Summer is officially here, people. While most of us have been dreaming about jumping into the ocean or chilling in the closest pool for weeks now, some of us—we won’t name names—haven’t even started packing for the perfect summer day. That’s why we’ve put together a hit list of apparel and gear to make sure you’ve got all the boxes checked off for an epic day at the beach.
1. First priority, you’ll need a great swimsuit to get in the water and cool off. We love the Koru Swimwear’s Agualust Rutaki Bikini top and bottom, not only because of the Wanderlust wave print by photographer and surfer Amy Johnston, which will stand out in a sea of boring swimwear, and the pullover top’s high neck and supportive structure are perfectly designed for watersports, but also because it’s made from 100% regenerated polyamide made by ECONYL®, which incorporates discarded fishing nets pulled from the ocean to make regenerated yarn. Other pluses? Koru swimwear is only assembled in factories where fair wages and working conditions are standardized, and the company is a member of 1% for the Planet and a partner of Healthy Seas, so you know your purchase is giving back to the environment while making you look great.
2. When out in the sun, don’t forget to protect your eyes. Costa Polarized Caldera sunglasses feature scratch-resistant 580G lightwave mineral glass that offer superior clarity and are 20% thinner and 22% lighter than the average polarized lense you’ll find in other sunglasses. Choosing the blue mirror lenses are perfect when you’re at the beach, by the pool, or if you’re lucky, on a boat since they’re specifically designed for light conditions near open reflective water. The best part about these Caldera sunglasses is that they’re from Costa’s Untangled Collection, meaning the nylon frames are constructed from 100% recycled fishing nets. Read more about The Untangled Collection in RANGE Magazine Issue Nine when it launches on July 23.
3. Most importantly, you’ll need to stay hydrated. There’s nothing worse than a warm bottle of water. This is where the YETI Hopper Two 20 cooler is a game changer. This soft-sided, leak-proof, mildew-resistant cooler will be the MVP of your beach day, keeping your beverages icy cold for hours on end with its closed-cell rubber foam insulation. For real though, we once left it outside in Puerto Rico packed with ice and beverages for an entire day, and when opening the next morning, we were greeted with ice cold water leftover from the previous day’s melted ice and better yet, perfectly cold beverages for immediate consumption. An added bonus is that it can double as a carry-on bag, which means you can pack your clothes in it to travel and then enjoy cold drinks the entire time you’re on vacation.
4. Last, but not least, sun safety is a must, so defend that epidermis with some SPF, preferably of the natural variety. If you’ve read the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide, you know that not all sunscreens are created equal and some can even contain harmful ingredients like oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate. Make sure to check out their list and get a top-rated EWG-approved one that won’t break the bank like Badger’s All Natural Sunscreen Cream. We especially love these Badger sunscreens because they come in unscented or lavender options, uses non-nano mineral Zinc Oxide to block the sun’s harmful rays, and is non-GMO certified, water and sweat resistant for 40 minutes, and contains organic sunflower oil, beeswax and vitamin E to soothe your skin.
Images courtesy of Koru Swimwear, Costa, YETI and Badger.
xx Alex