Top beach accessories for your next trip to the seaside
Explore the most useful beach accessories for comfort, shade, entertainment, and convenience. From windbreaks to cool boxes, these essentials help you make the most of your next seaside trip.
And is there anything better than a trip to the coast? Sun on your skin, waves in the distance, and sand between your toes. As temperatures rise and summer rolls in, more people are heading to the coast to relax, recharge, and enjoy time outdoors. So, make it count with our beach essentials for a smooth and fun time.
1. Windbreaks and beach shelters
A windbreak is a lightweight barrier that protects you from wind, sand, and sun exposure. As British weather is unpredictable, it’s important to prepare for sudden gusts of chilly wind, which can feel especially unpleasant if you’ve just been for a swim!
There are plenty of windbreak options at Halfords, including inflatable or modular versions. The Halfords Windbreak offers privacy from the rest of your fellow beach enjoyers, and protection from the elements and sand to keep everyone comfortable and calm.
If you have young children or a dog, beach shelters can be a great addition as they provide shade from UV rays and a cooler, contained space to rest, eat, or nap. However, it’s very important to ensure that the shelter remains well-ventilated to encourage proper airflow for safety.
2. Bodyboards
Bodyboards are smaller, lighted boards designed to let you ride the waves. For some extra fun and exhilaration, try your luck out at sea with one! The Wham-O BoogieBoard is perfect for adults and children from ages 5+, available in sizes:
- 41.5″.
- 36″.
The ultra-smooth PE foam surfaces make for a comfortable ride while the high-density, durable bottom offers added protection, speed and performance.
3. Camping chairs
A folding arm chair can make sitting at the seaside much more comfortable and supportive than sitting on the sand, particularly for older family members.
The Halfords Ultra Light Camping Chair is quick to fold and easy to transport in its included carry bag, to make the journey from your car to the beach simple. It’s extremely lightweight at just 1kg, and folds away into 35cm x 12cm.
Or upgrade to the Premium Folding Chair to relax in style with:
- Double-layered padding.
- A built-in insulated cup holder.
4. Picnic rugs
For lunch times and post-swim snacks, a picnic blanket is the perfect addition for relaxing on the ground, especially if it’s a bit damp. They provide a clean and comfortable space for everyone to gather, and are designed to be:
- Durable.
- Waterproof.
- Easy to carry around as you move locations.
They’re also great for babies and children to rest on, just be sure to keep them protected from the sun.
5. Beach games
To engage the whole family and keep the kids entertained, bring a few bits of entertainment and different games to make sure the little ones enjoy their day out as much as the adults!
Waboba handheld games
Rethink your beach entertainment with the Waboba range. Built for reliable, long-lasting fun, get some steps in and enjoy your day out with the:
- Waboba Voli – A paddle game set that fits like a glove but hits like a racket.
- Waboba Dive Tails – Teach your kids to dive, swim underwater, or just play mermaids with cute, sand-weighted sinkers.
- Waboba Flungle – Bocce with a tail, perfect for 2 – 6 players.
Ball games
The opportunities with a ball on the beach are endless! From football to handball to playing catch in the waves, there’s plenty to do to get some extra steps in and burn off energy at the beach.
- Amaze the kids and bring along a gravity-defying Waboba Moon Ball.
- Let your pup loose and stretch their legs by throwing them a tennis ball.
For a classic, family game on the beach, you’ve got to bring a cricket set along. It lets every family member get involved and is a great bonding exercise to build lifelong memories!
For older kids, a badminton set or swingball can be lots of fun, keeping them entertained for hours!
More beach games
Sometimes children need a few minutes to relax in the shade, and how better to encourage this than to bring along some calming games:
- A Giant Stack ‘N’ Fall is perfect for the beach – it’s interactive, focus-orientated and a lot quieter as it falls on the sand!
- Great for younger children, we’ve got plenty of Hot Wheels toy cars and monsters trucks that can race through the sand and keep their imagination whirring.
6. Trolleys and cool boxes
To make it easier to bring all of your picnic essentials down to the seaside, a trolley offers practical convenience as you drag your drinks and snacks behind you.
Even better, the Halfords Striped 40L Coolbag Trolley also includes an integrated cool bag to keep your items cold, so you can open a crisp drink after you’ve set up camp.
- You can pop your ice pack in too to keep everything at the perfect temperature.
- Save your shoulders the burden of carrying it thanks to the extendable trolley handle.
If it’s a particularly warm day and you’ve got quite a drive to get to the beach, an electric cool box can make all the difference in keeping your food cold.
The Halfords 19L Electric Coolbox:
- Is powered by the in-car 12v accessory socket.
- Cools up to 18°c below the temperature of the air surrounding the cool box.
- Holds 30 x 330ml cans.
- Can even keep food warm up to +65°c – perfect for takeaways on the way home!
7. Fold-up tables
After bringing all of your snacks along, you’ll need somewhere to settle down and enjoy them, and if a picnic blanket isn’t quite what you had in mind, a fold-up table is a great alternative.
The Halfords Camping Side Table is lightweight, easy to transport, and water-resistant – perfect for any picnic setting or beach set up.
8. Additional beach essentials
We could go on and on about all of the kit to make your beach day out as enjoyable as possible. However, all of the recommendations depend on your individual needs and preferences.
Some more beach essentials worth considering are:
Perfect to fill your dog’s bowl up or wash sandy feet! The last thing you want to worry about at the beach is running out of drinking water if you’re somewhere remote, so consider bringing plenty with you.
2. Cutlery and plates
Drinking cups, knives and forks, and plates could be very useful if you’re having a BBQ or beach picnic. They’ll keep everyone feeling fresher, and hopefully prevent too much sand from getting in your sandwiches!
3. Hand-held fans
If you struggle with the increase in heat during the summer months, our motorised hand-held fans can keep you cool, calm, and connected even when you’re relaxing on the beach.
4. Portable speakers
The DAEWOO Wireless Speaker is the cherry on top for a beach day, allowing you to play your favourite summer tunes, wherever you are.
Built for portability and reliability, it offers 6 – 10 hours of playback via Bluetooth, built-in microphone for connectivity, and is dustproof and water-resistant in line with IPX7 ratings.
For even more kit for your outdoor adventures, check our our extensive camping range today.
Your ideal beach setup depends on your group size, weather conditions, and how long you plan to stay. With the right accessories and kit, you can stay comfortable, organised and ready for a perfect day at the beach!
Introducing the Halfords Motoring Club
Don’t forget that with Halfords Motoring Club, you gain access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving and safe as you head to the beach this summer.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
