Beach umbrella

Our pick Sport-Brella An umbrella with tent flaps The easy-setup Sport-Brella has the basic design of a beach umbrella but adds tent flaps for additional coverage, and stakes and sandbags for extra security. Buying Options $42 from Amazon

A canopy and an umbrella both block the sun’s rays, but an umbrella doesn’t separate you from the cool breezes and soft sand you came to the beach to enjoy. We spent 10 hours researching and six hours testing in our search of a strong, portable beach umbrella, but every one we looked at presented a series of compromises, whether in terms of weight and mobility or an abundance of cheap plastic parts. Though initially we were skeptical of the design and style, in the end the Sport-Brella was more effective than any traditional beach umbrella we found at that price point. If your heart is set on that iconic umbrella shape, however, the Coolibar Titanium Beach Umbrella comes with an eye-popping price tag but will withstand the rigors of sun and wind better than its cheaper competition.

If you are looking to spend less than $100, the Sport-Brella represents an improvement over traditional models in every detail. The difference in design isn’t too dramatic—part of the canopy rests on the sand instead of staying hoisted above you. But the difference in performance is significant. With three ground contacts and a lower center of gravity than our lofty umbrellas, the Sport-Brella stood firmly anchored during our testing in coastal winds, while our traditional umbrellas shifted and buckled. The canopy is vented, and windows on the sides zip open to aid with especially fierce gusts. And it doesn’t have a valence, sparing you the annoying sound of fabric flapping in steady wind.

Our other umbrellas, from anchor to ribs, were covered in cheap plastic bits that looked like they could snap or crack easily, but the Sport-Brella has only two plastic parts, and those are dense and sturdy. The ribs themselves are made of steel. The canopy is 8 feet wide, which gives it a 1-foot advantage over most beach umbrellas. There’s plenty of space for a party of two, with room to keep bags and coolers out of the sun.

You need to stake the Sport-Brella to the ground, which involves a few extra parts and takes time to set up. In our tests, though, the whole process was easier than driving in an umbrella anchor. When you’re done, the Sport-Brella has built-in pockets for storing all the pieces, and the whole thing fits into a sturdy shoulder bag for easy transport.

All that coverage and security comes at the cost of portability. At 9 pounds, it’s more than twice as heavy as the 4-pound Coolibar. It’s also 3 inches too long to fit into the trunk of my Jeep Cherokee. But the coverage and stability compared with that of a normal umbrella makes it all worthwhile.

Our pick Coolibar Titanium Beach Umbrella A standard umbrella A lightweight umbrella made of higher-quality materials than cheaper models. It’s a good choice if you don’t want the extra straps and flaps of the Sport-Brella. Buying Options $80 from Amazon

If you must have a normal umbrella without extra straps and flaps, we recommend the Coolibar beach umbrella. It weighs just 4 pounds and folds into a slim and compact nylon bag, making it effortlessly portable (and possibly less unwieldy than the shoulder bag I carry on a daily basis). It has a reflective layer on the outside plus a wind vent incorporated into the canopy, and the underside is finished with greater attention to detail than anything else we looked at.

The ribs in the canopy are made of fiberglass instead of the flimsy plastic found on cheaper models. As a result, in our tests the Coolibar held steady in high winds as our Tommy Bahama and Rio Brands umbrellas flopped around helplessly. Beyond the stronger rib, the shaft and tilt mechanism are made of metal instead of plastic, which is another big upgrade over cheaper models. And as with the Sport-Brella, the two remaining plastic parts—the latch that holds both sections of the pole together and the central housing for the ribs—are of higher quality than those used on other options. You could save around $50 and go with the more popular Tommy Bahama umbrella, which we also tested. But we wouldn’t count on such a flimsy, plastic model to last a full summer, let alone multiple seasons. The Coolibar easily justifies its premium if you must have a traditional umbrella.

Unfortunately, the Coolibar has no built-in sand anchor. But our testing showed that built-in anchors are barely better than nothing, so you’ll be better off buying a separate one anyway (we have a pick), or risk it flying away (which it did on us). However, the add-on pushes up the cost, which is why I consider this umbrella a $100-plus expense in spite of its $90 price tag. The canopy is 6 feet wide, which provides a small amount of shade for two people, no more. The height is not adjustable—once you lock the two halves of the pole together, the only way to adjust the height is to dig the pole deeper into the sand. But with all that in mind, Good Housekeeping rated the Coolibar “the best beach umbrella out there.” And we agree. —Eve O’Neill

Canopy

After spending eight hours to research and test the six top-rated beach canopies—with a toddler in tow—over the past two years, we’ve determined that the Lightspeed Outdoors Seaside Pop-Up Shelter Tent is the best beach canopy for most beach-going families. It is the easiest and fastest to assemble, comes in the most attractive colors, and is the most compact when stowed away.

Assembly of the Lightspeed involves just one step and a few seconds. All poles and straps come attached, so all you need to do is simply locate the top, pull the side poles down, and tug on the string to pop up the tent. It’s almost like a giant umbrella that you open backwards. Once unfurled, it provides ample shade and shelter for two people to sit in or a baby to play in while at the beach. At 79 by 43.5 by 45 inches, it’s big enough to fit two reclining beach chairs under the awning. For windier days, there are four loops to stake down the corners, two adjustable cords to stabilize the top, and three additional sandbags for the base.

If you want something a bit larger, our former top pick, the Genji Sports One Step Hexagon Beach Tent is still great, but it costs a bit more than the Lightspeed without doing much extra. It measures 94.5 by 59 by 56 inches, which means it’s a bit bigger than the Lightspeed in every dimension, which taller people will appreciate. That said, it’s still not big enough to squeeze in a third chair, so you’re really paying more for the luxury of a bit of extra elbow and head room.

We tested the attractive, functional Coleman Hatteras Fast Pitch Shade, which can be fully sealed off from the elements, but its color-coded poles didn’t make up for the fact that the structure still had to be pitched like a traditional tent. We also looked at the Coleman Road Trip, but were unimpressed, considering that it didn’t do anything better than the Genji, yet took far longer to set up thanks to its more traditional tent-pole-and-clip support structures. —Abi Smigel Mullens

Sand anchor (for securing umbrellas)

If you prefer to use a traditional beach umbrella rather than a shelter, we recommend using a sand anchor to prevent it from blowing away. We spent several hours researching options and tested five top models on a blustery 25-knot day. After witnessing the cheaper Mainstays Sand Grabber, Ostrich Shade Anchor Bag, and Rio Brands and Seasonal Industries anchors fail in spectacular (and sometimes dangerous) fashion, we recommend spending about $60 on AugHog’s Augbrella. It was one of just two anchors that held its ground through the strongest gusts. The other resilient anchor, the Tremendous Heavy Duty Umbrella Stand, has been discontinued.

Unlike the other, cheap plastic anchors, the Augbrella feels sturdy, is backed by a three-year warranty, and is made in the USA. Thanks to its wide handle, I was able to screw the auger bit deep into the hard-packed sand of Folly Beach with no issue. Once it’s in, it’s in. —Chris Dixon

Beach towel

Our pick L.L.Bean Seaside Beach Towel Our pick The L.L.Bean Seaside towel is comfortable, absorbent, and durable, and repels sand with ease. Plus, it's stylish and big enough (36 by 68 inches) for you to sprawl out on. Buying Options $30 from L.L.Bean

When it comes to beach towels, most of us just want something that works, isn’t emblazoned with My Little Ponies, and doesn’t cost much. But comfort, absorbency, durability, ability to repel sand, and style are certainly nice perks. With these features in mind, we researched for about six hours, talked to fabric experts, and lounged around on seven highly recommended towels for far too many hours to count as work. In 2017, we spent a couple of hours checking to see if anything changed, and we’re still confident that the best beach towel you can buy at a reasonable price is the L.L.Bean Seaside Beach Towel.

Turkey is known for its towels the way France is known for its wine. The L.L.Bean Seaside is woven in this towel mecca from fluffy cotton that absorbs water better than any other we looked at. The L.L.Bean is also very soft (even after multiple washes), its edges are sewn so they won’t fray over time, and at 36 by 68 inches, it’s even big enough for you to sprawl out à la Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. And as long as you lay it down with the fluffy side up (like most beach towels), it sheds sand with ease when it’s time to pack up.

Our pick Coyuchi Mediterranean Beach Towel The step-up If you want the best of the best (and aren't afraid to pay more for it), the Coyuchi towels are made of organic Turkish cotton and dry faster than other towels. However, colors will fade after prolonged sun exposure. Buying Options $70 from Coyuchi

One downside of these huge beach towels is that they take up a lot of space in your bag. Also, they’re not as soft as organic cotton towels made by the cotton masters at Coyuchi. If you don’t mind a smaller beach towel, this Coyuchi Mediterranean Beach Towel is a luxury and perfect for travel. It’s “high-low” woven—like a basket—from the softest organic Turkish cotton. It dries faster than the above towels and is surprisingly absorbent given its light weight. It’s also the best looking. However, it’s still expensive, and colors, which are not fixed with dye-locking chemicals, will fade after prolonged use in the sun. —Jaimal Yogis

Beach chair

For those beachgoers looking for a comfortable spot in the shade, you can’t do better than the Renetto Original Beach Bum Canopy Chair. But if you’d prefer a recliner for soaking up as much sun as possible, the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair is the seat for you. In order to pick these two, we carried and sat in seven finalists over three weeks during the midday heat at beaches on Oahu. Tough work.

If you’re looking for a comfortable seat in the shade to guard against the sun, the Renetto Original Beach Bum Canopy Chair is a good option. We haven’t tested this model, as it’s an updated version of an old pick, the Beach Bum 2.0. But we liked that one so much that we’re confident recommending this new version, which is now lighter and features a cleverly designed canopy that provides ample shade when unfurled, and conveniently doubles as a built-in carrying case for the whole chair when you stow it. The chair even has a built-in strap for comfortable hands-free carrying. You can adjust the canopy so it fully covers you, fold up the sides as the sun moves, or put the canopy completely down, letting you choose between sun and shade with ease. It’s a sturdier design compared with other top competitors like the Sport-Brella Recliner, which uses an umbrella attachment that shook in medium and heavy winds.

The rest of the chair is solid as well. The chair’s polyester and mesh seating is both comfortable and breathable, and the steel frame is strong enough to hold up to 225 pounds. It also features a headrest pillow and a cupholder. The Tailgate Edition Canopy Chair from Renetto is another good option, but it’s a little sturdier and heavier than what we think most people will need in a beach chair. Our only complaint about the Renetto choices is that they don’t recline.

If you want to soak up the rays while reclining with a cold one, get the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair. Its built-in padded backpack straps make it easy to carry down to the beach. You can adjust easily between five seated positions while in the chair. Just lift the handles, move them forward or back, and put them back down. Sturdy canvas backing makes the chair comfortable—and strong enough to hold 300 pounds. The chair also features a pillow, a large zippered pocket in the back, a cup holder next to the right armrest, and that cooler in the back—which fits up to seven 12-ounce cans.

The only slight complaint I had is that the frame bar running along the front of the seat can push uncomfortably against your hamstrings during a long session in the sun. However, the chair is low enough to the ground that even with your legs splayed out flat, the inconvenience of the bar is minor. Overall, the Tommy Bahama was much more comfortable—and had more important features, including a durable, rustproof aluminum frame—than any of the other chairs we tested.

If you prefer to pay a little less for fewer features, you’ve got some good options. The Sport-Brella Recliner offers recline options and a footrest, but its umbrella didn’t offer as much sturdy sun protection as the Renetto, and without the integrated canopy, the folded chair also has to be tucked into a case with a strap to be carried to and from the beach. —Joe Spring