Look for a beach bag with pockets if you need the bag to multi-task.

Many beach bags are essentially cloth buckets with handles, and those are fantastic if you are carrying bulky items with you. However, small items such as wallets, lip balms, watches and cameras can get lost among the other items. If you like to carry such items in your beach bag, look for a tote with smaller inside pockets where you can keep track of them.

Choose a beach bag made of a strong fabric, and that has comfortable handles.

Beach bags take a beating: they sit in the sun, get tossed in the back of a car, are dragged through sand and over rocks. Invest in a beach tote bag made from a tough material, such as canvas or dual-ply nylon to withstand the rigors of many days at the beach. Make sure the handles are of a length that is comfortable for you and that will accommodate what you will be transporting: shorter handles might be better for beach bags that carry towels, while longer handles might be better if you need to put the bag over your shoulder and keep your hands free.

Choose a tote bag with a zipper to keep valuables out of sight or to contain toys.

Many tote bags have open or snap-tops. These have their purpose, but you will want a bag that zips if you will be bringing any valuables to the beach, or if you want to safeguard the contents of your bag against sand, water, or curious gulls. A zippered tote bag is also useful as a travel bag for car, boat or airplane trips on which bags might get jostled around. In contrast, an open-topped tote bag is useful for transporting bulky beach towels or sand toys that people need to access quickly and easily.