What to Bring to the Beach Maui Edition 2019
What to Bring to the Beach Maui Edition: Get your FREE Checklist at the bottom!
Probably one of the reasons you're going to Maui is for the beautiful, tropical beaches. Picnic at the beach, swinging from a hammock between palm trees while breathing in the fresh ocean breeze. But there can be a lot to bring and it's easy to forget something. Wondering what to bring to the beach?
In no particular order, I've put together my beach vacation checklist:
Floaty
You'll either want a small floaty or a big one, but get something you can relax on, out on the water. If you're traveling, your best bet is a floaty that you can pack in your bag. They sell floaties in a lot of the little knick-knack stores though. So unless you have one you really want to use, wait until you get to the island to buy an inflatable floaty.
That being said, this inflatable SUP is pretty rad.
Amazon Prime also works in Hawaii, but it doesn't get there in two days (sucks, right?).
You can either go for the traditional float that you can relax on. Think lounge chair on the water.
Or you could get a surfboard. Or a boogie board. Or a kayak. Or dry bag? Inflatable kayak?
Inflatable standup paddleboard? The sky's the limit!
Solar Battery
If you've read any of my other posts, you know I like this portable battery. It has
- plenty of power to keep your devices powered all day (and then some),
- it's water resistant (I don't trust that any electronic is completely waterproof by itself, but I don't have any reason to doubt this one),
- it can be powered by the sun (the solar power is great in a pinch)
- and it has a built-in flashlight too
Phones, eReaders, iPods and music players (that's one of my go-to's) and even cars (some portable batteries can jump a dead car battery) are all a part of daily life.
Could we survive without them?
Yes, but why would we want to?
Besides, you never know when you'll need that extra emergency power.
This is my favorite. You can check my more in-depth review here.
Waterproof Phone Cases
Now are the days that we carry around thousands of dollars around in our pockets.
Cash?
No. Well, at least not me. Maybe on Maui, I suppose.
Phones have all but replaced computers now. Anything you can do at your laptop at home, you can pretty much do on your laptop now.
Being exposed to the elements of daily life, you need to protect that small bar of gold in your pocket or purse.
Lifeproof cases are the best, but they are more for the more serious outdoorsman or -woman.
They're waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and generally lifeproof.
You don't want to be constantly taking it on and off of your phone though, as many people I've talked to say that's the one thing that weakens the case, making it so it doesn't work as well.
If you don't want to go dig in and commit to that slightly bigger and less pretty version of your phone, you can always get a sealable waterproof case. They don't tend to be as reliable but if you're only planning to use a handful of times, it'll probably do the trick.
When you're done with it, you can use it for less important things like electronic car rental keys (car rental places kind of expect them to get wet), ID's and money. They come with a lanyard so you can hang on to them while you're in the water.
Another good thing about waterproof cases is that they tend to be sand proof as well.
Sand always finds its way into everything and it could start to cause problems if you got sand in any of your phone's ports, especially considering how expensive phones are becoming.
While some phones claim to be waterproof and dustproof, it's never a bad thing to be sure. After all, a $10 – $20 could save you $1200 in the long run, not to mention the headache of retrieving all of your photos and contacts from the cloud, if you even can.
Dry Bags
Just like waterproof phone cases, one of the nice things about dry bags are that they keep a lot of things at bay, not just water.
While everyone loves the beach, it can be a big hassle cleaning sand off of everything. It's hard enough getting it off of yourself and trust me, you'll find it everywhere.
One of the best things for the question: what to bring to the beach?
Dry bags.
Dry bags do a great job at keeping not only water away from your stuff, but sand, dirt, and dust as well.
One piece of advice when using your dry bag though, while you may think of it as your backpack, don't put water bottles in it.
It's not a good day when you go the extra mile to get a dry bag to keep everything dry and you open up your pack, only to have everything be wet after your water bottle opened up in there.
I know it may seem like a good idea at the time, but it's never really a good idea to put a water bottle in your dry bag.
Water Shoes
Water shoes can come in handy in many places but especially in Maui. The water shoes I like not the classic ones from the 1990s.
These shoes actually look and act like regular shoes. They are lightweight, breathable, are great for hiking, drain easily and can be worn in casual, everyday life without anyone being the wiser that they are water shoes.
This is one of those Amazon purchases that you would initially be hesitant about because of the generic and cheap look of them but they are also the ones that you will be pleasantly surprised with.
These shoes are an awesome overall buy and you'll probably find yourself buying a pair as gifts for your friends and family, maybe even an extra backup pair for yourself.
Sandals
I'm a huge fan of Oofos.
It feels like you're walking on a cloud.
No one is ever impressed until they step into a pair and you can see all of the pain just melt away in their face, even if they aren't in pain!
They might not seem like they would hold up very well at first either, but I have put mine through the wringer and both sandals are still in one piece.
Maybe not great for style, but soo good for comfort.
They are also meant to be (or at least used as) recovery shoes for runners, so there's that.
Sometimes they go on sale, but they're worth every penny even when they aren't on sale.
I say go for it.
Swimsuit
One of the key beach essentials is your swimsuit!
For guys, hybrid shorts are the way to go.
They're made of the same material many board shorts are made from, but they can function as casual shorts too.
Many of them have pockets and some even have a zipper pocket so you're not stuck walking around with your phone or wallet banging against your knee.
Although if your wallet is big and heavy enough that it hurts you to have it banging your knee, life is pretty good for you.
First world problems.
You can get them at the local Costco, here on Maui, or you can find them online.
I have pairs from Costco and bought different ones from Amazon and they both work great!
Here are the ones I got from Amazon.
Snorkel Mask
Chances are that you're going to want to get in the water when you're at the beach.
Turtles are everywhere off the shoreline on Maui and you will likely see one pop its head up while you're hanging out on the strand.
But whatever you do, don't grab a full face mask.
They seem like a cool idea but people have died on Maui using them. I have a friend that works on a snorkel charter boat who told me that one of the first things the US Coast Guard asks after responding to a snorkeler in distress (drowning) is if they were wearing a full face mask.
Check out this article, or don't, and just trust me.
Some snorkel masks are better than others and I like this one. The strap on this one is the most comfortable strap you'll find and it won't get tangled in your hair, if you have long hair. Even if you don't, it's super comfortable.
Snorkel Fins
You'll see amazing photos on Instagram of freedivers in the water, swimming with all sorts of marine life and wearing the long freediving fins.
Freediving fins are great, but they have their place.
One place they're not great for is the plane. They aren't great travel fins.
If you're planning on a leisurely snorkel trip, stick with the shorter fins.
Longer fins give you more power, especially for depth, but shorter fins are easier to travel, still help a lot with power over no fins and also don't cost nearly as much as the long ones.
Chances are if you get the long freediving fins just for a vacation, you'll never wear them again, you'll pay extra to have them in their own separate bag on the plane and you'll be out $300 to $400.
These smaller travel fins work great and pack easily. They give you enough power that you noticeably have more control in the water and they're not as hard to maneuver when in the water.
Longer fins are better for depth and freediving but if you're not planning on diving deeper than twenty feet, short fins are the best bet.
The Wildhorn fins are also awesome. They are hybrid shoe/fins. Their blades are short enough that you can walk around when wearing these bad boys but as soon as you get in the water you have your fins and you're ready to go.
Your feet will be protected from the sharp lava rock (it's everywhere) and you'll have built-in fins.
Think Aquaman. Or Aquawoman.
Waterproof Music
I love music.
I'm an audiophile, through and through.
I usually have a separate device like the old-school iPod everywhere I go so I can have my music with me.
When I found these headphones, it was a game-changer.
There are headphones now that are waterproof and their own built-in storage so you don't have to have your phone (or iPod) with you. That way, if you go for a swim, you don't have to be without your music.
That's how much I like my music.
These Pyle Headphones on Amazon are amazing. waterproof, they have 8gb built-in and when you don't need to use the storage and you have your phone nearby, you can switch it to Bluetooth mode so you can listen to Pandora or Spotify or whatever music you keep on your phone.
Waterproof Camera
GoPro.
GoPro has redefined the world of action cameras.
They're waterproof, dustproof, weatherproof, childproof (unless you're Dennis the Menace, and maybe even then).
They have been refined to one of the highest quality and easy to use cameras around to document your memories.
The GoPro Hero 7 has been engineered so that it doesn't need a waterproof case if you're in the water up to 30-feet and it has an internal stabilization system to get rid of video shakiness.
It also only has two buttons to keep things simple. Video or photo. Nice and easy.
GoPro. It's the way to go.
Drone
DJI Mavic 2
Waterproof Flashlight / Headlamp
Rechargeable, Waterproof, Low Profile
First Aid Kit
Always a good thing to have. Travel
Water Drone
Indiegogo has come out with a water drone. It's not the greatest for the light traveler as it comes with its own suitcase but it's pretty awesome to have control of your own little submarine.
Youcan
Water Toys
fun things to bring to the beach
Dive toys
Frisbee
Towels
You could sun dry but it's generally a good idea to bring a towel. It'll give you something to lay on and you can obviously use it to dry off.
Sun Shade
Umbrella
You might be on Maui to catch some rays but the sun and sunburn creep up on you pretty quickly.
Canopy
Sometimes umbrellas are too big and bulky and aren't practical.
Sunshade canopies are nice because they can fold up into a compact and compressible package and you don't feel like you're carrying around a bat as you might with an umbrella.
Sunscreen
One thing that's a must is sunscreen.
Boogie Boards
Boogie boards are a great all-around beach item. Float, surf, seat. Many uses in one simple product.
Waterproof eReader
As useful as Netflix is, sometimes it's nice to get away. Books still trump movies and shows in my mind. Your imagination is much more powerful than anything that can be portrayed on the big (and little) screen.
Amazon has really stepped it up with the Kindle Paperwhite. It now can hold twice what it was once able to, you can read it perfectly in the sunlight and during the night time too, and it's also waterproof.
The waterproof feature is key for the beach, which is why it is the top eReader in my mind.
Snacks
Easy to forget but snacks are key.
Wondering what food to bring to the beach?
Insulated Water Bottle
Yeti's the best. Hydroflask is good too.
Insulated Cooler
Yeti Collapsible Cooler
This Yeti Cooler is a pay-for-what-you-get product.
It might be expensive but it will keep your food and drinks cold for days. It's also much easier to take places than its sister cooler.
Yeti coolers are things of legends with stories saying that there was still ice in the cooler after two weeks of camping.
Whether or not your ice will last two weeks, you can rest assured that it will last you your day at the beach.
This Yeti cooler is a great buy that I never regretted, nor will I regret.
If you have the money to spend on it, it's totally worth it.
Hydroflask Backpack
Another great option is the Hydroflask Backpack. It's easier to carry around (not that the Yeti cooler is difficult to carry) and it also keeps your drinks cold.
It doesn't fit as much in it but it's an awesome addition to your armada if you spend a lot of time in the sun and the outdoors.
Sand-Proof Mat
Going to the beach? You're going to need a mat to sit on!
This is a great addition to your beach packing list.
Waterproof, made of rip-stop material, large enough for a family and it's worth it alone for the amount of sand it keeps you from cleaner up later.
One thing about the sand on an island is that it gets everywhere.
You can stay completely away from the beach during your time on Maui and you would still find sand in your suitcase (theoretically. I'd be surprised if anyone in the history of Maui did that).
Having a beach mat to separate you from the sand will save you lots of cleaning time and sweeping at the condo.
This is a great one that you can get on Amazon.
That's a Wrap
day at the beach checklist
what to bring to the beach
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