Beach Gear for Sun, Surf and Sand

Remember the pure joy of going to the beach? If you haven’t done it in a while, it might be time to give it a try. What can be better for your mental and physical health than walking in the sand, soaking up some Vitamin D and gazing at a gorgeous expanse of blue? Here are some products to keep you protected, comfortable and stress-free while you’re there.

Swim shirt Swim shirts are not just for kids. With greater awareness of skin cancer these days, they are becoming popular for adults too. Swim shirts are lightweight, stretchy shirts that are made of nylon and spandex and provide protection from the sun while in and out of the water. Land’s End sells a variety of swim shirts for the whole family with UPF 50 (that’s Ultraviolet Protection Factor). The women’s long-sleeved swim tee costs $39 and the men’s short-sleeved swim tee is $34. Visit the Land’s End shop at your local Sears, or landsend.com.

Sand-free beach tote If you don’t want to bring the beach back to your car, try this tote from CGear. It is made with a patented weave that sifts the sand out, but does not let any in from the bottom. The CGear Sand-Free Tote Bag is 15-inches-high by 17-inches-wide and 7.5-inches-deep. It is made to be durable with a heavy-duty strap and handle. Available at amazon.com for $26.49.

Canopied beach chair There are high beach chairs and low beach chairs. Chairs with canopies, headrests and cup holders are also options. If you want to make sure you can easily get in and out of your beach chair, choose a higher one. The Copa Beach canopy hi-seat aluminum chair is a foldable chair that has it all: a movable canopy to keep the direct sun off your head, a four-position seat, two cup holders and a strap to carry it. Available at beachstore.com for $89.95.

Waterproofed Kindle Paperwhite You no longer have to be afraid to take a Kindle to the beach, thanks to a company called Waterfi, which sells waterproof (and sand-proof) Kindles. Waterfi takes brand new Kindles and waterproofs them inside and out, so they are not only more rugged but also can survive submerged to 210 feet. They are also immune to spilled drinks and smudgy lotions. You will pay more for a waterproof Kindle than an ordinary one, but it may be worth it to be able to take your electronic reading to the beach and not worry about ruining it and having to replace an expensive device. Waterfi will also waterproof your own device for $99. The Waterproofed Kindle Paperwhite is sold at waterfi.com for $240.

Originally published in the Chicago Tribune Prime Time senior living section on June 19, 2015.