Sandbags and extra stakes are non-negotiable.

You need to weigh down your canopy with something heavy, not just push the legs into sand.

The pegs that come with most pop-up canopies are basically plastic toothpicks. They pull out in a moderate breeze. The real solution is sandbags — fill the kind that zip around each leg, or just tie gallon jugs of water to the frame. 20+ pounds per leg minimum.

If stakes are allowed (check beach rules), get the long spiral ones that screw into the sand. They hold far better than the straight ones. Angle the canopy so the back is lower into the wind — a flat profile catches less air.

A cheap canopy with no anchors is a liability. Don’t be the person chasing it down the beach.