There’s nothing I love more during summer than a beach day. Still, beach days can be a bit of a production. You load up the car with everything you could possibly need to enjoy your time by the sea, lug everything to the sand, and camp out for as long as time allows. There are many factors that have the power to turn a regular beach day into a great beach day. Some are out of your control, like the weather. Others, like cold drinks, crunchy chips, and a comfy place to sit, are all up to you. 

If there are any sun-soaked, sandy days in your future, a great beach chair should be at the top of your list. A solid beach chair is an essential for lounging and staying comfortable pre-dip, post-dip, and everything in between. Portability and comfort are musts, and added storage deserves a bonus point. Luckily, you don’t have to search for a chair with all these bells and whistles — I’ve already found it. Enter: the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair. 

For starters, this chair is super comfortable. It reclines nicely and can be put into five different positions, so you can sit upright when it’s sandwich time and lean back when you want to work on your tan. The materials are durable and sturdy; the chair’s frame is made from a lightweight, rust-proof aluminum that stands up to the elements, while wooden arms make for a comfortable rest. 

There are also a bunch of colors, prints, and patterns to choose from, so even if you’re one of the many shoppers who’ll buy a chair this year, know that you’ll still stand out at the beach. I have a blue one with a monstera pattern, while Editorial Shopping Director, Jada Wong, has one with multicolored stripes. 

For me, though, the main selling points on this chair are the storage compartments. There’s a mesh cup holder and storage pocket on the armrest, as well as two zippered pouches on the back of the chair. One is even insulated to keep your drinks and snacks cool. The storage pockets on the back are quite spacious; they’re the perfect size for storing a book, sunglasses, phone, and any other small beach must-haves. If you’re packing light for your beach day, the backpack chair will totally negate your need for a real backpack. 

And then there is the portability. I live in California, where the beaches are wide and getting from your car to the sand can feel like a trek and a half. At the end of a long day, there’s nothing that’s more of a downer than lugging a heavy chair back to the parking lot. The Backpack Beach Chair solves that problem with padded backpack straps for easy carrying, and at just about eight pounds the chair feels pretty light when strapped to your back, too. 

If you’re going to spend money on a good beach chair, you might as well buy one that will last you season after season. I’ve had mine for a while, and Jada has had hers for at least three years. She says, “I don’t remember what I used before my Tommy Bahama chair, but I can remember that it was annoying and frustrating to carry and use at the beach. This one has been good to me and it still looks as good as it did on day one.”