The Best Beach Canopies to Save You From the Sun
Beach people are always talking about the beach. The sun! They insist. The waves! The lovely breezes! Meanwhile, their less-enthusiastic counterparts are giving them the side-eye, thinking less about cool drinks in hammocks between palm trees and more about sweating sunscreen into their eyes and trying to figure out how it’s even possible to get sand inside a grape.
If you’re a beach person surrounded by skeptics, consider introducing a beach canopy into your arsenal. These convenient sources of shade will create a cool oasis for your friends to hide in when they've forgotten just how oppressively bright the sun can be. Some beach tents even come with floors so you can launch a valiant effort against the ever-encroaching sand.
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Even the most devoted beach-worshippers can benefit from a canopy. The American Academy of Dermatology would probably prefer you minimize your tanning time in general, but if you’re going to be outside, they recommend staying in the shade when the sun is strongest (generally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.). And stashing your food and drinks in the shade will help keep them cool longer rather than re-frying your potato chips.
Here are some of our favorites that we found during our browsing as we longingly dreamt of warmer days.
Big Agnes Three Fork Shelter
Outdoor Gear Lab’s top pick for beach canopy won praise for its light weight, easy setup, and multiple stability options. It comes with stakes, guy-lines, and a webbing frame to help it stay in place, even in windy conditions.
To buy: amazon.com, from $200
Sport-Brella
Looking for a multitasking option? Wirecutter’s favorite beach umbrella and the top-selling sunshade on Amazon comes with fold-down flaps to transform it into an 8-foot canopy
To buy: amazon.com, $50
Lightspeed Outdoors Seaside Quick Shelter
For a full-canopy pick with a floor, Wirecutter votes for the Seaside Quick Shelter for its easy assembly, good color range, and ability to shrink down to a compact size for storage.
To buy: amazon.com, $65
Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent
The Strategist raves about the Pacific Breeze tent enough to convert even the staunchest anti-beacher. Bonus: No poles required.
To buy: amazon.com, $70
Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL
Going full beach party? Upgrade to the Pacific Breeze XL. You can even opt for an extendable floor to really try to keep the sand out. (It will definitely still sneak in there, but at least you tried.)
To buy: amazon.com, $100 ($110 with floor)
Zomake Pop Up Tent
If you’re not feeling confident in your assembly skills or looking for something a little more tent-like, opt for a pop-up model like this one from Zomake that can also be used for backyard camping excursions.
To buy: amazon.com, $67
Coleman Beach Shade
Classic camping gear company Coleman goes on vacation with this beach shade that includes 50 UPF sun protection and a back window.
To buy: amazon.com, from $43
Neso Grande
If you just want a simple beach-only slice of fabric and some poles, go for the Neso Grande. It’s light, highly portable, and comes in a variety of easy-to-spot hues, but just keep in mind that it may blow away if the wind picks up too much.
To buy: amazon.com, $125
Otentik
TripSavvy votes for the Otentik for its quality fabric and ease of assembly. It comes in small, medium, and large and a full rainbow of color options.
To buy: amazon.com, from $89
