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Oct 21, 2024

Best Beach Bags 2024 - Forbes Vetted

When the summer heat hits, getting to the beach to enjoy the surf and sand is a must. But before you’re able sink your toes in the sand, there’s the logistics of getting all your beach gear to your

When the summer heat hits, getting to the beach to enjoy the surf and sand is a must. But before you’re able sink your toes in the sand, there’s the logistics of getting all your beach gear to your destination. The best beach bags are capable of toting all your beach day essentials, from sunblock to snacks. Whether you’re looking for a stylish tote to carry the basics or are in need of something a little more heavy duty, we’ve rounded up the best beach bags for the summers ahead.

The best beach bags can withstand sun, sand and water while looking stylish, too.

Paravel

Materials: Cotton canvas, vegan leather | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: 3 | Closure: Zipper

This lightweight tote bag is an all-around winner thanks to its design, materials and customization. With enough structure and size to fit all of your beach essentials, it also includes interior slip and zippered pockets as well as a hook-and-eye top closure to keep things from toppling out. It’s crafted from conscious, water resistant materials like upcycled plastic bottles and vegan leather, and is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Global Recycled Standard certified. Also great: It comes in three sizes and multiple color ways—and you can add a monogram for a personal touch.

Amazon

Materials: Recycled cotton canvas | Style: Backpack/tote | Interior pockets: 3 | Closure: Zipper

Whether slung over one shoulder or worn as a backpack, the Neso Beach Tote lets you bring along plenty of beach gear, and its wealth of pockets makes organizing nice and easy. The large main compartment can hold towels, sandals and more, while smaller interior pockets are perfect for stowing your phone and sunglasses. Use the oversized straps on the rear of the bag to secure a beach blanket or sun shade.

Madewell

Materials: Handwoven straw | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: N/A | Closure: Tie closure

Made entirely from handwoven straw, the Madewell Open-Crochet Straw Packable Tote sheds sand and water with ease, and offers plenty of carrying capacity for everything you need during a day on the sand or stroll down the boardwalk. It comes in two colors and packs down well when not in use.

Amazon

Materials: Waterproof mesh | Style: Soft-sided, flat bottom | Interior Pockets: 1 | Closure: Zipper

With a zipper, seven exterior mesh pockets and a waterproof slot to stash your phone, this mesh bag can handle just about everything you need for a full day at the beach. It’s large enough to hold a generous number of beach towels plus anything else you want to bring along. Available in five colors, it’s a great option if you’re looking for a simple bag that can do a lot.

Amazon

Materials: Polyester | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: N/A | Closure: N/A

The Hatisan Crochet Summer Beach Tote is a great choice for bringing on vacation when your suitcase space is at a minimum. While this crocheted tote packs down small, it offers enough carrying capacity for everything you need for an afternoon at the beach. Also, there’s the other small thing to note here: the price tag.

Amazon

Materials: Polyester | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: 1 | Closure: Zipper

With space to hold four to six towels, an interior pocket for your valuables and exterior water bottle pockets, this tote is a no-brainer for the beach. But it’s also versatile enough that will look right at home at the park, in town or even as a carry-on during travel. It comes in several different prints and has soft rope handles for a nautical touch.

L.L.Bean

Materials: Cotton canvas | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: None | Closure: Zipper or open

This classic, super-sturdy canvas tote has a zip-top (open-top is also an option), a handy feature to keep the sand out and everything in its rightful place. It’s made from heavy-duty 24-ounce cotton canvas and has a reinforced flat bottom to keep it upright. While it doesn’t have interior or exterior pockets, it comes in a range of sizes that can stow anything from beach towels to a full weekend’s worth of clothes. After testing this pick, we think the large size is the most versatile.

Amazon

Materials: EVA rubber | Style: Self-standing tote | Interior pockets: 1 removable | Closure: N/A

Made entirely from EVA rubber, this beach tote is as tough as it is colorful. It won’t be damaged by sand, salt water, sunscreen or drinks. The Simple Modern Rubber Beach Bag sits upright and open at all times, making it easy to load and rummage through, and it has a removable waterproof pocket that can secure your phone and keys. Choose the color and size that suits your needs then hit the beach.

Amazon

Materials: Nylon | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: 1 | Closure: Zipper

If your trips to the beach involves a lot of gear, then the capacious Beach Bag from Bodysurf is a great choice. The XL version has enough carrying space for multiple people to load lots of stuff, and it zips shut to keep all of its contents reliably dry and sand-free. And for all its size and capacity, this bag folds down pretty small when not in use.

Amazon

Materials: Nylon | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: 1 | Closure: Zipper

The Oscaurt Extra Large Beach Bag has a huge interior pocket that can accommodate towels, swim suits, snacks and so much more. But the best part about this bag is all of its exterior mesh pockets for easy access and organization. A waterproof interior pocket protects your phone, and the mesh sides of the bag allow for quick drying, so you can toss in your towel or trunks.

State

Materials: TPU and nylon | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: None, but includes a detachable pouch | Closure: Open

If you’re looking for a versatile, kid-friendly bag to lug to and from the beach or pool, consider this tote from State. It has a large main compartment to fit all your essentials (fins included), a detachable pouch for valuables and soft webbing straps for comfort. It comes in three translucent colors and one rubberized, all of which are made from super-durable TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

Amazon

Materials: Rubber | Style: Tote | Interior pockets: N/A | Closure: N/A

Sized just right for one or two towels, a water bottle and a couple more beach essentials, this durable rubber beach tote from Bogg Bag is ideal for the solo beachgoer. It comes in 32 colors and can be rinsed down with water to keep it looking clean and bright even after countless days at the beach.

Amazon

Materials: Coated waterproof fabric | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: None | Closure: Zipper

If you’d rather not lug an entire cooler to the beach, this insulated tote is a handy alternative. Lightweight insulation keeps items cold for up to 4 hours and it’s soft-sided, so it can be folded for storage. To prevent spills, the fully-lined interior has welded seams and the exterior is made of coated, waterproof fabric with water-resistant zippers and includes a pocket for essentials.

Yeti

Materials: High density waterproof fabric | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: N/A | Closure: Zipper

The Yeti M30 cooler can accommodate an impressive 42 cans, or you can leave a few out and pack in the ice. It has tote-style and side carry handles as well as a long, removable shoulder strap for more comfortable carrying. Daisy chain loops on the rear of the bag let you secure it on a boat or truck bed for use beyond the beach.

Amazon

Materials: Polyester | Style: Self-standing, flat bottom | Interior pockets: N/A | Closure: Zipper

With a 16-can capacity and a $20 price tag, this Igloo MaxCold Soft Cooler is perfect for keeping things cold for a couple hours on a hot day. An external zippered pocket can keep a few small items safe and dry while the water-tight main compartment can hold up to 16 12-ounce cans. You can wipe the interior clean with a dry cloth once the outing is over.

We thoroughly research any gear we recommend to our readers, often through hands-on testing and/or with the guidance of top experts. We spoke to a stylist and relied on our firsthand experience with some of the bags featured to compile this list. We consider factors across the board, such as product features, specs, competitors and reviews, and we won’t suggest purchasing anything that doesn’t meet our standards.

This story is regularly edited for accuracy and was last updated in May 2024.

First and foremost, we tested several of these beach bags ourselves, including cooler totes, classic canvas bags and more. We did a deep dive on trusted brands, figuring out which options were shoppers’ most beloved beach bags as we put together a long list of the best options available. As we narrowed the list down to the beach bags featured here, we considered elements like material and waterproofing, durability and function, and we pored over user comments to ensure everything we recommended was well reviewed. We looked at both high-end and more affordable bags to offer a range in price point, as well as style and versatility so you get more bang for your buck.

The best materials for a beach bag are often cotton-canvas, vinyl, mesh and woven straw textures like raffia, says stylist Neelo Noory. Since these fabrics run the gamut in terms of style aesthetic, it’s helpful to narrow down which is best-suited for your beachside needs. Do you have kids that spill on everything? It might make sense to invest in a water-resistant material like vinyl. Are you conscious about buying eco-friendly products? Look for brands that work with recycled water bottles or have certifications related to their sustainability practices. Or, if you just want something simple and timeless, a straw or cotton-canvas bag does the trick.

If you’re worried about your bag getting wet at the beach or the pool, vinyl is a superior water-resistant material that translates well to a beach bag silhouette. Beyond that, other materials like mesh and cotton-canvas will also hold up relatively well to small splashes or a damp swimsuit (though Noory recommends investing in a small waterproof zip pouch for those items rather than tossing them in with everything else).

If you’re storing several items in your beach bag, it’s important to look for options that have sturdy handles and maybe even reinforced bases. And if you’re concerned about the beach day creating wear and tear on your tote, consider an option crafted in rip-resistant vinyl.