10 Summer Beach Bag Essentials

Before heading to the lake, ocean, or swimming pool, fill your favorite tote with these fun-in the-sun necessities.

- By Jill Schildhouse

Fresh air, family, friends, and fun—that’s what summers are all about. Make sure you’re prepared for whatever a day in the sun or sand has in store by stocking up on these beach basics:

1. Hydro Flask reusable water bottle

No matter how hot the temps get outside, the Hydro Flask stainless steel water bottle will keep your beverage of choice cold for up to 24 hours. The wide-mouth version makes adding ice a breeze, and it’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe, which means easy clean-up after a long day. The best part? You won’t be contributing to the 500 billion single-use plastic bottles used each year around the world.

2. Portland Bee Balm

Sea breezes and salty air sure do feel good, but they can do a number on delicate lip skin. When you’re feeling chapped, reach for Portland Bee Balm, a beeswax-based lip balm handmade by beekeepers in Portland, Ore., and wrapped in real wood instead of processed paper. The brand uses other locally sourced ingredients (such as Oregon peppermint essential oil) and donates 1 percent of sales to the Portland Urban Beekeepers Association.

3. Hydrant electrolyte powder