Our 2025 Summer Beach Buyer's Guide: Suits, Gear, Accessories & More
- ASM Staff
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
The temperatures are warmer, and it's officially summer. If you're going to spend the summer months like us — at or near the beach — you’ll need some gear to enhance and protect your experience, from suits to sunscreen, sunglasses, chairs and more.
Those of us here at American Surf Magazine have tested summer products, and below you'll find our recommendations for the ladies, for the men, and accessories for all.
The Marlowe Daily Face Lotion with SPF 50 is my new everyday sunscreen. If you grew up near the beach or are constantly in the sun, you might have a complicated relationship with sunscreen—you know you need it, but you hate using it. This one might change that. It did for me. It protects from the sun while nourishing your skin and preventing breakouts. Unlike others I’ve tried, it wasn’t too watery or greasy, didn’t sting my eyes in the water, and didn’t leave me looking four shades paler than when I showed up. — Olivia Roberts
The Cami and Jax Victoria suit is my new surf suit for the summer, and it should be yours too if you value quality, design, and freedom of movement. With double-lined seams and an adjustable bow in the back, it molds to your body instead of the other way around. The fit of the bottoms is perfect for those who want the coverage to move freely without constant adjustments, while still rocking a flattering medium-coverage look. If you’re looking for a sleek suit you’ll reach for every year, no matter what your day has in store, this is the one. — Olivia Roberts
The Bali Shorts are a solid go-to for all-day adventure. Whether you’re hiking to a waterfall or heading to the beach, these lightweight shorts are the perfect mix of sporty mobility and casual style. Since they’re so light, don’t be afraid to get them wet or even wear them as your latest surf accessory. Leave them out to dry in the sun for a few minutes on a warm day, and you’re good to throw them back on and hit the town. Some practical features we loved: the elastic drawcord for the perfect fit and the buttonable back pocket to carry anything small and light you don’t want to leave behind. — Olivia Roberts
If you’re ready to trade in your thick 4:3 for something less bulky, this is the springsuit for warmer days. At 1mm thick, it won’t leave you overheating but still keeps you warm throughout your session.
Even in 59-degree water, it was the ideal suit to paddle out in on a sunny day. My arms could soak up the sun while I cooled off dipping into the water between waves. — Olivia Roberts
The All Day One Piece is for those of us who want to move around on the beach or by the pool without worrying about our suit doing the same. I surfed in this, swam, played pickleball, and didn’t have to adjust it once. The capped sleeves made it super comfortable, and they were the detail I got the most compliments on. So if you don’t want to sacrifice function or fashion in the water, this one’s worth a try. — Olivia Roberts
This one’s for anyone still braving colder weather or who doesn’t like to fully change out of their wetsuit before hopping in the car. with warm fleece, the Escapism Changing Robe blocks wind and keeps you warm after a session. Even though it has a hood, thick fleece, and enough length to fully change underneath, it folds up tightly into the “stuff sack” it comes in, keeping your beach essentials neat and organized. — Olivia Roberts
If you’re like me and come back from the beach with knots you can’t brush through, you’ll be pulling for the Coconut Smuggler Salt Shield just as much as I was. Whether it was before I surfed or after I took a dip, the salt shield made my hair smoother, way easier to manage, and smelling exactly like you’d want it to at the beach—like coconuts. If you’re an ingredient buff, it’s got nourishing and healthy elements like avocado oil, aloe vera leaf extract, vitamin E, and non-toxic fragrance, giving you full confidence that you’re treating your hair right.Insider tip: apply it to wet hair or before going in the water. This gave me the best results and kept my dry hair from looking oily. — Olivia Roberts
Dip’s shampoo and conditioner bars are a solid choice for anyone on a hair care journey. If years of saltwater or just life in the water have left your hair dry, give these a shot.Along with eight different scent options to fit all kinds of fragrance preferences, Dip offers and shampoo and conditioner combo that is scent and fragrance free, in a partnership with the Surfrider foundation, for anyone who may be sensitive to fragrances. One heads-up: read the directions first—Dip even emphasizes this on their packaging. That’s how you get the best results and tailor it to your hair type. My hair runs dry after a beach day, so I followed their tip and left a bit of conditioner at the ends as a leave-in. It was the first time in months I didn’t need to add extra hair oil just to make my hair look healthy. — Olivia Roberts
When I got tired of asking other people in the lineup for the time, I decided to buy a surf watch. But after going through at least two pairs of a certain brand that became waterlogged, I gave Vaer a try — and I've loved their product ever since. The C5 model is not only practical and durable. It's waterproofing —10ATM (100m) water-resistance rating — has passed my test. I've had in the lineup too many times to count, and it's still not showing any signs of water damage. My favorite part? The C5 Model looks pretty rad too. — Cash Lambert
It's summertime, so you know what that means: It's flip flop season. Issue is, if you're like me, you don't enjoy the "break in" period for a pair of flip flops. It can be painful and even draw blood. That was part of the reason Hari Mari was born: to create a comfortable flip flop experience from the first time you put them. We tested the "Dunes" Sandal, and we loved them not only because there was no break in period; they also have a unique water draining feature so you don't slip inside your sandals in watery environments. PS: If you want to read about their origin story and their philanthropic efforts, check out this feature. — Cash Lambert
If you live in a rugged environment, or you're planning on visiting one this summer, you'll need to protect your feet, and there's no better way than with Cotty Xtratuf boots, designed by the big wave legend himself Andrew Cotton (which you can read more about right here). Not only are they comfortable; they're durable enough to last you years. — Cash Lambert
Twenty years ago, Reef launched the game-changing "Fanning" flip flop named after Mick Fanning that included a built in bottle opener. Now, they've adapted the same brilliant idea into the "Fanning" shoe. We gave it a try, and there's no doubt about it: it's the perfect every day shoe, whether you are cruising, traveling, or searching for waves. I can't remember another time that I wore a more comfortable (and according to my wife) stylish pair of shoes. My favorite aspect is of course the bottle opener on the bottom, which makes it the coolest pair of shoes I've ever tried. — Cash Lambert
Hooded rashguards are in right now, and it's easy to see why. During those long summer surf sessions, you want extra sun protection for your face — and Freefly's product is one our favorites. Not only is the hooded rashguard UPF 50+; in our experience, it also adds a layer of glare protection for your eyes. I personally noticed it dries quickly too after a long surf. Freefly doesn't just make surf apparel; they also make apparel for fishermen who spend arguably more time on the water, so you know their product is high quality. Best of all? The Freefly Hooded Rashguard a perfect balance tight and comfy, and gets our vote for this summer. — Cash Lambert
There's so many boardshorts out there that it can be hard to choose the right pair. But we're here to tell you: Freefly's Dawn Patrol boardshorts will become your go to pair during the summertime. Their features include 4-way stretch for awesome mobility, no inseam and clean-finished outseam for a chafe-free experience, and a quick-dry fabric wicks moisture. They're the kind of boarides you can surf in, and then cruise the rest of. the day in. Once I put them on, I didn't want to take them off. — Cash Lambert
Armless sunglasses: ever heard of them? Imagine a pair of polarized shades perfect for the summer sun that not only don't break and are more comfortable around your head than a traditional pair; when you step inside for a break from the heat, they rest around your neck, so you won't lose them. That's just a few of the benefits to Ombraz's armless sunglasses. Oh, and they have a lifetime warranty too. For all of these reasons, we highly recommend Ombraz for your summer shades. PS - If you want to read more about the brand and how they've planted 2 million trees, check out our latest feature. — Cash Lambert
If you're like me, you're constantly looking for the best way to re-fuel after a surf with quality ingredients. That's exactly what Laird Superfoods' Protein Creamer will do. Packed with 12g of plant-based protein to help power your day, it includes a prebiotic fiber blend to nourish your gut and support overall wellness. My favorite part: unlike other healthy options that taste terrible, the Laird Superfoods Protein Creamer tastes delicious. — Mark Sawyer-Chu
Hauling a heavy cooler through the sand just to keep your food and drinks cold for the day isn’t cutting it anymore. The Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler is the perfect way to ditch that bulky cooler without sacrificing space or quality. With this backpack, you truly get the quality you pay for. My favorite of its features is the magnetic seal—it keeps warm air out completely, so you can be confident your food and drinks stay cold for hours. And despite its large capacity, the Hopper M20 fits comfortably on your shoulders with padded straps that won’t dig in, making it an easy carry. This backpack really is the ultimate cooler for all-day adventures with the whole family. Pack it all in and go! — Olivia Roberts
I judge beach chairs off two criteria: their comfortability and their ability to travel, and the Yeti Beach chair knocks it out of the park on both aspects. First, it's arguably the most comfortable beach chair I've sat in; it's not rigid and tough like others. Instead, the mesh allows you to sink into it perfect for a summer beach nap. And second. the chair has durable backpack handles for you to take it anywhere summer adventure. It gets our vote for our favorite summer beach chair. — Cash Lambert
What can ruin a perfect summer day at the beach? Hunger or thirst, which is why it's always best to pack food as you head to the sand. But, drinks can sweat all over your gear and the food can get warm and ruin. That's where Yeti's 35 Carryall tote bag comes in. It kept our food and drink cool, and best of all, just as its name implies, it had storage compartments for keys, phones, and surf wax. We loved it, and have a feeling you will too. — Cash Lambert
Passenger’s recycled dry bag is a great way to stash your wetsuit without soaking everything else in that wet, salty smell. With removable arm straps, you can either wear it around or carry it by the clipable roll-top. One of the best parts of this product, and the Passenger brand in general, is that a tree is planted with every order. So not only are you scoring a new summer essential, but you’re also making a small impact with every purchase. — Olivia Roberts