Our summer guide will arm you with all of the intel you need to avoid mishaps and keep the focus on fun. We recommend coolers that will keep your drinks chilled on the hottest days, beach anchors that will stand up to a stiff breeze, and towels that easily shake free of sand. Last September Rebecca Cathey, a recent retiree from Oklahoma, was camped in her truck near Steamboat Springs, Colo., when she was woken up by the sounds of huffing, banging, and snorting outside. “Oh, my gosh,” she thought. “Something’s trying to get in the cooler!” That something turned out to be a bear. The cooler was a $350 Yeti Tundra 45, billed as bear-proof, and the animal gave up and left, presumably hungry. Score one for roto-molded polyethylene. We tested a smaller, similarly constructed cooler, the $250 Yeti Roadie 20, along with three cheaper—much cheaper—options from Coleman, Rubbermaid, and a company called Lifoam that makes disposable Styrofoam models. Our take: For a day at the beach, we would choose the Coleman 18-Quart Party Stacker (shown) or the 20-quart Rubbermaid Cooler/Ice Chest.

Both earned a Very Good in our tests for keeping ice frozen for a full day in 100° F conditions. Each costs about $20 and weighs 4.4 pounds empty. The Yeti keeps ice frozen almost twice as long, so it earned an Excellent score—but it costs 12 times as much and weighs 15.4 pounds. How about the $8 Lifoam 22 Quart Cooler? It holds more than the other models, weighs a feathery 0.6 pounds, and insulates about as well as the Coleman and the Rubbermaid. Essentially disposable, it may last only a couple of days, so it scored only Fair. If you’ve ever chased a tumbling beach umbrella down a stretch of hot sand on a windy day as other sunbathers ducked and cringed, you know how important it is to make sure it’s well-secured. But don’t rely on brute force. For extra insurance, use an anchor to hold your umbrella in place. We recently tested seven models, all sold at mass retailers and online. Four have a screw-in auger design, one is buried in the sand, and two use the weight of sandbags to secure the umbrella pole.

We set them up in damp sand, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Then we used a digital gauge to measure the amount of force needed to either pull them out of the sand or lift them off the ground. All were much better than just sticking a standard pole into the sand, but some held better than others. The Dig-Git DG-00030 Umbrella Anchor/Shovel, $40 (shown), is essentially a shovel with a hollow handle that holds your beach umbrella. You use it to dig a hole, then to anchor the pole in place after you fill the hole with sand. Of all the models we tested, the Dig-Git required the most force to extract it from the sand. The beachBUB Ultra Umbrella Base, $30, is a vinyl base that you fill with up to 120 pounds of sand, creating a weighted anchor. If you think you might have trouble twisting an anchor into the sand, this could be your best choice. The USA Sand Anchor Plastic Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor, $16, has large auger blades to keep an umbrella firmly in place.

The Tommy Bahama Deluxe 7-Foot Beach Umbrella, $65, comes with a sturdy built-in anchor. The Rio Brands XCB202CB-01 Sand Anchor, $10, has a shallow auger that didn’t hold as well as wider augers. The USA Sand Anchor Metal Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor, $18, didn’t grip the sand as well as the plastic version. It may be better for hard, rocky beaches. The Noblo Umbrella Buddy, $18, is a nylon bag that you fill with up to 30 pounds of sand. chaise lounge chair metalIt works like the beachBUB but didn’t hold as well.antique office chair ireland A soggy, sandy towel is at the top of the list of beach annoyances, along with cloudy skies and bad hair. wood rocking chair legs

So when we heard of a towel designed to resist sand and water, we wanted to try it. The Sandusa (shown) is a nylon-backed cotton towel that comes in four bright, striped patterns and costs $50 (sandusa.net). The nylon side, which you place on the sand, is “where the magic happens,” the sales pitch says. To test the claim, we created a makeshift beach in our labs, with a sand-filled box and a wet sandbag as a stand-in for a sodden swimmer. best massage chair under 2000We found that the Sandusa worked as promised. wood rocking chair kitsWhen we put it on wet sand, moisture didn’t seep through to the cotton side you lie on. herman miller chair weightWith our wet “swimmer” on it, the cotton side got wet but the sand underneath stayed dry and didn’t stick to the nylon backing. blue max folding chair for sale

Of course, on a windy day sand may still be blown onto the top of the towel. You can also use the towel to protect car seats from wet bottoms. Our chief complaints: It’s pricey! And at 63 inches long and 33 inches wide, the Sandusa is shorter and narrower than a standard beach towel. Also, it might create an unbalanced wash load, and drying in a dryer may damage the nylon. • Get the Best Sun Protectionwhere can i buy a wheelchair in toronto • The Right Sunscreen Brands for Youwicker hanging chair stand • Why Are Fitness Tracker Bands So Fragile? • Good, Cheap Gas Grills for Less Than $300 • Grill Accessories Add Some Thrills to Your Cookout Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the July 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.If you are preparing for a day at the beach, you will need an awesome beach chair.

Sure, you could just take along your favorite beach towel and hope the sand isn't so hot that it scorches you through the fabric. And you could worry about constantly washing your towels and dragging two or three along so you can lay on one, dry off with the other, and possibly take along a spare in case of disaster. You could do all of that, or you could invest in a quality beach chair to keep you and your belongings off of the hot sand. A good beach chair allows you to lounge in a reclined position while you read your favorite book, or lays flat so you can work on your summer tan. Some beach chairs come with amenities such as an attached pillow that flips to the back of the chair when not in use, pockets or slings for your drinks, books, or cell phone, and even small attached coolers for snacks and quick access to drinking water. The right beach chair will fold and be easily portable. Many come with attached straps that make them easy to carry on your shoulder so you can carry your beach bag as well and still have your hands free to wrangle the kids.

You might even choose to invest in a beach chair that has a built-in canopy to shade you from the sun and protect your skin. This is great for people who plan to be outside for hours on end or who have fair skin and are especially prone to sunburn. There are multiple benefits to taking a trip to the beach with your brand new beach chair in tow. Besides the obvious excitement of getting away from work and spending time with sand and ocean, your mind and body can tangibly benefit. Whether you are splashing in the water, running along the shore, or simply kicking back in the sunshine to enjoy your favorite book, music, or get a tan, a day on the beach will wear you out. The great thing about this is that you will sleep like a baby when you get to your bed. You will get your daily allotment of Vitamin D just by hanging out on the beach for ten minutes. Be careful not to spend too much time in the direct sunlight. Bring a form of shade and always use sunscreen! If you're hesitant about jumping into the water, don't be!

The iodine in salt water is a great way to boost your immune system . So wade up to your knees or waist and splash around with the kids or your significant other. You will start feeling rejuvenated in no time. This one might seem obvious, but you tend to get more exercise when you're outdoors. Don't spend your entire time sitting around on your beach chair. Get up, splash around in the water, or take a stroll along the sand. You will feel better if you do. Your skin will thank you for your beach trip. The sand exfoliates, while the sun detoxifies, and the salt water has antibacterial properties. If you have trouble breathing, ocean air can do wonders for your lungs . You naturally breath deeper when you're outside in fresh air. A day at the beach can exercise your lungs and increase the amount of oxygen you get. Finally, time at the beach is great for your mind. You practically have no choice but to relax and enjoy yourself. This can be replenishing and restful for your mind and help your focus when you finally do have to get back to the regular grind.

The modern beach chair most closely resembles the butterfly chair which was invented in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1938. It was designed by three architects named Antonia Bonet, Jorge Ferrari Hardoy, and Juan Kurchan. It was originally made from two steel rods that bent to hold a large leather sling, creating a chair that could be folded and carried anywhere. The butterfly chair is a version of the Paragon chair that was invented in the 1870s to create seating for campaigns. It appears that this design was expanded on to eventually create modern day portable camping chairs and beach chairs. The original beach chair was also known as the Strandkorb. It was invented in 1882 by Wilhelm Bartelmann who was a German basket maker. They were designed to shield beach patrons from the elements by providing surrounding protection on the sides and top. It kept people dry in the event of rain and also provided shade when the sun became too hot. The original Strandkorb design only seated one person, but it was eventually expanded to seat two or more people.