11 Pool Day Essential Items, From Waterproof Cards to Long-lasting Sunscreen

In my neighborhood, I’m lucky enough to have a community pool available for use every summer—and you can bet I take full advantage of it from opening day right up until closing. In addition to sporting my favorite swimsuit and flip-flops, I always make sure to fill up a pool bag with a handful of swim-ready items guaranteed to make the pool day way better.

From summertime essentials like sunscreen to keep my skin protected under the sun and fluffy beach towels that are good for laying down on and drying off with, here are my must-have pool bag essentials I never go without—with prices starting at just $7.

11 Pool Essentials I Always Bring in My Tote Bag

• Seaweed Bath Co. Weightless Face Shield Mineral SPF 50, $23
• Reduce Cold1 50 oz. Tumbler, $30
• GoPro HERO12 Black, $349 (was $400)
• Blue Nile Mills Cabana Stripe Oversized Cotton Beach Towel, $28 (was $32)
• The Hair Edit Detangle & Massage Brush, $14
• Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails (Pack of 12), $42
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB), $150
• Hoyle Waterproof Playing Cards, $7 (was $8)
• Funky Junque Dog Mom Baseball Cap, $20
• Ray-Ban RB4171 Erika Round Sunglasses, $166
• Sok It Can Sok Sleeve for Beer & Soda, $13

Seaweed Bath Co. Weightless Face Shield Mineral SPF 50

Sunscreen is one of the most important things you can bring to any pool day, and I’m a big fan of this face lotion made by Seaweed Bath Co. The lightweight mineral formula is SPF 50, water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and gentle on sensitive skin. It’s made with calming and sustainably sourced ingredients like calendula, sea aster, and atlantic seaweed. “This face serum has a wonderful scent,” one shopper wrote in their review, adding that it “goes on smoothly and soaks into the skin.” The brand recommends you shake the bottle well before applying and to continuously reapply every two hours for the best protection. 

GoPro HERO12 Black

If I’m hanging at the pool (especially with a group of friends), I always want to take photos and videos in the water, but I never want to risk my phone falling in and getting damaged. Enter: GoPro’s HERO12, which offers super high-resolution image quality and a durable, waterproof build that’s designed for active use—including underwater. It’s a pricey item, but one that’ll come in handy all summer long. “The picture and sound quality underwater is wonderful,” shared one shopper who gave it five stars. “Even the transition between shooting underwater to above water is seamless.”

The Hair Edit Detangle & Massage Brush

As someone with long, thick curls, I learned long ago that caring for my hair after dipping in the pool is a must. And with this great detangle and massage brush from The Hair Edit, I can comfortably and effectively smooth out my post-swim hair with minimal effort. The flexible bristles ensure that it won’t snag any of your hair or cause any breakage. Some shoppers even call the brush “magical” at how easily it works through curly hair. “Seriously this thing has made my life so much easier,” shared one faithful brush user who went on to say, “Going to be buying 5 more just so I have backups.”

With these handy items in my bag, my pool days are guaranteed to be filled with fun.

Reduce Cold1 50 oz. Tumbler

Blue Nile Mills Cabana Stripe Oversized Cotton Beach Towel

Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails (Pack of 12)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)

Hoyle Waterproof Playing Cards

Funky Junque Dog Mom Baseball Cap

Ray-Ban RB4171 Erika Round Sunglasses

Sok It Can Sok Sleeve for Beer & Soda