What to Pack for San Diego

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Heading to the sunniest city in Southern California? Here’s a handy list of what to pack for San Diego.

What to Pack for San Diego

In addition to the San Diego packing list below, don’t forget your favorite phone charger—because you’ll be snapping plenty of Insta-worthy shots.

Water Bottle

It’s too easy to get dehydrated in hot, sporty San Diego. To prevent dehydration—and to show off your eco-friendliness—bring along a BPA-free water bottle.

GoPure Pod

When planning out your San Diego packing list, order a GoPure pod to drop in that aforementioned water bottle. It’ll immediately start purifying any tap water so that you don’t end up needing to crack those overpriced bottles in your hotel room whenever you want filtered water. Each of these tiny pods lasts up to six months and can treat up to 264 gallons, replacing the equivalent of 2,000 plastic bottles.

Handboard

When deciding what to pack for San Diego, you don’t have to debate whether to lug along a massive surfboard. Instead, throw a handboard into your backpack and, voila, you’ve got an easy-to-carry way to catch this beach town’s legendary waves.

Drone or Remote-Control Airplane

Not quite ready to glide off the Torrey Pines cliffs with your entire body? That’s fine, but do bring along a drone-like remote-control plane so that you can experience San Diego’s incredible aerial views.

Golf Clubs

If you’re a big golfer, you’ll want to check your own set of clubs so you can tee off on some of California’s best courses in style.

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San Diego Hiking Book

If you’re a hiker or outdoor enthusiast, what to pack for San Diego can be as easy as a pair of hiking socks and boots, plus a great guide to hiking within and around the city. To save space and money, go for the Kindle edition.

Easy-Pack Beach Blanket

It used to be difficult to pack something as bulky as a beach blanket. Not so anymore. Outdoor manufacturers have started making easy-pack spreads for the sand made from parachute nylon. They’ll keep your bottom off the hot San Diego sand, and when you’re ready to go, they stuff nicely into a tiny carrying sack.

Compact Beach Towel

As with the aforementioned beach blanket, it’s no longer impractical to travel with a beach towel in your suitcase. New microfiber designs are lightweight and flexible enough to stuff right into a small pouch when you’re not using them. They absorb well and dry quickly, and sand won’t stick—but most of all, they’re compact enough to easily travel with.

Foldable Frisbee

What’s a San Diego beach day without a frisbee? Throw a foldable flying disc into your suitcase to ensure active daytime fun.

Fold-up Dog Bowls

San Diego is an eminently dog-friendly town. Many hotels welcome pets, and this city’s beaches and parks are full of furry friends. So bring yours along too—as well as a collapsible set of bowls for Rover’s water and kibble.

More from SmarterTravel:

• San Diego Travel Guide
• The 10 Best Hotels in San Diego
• 10 Best Cheap Hotels in San Diego
• The Top 10 San Diego Hotels on the Beach
• 10 Fun Things to Do in San Diego
• 10 Must-See San Diego Attractions
• 10 Best Beaches in San Diego
• The 9 Best Cheap Eats in San Diego
• The 10 Best San Diego Restaurants
• Where to Find the Best Tacos in San Diego
• What to Wear in San Diego

—Original reporting by Avital Andrews. Follow her on Twitter @avitalb.

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