The 27 Best Made in America Finds for Your Next Beach (or Pool) Day

Take it from our California colleague: This American-made gear will make your next beach trip one to remember!

Living in Southern California means a beach day is almost always in the forecast, but the arrival of summer makes it feel like a necessity. While I enjoy exploring different stretches of coastline, Long Beach is usually my beach of choice. Whether I’m heading out for a few hours with a book, meeting friends for a beach day, or simply taking a walk along the shoreline, there are a handful of things I almost always bring with me.

As someone who spends my days highlighting American manufacturing, I started wondering how many of beach and pool essentials were actually made here in the United States.

From what I found, here’s what I’d pack for a day at the beach or pool this summer:

First Things First: Sun Protection

I never leave home without lip balm. It’s one of those items you don’t think about until your lips are dry from the sun, wind and salt air.

Primally Pure’s lip balm is an easy addition to any beach bag. The Southern California company handcrafts its products in the USA and emphasizes sourcing ingredients from family farms and wildcrafted botanicals whenever possible.

Sunscreen is non-negotiable, too. All Good sunscreen has become one of my favorite finds because the company combines American manufacturing with a family-farm story and ethically sourced ingredients. Plus, as someone who spends plenty of time outdoors, I appreciate products designed to perform in real-world conditions.

For extra protection, I love the idea of adding a sun hat from Flipside Hats. Handcrafted in Oregon using sustainable and recycled materials, they’re a stylish way to stay protected when the summer sun is at its strongest.

The Swimwear

Whether you’re actually getting in the water or just relaxing poolside, good swimwear matters.

Saturday Swimwear caught my attention because of founder Emily LaPlume’s commitment to sustainability and transparency. Her swimsuits are produced in small batches through a woman-owned sewing studio in Los Angeles.

For families looking for UPF protection, Tuga Sunwear offers Made-in-USA swimwear and rash guards for adults and even sun shirts for dogs through its PlayaPup line. City Threads also manufactures UPF 50+ kids’ swimwear in Los Angeles, helping protect little ones during long days outdoors.

GH Sports and WSI Sports round out the list with American-made performance swimwear, rash guards, shorts, tanks, and lightweight apparel that work just as well at the beach as they do on a trail or at the gym.

Sunglasses You’ll Actually Want to Wear

A beach bag isn’t complete without sunglasses. One thing I learned while researching this article is that finding eyewear with meaningful American manufacturing is harder than you might think. Two companies stood out for their commitment to handcrafting and assembling their eyewear in the United States.

Randolph Eyewear handcrafts and assembles its frames in Massachusetts and has a fascinating story rooted in immigrant entrepreneurship and military manufacturing.

American Optical’s story goes back even further. Founded in 1833, it’s the oldest optical company in America. Its eyewear has been worn by everyone from military pilots to NASA astronauts.

Both prove that American eyewear manufacturing is still alive and well.

Don’t Forget the Hat

One of my favorite discoveries while researching this article was Sandlot Goods. This Kansas City company handcrafts vintage-inspired hats that somehow manage to capture everything I love about summer: baseball, nostalgia, and long days spent outdoors. Their story about bringing textile manufacturing back to America feels especially relevant today.

The Beach Setup

Every good beach day starts with finding the perfect spot. I’d start with a Sunrise Chair Co. beach chair and umbrella. The family-owned Florida company builds its beach furniture using Georgia white oak and durable Sunbrella fabrics.

Then comes the blanket and towel.

Red Land Cotton’s towels and blankets are made entirely in the USA using cotton grown on the company’s Alabama farm. It’s one of the closest examples you’ll find to a true farm-to-finished-product supply chain.

For a classic oversized beach towel, American Blanket Company offers large American-made towels crafted from American-grown cotton.

And if I were planning a sunset picnic or staying on the sand after dark, I’d definitely bring a cotton throw from Faribault Mill. The Minnesota company has been manufacturing textiles since 1865, making it one of the oldest manufacturers featured here.

One thing every beach chair seems to be missing is a place to set your drink. These Amish-made folding side tables, sold by Practical Garden Ponds, are handcrafted in the USA from durable, all-weather poly material with stainless steel hardware, making them perfect for the beach, pool deck, patio, or backyard. Lightweight and easy to carry, they’re a simple way to keep your sunglasses, book, snacks, or Tervis tumbler off the sand.

What’s in My Tote?

A tote is essential. Bayside Apparel manufactures tote bags as part of one of the most vertically integrated apparel operations in America. From U.S.-grown cotton to finished products, Bayside controls nearly every stage of production.

Inside the tote? A Tervis tumbler, of course. The iconic American-made drinkware company has been producing insulated tumblers in the United States for more than 80 years.

And because nobody wants warm drinks at the beach, I’d pair it with a Bison Coolers Switchback backpack cooler. Handmade in Tennessee from recycled materials, it’s built for carrying snacks, drinks, and other essentials across hot sand.

A LOKSAK waterproof bag is one of those beach essentials you hope you never need, until you do. Made in the USA and waterproof to 200 feet, it keeps phones, keys, and wallets protected from water and sand while still allowing you to use your touchscreen. Perfect for the beach, pool, paddleboard or kayak.

The Flip-Flops

Living in Southern California, I practically live in flip-flops 365 days a year. That’s why I was thrilled to find Okabashi. Manufactured in Georgia, Okabashi is part of the remaining 1% of footwear manufacturers still producing shoes in the United States. Their sandals and flip-flops feel like the perfect beach-day companion.

For the Kids (and the Dogs)

No beach day is complete without a little fun.

American Plastic Toys has been manufacturing toys in Michigan since 1962 and offers classic sand pails and beach toys that are still made in America.

For the water, TRC Recreation’s Made-in-USA floats are a great option. The Texas company has been innovating water recreation products since the 1950s and even pioneered some of the earliest flotation devices used by skiers and boaters.

And because dog owners know our four-legged friends are part of the family, PlayaPup’s dog sun shirts offer a fun way to keep pups protected, too.

When the Sun Starts to Set

Some of my favorite beach memories happen after the crowds leave. That’s when a lightweight hoodie or T-shirt comes in handy. WSI Sports, Bayside Apparel, and Runyon Canyon Apparel all manufacture clothing in the United States. Runyon Canyon Apparel is especially worth mentioning because the company was featured on The Manufacturing Report podcast in 2023 and has built its brand around celebrating American-made outdoor apparel.

For those lucky enough to live somewhere that allows it, City Bonfires’ portable fire pits are perfect for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. Handmade in Maryland, they eliminate many of the hassles of traditional bonfires while keeping the fun.

And if your gathering is moving from the beach to the backyard, Hasty-Bake’s Oklahoma-made grills and fire pits have been helping families create summer memories since 1948.

After the Beach

After a day of sunscreen, saltwater, chlorine, and sand, there is nothing better than a good shower. I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for Tree Hut’s tropical scents. Coconut Lime, Passionfruit, Tropical Glow — it’s basically summer in a bottle. Tree Hut’s parent company, Naterra International, is a family-owned American company that has been producing personal care products since 1923. Their coconut scrub, my personal favorite, is the perfect way to end a day spent by the water.

For me, summer means Long Beach, flip-flops, a tote bag full of essentials, and staying just a little longer than planned to watch the sunset. Putting this list together reminded me that there are still incredible companies making quality products right here in the United States. If you’re looking to upgrade your beach bag or poolside setup this summer, these are a few great places to start.

Looking for more Made in America summer supplies that’ll take you beyond the beach? Check out our guide to American-made backyard games, coolers and swimwear.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.

Labeling Note: This story is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.

For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.