How to Keep Valuables Safe at the Beach While You Swim

How to Keep Valuables Safe at the Beach While You Swim

Table of Contents

  1. The Day I Almost Lost My Stuff (aka Why I’m Writing This)

  2. The Eternal Beach Dilemma: Swim or Guard Duty?

  3. Sneaky Ways to Hide Your Stuff

  4. Waterproof, Sand-proof, Basically Life-proof Gear

  5. Bring a Buddy (or at Least Pretend To)

  6. The “Do-Nots” I Learned the Hard Way

  7. Weirdly Genius Hacks I Swear By

  8. Final Thoughts: Maybe It’s Not Just About the Stuff

  9. Author Profile

1. The Day I Almost Lost My Stuff (aka Why I’m Writing This)

Okay, confession time. I once buried my phone in the sand. Like an actual toddler hiding treasure. I thought I was being clever — tucked it inside a ziplock bag, wrapped it in my towel, then buried the whole thing under my flip-flops.

Fifteen minutes later, a random gust of wind decided my towel would rather be free. Cue me, dripping wet, running up the beach in slow motion (picture a less graceful Baywatch scene) trying to figure out which random patch of sand my entire life savings — aka my phone, keys, and twenty bucks — was under.

Spoiler: I found it. Eventually. But it was covered in sand and my phone speaker sounded like a dying cicada for weeks.

So yeah, I take “keeping valuables safe at the beach” very personally now.

2. The Eternal Beach Dilemma: Swim or Guard Duty?

If you’ve ever gone to the beach alone, you know this struggle. You want to swim, but your bag full of “please-don’t-steal-me” stuff is staring at you like a puppy you’re abandoning.

It’s basically a trust exercise with humanity. And... well, I don’t always trust humanity.

Oh, that reminds me — my friend Jake (who I’m 90% sure is part seagull because he spends every weekend at the beach) has this rule: never bring anything you can’t afford to lose. Which is great advice... except for when you, you know, actually need your phone, keys, and wallet.

So let’s get into what actually works. Because no one wants to spend a day swimming with one eye on their bag like a paranoid meerkat.

3. Sneaky Ways to Hide Your Stuff

Alright, here’s where the fun begins.

Some people go full spy mode with their hiding spots. I’ve seen folks:

  • Stick their cash inside a clean sunscreen bottle (emphasis on clean — don’t be that person who pulls out soggy bills smelling like SPF 50).

  • Hide phones in a diaper (no thief is touching that).

  • Use an empty chip bag to disguise their valuables.

But if you’re not into weird disguises, you can also get a beach safe — a small lockable box that attaches to your chair or umbrella. Looks simple, works wonders.

There’s also hidden beach storage gear like water bottles with secret compartments. I once used one to stash my key and emergency money, and honestly, I felt like James Bond — if James Bond wore flip-flops and got sunburned.

4. Waterproof, Sand-proof, Basically Life-proof Gear

Now, let’s talk gear. Because there are levels to this.

Here are some MVPs:

  1. Waterproof phone pouch – A lifesaver. You can actually take your phone into the water for pics and still text (though I don’t recommend texting while treading water — ask me how I dropped mine once).

  2. Dry bags or floating waterproof cases – These things are magic. They keep your stuff dry even if you somehow turn into a human torpedo.

  3. Anti-theft beach bags – They have lockable zippers and slash-resistant straps. I didn’t even know “slash-resistant” was a thing until I saw one.

  4. Portable safes or lockboxes – For when you want to be extra. Attach it to your lounge chair, lock it, and boom — peace of mind.

And if you really want to travel light, wear a waterproof waist pouch or fanny pack. It’s kind of dorky-looking, sure, but practicality beats fashion when you’re half-submerged in the ocean.

Oh, and pro tip? Don’t forget to toss your phone in a waterproof case even if you’re “just wading.” Because waves have feelings too, and they love ruining electronics.

5. Bring a Buddy (or at Least Pretend To)

Here’s the oldest trick in the beach book — go with someone.

You swim, they watch the stuff. Then switch. Easy.

But, if you’re flying solo (like me most days), do this little trick: set up your towel, put your things under a t-shirt or blanket, and leave an extra pair of flip-flops or sunglasses lying around. It looks like someone else is with you.

It’s basically beach-level psychological warfare.

My cousin Mia swears by it — she even leaves half an empty water bottle out just to make it more convincing. She’s like, “Thieves don’t steal when they think someone’s coming back any second.” And you know what? She’s not wrong.

6. The “Do-Nots” I Learned the Hard Way

Here’s what not to do (learn from my chaos):

  • Don’t bury your stuff in the sand. (Been there, done that, hated it.)

  • Don’t leave your bag wide open. Might as well hand out invitations.

  • Don’t rely on strangers to watch your things. Unless you’re ready to play the world’s most stressful trust game.

  • Don’t bring your entire wallet. Just take cash, one card, and your ID.

And maybe this is just me — but don’t bring fancy jewelry. You’re not at the Oscars; you’re in saltwater.

7. Weirdly Genius Hacks I Swear By

Okay, so over the years I’ve developed a few weird-but-effective systems:

  1. The layer trick: I wrap my valuables inside a random t-shirt, then inside another towel, then under my flip-flops. Not perfect, but it slows down opportunists.

  2. The buddy decoy: Leave one cheap tote bag with nothing important in it out in the open. Keep the real stuff hidden or locked. (Petty thieves usually grab and run — make sure they grab the fake bait.)

  3. The waterproof carry-on: I once used a memory foam travel pillow with a hidden zipper pocket. Stuffed my key inside, zipped it, floated away. Genius? Maybe. Ridiculous? Definitely.

  4. Inflatable pillow hack: Same idea, but this one floats, so if you drop it — it’s not gone forever.

Also, can we talk about how every beach somehow turns into a warzone between sand and your stuff? Like, no matter how careful you are, sand finds a way. (Looking at you, Jurassic Park meme.)

8. Final Thoughts: Maybe It’s Not Just About the Stuff

At some point, I realized the beach isn’t supposed to be about worrying. It’s supposed to be that moment when you finally let go — hair a mess, sunscreen uneven, salt water everywhere — and somehow, it’s still perfect.

Yeah, keeping your things safe matters. But also? Don’t let the fear of “what if someone takes it” stop you from jumping into the waves.

So here’s what I do now: I bring just what I need, use a waterproof pouch, and remind myself that sometimes, the best memories happen when you stop hovering over your bag and actually swim.

Anyway, that’s my two cents (which, knowing me, are probably buried somewhere in the sand).

What about you? Ever had your own beach “oops” moment — like the time I almost lost my entire life savings to a seagull? Tell me I’m not the only one.

Author Profile

Hi, I’m Florian Werner, the founder of FLOWZOOM. The idea for FLOWZOOM started during an unforgettable trip around the world. After spending what felt like forever on long flights, I noticed just how tough it is to stay comfortable while traveling.

I tried every travel pillow I could find, hoping for some relief—but nothing worked the way I needed it to. That’s when I decided to create my own.

At FLOWZOOM, we focus on designing pillows that actually do what they’re supposed to: keep you comfortable and supported while you travel.

I’ve spent years figuring out what makes a great travel pillow. My goal is to make every trip easier for people who, like me, want to enjoy their journey without the aches and pains. I’m proud to share what I’ve learned through FLOWZOOM’s products and tips for better travel.

Here’s to making every trip a little more comfortable!