What to Pack in Your Daypack: Packing List for the beach

Plan the Trip | Travel Hacks, Travel Gadgets / / By

If you’ve been following Travel Like Local for a while, you probably already know that I prefer to travel as light as possible. But besides my small carry-on backpack, there’s one item I wouldn’t want to travel without anymore: my foldable daypack. Here’s my go-to packing list for a day at the beach.

→ I personally use and recommend all products mentioned in this article
→ My small backpack on Amazon*

During my road trip through northern Spain, this small backpack was truly in use almost every single day. It’s easy to pack into your suitcase or attach to your carry-on backpack, and it holds much more than you would expect.

Often, I would simply walk to the beach with my small daypack, grab a coffee at a café right by the sea, and spend hours watching the surfers. Honestly, that day was already pretty close to perfect.

But as it often happens when travelling, things don’t always go according to plan.

After maybe two hours, a friend suddenly had the brilliant idea: “Come on, I’ll teach you how to surf now!” Of course, right away.

And of course, nobody wanted to walk 40 minutes back to the van just to grab a few small things.

It was exactly in moments like these that I was always glad I had my daypack fully packed and ready to go.

My foldable 15-litre SKYSPER daypack* actually holds a surprising amount of stuff. For me, it’s the perfect companion for day trips, beach days, or short hikes. The best part is that I don’t have to unpack my entire carry-on backpack every time I want to head out. I can simply leave it at my accommodation and take only what I really need.

Beach Packing List – What I Always Bring

Let’s start with the obvious essentials. What exactly do I actually pack in my daypack every time?

Towels: A Beach Towel Is a Must in Your Daypack

Of course, a large beach towel is an absolute essential. I actually bought mine spontaneously from a beach towel seller by the sea at some point during my travels.

I do own a smaller, thinner towel as well, but honestly: whenever I have enough space in my backpack, I simply enjoy using a classic, large beach towel much more.

I also always carry a microfibre towel (Gipfelsport) with me. It dries incredibly quickly and is perfect for drying off after a swim or taking a quick shower somewhere while travelling.

Cap, Bikini and Swim Shorts – Obvious, Yet Easy to Forget

A bikini and a cap are also always part of my daypack essentials. You might be thinking: “Well, obviously!”

But trust me, when you’re packing for a trip, you can think of everything — and somehow the most obvious things are the ones you end up leaving at home.

Travel Book or Holiday Read?

One thing that should never be missing on any trip is a good book. Reading with the sound of the waves in the background and a view of the ocean is simply one of my favorite holiday memories.

I’m currently reading the travelogue Die geilste Lücke im Lebenslauf by Nick Martin. If you’re planning a round-the-world trip or have ever thought about going on one, please read this book before you do. I was shocked, laughed out loud, and even found myself relating to some of the situations. Currently the book is sadly only in german available.

Bottle Opener and Camping Cups

And because a cold drink on the beach is simply part of the experience, I often throw a beer into my backpack – or, if I’m traveling with friends, a bottle of white wine. But what should definitely not be missing?

A small waiter’s corkscrew and my foldable camping cups from Decathlon*. Oh God, I really love these cups. They weigh next to nothing, take up hardly any space, and are just incredibly practical when traveling.

(Pssst… I sometimes even stuff the foldable cups into my little handbag. xD)

Power Bank, Travel Adapter and Car Charger

This little detail is surprisingly easy to forget when packing. And yet, your phone is constantly in use when traveling: taking photos, using Google Maps, quickly translating something, or checking the next bus connection. With the screen brightness turned all the way up, the battery often dies much faster than expected.

Unfortunately, I’m speaking from personal experience. Once, I ended up somewhere in the evening with a completely dead phone and had to find my accommodation in the dark. Not exactly my favorite travel moment. Since then, I never leave the house without a small power bank* and a travel adapter.

If you’re traveling by car, a car charger can also come in handy. My UGREEN car charger can even charge laptops, so if needed, you can even join a Zoom call from the car. 😉

The Emergency Toiletry Bag

My ultralight toiletry bag from Decathlon has also become a permanent travel companion. It weighs just 43 grams, can be hung up, and has three small compartments. Inside, I keep all the essentials: a hairbrush, soap, lip balm, a little face cream, hair ties, wet wipes, and a bar of soap.

Perfect for freshening up spontaneously while on the road (or finally finding a warm shower after surfing).

My Beach Packing List

So you don’t forget anything, here’s my complete beach packing list:

Since I started traveling this way, I never have to unpack my entire carry-on backpack just for a day at the beach or a spontaneous surf lesson. I simply grab my daypack and I’m ready to go within seconds. That’s why, for me, it’s one of the most practical travel gadgets out there.

*Note: This is an affiliate link that I recommend because I genuinely like the product. It doesn’t cost you anything extra to use the link, and there are no disadvantages for you. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission – a lovely way to support my travel blog, and one I really appreciate.

Sarah
Latest posts by Sarah (see all)

Weitere Artikel

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *