Do you love spending time at the beach? Many people find the beach their happy place. When you think about how relaxing and unwinding listening to the waves and enjoying the gentle sea breeze can be, it’s understandable why. It’s the perfect place to spend some family time outdoors, away from everyday worries, routines and technology.
However, regular beachgoers know that to enjoy beach time, it’s inevitable to stay protected from the sun, especially staying at the beach for a whole day. Though the sun shines the brightest in summer, Uv rays can cause damage to the skin at any time of the year. According to skincancer.org, as long it’s daytime, up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can filter through the thickest cloud cover. This means that to make the most out of your beach time at any given time, you need to apply your sunscreen and take your beach shelters with you. But, how to choose the best beach sun shelter for you and your family? Here are some basic guidelines.
Comparing the Different Types of Beach Sun Shelters
source: pinterest.com
Beach Umbrellas
Lightweight and inexpensive, umbrellas are many people’s first choice of beach sun shades. They’re also easy to set up. You just open them and stick them in the sand. They provide an open shade, which means they don’t block your beach neighbours’ view of the beach or their children. Yet, a beach umbrella offers shelter from the sun only from above, so they need to be adjusted during the day. And, they’re not the safest option as they’re not very stable: they tend to deform, blow inside put, or, at worst, become flying hazards. They may be the best go-to option for spending an hour or two, but they aren’t much convenient for a whole-day stay.
Beach Tents
A beach tent can provide you with a greater shaded spot than an umbrella. When appropriately secured, they’re the safest option that can also protect you from the wind. Designed to be easily set up and quickly packed away, they’re the most convenient sun shelters for the beach. According to the setup mechanism, there are two types of beach tents.
Pop-Up Tents
These are the typical beach tents. As the name implies, they pop up when you release them out of the bag. While setting them up is fairly easy, packing them down can be a little tricky. To avoid struggles and inconvenience, you should practice this at home before going to the beach. Watching a demo video or a Youtube tutorial can be very helpful. With a little practice, you can master the few moves needed to put the pop-up tent back to its initial form. Unpacking your tent at home will also help you see if there aren’t missing parts.
Pop-up tents aren’t the sturdiest tent options, but they often come with sand pegs or pegs and guy ropes for extra stability. Some models with a front opening include a zipper, which provides you with privacy.
Quick to Pitch Tents
These tents are similar to regular camping tents, only made of UV-protective materials. They often include fibreglass frames built into them and PE heavy-duty floors. They’re more stable, which makes them perfect for windy beach days. They’re more pricey, but you can use them for other outdoor adventures, which makes them worth it in the long run.
Beach Canopies
Just like it sounds, beach canopies are made out of UV-protective fabric held by aluminium poles and ropes. They give an open-air-tent vibe and are very easy to set up. You can fully set your canopy on the sand. Or, you can put it partially on the sand, partially in the water, so your children can play in the shallow water sun-protected. Canopies are a great sun shelter for your backyard, as well. Use it along with a patio sun lounge for a complete at-home beach experience.
How Do I Choose a Beach Shelter?
source: pinterest.com
Material
Look for maximum UV protection. This makes the material the most important feature to look for when choosing sun shelters for the beach. The material is what makes the shade sun-protective. Opt for UPF 50+ fabrics that block up to 98% of the harmful UV rays. This is very important, especially if you go to the beach with your baby, as you can’t apply sunscreen to babies younger than six months.
Size
Size is also an essential factor. Whether you go to the beach alone, with your partner, or as a family, opt for space and comfort. Most sun beach shelters come with precise specifications about the number of people they can protect, but if not, check for the dimensions.
Weight
If you’re going to the beach as a family, you’re already fully packed up. You won’t need a heavy shade to add to your luggage weight. Choose a lightweight solution for a more leisurely trip to the beach.
Ventilation
Sun protection is very important, but you also want to be comfortable and not overheat while on the beach. Many of the beach shade options have 360-degree ventilation or, at a minimum, a window you can open to let the air circulate. A portable fan will help keep you cool too.
Easy Setup
Inform yourself about the setting up of the shade you want to buy. How many people does the process require? Can you set it up yourself, or you’ll need a helping hand? This is vital whether you’re going to the beach alone or with a company.
The Takeout
Sunburn and skin damage are no fun! The only way to enjoy beach time is to stay protected from the harmful UV rays all year round. Choosing the right sun shelter is as much important as applying sunscreen. Make it right, make it skin-friendly.