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Summer fun at the beach is made more enjoyable by a good beach shelter. That’s because it makes your day feel less like an unplanned afterthought and more like an event to be excited about. Aside from the emotional benefits of a day spent lounging in the shady ocean breeze, there are practical reasons behind shopping for the perfect beach shade. As it is with finding any specialty product, getting a good deal on a tent or canopy for the beach is of the utmost importance. For a consumer base that is feeling plenty of financial strain at the moment, a bargain on a beach shelter feels like a special gift.
While daily expenses like groceries and utilities continue to rise because of inflation, the recreation sector hasn’t been immune to market forces. Not only have water parks and airlines been hit by rough financial waters, but prices on sports equipment and recreational goods have gone up as well. As such, people deserve any small ray of sunshine they can find at the moment. Thankfully, a few retailers like Amazon and Walmart are well-equipped to offer that little dose of hope. If you’re looking for a bargain on your next beach shelter, then those are probably your best starting points.
Benefits of a beach shelter
There’s more than one reason to get a way to stay in the shade at the beach. However, maybe the most obvious benefit is protection from the sun. Skin cancer is on the rise, and keeping harmful UV rays from doing damage to your skin is of the utmost importance, especially for the most avid sun worshippers. A beach shelter allows you to spend as much time next to the ocean as you want without suffering unwanted and dangerous sun damage to your skin. Exactly how much protection you’re looking for will dictate the type of shade you choose to purchase.
While staying out of the sun is an obvious reason for buying a tent or canopy, staying out of the rain is almost as important. I’ve had more than one beach day ruined by a spontaneous rainshower, just to find out that the sun returned shortly after I had left. If you have an easy way to protect yourself from the occasional rainstorm, you don’t have to end your beach day prematurely. Summertime is notorious for rain showers that drench and disappear in mere minutes. As such, if you can just ride it out while you sip on your libations and watch the raindrops dance on the ocean surface, you can squeeze the most possible enjoyment out of your day. That said, be sure to leave immediately at the first sign of lightning.
Finally, having a good beach shelter makes it easier to relax. Having a central location that’s highly visible to your friends and family is the best way to find each other on a crowded shoreline. It’s far easier to be found by saying “we’re under the blue tent between the two coconut trees” than “I’m the guy in the red shorts”. If you have a tent or canopy, you can also feel secure that your items are more protected than if they were just sitting out in the open. Sun damage or rain can affect your favorite beach read just as much as they can affect your body. The last thing you want to lug home after a tiring day at the beach is a soggy book.
Folding tents
Perhaps the most common type of beach shelter is the standard folding tent. These are metal framed tents that typically come in a rectangular shape and include carrying bags (sometimes with wheels). They unfold relatively quickly and come in a few standard sizes. The most common of these is 10 feet by 10 feet, though you can easily find some slightly smaller and many larger. However, a piece of advice from one beach bum to another is that you’re probably better off opting for a smaller folding tent than a larger one. That’s because being next to the ocean often means that you’re in a high wind area. These winds can damage the frame of a folding tent if it’s so large that it catches the breeze like a kite.
Oneofics Slant-Legged Beach Tent
Gorich Beach 8×8 UV Sun Shelter
Gvdv Pop-Up Easy Tent
Pop-up canopies
Pop-up canopies are a favorite middle ground for many people. These are often domed or shell-shaped, and they offer a less cumbersome way to keep out of the sun on your beach adventure. These canopies are far smaller than most folding tents and are slightly more portable as well. They may take roughly the same time to set up as a folding tent, and they create a more intimate vibe. While a folding tent is ideal for hosting family and friends for a day of fun, pop-up canopies are perfect for a couple who want to enjoy the beach while lounging comfortably in the shade. Because of their smaller stature and domed shape, these shelters are more adept at weathering gusty winds than a more rigid-framed folding tent.
Gijjgole Pop-Up Beach Dome
Wakeman Pop-Up Beach Shelter
Gorich Beach Pop-Up Sun Tent
Fabric kite shades
Kite shades are a newer invention than the previous two options, though they’re becoming increasingly popular. They consist of a large piece of lightweight fabric and a rudimentary anchoring system. Some utilize traditional stakes while many have large fabric pockets at their base. The pockets are then filled with sand which weighs down the entire structure. This design makes use of the seaside wind rather than fighting against it. Kite shades stay afloat thanks to the gusty seabreeze and don’t typically have much, if any, skeletal frame. Of the three, this is by far the easiest to throw in the car and take with you. It’s also usually the easiest of the three to set up and take down.
Shibumi Shade Mini
Solbello Shade Kite Shelter
Jefuzh Quiet Canopy Beach Shade
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