When I go to the beach on vacation, I like to have a shady area in which to relax. However I hate carrying heavy, bulky, and poorly made shelters or umbrellas. I know that this community has probably thought up some creative solutions for this problem. I have listed my requirements for an ideal sun shelter for a day trip to the beach below.
Ideal Characteristics:
Fast setup/tear down
Large shaded area
Lightweight
Compact
Sturdy in moderate wind (~15-20 mph)
Easy entry/exit
UV resistant
I have thought about using a backpacking tarp but am concerned about ease of setup, shelter height, and UV wear.
Square shelters with the metal legs bulky, heavy, annoying to transport around, and not particularly wind resistant.
Those wedge pop-up shelters seem small and poorly designed in windy situations.
Umbrellas are bulky with small area coverage and not particularly good in the wind.
I know this topic is not about lightweight backpacking per se but about extending lightweight philosophies/gear to other parts of my life. I would greatly appreciate any ideas that are offered.
