An Idiot Proof Guide To Packing For a Beach Vacation

The beach is the go-to destination for summer. But what if you don't know what to bring, bruh bruh? If you think that all you need at the beach is some flip-flops and a pair of swim trunks, let us offer you an assist. This packing guide will ensure you pack all the essentials, leaving you to do better things, like watching waves hit the coast.

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Click Here to Buy It Now At Havaianas, $18

Probably the most utilized footwear you'll be packing for your excursion to the beach. From the sand to the shower, your flip flops should be both stylish and functional (and still be reasonably priced enough that you don't get tight when they get buried in the sand).

Look no further than the TOP flip flop from Havaianas. The Brazilian footwear company is known for their flip flops, so you know you're picking up quality. The flip flops are made of rubber, so there's no worries about getting them wet. They come in a ton of colors, from navy to tangerine, and at $18, it's understandable if you pick up more than one pair to snag some color options. These will certainly beat the busted sandals you bought at the 5 and dime last summer, and they'll last longer, too.

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Whether you picked up a 12 pack after you've arrived, or you snuck some travel-sized liquor bottles off the flight attendant's cart, it's smart to pack something to keep your liquid refreshments cooler than the sea breeze drifting into your hotel room.

This option from Picnic Time comes in the form of the Bongo Cooler. It holds 12 quarts, has a removable waterproof liner and collapses flat. The padded top even doubles as a seat.

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You don't want to be around beautiful girls in bikinis in your cousin's hand-me down board shorts. Peep these swim shorts by Hugo Boss. With a quick-drying fabric and a low-key color, these shorts will transition from sea water to sand easily and be ideal with whatever you choose to wear on top (if anything at all). They also hit right above the knee, which is a sigh of relief for those opposed to higher cut swimwear (We're looking at you, Speedos).

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Don't burn while out enjoying yourself. Make sure you pick up a sunscreen that is sweatproof and waterproof, so you can do everything under the sun (literally) without worrying about turning into a lobster.

Also, keep an eye out for a sunscreen that protects from both UVB and UVA rays. These might also be named under "broad-spectrum protection." This Coppertone Sport is an option that hits all the marks, and works as a spray so you can apply it solo (in the event that a beautiful girl isn't around to help you).

Click Here to Buy It Now At portabrella.com, $39.95

Sitting in the hot sun is only so fun for so long. You're going to need to hook up your beach spot with some shade, and a beach umbrella should do just that.

While this item prove difficult to pack, it does offer a compact option, which breaks apart and collapses down to 24 inches when stashed in its carry tote bag. Small enough to pack, but still big enough to cover over 6 feet when fully opened, along with a lining that claims protection up to 100 SPF. We'll take it.

Buy It Here: Click Here to Buy It Now At B&H Photo, $6.95

Remember when you were in summer camp and your mom left you with a disposable camera? You'd spend the whole summer snapping pictures of your friends doing anything and everything, just because you could. When you picked up the developed photos from the drugstore, you were able to relive your vacation all over again. Relive those younger days and snag a disposable camera before you head out on vacation.

Not only do you not have to wild out over keeping your camera away from the water and sand, but you also can enjoy the surprise and nostalgia that comes with picking up your developed film and seeing how your photos turned out. It's a vacation must-have.

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The sun is going to leave you with some crusty lips if you don't protect them just like you protect the rest of your body with sunscreen. Of course you want to avoid anything overly-scented or glossy, but you do want something that provides protection and soothes cracked lips.

Try Carmex. It's a classic with its combo of beeswax, menthol, and camphor. Bring a little bit of this with you, and you'll prevent your lips from looking like Tyrone Biggums son.

Click Here to Buy It Now At Draught Dry Goods, $150

How are you going to bring all your stuff to the beach, amigo? You know you're not about to schlep all the things you need in your arms.

Store your necessary beach gear in this beach tote from Draught Dry Goods. It has a water-resistant bottom and big interior pocket, perfect for hiding whatever you need to stash away.

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Summer nights can get chilly. Add a sea breeze and you'll be covered in goosebumps. That's a not good look, homie. Be sure to bring a lightweight, summer-appropriate sweater that will keep you warm.

Peep this sweatshirt from Uniqlo. It's crafted to dry quickly and fits just like a slim fit shirt, so it won't seem bulky or too tight.

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The waves were meant to be ridden. You know you've fantasized about hitting the surf since you witnessed Otto, Reggie, Twister and, of course, "The Squid" hang ten on Nickelodeon's Rocket Power.

If you're a beginner to surfing, fear not. If you're just starting out, it's recommended that you aim for a longboard that's roughly 8-9 feet long, 3 inches thick (known as the rail), and about as wide as you are; shoulder to shoulder. A board with this design should provide enough stability for a newbie to learn the basics, like paddling and "popping-up." However, when looking at boards, make sure to also check the surf of where you'll be heading out. Wider boards do better in smaller waves.

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It's likely you wouldn't want to travel with a typical folding chair; it's too big to pack and too bulky to carry. A better alternative can be found in the HowdaSeat Portable Folding Chair. Made from basewood slats, the chair rolls up to roughly the size of a rolled up towel when not in use. This makes it ideal not only for tucking into a beach tote, but also for long-distance travel.

Click Here to Buy It Now At shop.axelpfaender.com, €65 (about $85)

The beach demands music. You know you've been crafting the perfect playlist to bump while lying out in the sun. You need something that's going to be loud enough for your friend three towels over to hear, but something that's not going to become useless after contact with the sand.

Enter the Berlin Boombox. Beginning as a Kickstarter project by German designer Axel Pfaender, the project became a critical success, allowing the boombox to set up for sale via Pfaender's store. The boombox is entirely made out cardboard, is battery powered, easy to assemble, and is designed to look like a classic "ghetto blaster" from the 80s. While you will have to purchase the boombox in Euros and have it shipped from Europe, it ships as a letter, keeping costs low and making the hassle worthwhile.

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Let's face it, it's not going to be sunny every day of your getaway. While you're going to be prepping for sun and surf, it's a smart idea to be prepped for the rainier days as well.

If remaining cool and dry is a priority, we recommend the Poolover Jacket from Enjoi. With a drawstring hood, two large button-closure pockets frontside, two side pockets, and a five button neckline closure, this is a must-have for a rainy day.

Click Here to Buy It Now At Vans, $45

While flip flops will likely be the most utilized shoe you pack with you, you're going to have to step off the beach at some point. A strong, everyday shoe is essential.

To keep the easy feel, go with a pair of Vans Slip-Ons. A skate essential since the 70s, the Slip-On became a style staple following its cosign from Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. These shoes, canvas with a vulcanized rubber outsole, fit the bill for just about any scenario you'll encounter on your vacation.

Click Here to Buy It Now At Need Supply Co., $80

Not only will you have to tote your stuff to the beach with...well, your tote, but you'll also need a bag to actually carry all of your stuff in while en route to the vacation spot.

We definitely have our eyes on the Novel duffle from Herschel Supply Co. It's wide enough to be able to hold all your gear, compact enough to fit in the overhead compartment on a plane, and durable enough to take a beating while rolling around in the trunk of your car. It also has a removable shoulder strap, and a separate shoe compartment to stash your kicks (or whatever else you may need to tuck away).

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Just because you are on vacation doesn't mean you can't expand your mind, right bruh bruh? Reading a great book goes hand in hand with relaxing by the water. While there are a number of classic books that every man should read, one could hardly pass up on Ernest Hemingway's classic The Old Man and the Sea.

The novel tells the tale of an old Cuban fisherman, embodying the #struggle movement, and his long-standing battle with a giant marlin out in the Gulf Stream. It makes for the perfect, semi-ironic seaside read.

Click Here to Buy It Now At J. Crew, $69.50

While a tank top (at most) will likely become your beach uniform, you may want to transition from the beach to a night out; especially when you're trying to meet up with that slimmy who you bonded with while catching some waves. This is where your clean linen shirt comes in.

We recommend utilizing linen in the form of a popover, a style that has quickly emerged as a men's staple this summer. Blending the buttoned up build of an oxford with the relaxed style of a polo shirt, a popover looks both clean and casual at the same time.

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Any type watch is an investment, and one that you'd want to bring with you to the beach needs to be a mix of durability, water resistance, and a universal style to be worth the bread you're going to be putting down to rock a timepiece.

The Private SS offered up by Nixon seems to hit all the marks for not only a beach vacation, but every day use. The Private SS has stainless steel band, a 42mm wide face and moves with 3 hand Japanese quartz. It promises to be waterproof up to 100 meters, meaning it's able to handle exposure to water ranging from splashes to spear fishing, according to the Nixon website.

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While Drizzy would have you "starting from the bottom," don't forget to cover yourself at the very top. The Panama hat is a classic style pioneered by the likes of president Theodore Roosevelt during his trips to the Panama Canal (hence the name) and legendary author Ernest Hemingway, representing a relaxed yet iconic shape that has been seen on men during the summer months since the 1920s.

Blowing up at legendary Italian menswear trade show Pitti Uomo recently, the Panama hat is symbol of menswear. J. Crew offers a high quality option at a reasonable price, woven by hand in Ecuador.

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Puppies like Frisbees. Girls like puppies. Puppies and girls both like the beach. You see where we're going with this?

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You can't go wrong with Ray-Bans, and the Ray-Ban Clubmaster is a timeless classic. Based off of the shape of browline glasses (a classic silhouette seen since its creation in the late 1940s), Ray-Ban sent out their Clubmaster (then called the Wayfarer Max) in the 1980s.

Clubmaster sunglasses are a nice alternative to the classic Wayfarer, while still providing the latter's clean, polished look. With a large library of color options, there's plenty of room to pick a pair that suits your taste.

Click Here to Buy It Now At Urban Outfitters, $20 (2 for $28)

You know you've been working hard to annihilate your gut and unearth your abs—show them off with a simple and functional tank top.

These U.O. tanks fit the bill, with a few color options to fit whatever you're feeling. Even better, these bad boys come on the cheap. You can snag two for for the price of one printed tank top.

Click Here to Buy It Now At X-1, $59.99

We get it. You're as attached to your phone as Ryan Howard from The Office. You can't be apart from your updates and news feed for more than five minutes. The beach is nightmare for your tech though. All that water is just bound to mess up your gear, and don't even get us started on the sand.

Look no further than the Amphibx Fit Armband from X-1. It fits most iPhones (including iPhone 5) and other smart phones. It has a patented LatchTight closure, is waterproof up to 12ft, and is still thin enough to still allow access to your touchscreen (so you can text that cute girl you met at the surf shop). Even better, the armband also doubles as a floatation buoy, so you'll never lose your phone while splashing in the ocean. It's the perfect case to go from sand to surf, and everything in between.