COASTAL KIT
Great gear to take to the seaside this summer
What to take to the seaside.
Reef Bay 21-inch Boardshort Reef, £50
Bring a splash of Californian style to your seaside holiday this summer with these comfortable shorts. With a loose fit that reaches to your knees, a quick-drying fabric that won’t feel clammy in a southwesterly, and a Velcro fastened side pocket, you can knock about in them all day, in or out of the sea. reef.eu
Cool-Lite Sphere short sleeve crew, Icebreaker, £55
Sounds unlikely but this thin, 52% merino wool T is cooler to wear than you might think – just right to take the edge off those chilly breezes we’ve all felt on the UK coast. The bonus for coast path hikers is that it won’t smell bad even after a couple of days’ wear or more, thanks to merino’s natural odour-resistant qualities. uk.icebreaker.com/en
Fold drybag XXS, Exped, £10
Keep wallet, car keys and other valuables or mini electronic devices organised, dry and sand-free on your beach adventures in this small waterproof bag. exped.com
Seal sleeve 4 Exped, £12.50
This simple waterproof sleeve offers your phone affordable protection from water and sand, with a touch-sensitive transparent cover. exped.com
SoftFibre Ordnance Survey Travel Towel Lifeventure, £22.
A new range of large, quick-drying travel towels printed with OS maps of Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis or Snowdon – and treated with Polygiene to keep them fresh, day after day. lifeventure.com
Tote Bag Alpkit, £15
Great for chucking your stuff in for the short walk to the beach. Made of a tough nylon fabric, it measures 24cm x 34cm – big enough for most of your beach basics, if you are travelling light. alpkit.com
Charlie Fedora Tilley, £110
This quietly classy raffia hat keeps your head cool and well protected from the sun, with a UPF50+ rating. A wicking sweatband discreetly keeps your brow dry. With leather band and secret pocket. tilley.com/uk_en
Beach Chair Helinox, £130
This collapsible chair fits into a stuff sack measuring 47cm x 14cm – small and light enough (at 1.5kg) to carry to the beach. It’s easy to assemble, robust and very comfortable, with a high back at a laid-back angle for lounging in the sun. The only snag is the cost. What price comfort? You decide. helinox.com
Valparaiso sunglasses Julbo, £50
A deft blend of classic styling and sporty features; tortoiseshell frames with polarized lenses that help you see through reflections on the sea’s surface. julbo.com
Daisy Jacket (w) Didrikson’s, £80
This stylish coat in fisherman’s yellow is made of a waterproof fabric great for mooching about on the harbourside or other low-energy activities. It is not very breathable, but if you’re not planning to hike the coast path in it, that may not bother you. Check you are happy with the capacious hood before you buy, though – it can’t be adjusted for fit, making it flop around in the wind when we tried it. didriksons.com
Trek cap Buffwear, £24.50
Classic baseball cap with a stiff peak to keep sun out of your eyes and a perforated fabric for ventilation. Despite the stretchy fabric, the M/L size might come up a little tight if you have a biggish bonce. buffwear.co.uk