8 awesome beach accessories you didn’t know existed

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Everyone knows to pack a swimsuit, towel, and bottle of sunscreen before heading to the beach. 

There are also some less obvious items you should pack to not only improve your time spent by the water, but actually solve some of your biggest beach frustrations.

From taking Instagram-worthy pictures to keeping all your valuables safe, here are eight products you'll want to before your next trip to the beach.

A waterproof phone case

Amazon

In 2017, your smartphone is basically an extension of yourself: It's your calendar, notebook, and camera. Dropping it in the water as you take a beach selfie would be a nightmare, so you may want to pick up Joto's slim waterproof case.

The case is made up of a clear bag, two surprisingly sturdy locks, and a wrist strap, so you can easily hold onto your phone while swimming. Unlike most cases, you can use this one with an iPhone or many modern Android phones.

Joto Universal Waterproof Case, $5.99

A safe

Amazon

Unless you're with a large group, you'll need to keep an eye on your stuff at all times — even when you're in the ocean.

If you're not interested in splitting your attention between your friends and belongings, the Beach Vault is a good solution.

To keep your valuables out of sight, place your phone, wallet, and keys inside the vault and twist it into the sand. It even comes with a towel and pillow to layer over the vault so your spot on the beach will look as inconspicuous as possible.

Beach Vault, $69.99

 

A UV detection app

iTunes

Few things can ruin a day at the beach like a sunburn. Using sunscreen is one way to prevent a bad burn. If you want to know how intense the sun will be, download UVmeter. In addition to providing an hourly UV forecast, the app will share when you're most supsectible to getting burnt.

UVmeter - Check UV Index, $0.99

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