Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.
Moving to Hawaii last fall came with its challenges. While my daydreams entertained swaying palms, morning ocean dips, and a constant morning tan, my reality was a little less glamorous.
I arrived with just two suitcases and slept on an air mattress for a month. Jumping in the ocean during my off time made it all worthwhile.ﾠ
Like other island residents and tourists, I toted around a colorful Tommy Bahama chair. The struggle of getting to the beach felt universal: stumbling under the weight of our coolers, bags, towels, speakers, and more. We did most of our sweating getting to and from the beach rather than under the sun.ﾠ
And then I met LIDO.
The Beach Chair That Does Everything
Inspired by a childhood spent biking to the beach, founders Zach and Alex Solomon crafted the LIDO chair (named for their hometown of Lido Beach, Long Island) to minimize the inelegant slog of the beach haul. Every feature is designed to make getting to and from the shore just as effortless as lounging on it.ﾠ
Credit: @lido.co
The blue and white striped fabric feels timeless, while the extra features are neat and unobtrusive. This luxury chair has a built-in cooler, waterproof phone pocket, backpack (with smaller organizational pockets), a wet clothes pocket, sunglasses case, key carabiner, and more. It anticipates the needs of the beach-goer in an intuitive way. As the brothers expand, they’ve added a clip-on speaker and have more accessories in mind.
This luxury chair has a built-in cooler, waterproof phone pocket, backpack (with smaller organizational pockets), a wet clothes pocket, sunglasses case, key carabiner, and more. It anticipates the needs of the beach-goer in an intuitive way.
The Solomon brothers hope to extend their passion for the outdoors to others by making it easier to get outside. Based on their need for sustainability, the multifunctionality of the chair also reduces the amount of extraneous stuff you need; everything you need fits on your back.
As one brother puts it, “there’s no bad reason you need to go to the beach.”
An Immediate Difference In Quality
Looking at the price, I was hesitant. While my Tommy Bahama model might have been rickety, it got the job done. On my little island, I grapple with tourist and import prices for basic goods -- so balling on a budget is an understatement. Would the LIDO chair be worth a difference of approximately $120? I wasn’t sure the jam-packed luxuries would be enough to justify it.
When the chair arrived, it all clicked (literally.) I saw an immediate difference in quality between the LIDO chair and my previous one.
I unfolded the LIDO much more quickly and painlessly than the clunker I was used to. The chair was satisfyingly sturdy but still lightweight. The fabric was thicker and more comfortable. Each limb clipped into the main body, making it compact. Padded handles and straps ensured that toting the chair was just as easy as sitting in it.
Then came the first test: how much could I fit inside the backpack? Would it live up to its “carry everything” promise?
Credit: @lido.co
Packing It In
My beach haul skews hefty. As much as I’d love to be a minimalist, I’m an over-packer by nature, even just for an afternoon lounging in the sunshine. When I head to the beach, I want to be able to bring everything I need in case we pivot to camp, go to dinner, or stumble into another adventure.
For my first venture, I packed sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, journal, pencil pouch, three books, my wallet, coverup, towel, and keys. I threw in watercolors at the last minute, surprised I still had room, and genuinely debated taking my snorkel gear (which would have been pushing it, but still workable.) The amount I could stuff into my LIDO was impressive, to say the least.
I was used to rummaging through bottomless tote bags, but the organized pockets made it easy to access everything. I loved the small valuables pocket at the top allowing me to quickly grab my phone and keys.
Credit: @lido.co
It felt nice not to huff and puff on my way down to the beach. After unfolding, the chair went down easily on the sand. For comparison, it took me a third of the time to set up my beach haul while my friends struggled with their own.
Most importantly, the beach chair felt so good to sit in. The fabric was comfortable, the fold-out table wings were substantial, and the reclining positions varied well. Throughout the day, it was easy to swap out books, grab a beer, or reach for my phone -- and when it was time to leave, it took me less than a minute to be packed and ready to head back home.
Most importantly, the beach chair felt so good to sit in. The fabric was comfortable, the fold-out table wings were substantial, and the reclining positions varied well. Throughout the day, it was easy to swap out books, grab a beer, or reach for my phone -- and when it was time to leave, it took me less than a minute to be packed and ready to head back home.
What’s Cooler Than Being Cool? Ice Cold!
My main concern at the beach is usually overheating and dehydration, so my make-it-or-break-it feature was the cooler -- and boy, did it deliver.
In comparison to my previous apparatus, the LIDO cooler fit more, kept my drinks cooler, and had a distinctive separation from the backpack, so I didn’t have to worry about getting anything else wet as the ice melted. The cooler was able to fit Diet Cokes, a few beers, and a truly gigantic water bottle -- much more than I’m used to.
the LIDO cooler fit more, kept my drinks cooler, and had a distinctive separation from the backpack, so I didn’t have to worry about getting anything else wet as the ice melted. The cooler was able to fit Diet Cokes, a few beers, and a truly gigantic water bottle -- much more than I’m used to.
Walking to the beach, the cooler was a bit drippy down the backs of my legs, but the founders kindly let me know that the LIDO chair works best with an ice pack. I quickly wrapped my ice in a plastic bag instead of leaving it loose, which solved the problem.
Similarly, I didn’t use the waterproof cell phone pocket. Despite the chair being meant for sunshine, the pocket itself is clear -- meaning my phone would overheat in a heartbeat. The pocket was perfect for the light rain that swept over the coast and was also fine with a towel or book keeping it hidden from the sun.
The Beach Experience We All Deserve
To the outsider, it’s simply a beach chair. To the beach-goer, it’s so much more. Now that I’ve gone LIDO, I can’t go back. Being coastal is already a luxury, but this makes it much easier to enjoy all aspects of the experience. I loved the sustainability of utilizing one product for all my seaside needs. It made beach days a little more effortless.
Five More Reasons To Love LIDO:
- Each aspect of the LIDO chair is thoughtfully designed for the convenience of beach-goers. So many bonus features!
- The multifunctionality of the chair reduces the amount of clutter you need for the beach and fits all your necessities.
- The cooler is DIVINE.
- The timeless blue and white stripes evoke nostalgic seaside days, an aesthetic that lures me in immediately.
- With such an efficient setup, it takes me less than half the time to get to and from the beach, making the experience even more appealing.
