Back before I moved to the beach, we were pool people. We spent nearly every day at the pool from open ’till close. With three kids, that requires a lot of gear. I toted around a heavy beach bag I had bought at a beach five and dime on a vacation the year before. It was heavy and bulky and never seemed to have exactly enough room.
My sister spotted a bag in Oprah magazine that she found intriguing. She bought one and as soon as I saw it I had to have it.
I bought the bag from Saltwater Canvas and it was perfect. Believe me when I say I never think a bag is perfect. It has become a running joke in this house that I am perpetually on the hunt for the “perfect bag”. Well, my S.C. pool bag is perfect. If only they made a purse!
This bag holds everything you can think of and it is still lightweight and indestructible. Now that we’re beach people, I can add that it cleans up well. And, because it is mesh, it allows you to leave most of the sand at the beach.
I have the whale bag — the big momma of the bunch. It holds five beach towels with room for a few toys on top. The pockets hold everything else: goggles, sunscreen, water bottles, even a book. (Not that I ever read on the beach anymore!) There is a hook for your keys and a zipper pocket inside for small item you want to protect. Somehow, even though it packs all this gear, it is still not hard to carry and never heavy because the bag itself is so light.
The Whale retails for $35.97. I have had mine now for five summers and it looks brand new. That’s a lot of bang for your buck.
I have had the Whale for years, but my favorite new addition to our summer bag wardrobe is the Shower Bag. It’s just big enough for everything we need to wash off the sandy day and because it’s mesh, can be carried into the shower and then left to air dry in our beach locker without fear of damage or mildew. The Shower Bag retails for $15.95. I imagine it’s a great dorm room purchase too. 
They also have The Dolphin bag, which my sister started with, that’s perfect for one or two people. I plan on getting my kids their own Pail Bag soon. These are great for one small towel, goggles and a toy or book. With the pail, each kids has their own bag and chair and I get to lighten my load! It’s a win-win. 
