Best Beach Bags: Our Favorite Picks
In the style world, the eagerly anticipated Resort/Cruise wear has already hit the racks. In colder climates, shoppers look forward to this time of year when cotton sweaters in bold navy stripes and white eyelet cover-ups call to mind broad straw hats and beach vacations — a welcome escape from gray days and snow-lined sidewalks.
Here in the Lowcountry, we might easily miss this fashion transition since the Salt Life means we can enjoy the beach just about year ’round. We won’t necessarily don our swim suits every month (like our Florida friends basically can) but as long as we have a sweatshirt for winter walks along our Carolina coast, we view the beach as a welcome sunny-day destination nearly every day of the year.
That brings us to the topic of this post: best beach bags. Being prepared for the beach starts with having the right bag. The good news here is that your choices are nearly endless. The perfect beach bag is a must-have and that’s why we’re bringing you our top picks from Lowcountry Style and Living.
Our capable staff of savvy style scouts have got you covered with these 13 bag choices….definitely something for everyone! With Spring break just around the corner, what better time than now to zero in on your favorite and get it stocked for your first ‘official’ beach day of the season.
SCOUT Bags
My favorites come from the brand Scout, which is why I kick off this post honing in on their offerings. Scout gets it right with design and price point with their light, structured, sensible bags in a coated polywoven fabric for durability and wipe-clean ease. I’m still amazed by Scout’s success in designing an enormous bag which I can comfortably tote on my shoulder, even when it’s filled.
Tasteful patterns make choosing one practically impossible, so I, personally, have landed on starting a collection. The sizes and shapes, along with the ease with which they fold up for storage or packing, serve different purposes.
The 4 Boys Bag, Extra Large Tote Bag for Women, Perfect Oversized Beach Bag or Pool Bag and the Original Deano Tote haul your towels, frisbee and sand castle toys while The Stiff One Cooler Bag Insulated Tote neatly houses your lunch and snacks keeping them cold.
I like the Scout Uptown Girl Ship Shape Pocket Tote Bag for our dry changes of clothes. It even has flat outer pockets for my phone and keys on one side and a pair of roomier pockets on the other side for flip flops and easy-to-grab sunscreen.
Clear Backpack for Beach Essentials
Just like handbags, beach bags are highly personal. There’s a reason the fabrications vary from canvas to plastic to natural fibers and include everything in between.
Clear bags are gaining popularity, and it stands to reason since it’s helpful to actually be able to see what you have.
I like the idea of packing at-your-fingertips essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, hair protectant spray, novel of choice and water bottle in this kitch number available at Off Fifth: Peace Love World Women’s Boxy Logo Backpack – a perfect beach bag for one.
Tote this on your back and throw your beach bag tote, packed with towels and magazines, over your shoulder.
Canvas Lined Straw Medium Open Tote Bag in Pale Gold
Every year the first fabulous straw bag I see quickens my heart and makes me think of summer and sun. It happened in the Nashville airport recently when I spotted an unexpected straw crossbody in a flower petal design.
While that one would qualify as a perfect brunch bag, it wouldn’t work for the beach. However, many bags in natural fibers do fit the bill as go-to beach bags. The open top tote we know and love gets an update!
I’m talking about this fun surprise from reliable retailer Land’s End: the Canvas Lined Straw Medium Open Tote Bag. It affords space for your beach basics and boasts clean, classic styling.
With the option to add your name or monogram in one of 30 thread colors from subtle Dijon to preppy Light Fern, this bag is a solid choice.
Mark and Graham Beach Bags
Tasteful Mark and Graham offers a number of beach bags to suit your style and space needs. Go for the Large Hand-painted Straw Beach Bag with navy bordered pink stripe if you want that collegiate prep look or the resort-ready Malia Woven Seagrass Tote with its rows of mini pom pom fringe.
You can’t go wrong with their other beach bag options like their best seller Palm Leaf Tote, the linen-lined Straw Zipper Tote, or the striped Rio Tote which has two eye-catching pom poms.
Spartina 449 Lightweight Vinyl Navy Stripe Tote Bag
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this classic choice from South Carolina’s own Spartina 449. In waterproof, nautical-striped styling with hot pink interior, it could easily become your beach bag pick.
Begun on Daufuskie Island, this low-country company designs bags made by and for locals….and all sun-lovers! The Bucket Tote in 449 Lighthouse pattern is another favorite from their irresistible collection.
It’s shockingly large enough to hold up to six towels and who can resist it’s signature Spartina linen fabrication. How fun that they incorporate an authentic Spartina mermaid into every product either as the logo charm, as a separate charm, or on the inside pocket.
Which beach bag from our staff picks suits you? You decide. No wrong answer.
