If you are going to the beach or on a cruise you probably need a pair of water shoes. Most people go to the dollar store or Wallyworld and look for the cheapest pair they can find because they think water shoes are ugly and they don’t last. But the truth is water shoes have come a long way since your mom put those ugly hot pink ones on your feet at the beach. Not only can you look cool in water shoes but you will find ways to use them after you have left that Caribbean Island. I just moved to the Islands and I bought some to use. Now I’m obsessed with them. I wear them all the time. I’m starting to wear them more than my flip flops.
The cheap mesh ones from the dollar store. These will last you 4-5 times that you wear them. They only come in split sizes like 9/10 sizes and they suck. You get what you pay for, so if you want to spend $5 on something that will break before you are done using it this is the way you want to go.
Type two
These are the neoprene ones you get at Walmart or Kmart for about $8-12. They usually come in whole sizes like 9 or 10. They will probably last for your whole vacation. But you won’t look cool and you’ll probably throw them away when you get home. These will work if you want to wear them in the pool or just on a rocky beach but they can’t handle much more than that.
Type three
Water socks. These are kind of new on the scene. I read a ton of the reviews about them and I wanted to love them. I was going to buy them before I moved to the islands. I read too many reviews that said they ripped after one or two times being worn. So the riskis, if you are buying something for a vacation and they break you may have to do without. anything for the rest of your trip. The could be a good backup option or something just for the pool.
Type four
Slip-on quick-dry shoes. These are the sweet spot. They start around $25, and they are going to last for your whole vacation and beyond. You can wear them to the pool all summer or even when you have a lot of errands to run and you think your feet will get tired from wearing flip flops all day. I’ve actually started to wear these more than my flip flops. Some days I think they are a little hotter than if I had on my flops but I think they are better for my feet and my posture.
Type five
Nice shoes you can wear in the water. This is your name brand category where you know you won’t be disappointed. Prices start around $60 an go up from there. You are going to get good materials and construction. If you live at the beach or if you do a lot of water sports they are worth the money. You can go through two or three less expensive pairs and then wonder why you didn’t just get the good ones to start with.
Alternatives
Sandals are an obvious alternative and I will just talk quickly about them. A lot of sandals are slippery when they are wet. They tend to have bad traction on rocky surfaces, and when they are wet your foot can slide around in the sandal. If you are hiking up to a waterfall or even walking on a rocky beach and you have either one of these traction problems, it can not only drive you crazy but could cause an injury if you slip or twist an ankle.
Wearing your old sneakers in the water is also an alternative. It’s a pretty sucky one, but it’s an alternative. Do you remember when you were little and you’d wear your old shoes to play in the river? In case you don’t remember, they get really heavy, they hold water, and they are always coming untied.
There is no shortage of articles talking about “This Summer’s Best Beach Hacks” or “10 Ideas for Summer Fun”. But most of them are from someone in Indiana who just grabs the 10 best sellers from Amazon and puts them in a list. That is not what you are going to get here. I’ve made the sacrifice of living at the beach and takings 1000’s of trips to the beach to find out what you really need. I’m not going to tell you about Aloe Vera ice cubes or how to store your strawberries in your cooler like the other puff pieces people write. I’m going to give you some awesome practical ideas that will help you have fun, stay safe, and save time on your next beach trip.
I’ve linked to all of the items I talk about in this post. If you see something you like just click the link, put it in your cart, then click back to the article. Then, when you finish reading the post, you look in your cart and decide which items you might be interested in buying. That way you won’t get distracted and go down the rabbit hole of looking for products and forget to finish reading this article. Ok! Let’s dive in!
How2Beach Hacks in use
1.) The Flip Flop Carabiner Trick. Nothing says it’s your first time at the beach like tromping through the sand with your flip flops on. Hot sand flying up your sweaty back and all the people around you. Put a carabiner on your belt loop or beach bag and hook it to your flops as soon as your feet hit the sand. If the sand gets too hot you can always put them back on and just look like a dork. A lot of people leave their flops at the beach access assuming no one would ever steal a nasty old pair of flip flops. But believe me, it happens all the time. I myself lost a $60 pair of flops this way. It’s also nice if you are walking to a bar or another destination and won’t be back to your chair for a while.
ProTip — Flip flops are not always the best option. Be sure you know the facts about the beach where you are going. It could be rocky or it may have creatures like Spiny Sea Urchins. Or, maybe the water is murky and you freak out when you can’t see your feet. To solve these problems get a pair of Water Shoes or Water Socks. They can make your life a lot easier.
Here is the Flip Flop Carabiner trick in action
2.) The ol‘ Cell Phone in the plastic bag trick. Everyone puts this on their list of beach hacks but they don’t know all of the advantages because they don’t live at the beach. Sure, it will keep your phone dry and keep water from ruining it. But… it also cuts down on the wind noise (this is very important). It’s usually windy at the beach and most people still need to take work calls, even on vacation. I discovered this little trick when I first moved to the beach. My boss would always call me the second I’d get to the beach and he’d hear the wind noise and ask what I was doing. Once I started using the plastic bag trick, it was just like I was back in the office and he had no clue where I was. There are even more things a Ziploc bag can do for your phone at the beach. You can snap an underwater picture if you’re brave enough to trust the bag. I wouldn’t go snorkeling for an hour but a quick shot should be fine. An actual Waterproof Cellphone Bag would be better, but either one will work. I killed a lot of phones by getting them wet when I first moved to the beach. I finally realized I could buy a Waterproof Phone but I still use one of the bags at the beach. It not only stops the wind but keeps the sand out of all the nooks and crannies.
ProTip–It’s also a good idea to bring an External Charger for your phone. If you play music with a Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker or spend hours scrolling through Facebook and Instagraming pictures of your toes you might run out of battery. And then what you do? You might have to enjoy nature! Maybe don’t tell your kids you have it when their batteries run out.
See I told you people Instagram their toes!
3.) Waterproof Cameras. When I bought my first GoPro they were all the rage and they cost around $400. I think a waterproof camera is pretty much a ‘must have item’ for any beach vacation or cruise these days. And, you don’t have to spend $400 anymore. You still can, in fact, GoPro’s newest camera is $500. However, today, there are a ton of GoPro knockoffs that will do the trick for a lot less money. I’ve decided it’s finally time to replace my Gopro Hero 3. I’ve been doing the research on which one I want to buy and I’ve settled on this one: It’s called the Akaso V50. This camera has video stabilization which is important when you are snorkeling. The waves push and pull you around and the video is a bit shaky. At $120 it’s not the cheapest GoPro alternative but I think it has more of the features I’m looking for. This one says it also has a port for an external microphone that I need for my YouTube channel. They make a version that cost half the price that is a little lower picture and video quality and it doesn’t have the video stabilizion but it does a good job. It’s called the Akaso EK7000. Both versions will let use all your old GoPro mounts too, which for me is a big plus.
ProTip– Get the Float Accessory. I’ve tried using the snorkel mount and chest mount and having the camera in your hand is the best way to film when you’re snorkeling. And if you really want to step up your video quality try using a Gimbal.
4.) Here are a couple of tips to keep your kids safe on the beach. Nothing is scarier than having a kid disappear on the beach. I’ve seen a few freaked out parents looking for kids on the beach and a few scared kids who can’t find Mom and Dad. It’s easy to get disoriented at the beach. Even more so if it’s crowded like most holiday weekends that you might find yourself at the beach. My first tip is that if your beach has lifeguards get a spot next to the lifeguard stand. Not only is the lifeguard an extra set of eyes to watch your kids, but the lifeguard stand makes a great landmark for kids to find. My second tip is that if you don’t have lifeguard stations, a colorful Pinwheel or even a balloon can make an easily identifiable landmark for the little ones, and the big ones too for that matter. The college Spring Breakers bring 15-foot tall flags so you can find their party spot. I don’t know why parents haven’t figured out something similar.
ProTip– Heaven forbid your kid actually gets lost but if they do here is a great tip. Give them a Security Tattoo. When they talk to another adult, that person will know how to find you.
If you see the lifeguard taking a siesta under the tower, know that you’re on your own.
5.) Here are a few convenience items you not have thought about. You might not need these items or every beach trip but most of them are nice to have.
Drink Holders will keep your drink out of the sand. It may not seem like a big deal if you’re not used to going to the beach. Picture this, every time you set your drink on the sand it’s usually wet from condensation, and when you take a drink all of the sand that stuck to the bottom falls on your chest and stomach. It is super annoying. Trust me…
Micro Fiber Towelsare also nice to have. They help reduce the amount of sand you bring back into your house, or your car, or your life. People ask me all the time “How can you live with sand in your shoes or your living room or even your bed all the time when you live at the beach?”. And I tell them “When I first moved to the beach it took me about 6 months to learn to accept sand into my life”. Now I hardly even notice it. Everything you can do to reduce your sand level in your life is a great beach hack. The Sand–Free Blanket is another option. But, if you have OCD it might drive you crazy when other people come into your “sand free zone” with sandy feet.
Towel Clips are also a good idea if you don’t like grabbing your towel out of the sand every time you stand up. You can also clip your Shirt, coverup, or Beach Hat to your chair when you get up to go for a dip in the water.
A Roll-Up Table will make you the envy of your beach neighbors. It will keep your snacks and things up off the sand. Food and sand don’t mix! You can even use the Towel Clips that you use to clip your towel to your chair to clip things like a bag of chips to the table so they won’t blow off every 5 seconds.
Carabiners also work great for some of these tasks. You can clip a ball cap to a chair or hang something from a Tent or Sun Shade. I also use a Carabiner Key Chain that I clip to my a cooler or shoe so I don’t lose my keys. It has a bottle opener and a screwdriver on it so I always feel like a man too (Even in my Speedo). And at the end of a long day it‘s nice to be able to get home.
ProTip– Don’t bring your 80-pound cooler for a day at the beach. It’s total overkill. Bring something lightweight like a Backpack Cooler or Soft Side Cooler. Owning a backpack cooler will change your life. I use mine all the time.
Pack light and travel easier
6.) Finally, here are some tips about fun and games. A lot of beaches are starting to ban alcohol. I just saw this product the other day and thought it was pretty funny. It’s a flask that looks like sunscreen. It reminded me of when we went our first cruise we used these rum runners. We bought the rum runners so we wouldn’t have to pay like $2,000 to get the ‘all you can drink’ alcohol plan on the ship. Which we ended up buying anyway because it was more fun to go to the bar and get an umbrella drink than to sneak off to the room to make another rum and coke. Plus, they didn’t check us when we got back on the boat at the various ports. So every time we got off the boat and bought duty-free alcohol, we just brought it back to our room instead of turning it over to the alcohol police. So we came back with more alcohol than we smuggled onto the cruise.
This Blow-Up Chair is something I don’t own but I think it looks like fun. I won’t say what I think it looks like because I want this post to be approved for all ages. The reviews are great and say that sand doesn’t stick to it. If Amazon had free delivery where I live in the Islands I’d buy it and give it a try. I give it a strong ‘potential buy’ rating.
Here are two games that look like a lot of fun, although, I don’t personally own them. The first one is Waterproof Cards. I don’t think they have a lot of potential for the beach because of the wind. But I like them for the pool. The Second one is this Kubb game, it really looks like fun. I’ve seen it a few times over the years and then I always forget to buy it. I am definitely going to order it and pick it up the next time I go Stateside. Basically, it is a game where you throw sticks at sticks. How could that not be fun? And… you still have a free hand to hold a drink. I think all good games should leave one hand free so you can still hold your drink. For instance, corn hole, horseshoes, bocce ball, etc. all one-handed games.
ProTip — I don’t bring games to the beach unless there are at least two or three couples. It seems like they don’t every get used when its just my wife and I sitting at the beach.
This list of beach hacks only goes to SIX but I think there are like a hundred awesome ideas packed in there. And the best part is that I have put in the links so you can just click on them and buy anything that looked fun, right down to the Ziplock bags. I want to make your life easier (isn’t that what aHackis all about). And I don’t want you to forget something and then wait like 3 years to get it (like me and that dang Kubb game). So if you want it, just buy it here. And if you think this article has some good insight, please share it. I’m just getting started with this website so I need all the help I can get.
If you have some great beach hacks put them in the comments. If it is a good one I’ll probably steal your idea, take full credit for it, and put it in my next post. But you can feel proud that your idea made it to the masses… You’re welcome.
This Iguana is wishing he new How2Beach because now he is stuck on this rock.
I’m
super excited that you found your way to How2Beach. This is going to be
fun! That’s why I built this site… To Have Some Fun. But, I also know
that people need some of this beach wisdom I’ve accrued over the years.
This is not going to teach you how to retire and be a Beach Bum. I have
another sight on how to retire early if you want to check it out click here,
but I’m not going to talk about any of that stuff on this site. Here, I
will show you how to not look like a tool at the beach. I’ll teach you
how to keep your boss from knowing you’re at the beach when you are
playing hooky. I’ll show simple DIY beach hacks I’ve come up with and
I’ve composed a kick-ass catalog of products that will make your days at
the beach, more fun, easier, and just a better experience. I’m one of
those people who is always trying to think of how to make a product
better or invent something that will make your life better. In fact, to
this day, I have exactly zero patents.
That’s right… zero. My ideas either already exists
or my wife won’t give me the money for product development for the
remote-controlled beard trimmer I think will change the world. So, it
finally came to me in a flash. And by flash, I mean watching YouTube
videos. I am always making stuff to take to the beach and buying a
better version of my old stuff to take to the beach. So I thought “what
if I put all of those products together in one place for folks to
enjoy”. But, then I thought “how will they find this utopia of beach
shopping?”. I needed to find a way for people to find it. And then BAM!
A real flash! I remembered all of the clever video ideas I have in my
brain about how to not look like a tourist at the beach. And Voila! I
decided to put them all together and How2Beach was born.
I decided to see how many video ideas I
had rolling around in my head and I scribbled out 22 video ideas in
about 2 minutes. So, I really think this is going to be fun. Hopefully,
you will find this information entertaining and useful. I saw someone
else use the term ‘Infotainment’ and I loved it. I hope they didn’t
trademark it or I might get in trouble because I can’t remember who it
was.
If you just came here to watch the
videos and read the blog post, ENJOY. If you see a product you want to
buy, please do. I try to stick to products I use and I know. In full
disclosure, I also get a small percentage of the sale for my trouble.
But, I’ve worked hard to find the best products and I also try to find
the best deals on them so that way you don’t have to shop around or
waste a lot of time. So you can spend more time on the beach.
I’ve lived at the beach for than a decade now. And before my life in the beach I lived in the mountians in Montana. Both are tourist areas which are full of… you guessed it… tourist!
The locals take great joy in watching the stupid things the tourist do when they are out of their natural environment. I’m sure all of you reading this are way ahead of the curve in this department. But, living in tourist areas and making fun of tourists for most of my life has me super conscious about my behavior when I’m on vacation or somewhere I’m not familiar with. I won’t go into all of the stories of things I’ve seen tourist do, but that might make a great post for a later date. I’ll just get right to the point and go over some things that will help you fit in at the beach.
Here are 27 Tips on how to look cool and like you know what you are doing when you are at the beach.
Don’t wear your flip flops in the sand. It will flip sand up your back and flop it on everyone when you walk by them. Just take them off and carry them. Or use acarabiner to clip them to your belt loop or beach bag.
Mind the tide. Some beaches have a greater tide movement than others. I can’t tell you how many times we sat on the beach in Folly Beach and watched people sitting in the same spot for 4 hours. The tide slowly crept closer and closer to them until they were finally shocked by a wave getting their stuff all wet. That is funny every time.
Don’t overpack. I’ll do a video or another post on what to pack later. But think of how long you will be there and try to figure out what you really need.
Pick up your trash! I should have made this number one. I don’t think it takes much explaining. If you really want to look cool pick up a couple of pieces of trash that aren’t yours.
Also, Hold onto your Butt! Don’t put your cigarette butts in the sand. People think if they put them one inch below the sand that they disappear, but they don’t. Take them with you.
Use Reef Safe Sunscreen. If you’re at a beach that has coral or any kind of reef you really need to start using Reef Safe Sunscreen. Some beaches are starting to issue fines if you don’t use. Plus, if you went to a beach to snorkel and look at the reef doesn’t it just make sense to try not to kill it?
Bring Proper Foot Wear. There are many types of beaches and they require different types of footwear. A nice white sand beach might be calling for bare feet. But if the sand if even a shade darker and it’s a tan color, it can get really hot. And you don’t want to be flicking hot sand up your sweaty back in flip flops. So you might need a pair of sandals. And some beaches are rocky so you might want a water sock or water shoe that you keep on the whole time. I will link to a video on some reviews.
Keep it to yourself. The noise that is. The day of the boombox is long gone. Sound doesn’t travel very well at most beaches so a Bluetooth speaker at a low to moderate level might be ok. It depends on if the beach you are on has waves making noise and a lot of other noisy people. Also, don’t scream at your kids to get out of the water, and stop hitting their sister and don’t throw sand. Get up and go talk to them. It can drive people crazy. The same goes for barking dogs. Just try to be courteous. It isn’t that hard to figure out how to be a good neighbor.
Which brings me to where to set up. Don’t set up your tent and beach chairs and BBQ grill right in front of a couple laying on their towels. And if there is room give yourself some space between you and your neighbor. At some beaches, they have rental chairs that try to get all the good spots. I’m fine with aggravating them because they should have to be set back a bit farther back from the water (This is my opinion. Your not going to change my mind if you own a chair rental company so don’t give me a big speech.)
Drinking and Peeing. Everybody knows that everyone who is drinking or even just sitting on the beach is going to have to pee at some point. And everyone is going to go into the water to pee. So if this is you, do us all a favor and go out a little deeper. We don’t want to see pee going down your leg watch you squat in 6 inches of water. I seriously see this all the time. Go out to chest-deep and do your business so that people are at least guessing if that is what you are doing.
When you shake it, think about wind direction. I’m talking about your towel of course. When you get up to leave and you pick up your towel and all of your other beach stuff, the wind is going to blow the sand. So if the beach is crowded sometimes you can slide your towel back to an unpopulated spot to shake it off. If you can’t just don’t lift it up over your head and wave it around. Try to keep it close to the ground to limit the sand’s travel distance.
Sex on the beach. Just don’t do it. It sounds like a fun bucket list item, but sand in your nether regions is not any fun, and in the water can expose you to some bacteria issues. So just count your sex in your hotel room at the beach, as your beach sex. I know that has you thinking about the balcony, doesn’t it? Well, that’s your call. I’m not going to get into that debate.
Games. Corn Hole, Bocce Ball, Frisbee, Beach Beer Pong, they are all tons of fun. Take them to the back of the beach behind everyone. They usually get loud and involve a fair amount of cursing and other jovial activities. Something about the beach makes people want to be seen and make a spectacle of themselves. Just go to the back of the beach and let everyone enjoy the view they came for. And if your a rookie kite flyer or in charge of one (aka your 10-year old kid) think about the crash zone. If they have 200 feet of line out and crash it into someone, it is going to hurt.
Fishing. I love to fish from the beach. I couldn’t sit on the beach without my fishing rod because I didn’t think I was doing anything. Well, technically I was probably still drinking, but I like to fish. That is why I usually go to the beach around 4:00. Most tourists get out of the water about for and then leave to get showered and ready to go out to dinner. Besides, most fish doesn’t bite in the middle of the day. And people in the water do not look to see if anyone is fishing. So the burden is on you to not catch them. And, my travel tip is whether you are flying or driving buy a 4 piece rod so it is easier to travel with.
Surfing. I’m guessing most surfers know what to do so I won’t tell y’all. But, if you see surfers out in the water when double red flags are flying don’t think it is ok for you to get in the water. They know what they are doing and they are attached to a floatation device. Mind the Flags!
Tents. I touched on placement earlier, but I want to make another point. Take them down when you leave. I know at a lot of beaches people leave them up because they are too lazy to take them down and put them up the next day. Or they are trying to save their primo spot. But I’ve seen a ton of them get taken out by the tide because tourists don’t know how high the tide goes. Also, turtles and other marine life get stuck in them. Not to mention it just looks tacky. So take all of your stuff with you when you leave. They make a lot of tents and sunshades that are very easy to put up to take down.
Digging Holes. If you dig a hole fill it in before you leave. This is another big problem for turtles and humans. Turtles get stuck and or disoriented by them. And lots of humans walk the beach at night and they cause a lot of injuries. So if you think digging is fun, you should be equally excited about filling in.
Lights. (I seem to be on a roll for turtle safety). Turtle season is pretty long and lights on the beach are a big problem for them. They come out of the water and lay eggs and lights from humans can easily make them disoriented. They use the moon to find their way back to the water. If you are staying in a house on the water your porch lights can lead turtles in the wrong direction. They are usually exhausted from laying eggs and if they end up under your deck they will probably die.
Bottles. Another one this is just not cool. I wish beach town would only sell canned beer. And I know your favorite beer may only come in a bottle. I also know you are super careful and wouldn’t break your bottle on the beach. But accidents happen and bottles break. Also, most people put their trash in the cans on the beach, if they are provided. And those cans get tipped over all the time. So just do us all a favor and sacrifice with some good ‘ol can beer like the old days in high school. You can tell stories that start with “remember when”.
If you are lucky enough to be in a place that allows dogs on the beach pick up their poo. And if your dog is a runner keep it on a leash. Any place that still allows dogs is probably just hanging on by a thread. So show people how nice it can to have the pooches on the beach and don’t screw it up for everyone.
Seagulls. Another one for the category of ‘please just don’t do it’. I didn’t really think this was going to be a list of what not to do when I started writing it. But, these are the things I see people doing that drive everyone crazy. If you want to feed the seagulls, first of all, you’re going to get pooped on, so please go where everyone around you won’t get pooped on too. And, just so you know, feeding any wild bird, dolphin, shark, whatever, is illegal and very bad for the animal you are feeding. I did do it once, but just for a second and to try out the slow-motion on my first GoPro
G-Strings, Mankinis and other types of skimpy clothing. I say you’re at the beach go for it. Don’t be gross in front of kids. But, I think anything goes.
Topless beaches. This one can throw you off a little when you’re not used it. So just relax an be cool and don’t be the person tring to get sneaky pictures.
Nude Beaches. I actually went to a nude beach by accident in Hawaii one time. This can really throw you off. So I’d say if you’re not willing to get rid of your tan lines too, it might be best to go to another beach.
Driving on the beach. This is still allowed in a few places. Keep it slow and keep it where you are supposed to be driving. I’ve seen several stories of sunbathers getting run over. And do not try to drive half in the water half on the sand. You will get stuck and this can be a big problem. You don’t want to be like these guys
If they don’t have showers at the beach be sure to rinse off your stuff when you get home. Things like the little screws in your sunglasses, your key chain and everything else can develop rust pretty quick if you don’t take care fo them. I wash everything, snorkels, coolers, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc.
Just be cool. The beach is where people go to relax and unwind and some people go to get wild and party. There are different beaches for different activities. Even different sections of the same beaches for different activities. So just be sure you are in the right place. It’s not hard to be cool at the beach. Just don’t be a dick and you are going to be fine.
