Summer is approaching, and the last thing you want is to be that person on the beach with a Trader Joe’s grocery bag as your beach bag! True, they’re pretty solid and will no doubt keep the sand out, but you can consider yourself severely unstylish whipping one out at a beach party.
There’s something special about heading to the beach. The fun games, friendly vibes, and, of course, the gorgeous summer scenery. But a lot goes into a good beach day. If you happen to forget a bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, hat, umbrella, and most importantly, snacks, you’re doomed for an unpleasant experience.
Some might prefer the trendy woven basket look, while others opt for a more simple aesthetic. Whatever your preference, beach bags are essential for keeping your belongings organized, sand-free, and out of the way of unfriendly tides (one iPhone down, and trust me, I won’t leave the house without my waterproof beach bag).
Other than helping carry and protect your goodies from the sand and water, what else makes a high-quality beach bag? If you ask us, we reckon it’s all about capacity, weight, waterproofing, durability, compartments, and design. Phew – quite a lot to consider.
A good beach bag is deceptively spacious, easy to clean, and has multiple sealable pockets for your valuables. With this in mind, we’ve scoured the web for the best beach bags money can buy.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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In a Hurry? Here are the Best Beach Bags on the Market:
1. Dejaroo Mesh Beach Bag
2. Nomatic Collapsible Tote Bag
3. KAVU Delray Shoulder Bag
4. Peak Design Everyday Tote
5. Cotopaxi Alpa Gear Tote
6. C Gear Sand-Free Tote
7. Stubble & Co The Cooler
8. Mahi Leather Mini Bucket Bag
9. Nomatic Navigator Sling Bag
10. Osprey Arcane Tote
11. Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag
12. Stubble & Co The Rolltop Waterproof Beach Backpack
13. Yeti Camino 35
Dejaroo Mesh Beach Bag
- Capacity > 68 liters
- Dimensions > 16.5 x 8.5 x 15 inches
- Price > $19.65
Nomatic Collapsible Tote Bag
- Capacity > 28 liters
- Dimensions > 19 x 13.5 x 7 inches
- Price > $69.99
KAVU Delray Shoulder Bag
- Capacity > 1 liter
- Dimensions > 4.8 oz
- Price > $35
Peak Design Everyday Tote
- Capacity > 15 liters
- Dimensions > 42 x 32 x 12 cm
- Price > $150
Cotopaxi Alpa Gear Hauler Tote
- Capacity > 60 liters
- Dimensions > 20 x 14 x 14 inches
- Price > $110
C Gear Sand-Free Tote
- Dimensions > 23 x 16 x 0.25 inches
- Price > $40
Stubble & Co The Cooler
- Capacity > 28.5 liters
- Dimensions > 40cm (H) x 31cm (W) x 23cm(D)
- Price > $150
Mahi Leather Mini Bucket Bag
- Capacity > 5 liters
- Dimensions > W19cm x H21.5cm x D11.5cm
- Price > $170
Nomatic Navigator Sling Bag
- Capacity > 10 liters
- Dimensions > 20.78 x 12.17 x 6.1 inches
- Price > $110
Osprey Arcane Tote
- Capacity > 20 liters
- Dimensions > 16.93H x 14.96W x 9.06D inches
- Price > $135
Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag
- Capacity > 2 liters to 35 liters
- Dimensions > 5.1 x 11.4 inches to 11.8 x 27.6 inches
- Price > $20
Stubble & Co. The Rolltop Waterproof Beach Backpack
- Capacity > 20 liters
- Dimensions > 30cm (W) x 44cm (H) x 15cm (D) (rolled)
- Price > $147
Yeti Camino 35
- Capacity > 35 liters
- Dimensions > 25 x 37 x 46 cm
- Price > $150
The 13 Best Beach Bags you can Buy:
Whether you’re heading to the beach for your routine morning swim or spending an extended day lounging around with your friends and family, there is a lot to fit into a beach bag.
Read on for a list of the best beach bags you can buy that combine convenient storage solutions with style and waterproofing.
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Dejaroo Mesh Beach Bag
- Capacity – 68 liters
- Dimensions – 16.5 x 8.5 x 15 inches
- Price – $19.65
Usually, you wouldn’t expect much from a bag that costs under twenty bucks, but the Dejaroo Mesh Sand Free Bag will prove you otherwise. It’s all in the name – the bag is made using rubberized tight-weave mesh material., which means any sand that does find its way into the bag will just fall out on its own.
Unless you happen to be visiting a beach with the finest sand in the world, a sandy bag shouldn’t be an issue! Once you’re done, you can just shake off the sand and debris from the bag, leaving all your belongings both clean and dry. Love it!
It’s also a super well-designed, not to mention spacious bag. It’s the perfect size to fit a towel, swimsuits, lotions, and snacks in without jamming everything into a small tote. Aside from the main inner compartment, it has eight oversized outer pockets to stack things like your sunnies, water bottles, and snacks. Keep your phone and any money safe and secure in the zippered inside pocket.
You won’t be complaining about carrying what we reckon is the best beach bag around, which has long and comfortable straps to hoist over your shoulder. In fact, I would even recommend using this bag for other adventures, too. Take it to the gym or the pool, or even use it as a trendy diaper bag for a new baby – it’s machine washable, and the mesh doesn’t hold onto any bad smells.
Nomatic Collapsible Tote Bag
- Capacity – 28 liters
- Dimensions – 19 x 13.5 x 7 inches
- Price – $69.99
I’m a huge fan of a tote. Easy to pack, comfortable to wear, and even easier to clean, they really can be one of the most convenient products to own. Nomatic’s Collapsible Tote Bag is one of the simpler products in their extensive range but is absolutely not to be underrated. It’s so versatile that you could use it for a range of activities such as work, the gym, a park day, or, of course, the beach. I don’t know about you, but as a digital nomad, I find myself combining a beach day with a work day more often than not!
While it isn’t waterproof, it is weather-resistant. Made from durable mesh materials, the bag is built to get you through sandy and rainy days. One of my favorite things about the bag is its sleek and simple design. It’s available in a variety of colors and boasts a minimalistic yet practical aesthetic – just the look I was going for. It’s got to be one of the most stylish bags when it comes to beach totes.
Storage-wise, the tote has multiple compartments and pockets to help keep your belongings organized and protected from the sand. The padded laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket, and an RFID-blocking pocket for valuables just scratch the surface.
KAVU Delray Shoulder Bag
- Capacity – 1 liter
- Dimensions – 4.8 oz
- Price – $35
If you’re the type to bring a handbag and a tote to the beach, KAVU has delivered the best beach handbag for the job. It’s small, the size of a Patagonia bum bag, for example, and is the perfect size to stash your phone, wallet, and sunnies. Best of all, the bag doubles as an everyday shoulder bag, which means when you leave the beach, you can leave your tote in the car and continue with the day or evening with your KAVU Delray Shoulder Bag.
The bag comes in two color palettes: a red/orange and a blue/brown combination. Both are equally as attractive; it all depends on the look you’re going for. If you’re popping down to the beach for a quick dip, sunset, or a game of volleyball, this small bag will fit in all the absolute necessities (except for a towel). It’s ideal for those who like to travel light and keep a low profile.
The main compartment has a two-way zipper, and there is also a front zip mesh pocket and an internal zippered pocket. I have to be honest; I enjoy this bag as an everyday travel purse rather than a beach bag (but this is purely because I enjoy an oversized bag for the beach). It’s lightweight, looks good, and fits in all the essentials for a day out. What more could you ask for?
Peak Design Everyday Tote
- Capacity – 15 liters
- Dimensions – 42 x 32 x 12 cm
- Price – $150
I can’t hide my love for tote bags, especially when stuffing in a towel and extra clothing for a beach day. Well, the Everyday Tote by Peak Design has to be one of my favorites. Sure, it comes in at a steep price for a tote, but you’ll really be paying for true quality and convenience with this one. Not to mention, it looks damn good, and style is always a big plus, if not the whole purpose, of owning the best beach bag in the biz.
You can choose from a cream or black color, both of which combine a sleek and clean aesthetic with thoughtful functionality. The bag is so well designed that it will make keeping your things organized feel like a leisurely activity – trust me!
If you plan to take your photography equipment to the beach, this is the perfect beach bag to store and protect your valuables. There are flexible dividers in the bag that make it easy to stash different equipment, and the extra wide top access closes with a magnetic clasp and a waterproof UltraZip.
Other extras include a removable shoulder strap, two cord hook external straps that allow you to carry a towel or jumper on the outside of the bag, and an anchor link key tether to make sure you never have to dig through the sand for your keys.
Cotopaxi Alpa Gear Hauler Tote
- Capacity – 60 liters
- Dimensions – 20 x 14 x 14 inches
- Price – $110
Cotopaxi is a clear leader in the outdoor bag world, and their Allpa Gear Hauler Tote is no exception. What looks like a traditional cooler bag with a classic box shape is actually a convenient tote-inspired bag designed to help you haul your gear from home to your destination.
The semi-structured outer material makes it easy to load things into the bag without losing its shape, but it also means it can still be maneuvered and molded without feeling like a plastic cooler box.
Be it your favorite bench in a park, the beach, or on a hike; this bag is the ideal go-to for transporting your things from A to B. Seriously, it’s so big that you could fit in your climbing gear, or skiing equipment when beach season is over.
The main compartment is the most spacious, but the bag also has an exterior zippered pocket and a few interior pockets that you can slip your phone and wallet in to keep things properly organized. When the bag is packed, use the top compression straps to keep all your goodies secure.
I love this bag. It holds everything but the kitchen sink and looks good while doing it. I mean, it’s 60 litres! It’s bloody massive!
C Gear Sand-Free Tote
- Dimensions – 23 x 16 x 0.25 inches
- Price – $40
Another tote to grace this list of best beach bags on the internet, C Gear has released its classic Beach Tote Bag 2.0. Made from a super durable nylon fabric, this tote combines a traditional open-top design with the only patented sand-free technology on the market.
There is a time and place for an open-top bag without a zipper, and the beach is usually it. That said, I wouldn’t be too eager to use this bag on a beach that is known not to be super safe from opportunistic crime. Because of this, I usually prefer a bag with a closing top, but it does have its place.
The bag has two convenient pockets, one sand-free for your phone and wallet and another solid button-up pocket for loose cash or sunnies. This makes it so much more than a gaping hole of portable goodness! For me, it also makes for a great alternative to a packable backpack when I want something light that I can roll up inside my bigger bag just for beach days.
The patented sand-free technology is a big thumbs up for this bag. The bottom part of the bag is made from a sophisticated weave, which means that the bag will basically rid itself of all sand as you make your way from the beach to the car. Jokes aside, it is self-cleaning – ideal for my lazy ass!!
Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.
So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉
Buy on REI!Stubble & Co The Cooler
- Capacity – 28.5 liters
- Dimensions – 40cm (H) x 31cm (W) x 23cm(D)
- Price – $150
Carrying a cooler to the beach can be a serious hack, if we’re being honest. Typically made with a hard shell and uncomfortable handles, there is always a ‘shotgun not’ moment deciding who has to carry the cooler box!
Well, with the Stubble & Co. The Cooler, you’ll be fighting over who gets to carry the drinks. They’ve created the ultimate cooler box and best beach bag for those of us who like to kick back with a can or two!
By combining the cooler with backpack straps they’ve made it easy to lug your heavy drinks and refrigerated snacks wherever you need to. It’s hands down one of the best coolers on the market whether you choose to use it at the beach or not!
The Stubble & Co cooler forms a stable cube design with a large central compartment. Of course, this section of the bag is ultra-insulated and designed to keep your drinks icy and your snacks crispy. But there’s more: the bag also has a cutlery and plate pocket with designated sections to hold your picnic equipment. If you aren’t going for an extensive picnic, this pocket can be used to keep your phone, wallet, keys… you name it.
I’m a big fan of how easy this bag is to clean, too. When you get home, simply wipe it down with a warm cloth, and you’re good to go.
Mahi Leather Mini Bucket Bag
- Capacity – 5 liters
- Dimensions – W19cm x H21.5cm x D11.5cm
- Price – $170
For those of us who like bringing a small handbag to the beach, the Mahi Leather Mini Bucket Bag is a good shout. It’s by no means a beach bag in the traditional sense, but it will easily serve as a small beach handbag if this is what you’re looking for. It’s one of our favourite travel bags for women and can easily be used on a night out as well as a day at the beach.
The bag is small, with only five liters of capacity, to be specific. It has a long extendable shoulder strap and a top opening compartment that can be secured by tightening the leather cables. Made from 100% full-grain leather and edgy brass eyelets and clasps, it’s built to last and to look good.
To be extra clear, you won’t fit your towel and sunscreen in this beach bag (unless we’re talking tester-sized sunscreen!). This bag is more to keep your phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses protected at the beach, all while doubling as a city handbag. If you’re looking for something a bit bigger then check out the other awesome bags Mahi has to offer.
Nomatic Navigator Sling Bag
- Capacity – 10 liters
- Dimensions – 20.78 x 12.17 x 6.1 inches
- Price – $110
Designed for the traveler who likes to combine city exploring, work, and a beach adventure in one day, Nomatic’s Navigator Lite Sling is the perfect crossbody bag for the job. It’s made from a water-resistant material, has a comfortable padded back panel and strap, and includes a protective laptop sleeve, offering the ultimate combo of style and functionality.
The adjustable straps make it possible to wear as a crossbody bag, sling bag, or shoulder bag. As someone who doesn’t love the idea of a sling bag, this adjustable strap feature suits me well.
While it may not be waterproof, it is made from super durable 400D Nylon by 330 Poly water-resistant materials, making sure no rain or spills will affect your laptop or other valuables in the bag. When it comes to travel slings, this one really packs a punch!
My favorite thing about this bag is how easy it is to keep neat and organized. With multiple compartments and pockets, there is a space for everything, from your office supplies to your beach essentials.
It’s the perfect bag for those who like to keep everything organized and are happy to travel light. For example, there are mesh and zippered pockets perfectly sized for your phone, wallet, chapstick, and power banks, as well as plenty of room for a small towel and swimwear.
If you’re looking for something even more compact, check out the Nomatic Navigator collapsible sling too.
Osprey Arcane Tote
- Capacity – 20 liters
- Dimensions – 16.93H x 14.96W x 9.06D inches
- Price – $135
The ultimate combination of a tote bag and a backpack, the Osprey Arcane Tote is a favorite not only for beach days but also for miscellaneous activities. Its super adaptable design makes it one of the best Osprey bags on the market at the moment for travel.
This epic beach bag comes in a variety of color combinations and is made from sturdy and recycled materials with a PFC-free DWR coating. This means it’s easy to clean and really allows it to stand the test of time.
Carry the bag as a backpack or a tote, whichever takes your fancy. Both the backpack straps and tote handles can be stowed away when not in use, leaving the bag looking sleek and simple – a timeless style we all love.
Inside the bag, there is a padded laptop sleeve and various internal organizational compartments and pockets where you can stash 20 liters worth of beach essentials. Closed with a zip and a roll top secured with a metal buckle, you can rest assured no one will be sneakily sliding their hands into your bag when you aren’t looking… and it keeps that pesky sand out!
The price point of this bag is a real winner, too. Coming in around $135, this is not only a suitable beach bag but also a day-to-day staple for work, gym, and even traveling.
The Best Waterproof Beach Bags
Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag
- Capacity – 2 liters to 35 liters
- Dimensions – 5.1 x 11.4 inches to 11.8 x 27.6 inches
- Price – $20
The first fully waterproof bag to make this exclusive list, Sea to Summit’s Lightweight Dry Bag is the ultimate waterproof bag for any water-based adventure or activity. The bag is super affordable and comes in a range of sizes ranging from 2 liters to 35 liters. The yellow color is strategic, allowing you to spot your bag in the water in case it falls off a canoe or gets washed out to sea.
It’s light enough to pack for a backpacking trip and sturdy enough to accompany you on just about any watersport or adventure, but it is less bulky than the other top beach and dry bags you might have used in the past, or indeed, on this list.
Like traditional dry sacks, the bag is closed with a hypalon roll-top closure system with a non-wicking closure strip that makes sure water doesn’t get into the bag even when it is shut closed. This said, no matter how waterproof the bag might be, I highly recommend double-bagging any valuable electronics that might be sensitive to water exposure. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?!
Stubble & Co. The Rolltop Waterproof Beach Backpack
- Capacity – 20 liters
- Dimensions – 30cm (W) x 44cm (H) x 15cm (D) (rolled)
- Price – $147
What do you get when you add a backpack and a waterproof dry bag together? The Rolltop Waterproof Beach Backpack by Stubble & Co! This bag perfectly blends the functionality of a beach bag with epic waterproofing and pure style. It doesn’t have that same cheap rubbery feel that most drybags have, and you can really see that this is a high-quality product, even from a distance.
The bag comes in a range of colors, from pastel green to black and beige. It’s marketed as the ultimate backpack for all weather conditions. It also has a laptop compartment, a spacious interior with organized compartments, a bike light loop, and a lockable pocket.
Lightweight, durable, and super comfortable with a padded back pad and adjustable straps, I consider this the all-rounder beach backpack.
While it’s not designed exclusively for the beach, the bag sure does make an epic beach bag. It’s especially useful if you’re the type to work at a cafe by the beach between dips since it is able to fit all your work goodies and beach essentials into one wonderful waterproof space.
Yeti Camino 35
- Capacity – 35 liters
- Dimensions – 25 x 37 x 46 cm
- Price – $150
Yeti is a brand we’re all familiar with. Making great camping essentials and now beach accessories, Yeti is known for its high-quality materials and practical designs. Their Camino 35 bag comes in a range of color combinations, ranging from greens to oranges to purples and blacks.
This epic beach bag is a classic tote shape designed for whatever the day throws at you. But I like it most for boat trips, beach days, and even road trips. It’s made from a scratch-resistant, hard-shell-like material and is easy to clean no matter how wild things get!
Its molded base and deployable dividers make it easy to keep your gear organized while being easy to access and carry. Seriously, these dividers are a life-saver in such a big bag that would otherwise become an abyss of chaos (great name for a metal band!) The bottom of the bag is fully waterproof, meaning any rising tides or puddles of water ruin your day, or your stuff!
My main gripe with this bag is that it’s a bit big and bulky and doesn’t transfer into a good day-to-day bag once you’ve left the beach. That said, if you plan to use it just for the park or the beach, you shouldn’t run into any issues.
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Final Thoughts on The Best Beach Bags
Going to the beach sounds simple enough, right? But if you’re a seasoned beach-goer, and especially if you have children, the reality is often quite the opposite. It’s astonishing how much you actually need to bring with you when heading out for a day of ‘fun and relaxation’.
Beach bats and games, a good book, litres of sunscreen, hats, sunnies, umbrellas, plenty of water, swimming clothes and a change of clothes… then there are the towels, snacks, your phone, wallet and keys – the list goes on.
The best thing you can do to simplify your beach adventure is to travel with a bag that can fit all the goodies you want to bring along while protecting your valuables from the water, sand, and the odd greedy seagull… I’m looking at you, Steve!
Hopefully, this list has helped narrow down your search for the best beach bag for your needs. Regardless of whether you’re a surfer, a world-class tanner, or a stressed-out parent, there is a bag on the list for you.
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