Going to the beach doesn’t have to be a hassle. Make it so you have one less thing to fill your hands with by using a beach backpack instead of trying to carry everything in your hands, and inevitably ending up having things fall out.
7 Beach Backpacks
- Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack – Best Overall
- Alpaca Go Drawstring Bag – Best Small Day Bag
- Lunch Backpack – Best With A Cooler
- BeeGreen Swim Bag – Best For Families
- Paw Patrol Kids Swim Bag – Best for Kids
- HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag – Best For Keeping Things Dry
- Jansport Mesh Pack Backpack – Best Mesh Bag
Why Choose a Backpack for the Beach?
Having a backpack can be a lot more convenient than an over the shoulder bag, a wagon, or nothing at all, and for a few reasons! It keeps your hands free to carry anything else to the beach, like a cooler, and won’t hurt your shoulder.
Over the shoulder bags can be great for the beach because you can stuff so many things into it, but that will create a strain on one shoulder and inevitably you’ll be switching which shoulder it’s on every 2 minutes. A backpack will be much more comfortable, distributing the weight over both shoulders.
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Backpacks also often have a bunch of extra pockets, so you’ll easily be able to separate the items so they don’t get lost, or your electronics getting wet and sandy from beach towels and toys.
Backpacks come in so many different shapes and sizes; you’ll be able to choose the one that best fits your needs for going to the beach, whether you want a dry bag, a cute bag, one with a cooler inside, or one to carry everything for your family!
You may also be interested in: 5 beach bags for moms, 10 gifts for beach lovers
7 Beach Backpacks For A Great Day At The Beach
1. Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack – Best Overall
This Venture Pal 40L backpack is our top pick for a a beach backpack.
Whether you’re traveling to get to the ocean, or live rally close, this is the perfect backpack. 40 liters is a ton of space, so you’ll have no problem carrying your towel (or multiple towels), a change of clothes, lunch, a hat, sunscreen, books, and maybe even some beach games in this backpack.
It has many pockets, so everything can have it’s space. Even better than just specific pockets, it has a wet pocket. This pocket is designed specifically to hold wet items so everything in the bag doesn’t get wet. Perfect for wet swimsuits or goggles, or anything else. It can be reached from the inside of the bag or the outside.
Not only does this bag have many pockets, but it can also be folded up into a pocket of it’s own for easy storage or to make it easy to travel with. This bag also comes in many different colors so the hardest part about buying this bag will be choosing which option to go with!
2. Alpaca Go Drawstring Bag – Best Small Bag
It wouldn’t be right to have a list of beach backpacks without having a drawstring bag on it. Drawstring bags are so easy to just grab and stuff with all of your items.
They’re usually fairly cheap too, so you don’t have to worry about sand or water ruining your bag. These alpaca go drawstring bags are a great choice for a drawstring beach backpack because they are lightweight and water resistant.
There is a small zipper pocket on the inside so your keys don’t get lost in the bottom of the bag. Thees bags are bright and vibrant colors so you’ll easily be able to recognize your bag and find it on the beach after you’ve gone into the ocean or for a walk on the sand.
Check Current Price at Walmart
3. Lunch Backpack Insulated Cooler Backpack – Best Backpack With A Cooler
If you’re going to spend a day at the beach, it’s important to stay both hydrated and fed. Choosing a beach backpack that has a cooler pouch attached to it is a great option for this reason. That’s what makes this lunch backpack a great choice.
This way you don’t have to lug around a cooler with you, and can just carry the weight on your back! There’s still extra space at the top of this backpack when the cooler pouch is in use, so you’ll still have some space for carrying other items to the beach.
It has many pockets, so you’re not likely to lose anything in here! This bag comes in two different size options, so you can decide how much space you think you’ll need.
But for carrying a towel and food, I’d suggest the larger one.
Check Current Price at Walmart
4. BeeGreen Swim Bag – Best for Families
This BeeGreen Swim Bag is a great option if you’re trying to haul a bunch of items to the beach, which is why it’s great for families. It’s large enough to carry a basketball, so holding multiple towels will be no problem at all.
It can easily be folded up when not in use, so it can even stay in your car for emergency trips to the beach, or easily in the undercarriage of a stroller.
This bag also has some pockets on the front for extra storage of items you don’t want to get lost in the main part, or for a water bottle.
5. Paw Patrol Kids Swim Bag – Best for Kids
This Paw Patrol kids swim bag is a great choice for kids to bring to the beach so they can carry their own things. And what better way than to have some of their favorite characters on it!
With a mesh top, it’s easy to shake the sand out without everything falling out. There’s also two water bottle pockets on each side, so your kids can stay hydrated without you having to carry their drinks.
on the front is a zip pocket, that can either carry snacks or goggles to the beach, or carry seashells and rocks on the way home without fear of them falling out.
6. HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag – Best For Keeping Things Dry
If you’re looking more for a backpack to take you on water adventures, a great option is this HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag. Not only can you put all of your items into this beach backpack for a day at the beach, but you can also take it with you kayaking, or anywhere else it might get splashed.
This dry bag will make sure your items all stay dry, no matter what the activity.
It comes in a variety of sizes, so you can choose the size you think will be best for you, wehter just one to carry a towel and some personal items in, or carry a full day’s worth of items for the whole family.
Check Current Price at Walmart
7. Jansport Mesh Pack – Best Mesh Backpack
There are so many mesh backpacks to choose from, but our top pick for the best mesh each backpack is the Jansport Mesh Pack.
It’s got the traditional Jansport backpack shape, but with the added bonus of being made entirely out of mesh. This is great for going to the beach because you can see all of your items without opening the bag, have the extra pockets, while not worrying about bringing too much sand home with you because it will all go out through the holes!
it comes in a variety of different colors, so you can choose which is your favorite.
Check Current Price at Dick’s Sporting Goods
Looking for other mesh backpacks? Find 8 other great options here.
Now It’s Time To Go To The Beach
Now that you’ve picked out a beach backpack, it’s time to pack it and head out to the ocean! Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, stay hydrated, and have fun!
Keep reading: Is it safe to swim in the ocean at night?