Summer weather is shining down, and is there anything more San Diego than a trip to the beach?

Our answer to that is yes: You can add some San Diego style to your outing by buying all of your essentials from locally-based brands — from sunscreen to swimwear. So we’re diving into 15 companies that make beach essentials you need for a trip to the Pacific — and you know they’re so cool because they’re based in SoCal.

🧴 Sunscreen

Carlsbad-based COOLA offers a range of skin products to let you have fun + prevent damage. Its sister company Bare Republic has a full line of suncare products made from clean ingredients.
Amavara uses a non-nano zinc oxide formula in its sunscreen, and was founded by a beach-loving San Diego native who wanted a safe + environmentally-friendly form of sun protection.
San Diego-based YeahBah was founded by surfers, and makes sunscreen that’s safe for children and the Earth’s reefs.

🩱 Swimwear

Get ready to get wet — or sandy — in a bikini from Midori. The locally-founded brand specializes in two-piece swimwear that’s eco-friendly and SPF 50+.
Even though it’s summer, it still gets cold in the ocean. Driftline is a brand founded by San Diego surfers that makes board shorts with a wet suit liner — and the founders appeared on “Shark Tank” this year.
Activewear brand Vuori was founded in Encinitas, and makes apparel suited for sand, land, and surf — including men’s + women’s swimwear. You can also find towels and hats to make your beach trip more comfortable.

☁️ Towels

Locally-founded Sand Cloud makes super soft, sand-resistant beach blankets + towels made from Turkish cotton. The brand is from San Diego, so it knows our beaches and donates 10% of profits to organizations supporting marine conservation efforts.

🩳 Clothing + hats

When looking for beach essentials, Everyday California has you covered. The La Jolla-based brand started as a kayak rental shop, but turned into a clothing brand where you can get shirts, hats, swimwear, or sunscreen.
If you’re looking to keep the sun out, but the fun in, locally-based Hemlock Hat Co. makes large straw hats with lots of color + personality under the brim.
As its name implies, San Diego Hat Company is locally-based — in Carlsbad, to be exact. It sells hats for any occasion — especially those sunny beach days.

🩴 Sandals

Reef started out selling sandals, but now you can find a full line of beach-ready footwear + apparel from the Carlsbad-based brand.
If you decide to hit the road and head up north, Rainbow Sandals operates out of our neighboring City of San Clemente, where you’ll find its retail outlet.

🕶️ Sunglasses

In true San Diego fashion, this Blenders Eyewear makes sunglasses that add a pop of color to your beach day. You can pick up a pair at its Pacific Beach headquarters, and you’ll find glasses for your favorite activities — or just lounging on the beach.
Knockaround Sunglasses was founded by an art student during his time at UC San Diego. The locally-based company merges East Coast style with a laid-back SoCal feel, or you can create a custom pair to suit your own style.
When you’re off work and on the beach, 9FIVE Eyewear makes luxury shades to keep your eyes protected from the sun. The Barrio Logan-based company can be found online or at its shop at 2163 Logan Ave.