Good news! There are beach shades that fit in carry-on luggage, be that a suitcase or backpack. As mentioned in my guide on how to choose a beach shade, the packed size of the shade is an important consideration. When travelling to a beach destination by air, finding a beach shade that can be packed for air travel is a must.
Photo by Claudia Altamimi on Unsplash
As many airlines are now charging additional fees for checked baggage, the most cost-effective way to travel to a destination now often means that only carry-on baggage can be used. This means adhering to carry-on baggage size and weight restrictions.
Carry-on baggage size allowances vary between airlines. In general, a carry-on bag is:
22in x 14in x 9in
Check with your airline to confirm the exact size and weight allowed for carry-on. For the purposes of this article, I will work with the above dimensions.
Carry-On Sized Beach Shades
Working with the size limitation above, these are the beach shades that I’ve found that should fit.
| Product | Type | Advertised Packed Size |
|---|---|---|
| COMMOUDS Beach Tent | Beach Tent | 16.5″ x 3.9″ x 3.5″ 3.5 lbs |
| MIRUS Beach Tent | Beach Tent | 17″ x 6″ x 7″ 4 lbs |
| Neso Tents Grande Beach Tent | Beach Canopy (9 ft x 9 ft) | 19.5″ x 6″ x 6″ 6.5 lbs |
| Neso Tents Beach Tent | Beach Canopy (7ft x 7ft) | 19.5″ x 4″ x 4″ 4 lbs |
| Coleman Beach Shade Canopy Tent | Beach Tent | 15.5″ x 5.5″ x 5.5″ 4 lbs |
| SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter | Beach Canopy (10 ft x 10 ft) | 16″ x 7″ x 7″ 9 lbs |
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
There are, of course, additional options, however hopefully the above gives you a good starting point.
Due to their typical length, I was not able to find any beach umbrellas that would fit inside a carry-on bag. However, as they are quite thin, inquire with your airline about bringing an umbrella on as a carry-on luggage item. Some airlines may allow this as they would easily fit in an overhead bin.
A typical beach cabana tent is also too large to be taken as a carry-on. If a very large beach shade option is needed offering the type of shade that a beach cabana tent provides, consider contacting your beach destination to see if renting one may be possible. It might be more convenient to rent a very large beach shade at your destination than bringing one with you.
Be safe in the sun!