Water Fun: the summer 2023 edition
sun-safe Apparel and Some Great Gear
for Family Fun Out on the Water This Summer
The warm weather is here, and the beach beckons. Or actually, the water just beyond the beach, because that’s where the real fun is. Or just beyond the riverbank, lakeside, or what have you — as long as you have the right apparel to keep the family protected from the sun and comfortable when splashed (or soaked), and if you have a great piece of equipment or two for water play, you’ll be making happy memories all summer long.
We have rounded up some of the best water apparel based on sun protection factor and performance when wet, we’re sharing products from our favorite sunscreen brand, and we’re featuring a few great watercraft that we and the kids have love paddling (or pedaling) around bays, lakes, and ponds whenever we get a bit of free summer time.
Our Favorite People-Powered Watercraft
Whether you’re paddling or pedaling or just drifting for a while, being out on the water in or atop one of these kayaks, canoes, or stand up paddle boards is one of the best ways to enjoy summer with your kids along for the ride.
The Best Paddleboard for a Parent and Kid to Share: iRocker Blackfin Model X
This SUP inflates in about four minutes using a hand pump and has a 450-pound weight capacity, so it’s perfect for a mom or dad who wants to bring a kid (or even two) out on the waves for a little adventure. And with two sets of tie-downs for gear and eight points for mounting accessories (cupholder, GoPro camera, fishing pole, etc.) it’s great for bigger, longer adventures, too. It weighs just 27 pounds so it’s easy to carry the board on land, and when deflated, it packs down into a backpack that can tuck away in the trunk of a car, on a garage shelf, or in the closet.
The Best Paddleboard for Kids (or Smaller Adults): iRocker Nautical kids
Truth be told, we’ve had a dad (me) and a kid share this board for hours at a time with no problem – it has a 220-pound weight limit, so more often than not a kid and an adult will be totally safe to share it. But this affordable SUP is at its best when enjoyed by a solo paddler, be they an adult, teen, or a water-savvy kid alike. It inflates in about three minutes via hand pump (or an electric pump, but that’s hardly needed) and it weighs just 17.2 pounds, so it’s very easy to handle it on land. And packed down into its bag, the Nautical is light enough for you to carry it on your back for a long walk to the beach, dock, or lakeside.
The Best Compact Canoe: Old Town Sportsman Discovery Solo 119
This may be called a “solo” canoe but we can’t remember paddling even a single time without a kid tucked between the adult’s legs. It’s lightweight enough to be easily carried from the car to the beach or the launch, and once on the water, the Sportsman Discover is maneuverable, quick, and lots of fun. With a 300-plus pound cargo capacity and plenty of room for an adult and a kid, it’s an all around perfect paddler.
The Best Pedal Kayak: Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120
Again, looks like a solo boat, right? The secret is to pop the tie down straps off the rear cargo area and plunk a kid back there. That way the young passenger can enjoy a fast, even zippy ride while mom or dad can pedal (or paddle or best of all, both) without their kid getting in the way. When we hit the water, more often than not, our bigger kid is on the back of a “solo” pedal yak, while our younger is in between the legs of the paddler in the canoe.
The Best Sunblock for the Whole Family
Supergoop! is our go-to sunblock for kids and for mom and dad because the company makes sunscreens that are perfectly well-suited to different use cases. AKA fussy kids and bearded dads and people who generally dislike sunburns.
For Faces, Including Hairy Faces: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
Unseen is an oil-free, unscented broad-spectrum SPF 40 sunblock that is quickly absorbed and won’t cause breakouts or irritation. It’s easy to apply, so you can get it into nooks and crannies of ears, close to mouths and eyes, and generally anywhere UV rays are likely to fall. It spreads easily over a five o’clock shadow and blends into a full-on beard or mustache without turning the hairs white or making them greasy.
For Kids: Supergoop! PLAY Body Mousse
This light, nearly-odorless sunblock is ideal for kids who hate sunblock. It’s light, it’s non-greasy, it feels cool and almost fluffy upon application, it spreads easily and it dries fast. And with a rating of SPF 50, it gets the job done really well.
For Everyone and Everything: Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion
If you’re only going to use one sunblock for the kids and parents alike, we heartily recommend you make it this one. Supergoop!’s Everyday Lotion is a bit heavier than the mousse or Unseen, but it’s still lighter than that from the brands you grew up with, it spreads evenly and absorbs and dries fast, and it offers stellar SPF 50 protection.
For Baby Heads (or Balding Heads): Supergoop! Poof Mineral Powder
This unique sunblock was designed with heads in mind. It applies much like a dry shampoo and is almost impossible to feel once applied. It’s great for baby heads (when they’re not covered with a hat or in the shade) or for an adult’s hair part or thinning patches.
Head to Toe - Our Favorite Water Apparel and Accessories for the Whole Family
The best clothing is that which protects you from the sun, dries fast when wet, and doesn’t hold you back whether you’re cruising along on a stand up paddleboard, jogging on down the beach, or splashing in the shallows. We’ve rounded up a few of the pieces we and the kids wear to keep us safe and comfy from head to toe even when the sun is blazing and a soaking is imminent.
Sun Shirts to Keep the Burn at Bay (They Dry Fast, Too)
Nothing ruins summer fun like a sunburn. (Well, OK maybe tiger sharks, but still.) Don’t worry, though, because we’ve got you covered with these best sun shirts for kids and adults alike.
Primary Kids’ Rash Guard
These light, bright, quick-drying, and UPF 50+ rated swim shirts won’t restrict movement (or affect life jacket fit), they make kids easier to spot from afar, be they in the waves or on the sand, they dry fast, and they offer superb sun protection. Also, as you can expect with Primary, they’re well-priced. And largely made from recycled materials.
Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Performance Long Sleeve shirt
The UPF 20+ rating of this lightweight, sweat-wicking, quick-drying shirt is a perfect amount of added sun protection for the adult who is good about applying sunblock before a long day in the sun or for wearing during briefer sunny forays, like a quick paddle around the bay, or while you mow the lawn, for that matter. The shirt is soft and flexible and keeps you cooler, not warmer, which is a win for hot sunny days.
Columbia Women’s Tidal Tee PFG
This soft, flexible UPF 50 sun shirt keeps your shoulders, arms, and torso well protected from the sun and it remains comfortable and flexible even when wet. Better still, it won’t stay wet for long. The polyester weave dries fast in the fresh air even when soaked and is superb at wicking away sweat, so it will keep you cooler even on the hottest days. And it comes in multiple colors, which is always a plus.
The Best Family Hats for Water Adventures
On a sunny day, a good hat is a must for kids and adults alike. And when that day will be spent playing on and around the water, a great hat is an even better idea.
Tilley Wanderer Hat
This is it, this is the hat you want for any and all water activities. And for hiking and gardening and lounging, sure, but for water, it can’t be beat. The Tilley Wanderer Hat repels rain and floats on the surface. It can be secured via cord at the back of the head to stay put in light breezes and cinched under the chin to stay put in gusts. It’s rated at UPF 50, its sides can be snapped up when you want less coverage, its headband wicks sweat, and it comes in sizes suitable for kids as young as six or so. Also, the Tilley Wanderer is so well made you may well only need one for a lifetime. Seriously.
SUNDAY AFTERNOONS KIDS FUN BUCKET HAT
Crushable, packable, lightweight, washable, and virtually indestructible, a Sunday Afternoons Fun Bucket Hat is a must-have for kids headed out into the sun this summer. These hats repel water well and dry fast if soaked through, they are rated UPF 50+, they release excess heat and allow in a breeze via a mesh band at the top, and they come in all sorts of kid-approved colors and patterns, too. We know because we have kids and Sunday Afternoons hats.
The Best water shoes for the whole family
A pair of reliable water shoes is a must. They protect feet from hot sand and sharp shells, they give grip on slick surfaces, and they even look good when you go with our go-to brand.
Native Shoes Jefferson Sneaker
Are there more technically sophisticated water shoes than these out there? Sure. But for the best multi-purpose option, we love the Jefferson Sneaker from Native Shoes. They’re comfortable enough for hours of wear walking around town or on the beach and they’re grippy enough to give you stability and control on a wet dock, a boat’s deck, atop an SUP, or plunked down in a kayak. And perhaps best of all, the styling is suitable for the whole family and they come in so many colors it’s easy to find a pair for everyone in the gang.