Best Beach Bags for Long Days on the Sand or by the Pool

As someone who lives near a beach and owns five straw and cloth beach bags, both of these bags are enticing, but their price tags are not. The bags I own get the job done just fine until I bring them home and find sand all over my car and the front hallway. Lately, I’ve been thinking that a beach bag should do more than carry towels, sunscreen, drinks, and snacks. It would be great if it didn’t tip over, inhale sand with every mild wind gust, and could be washed easily without clogging my washing machine with sand (true story: I’ve had to scoop sand out of my machine on more than one occasion). 

But is it necessary to shell out nearly $100 for a beach bag? Or will a similar, less expensive bag be as comfortable to use, easy to clean, and capable of carrying everything needed for a fun day at the beach or pool? We tested six beach bags from Bogg, Costco, Crocs, Owala, Simple Modern, and Target brand Sun Squad. Here’s what we discovered.