these inventions will seriously elevate your beach hang.
Beach Gear
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This story was originally published in May 2018, but it has been updated for 2019.

We're tech nerds here at Traveler, and so naturally our gear obsessions extend to what we bring to the beach. Want to snorkel with your iPhone? We have just the case for it. Tired of those same tinny-sounding speakers you use every year? Check out our new fave. Watched Jaws a few too many times? Well, we've even discovered a little gadget that might just put your mind at ease. Here's all our favorite gear to get you through the summer.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • This image may contain Bottle and Shaker

    The Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Oasis

    Spending hours in the sun will make you thirsty, but far too often you’re left sipping lukewarm water out of plastic bottles floating in a cooler filled with rapidly melting ice. Enter Hydro Flask’s giant 128-ounce thermos that features a leak-proof cap and a comfortable rubber handle to carry it from car to beach. But it’s the tech you don’t see that’s really impressive—a trademarked, double-walled insulation system that will keep any liquid cold for up to 24 hours (and hot for 48, but you’re probably not bringing a thermos of green tea to the beach). Stay hydrated or go another route: Fill it with sangria for the whole crew. We won’t tell.

    Buy Now: $124.95, amazon.com

  • The Phone Case: Lifeproof Frē

    Putting your phone into a waterproof case and submerging it carries some risk; there are so many sub-par, knock-off designs out there that will totally waterlog your device. But LifeProof has made a business out of gear that will stand up to far more than the regular wear and tear of daily use. The Frē is the real deal. While you’re still not going to go scuba diving with your phone, this case allows you to submerge it six-and-a-half-feet under the waves for an hour without causing any damage. When our style editor Mara Balagtas took it to Mexico, she shot video and photos of stalagmites in Tulum’s cenotes for 30 minutes at a time with no issue.

    Buy Now: From $80, amazon.com

  • The Shark Repeller: Sharkbanz 2

    Okay, we’re not saying most people need something to keep sharks at bay every time they step into the ocean: Shark attacks are incredibly rare and as David Attenborough has reminded us time and time again, sharks aren’t just mindless predators that instinctively want to turn you into breakfast. But, we’re also not going to lie and say that we’ve never waded into dark blue water and had terrifying thoughts about what could lurk beneath. The Sharkbanz 2, a second-generation device worn on the wrist or ankle, emits an electro-magnetic signal that overwhelms the electro-receptors that most sharks use to hunt, sending them swimming away from you rather than toward your foot with an open mouth. (Great white sharks, the website notes, are an exception as they can often attack from large distances with a whole lot of speed, in which case the Sharkbanz won’t do much to help you). Most customer reviews of the Sharkbanz 2 tend towards the positive, as you might expect—thumbs-up statements along the lines of “So far so good!” and “Still have all my limbs,” and “I haven’t been attacked by a shark since I started wearing it, so…” But whether it really is working or not, it sure does offer some peace of mind. And that can turn a good beach day into a great one, so we’re all for it.

    Buy Now: $74, amazon.com

  • The Portable Speaker: Altec Lansing Mini Lifejacket 3

    Basically everything-proof, this rugged, portable Bluetooth speaker will take what you throw at it, no matter how wet and sandy it gets over the course of a beach day. With 16 hours of battery life, you'll have more than enough juice to cycle through all your go-to playlists—from when you set up camp in the morning to when you head back to the city as the sun sets. Unlike some other waterproof speakers, the sound the shockproof Mini Lifejacket produces is surprisingly good for its size (it'll take up about as much real estate in your backpack as your water bottle). Oh, and did we mention it will also charge your phone?

    Buy Now: $70, amazon.com

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  • The Blanket: Grand Trunk Parasheet

    Getting out of the water and onto an already wet, sandy towel is… not ideal. That’s where this seven-foot-by-seven-foot blanket packed with high-tech details comes in. It condenses to an easy-to-carry bundle smaller than a football, but when unfurled it could fit a family of four. Plus, you can fill the pockets in the corners with sand to keep it anchored when an unexpected breeze passes through, it’s made of quick-dry material, and it’s sand-proof, so no need to shake it out over and over again when it’s time to pack up.

    Buy Now: $30, amazon.com

  • The Camera: REVL Arc Action Cam

    If you're one to dismiss yet another "faux pro"—the semi-derogatory term for action cameras looking to compete with the mighty GoPro—we don't blame you, but we'd recommend taking another look at the Revl Arc. This contraption, which once mounted on a selfie stick looks strangely adorable in a Pixar way, takes beautiful 4K video and 12 megapixel photos. It’s waterproof up to 33 feet and super durable without any unnecessarily expensive casing. But that’s not even where the Revl Arc really stands out: With gimbal-induced physical stabilization and additional electronic stabilization under the hood, you'll never deal with nauseatingly shaky video again. Plus, when it comes time to stitch something together, an AI-equipped editor in the accompanying app will automatically find highlights—when you nail that massive wave (or when you wipe out)—so you don't have to drag through hours of footage yourself. It also sports a mounting system that is seamlessly compatible with GoPro mounts you might already own, making the switch even easier. Just saying...

    Buy Now: $499, revl.com

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  • The Portable Charger: FosPower PowerActive Power Bank

    The beach can be unforgiving to technology. Not so for the FosPower PowerActive power bank, a portable charger built like an all-terrain tank. You won’t have to worry about your phone going into the red because of all those beach shots you’re taking or the playlist you’ve got on repeat. You also won’t have to freak out if the tide comes in a little high and soaks the charger while you’re having a dip: This power bank can handle three feet of water for thirty minutes, so a wave or two is nothing to worry about.

    Buy Now: $26.99, amazon.com