10 Beach Essentials for Right Now

Salt on your skin, sun on your shoulders, and a cooler that actually shows up prepared—this is the short list we pack for Atlantic days that start early and run long. Keep it simple, choose gear that earns its spot, and stay out there until the sky turns gold.

American Summer Company

American Summer Company curates coastal essentials for East Coast summer—surf checks, boardwalk miles, and long afternoons in the salt air.

1) Orange Poppi

Cold, bright, and easy to stack in the cooler—our go-to sip when the boardwalk heat starts to shimmer.

2) Pool/Ocean Float

When the tide’s mellow and the sun’s high, this is the easiest way to drift between a quick swim and a long, lazy float—pillow up, toes in the water, zero agenda.

3) Beach Tent

For long Atlantic afternoons, this beach tent gives you a breezy patch of shade between swims—quick setup, roomy for the crew, and clutch when the sun starts bouncing off the sand.

4) Beach Towel

Soft, oversized, and quick to shake out—this is the one you sling over your shoulder for boardwalk coffee runs, dune walks, and saltwater swims.

5) Cooler

Cold drinks, fresh fruit, and a little extra ice—your boardwalk-to-beach MVP for long Atlantic afternoons.

6) Sunscreen

Salt air, long drives, and midday surf checks—this is your daily layer for East Coast sun (and wind), so you can stay out from first towel drop to golden hour.

7) Beach Wagon

From the parking lot to the shoreline, this is the easy way to haul towels, coolers, chairs, and the whole day’s plan—no extra trips, no juggling, just one clean run to the water.

8) Beach Snacks

Keep it salty, crunchy, and no-fuss—snacks that can ride in the tote all day are the difference between “one more hour” and calling it early.

9) Suit You Can Surf In

Go for a suit that stays put when the waves pick up—supportive, comfortable, and ready for paddle-outs, bodysurfing, and long Atlantic days.

10) Portable Speaker

Small, clip-on, and loud enough for a windy shoreline—queue up your beach-day playlist for boardwalk walks, sandbar hangs, and the last-song sunset clean-up.