You may not know what a Beach Thingy is, but you'll want one
Lean on it Claim your place in the sand with the Beach Thingy. Created by Larry Laske, whose past projects have included collaborations with European design icons Philippe Starck, Ettore Sottsass and Emilio Ambasz, the lightweight, portable seat is a handy way to create a perch without having to lug around a chaise longue. Its sturdy plastic prongs can dig deeply into the stand to ensure stability, while the flexible back offers just the right amount of support. $19.50 (U.S.); beachthingy.co
Play with it If you need more than a good book to keep you amused at the beach, invest in a Frescobol set by FB Collection. Carved by hand from scraps of Brazilian wood (leftovers from furniture factories), the mini-tennis paddles are sleek, sturdy and far more fashionable than the average plastic beach toy. A protective varnish guards against the ill-effects of sun and saltwater exposure. $175 (U.S.); babalumiami.com
Swim with it The Pentax Optio WG-1 captures both wet and wild holiday highlights. Its waterproof construction allows for underwater photo shoots that last up to continuous two hours at a maximum depth of 10 metres. The 14-megapixel camera is crush- and shockproof, and has a 5x wide-angle optical zoom and super-size 2.7-inch LCD display, which allows for sharp panoramic images of the submarine world. $349.95; vistek.ca