Affiliate ProductsChicago Beach Packing List: 7 Items You’ll Be Glad You Brought

Chicago Beach Packing List: 7 Items You’ll Be Glad You Brought

Seven smart, and convenient items that will upgrade your day at one of Chicago's beautiful beaches.
A picture of the Playhot Portable Fan.
Image by Voyajer Media

There are over 26 miles of lakefront beaches in Chicago, stretching from Juneway Beach in Rogers Park to Calumet Beach on the south side. As soon as the first hint of summer shows up to provide much needed relief from the seemingly endless winter months, the residents of the city flock to the sandy Lake Michigan shores.

No matter what your itinerary for a day at the beach looks like, packing the right gear can make all the difference. While the vibes on the are certainly unbeatable, you’ll want to make sure that nothing can spoil your fun, by staying comfortable, protected, and prepared. This list covers seven smart, and convenient items that are sure to upgrade your relaxing Chicago beach day.

The Playhot Portable Handheld Turbo Fan is a very affordable travel companion that is compact and surprisingly powerful. With five adjustable speed settings, its for any day spent outside in the summer heat.

The fan is lightweight enough to fit around your neck, and can also fit perfectly inside any travel pack. Its battery lasts up to 12 hours when fully charged, so you can enjoy its refreshing airflow for your entire outing, and then some.

A picture of the Playhot Portable Fan.
Image by Voyajer Media

The JBL Flip 6 is a portable speaker that packs a punch. With a design that’s both waterproof and dust-proof, it’s perfectly made for beach days.

Combine that with its crisp sound quality and 12 hour battery life, and you also have an ideal accessory for rooftop gatherings, backyard parties, or just lounging around the house.

An image of the JBL Flip 5 Speaker.
Image by Voyajer Media

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In a market flooded with new and trendy water bottles, Owala remains one of the best for your buck. If you’re looking to keep your water icy cold during long days at the beach, then The Owala FreeSip Water Bottle is a great accessory.

Made from durable stainless steel and available in different sizes, and dozens of colorful finishes, this water bottle will quickly become one that you can’t leave the house without.

An image of the Owala Free Sip water bottle.
Image by Voyajer Media

If you’re looking for a stylish way to keep litter off the beach, and out of our beautiful lake, you can start with these glass drinking straws from Ninth Calico.

Crafted from durable, borosilicate glass, they offer a great way to enjoy your beverage, in whatever color you’d like!

An image of the Ninth Calico glass drinking straws.
Image by Voyajer Media

The YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler is next to none when it comes to keeping your food fresh and your drinks icy cold. The Hopper features an interior that is both insulated and leak-resistant, so its guaranteed to keep whatever you put inside cold for hours, even during the hottest of summer temperatures.

The cooler’s compact design makes it effortlessly portable, but still more than able to hold a full case of drinks.

An image of the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler.
Image by Voyajer Media.

Nothing ruins your time relishing in nature more than a swarm of flies, but The AMIAEDU Fly Fan will have you more prepared than ever, this summer. Lightweight and compact, it provides a great way to keep bugs away from your food and drinks.

The fan blades are soft to the touch, so they are safe for children and pets. They also are equipped with a holographic strip, which confuses insects, and adds an extra layer of defense against nature’s pests. This is a tool that you definitely won’t want to be without!

An image of the AMIAEDU Fly Fan.
Image by Voyajer Media

Sunscreen is a vital tool for defending yourself against harmful UV rays, but there aren’t many people who enjoy the greasy feel, or the white streaks it sometimes leaves behind.

One solution that we’ve found is the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion. Made with broad-spectrum protection, it helps protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays without the mess.

An image of the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion.
Image by Voyajer Media

We hope you like the products we recommend! Just as a heads up, as an Amazon Associate, ChicagoCentric may collect a share of the sale from the links on this page.

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