A good soft-sided cooler works for a beach day — if you do it right.

Yes, but you have to be smart about it. A cheap $20 cooler from the drugstore won’t cut it. A quality soft-sided cooler (think Yeti, RTIC, Engel) with thick insulation and a waterproof liner will keep things cold for six-plus hours in 90°F heat—provided you help it out.

The secret is prep. Pre-chill the cooler overnight (throw a bag of ice in it before you load it). Fill it with already-cold drinks and food. Use block ice or frozen water bottles instead of cubes—they last longer. Keep the cooler in the shade, bury it in the sand if you can, and open it only when necessary. A towel over the top helps too.

The cooler is only half the battle—your packing strategy matters more.