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, the Bogg is enticing—its price tag is not. The bags I have all 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 out sand from 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 five beach bags from Bogg, Crocs, Costco, Target, and Simple Modern. Here’s what we discovered.