In this guide
Looking for gifts for beach lovers that will not end up in a closet? Give something that fixes a real beach-day problem: a place to sit, a towel to dry off with, shade from the midday sun or a cold drink.
This guide is for anyone shopping for a beach regular, a swimmer or a family that spends every summer weekend on the sand. Start with the top picks, scan the table, or jump to the size of gift you have in mind. Two of the ideas are our own products, and we say so each time. Everything else is a general type of product, so you can buy it wherever you like.
Jump to:
- Two beach gifts from us
- Small beach gifts and stocking stuffers
- Bigger beach gifts
- Gifts for swimmers
- Gift combinations for beach days
Top picks for beach lovers
- For the one who travels light: our Pocket Blanket. Room for two adults on the sand, and it folds back into a pouch that clips to a bag.
- For the swimmer: a changing robe or poncho for changing on a cold or crowded beach.
- For the family that brings everything: a soft-sided cooler, or a beach cart if the walk from the car is long.
- For a small add-on: a wide-brimmed sun hat or a fresh bottle of sunscreen.
Beach gift ideas at a glance
| Gift | Size of gift | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Our product Pocket Blanket and travel towel set (both ours) | Small | Anyone who goes to the beach with a bag, not a car full of gear |
| Wide-brimmed sun hat | Small | Long afternoons on the sand |
| Reusable ice packs | Small | The person who always brings the snacks |
| Clear phone pouch on a lanyard | Small | Photo takers near the water |
| Soft-sided cooler | Everyday gear | Families and groups |
| Beach tote with inner pockets | Everyday gear | Anyone who loses keys in the bag |
| Long-sleeved sun shirt | Everyday gear | Surfers, paddlers and kids who never leave the water |
| Beach umbrella or sun shelter | Bigger | Full days from morning to late afternoon |
| Low beach chair with backpack straps | Bigger | People who walk a long way from the parking lot |
| Beach cart | Bigger | Families who carry the whole house to the beach |
| Changing robe, goggles, swim cap | Small to bigger | Swimmers |
Two beach gifts from us
We make two things for the beach bag, so here they are first.
Pocket Blanket by BEARZ Outdoor (our product)
Good for: beach lovers who walk, cycle or take the bus to the beach and want a seat for two without a bulky blanket.
Our Pocket Blanket opens to 55 x 60 in (140 x 152 cm), which gives two adults room to sit. It weighs 6.4 oz (0.18 kg) and packs into a pouch of 4.5 x 3.5 in (11.5 x 9 cm) that clips to a bag with its carabiner. The fabric is polyester and water-resistant.
Picture the moment: they step off the bus, unclip the pouch from the tote and have a spot for two before anyone has kicked off their shoes. On a breezy afternoon, the corner pockets take a handful of sand or a few stones, and there are corner loops as well.
Good to know: it is a thin ground cover, not padded and not a warm blanket, so pair it with a beach chair if your person likes a softer seat. Care is hand wash only, in cold water, then hang it to dry. When the day is over, our guide shows how to fold it back into the pouch.
For US shoppers only: we also make Blanket Stakes, four 5.9 in plastic stakes per pack, sold on Amazon in the United States only. Outside the United States, fill the corner pockets with sand or stones instead.
Travel Towel and Face Cloth set by BEARZ Outdoor (our product)
Good for: swimmers and beach lovers who travel light and like a towel with its own carry bag.
Our travel towel set pairs a 48 x 24 in (120 x 60 cm) microfiber travel towel with a 15 x 12 in (38 x 30 cm) face cloth. Both go in a carry bag with a carabiner, and the whole set weighs 7.4 oz (0.21 kg).
The carry bag clips to a tote or a backpack strap, so the towel rides along on the walk down to the water. The face cloth is there for the salt on their face before the drive home.
Good to know: the set is one travel towel and one face cloth, not two full-size towels. Wash it before the first use, then cold wash with like colors, skip bleach and fabric softener, and hang it to dry.
Small beach gifts and stocking stuffers
Each of these works as a stocking stuffer or an add-on to a bigger present. For the hikers and campers on your list, our page of stocking stuffers for hikers and campers has more small ideas.
A wide-brimmed sun hat
Good for: long afternoons on the sand.
The FDA’s sun safety tips include covering up with clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats. A hat that folds into a bag and keeps its shape is easier to bring along than a stiff one.
Good to know: hats come in sizes. If you are unsure, choose one with an adjustable band or a chin strap.
Sunglasses with UV protection
Good for: the person who keeps losing, or sitting on, their pair.
The beach can be brighter than it looks: the National Weather Service notes that water, snow and sand reflect the sun’s rays, which can increase the chance of sunburn. A pair with UV protection and a hard case is a welcome upgrade.
Reusable ice packs
Good for: the person who always packs the lunch.
The FDA advises keeping cold picnic food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs, at 40 °F (about 4 °C) or below. Flat packs slide down the side of a cooler bag and go back in the freezer for next time.
Good to know: check the size against the cooler they already own.
A clear phone pouch on a lanyard
Good for: photo takers near the water.
A clear pouch keeps a phone in sight and away from splashes, hanging around the neck instead of buried in a bag.
Good to know: check what the maker says it is rated for: spray, or going underwater.
A fresh bottle of sunscreen
Good for: topping up any beach gift, even for someone who has everything.
Many beach bags hold an old bottle. The FDA says a sunscreen without an expiration date should be considered expired three years after purchase.
Good to know: skin is personal, so pick a formula they already use.
Everyday beach gear
A soft-sided cooler
Good for: families and groups.
A soft cooler with a shoulder strap leaves one hand free for everything else. The FDA suggests packing drinks in one cooler and perishable food in another, so a small second cooler for drinks is a good gift even for someone who already owns one.
Good to know: look at the size when full, not only when empty. It has to fit the car trunk or the bike basket.
A beach tote with inner pockets
Good for: anyone who loses keys at the bottom of the bag.
Look for a wide, sturdy tote with a few zip or inner pockets for keys, cards and sunscreen. Inner pockets also help with sunscreen care: the FDA recommends not exposing sunscreen containers to direct sun.
A long-sleeved sun shirt
Good for: surfers, paddlers and kids who never leave the water.
A long-sleeved sun shirt covers the shoulders and back through a whole session in the water.
Good to know: it is a sized gift, so check a shirt they already wear.
Bigger beach gifts
A beach umbrella or sun shelter
Good for: full days from morning to late afternoon.
The National Weather Service’s advice is simple: bring an umbrella to the beach and stay in the shade. An umbrella is usually the lighter carry; a pop-up shelter can shade a whole family.
Good to know: pick one with a way to anchor it in sand, and read the maker’s wind guidance.
A low beach chair with backpack straps
Good for: people who walk a long way from the parking lot.
Backpack straps free both hands for the cooler. The longer the walk from the car, the more a light frame matters.
Good to know: a low seat suits the sand; someone with stiff knees may prefer a standard-height chair.
A beach cart
Good for: families who carry the whole house to the beach.
A folding cart carries chairs, cooler, umbrella and toys in one trip.
Good to know: look for wide wheels made for sand, and check the folded size against the car trunk.
Gifts for swimmers
Swimmers care about the water more than the sand, and most of these are small enough to wrap together.
Our travel towel set above completes the swimmer’s bag. One more thing to pass on with the present: the National Weather Service’s advice is to swim only at a beach with lifeguards. For the rest of the beach bag, our guide on what to bring to the beach has a full packing list.
A changing robe or poncho
Good for: sea and lake swimmers who change on a cold or crowded beach.
Changing under a robe is easier than wrestling with a towel, and it is a piece of kit swimmers often put off buying for themselves.
Good to know: robes are sized and some are bulky, so check the packed size if they carry everything on foot.
Goggles and a silicone swim cap
Good for: pool regulars and club swimmers.
A cap in a bright color is light and easy to pack, and it makes a cheerful stocking stuffer.
Good to know: with goggles, fit matters more than features. If you do not know their favorite pair, a swim shop gift card beats a guess.
A mesh bag and a tow float
Good for: swimmers with a pile of small wet gear, and open-water swimmers.
A mesh bag keeps goggles, cap and fins in one place and hangs up at home to air out. For open-water swimmers, a bright tow float is worth a look.
Good to know: if they swim with a club, ask what the club uses before you buy a float.
Gift combinations for beach days
These are pairings, not bundles: each item is bought on its own.
- The beach bag starter: our Pocket Blanket plus our travel towel set. A seat for two and a towel, both clipped to one bag by their carabiners.
- The swimmer’s kit: our travel towel set, a changing robe and a silicone cap. Everything between the water and the car.
- The long-day kit: beach umbrella, soft-sided cooler and reusable ice packs. Shade and a packed lunch for the afternoon.
- The stocking trio: sun hat, fresh sunscreen and a clear phone pouch. Sun, skin and phone, covered.
How to choose a beach gift
Three questions narrow it down:
- How do they get there? On foot or by bus, light and packable wins. By car, a cart or a shelter makes sense.
- Who do they go with? Solo beach lovers like small, personal things. Families like gear everyone shares.
- Do they swim or read? Swimmers get the list above. Readers get shade, a chair and a cold drink.
Shopping for people who prefer trails and campsites too? Our outdoor gift guide covers what to get someone who hikes or camps.
Beach gift questions, answered
What do you buy someone who loves the beach?
Something that makes their usual beach day easier: shade, a seat, a towel or cold drinks.
What can you give a beach lover who already has everything?
Go for spares and upgrades: a second small cooler for drinks, a fresh bottle of sunscreen, a hat that packs flat or a pocket-size blanket that lives in the car.
Is a beach gift a good idea in winter?
Yes. A beach gift under the tree is a promise of summer, and a towel, hat or blanket also goes on winter trips somewhere warm. For more ideas that fit in a carry-on, see our gifts for travelers.
Shortlist: beach gifts they will use
- A seat for two that clips to a bag: our Pocket Blanket.
- A towel with its own carry bag: our travel towel set.
- Shade for a full day: a beach umbrella or sun shelter.
- Cold drinks for the group: a soft-sided cooler with reusable ice packs.
- For the swimmer: a changing robe.
Think of the one thing your beach lover forgets, borrows or complains about every trip, and give them that. Shopping for a beach dad who also fishes or camps? Our gifts for outdoorsy men are sorted by the kind of man he is.
Be Outdoors Be Wanderful™
