Must Haves For The Outer Banks Beaches
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Bluetooth Speaker
JBL makes a great Bluetooth speaker. The Charge 5 is the best compromise. The Flip doesn’t have great sound and the Boombox is a heavy load to carry and it’s very expensive.
The Charge 5 will give you plenty of great sound without weighing you down or breaking the bank.
 Honorable Mention goes to the JBL Xtreme 3. It’s a bit bigger, creates more sound, and costs about twice the Charge.
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Water Bottle
Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle - 32 fl. oz.
This is the best I've found. Keeps drinks cold and it’s tough.
Pro Tip 1: Choose a light color. I bought dark gray and the sun heats it up, warming the contents.
Pro Tip 2: Pack it to the top with ice and bring an extra bottle of water to refill the iced container as needed. The ice lasts most of the day and you always have something cold to drink.
Pro Tip 3:Â The wide mouth makes it easier to fill with ice and clean in the dishwasher.
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Sunglasses
My heart breaks when I lose a pair of expensive sunglasses. When I lose a pair of $30 sunglasses, not so much. Calcutta makes good looking sunglasses. Great for people who are active and they usually come polarized which makes a big difference when you’re around the water.
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Sunblock
No need to spend a ton of money on an expensive sunscreen. Consumer Reports rates this as the #1 sunscreen.  You can’t beat the price and it's highly effective.
 Coppertone Water Babies, SPF 50Â
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Cooler
I know Yeti makes great coolers but I can’t rationalize spending $300 on a backpack cooler and worrying that I’ll lose it or have it stolen. For $50 you can get an Igloo backpack cooler and probably have enough money to buy something to put inside it.
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Collapsible Folding Wagon
I’ve had several of these and they come in handy for everything. We use one regularly while coaching lacrosse. They’re great for getting balls and equipment to the fields, especially on road trips. I like how it can fold up when not in use. This makes it great to store under a bus or in the back of a truck. They need to be protected from the elements over time because they will rust. Wheels are great for grass, dirt, and asphalt. Rolling it on Outer Banks sand is a bit of a chore.
I like this model because it can double as a table for your food.
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Beach Umbrella
I’m a value kind-of-guy. Sell me something with quality that’s going to do the job and is going to last. I don’t want the cheapest item if I’m keeping it for several years. I rented these umbrellas while at Kitty Hawk Watersports and they were fantastic. Before I sold the business I kept one for my personal use.
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Rio Backpack Folding Chair
We have two of these and they have held up well over time. Huge pocket to carry your towel and a magazine. Backpack frees your hands to carry other stuff. Light and strong.
