Latest news with #lake
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
You Deserve A Better Beach Chair — Here Are 11 Of Our Absolute Favourites For 2025
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. If you plan on spending most of your summer by the lake, a good beach chair is a non-negotiable. Superior to lying out on a towel, they offer extra support and save you from getting covered in sand. To help you find your perfect match, we've searched high and low, digging into reviews and investigating the latest releases to hunt down the best beach chairs on the market. These top picks have sturdy frames, comfortable seats, and come with bonus features like drink holders and detachable bags. From budget-friendly to bougie, we've covered all the bases, so you're bound to find something worth hitting 'Add to Cart' on. Here are the best beach chairs you can get in Canada in 2025: Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
YETI Released a $300 Beach Chair...Is It Worth It?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I was raised by a mother who spends at least a month every summer at the beach and married into a family of lake dwellers, so it's safe to say that relaxing by the water is part of my blood at this point. And after 30 years of frequenting just about any body of water I can get close to, I can safely say that your day will only be as good as your set up. Forget your favorite tote when headed to the beach? Absolutely not, turn the car around immediately. Worse yet, did you forget to pack your beach bag with all the essentials? Sounds like you're headed for a day of just staring at the water. And heaven forbid you forget your hat or sunscreen: you're toast (literally and figuratively). Of course, included in those waterside essentials—right next to a great beach read and ample beverages—is a comfy spot to relax. And if you're an avid beachgoer like myself, then you know a simple towel isn't cutting it. I need a full-fledged beach chair, one that'll allow me to sit on my behind for multiple hours without once thinking about needing to get up because I'm overheated or something hurts. The waterside is no place for worries like these. So when YETI (yep, the cooler and tumbler brand) recently debuted their first ever beach chair, I was intrigued, to say the least—especially when I saw the price tag. A good beach chair can get pricey, but $300 is easily the most expensive I've ever seen. I had to try this chair for myself. And to answer what you're all wondering: is it worth it? Well, that depends. Read on for my in-depth review, but I'll give you a bit of a preview: this is hands-down the most comfortable beach chair I've ever sat in. In fact, I love it so much that I'm writing this review from the Hondo chair on a beach.$300.00 at This is a resounding yes, from every single person I've had test this chair. It sits about eight inches off the ground, according to my measurements, which is much shorter than your average camping chair (as it should be) but not as low as those beach chairs that require you to stretch your legs. I can comfortably sit with my legs upright, crossed, or stretched out in this chair. The FlexGrid fabric is also incredibly breathable and supportive. As I'm writing this, I feel a bit of chill coming through the bottom of the mesh fabric from a slight breeze, something I've never felt with my average fabric beach chairs. The level of support is sturdy enough to where you don't feel like your sinking, but it never makes your bum sore, the goldilocks of comfortable chairs. In my opinion, the comfortability is really where the Hondo Beach Chair shines. It's one of those you-have-to-try-it-to-believe-it kind of things. I've sat in my fair share of beach chairs, from the cheapest of the cheap to $100+, and this takes the cake for most comfortable in a landslide. Admittedly, the Hondo chair is a little slimmer on included features than some other beach chairs. Here are the ones I really like: Cup holder: I'm always hesitant about beach chairs with fabric cupholders. I've never met one that could hold anything heavier than a standard 16-ounce water bottle. I'm usually a stickler for chairs that come with a sturdy plastic cupholder, but those can be such a nuisance when trying to carry the chair and seem to always be in the way. The fabric cupholder on the Hondo chair has a reinforced (and substantially-sized) attachment to the chair, and the fabric is super thick. I put my 40-ounce tumbler in it and it was 100% supported. 4-Level recline: Is it just me, or have beach chair makers gotten really stingy with their recline in recent years? I swear a beach chair might have five levels of recline, but you usually only get about six-inches worth of distance from start to finish. I appreciate that the Hondo chair can go from almost fully upright to 130 degrees—not totally flat, but with a slight elevation. Shoulder carrying strap: Any beach chair that doesn't have a carrying strap isn't worth your money, in my opinion. While a shoulder strap usually isn't my preferred carrying method (more on that later), the Hondo chair executes it excellently, making carrying this chair less of a haul and more of a stroll. The strap itself is fairly similar to the straps you see on YETI coolers, made from a super-sturdy fabric with comfortable shoulder padding. What I think is missing: Included gear station: The Hondo chair is compatible with the Sidekick Gear Case, but you'll have to buy it separately, which is a bit of an annoyance when you're already paying $300 for a chair. There are hooks on both arm rests for the gear case, but not having a spot to store my phone and Kindle is a huge oversight. I really wish this chair came with at least a little something considering the price. Features that are up for debate: Padded head rest: I'll admit, this isn't really an issue for me. While most beach chairs come with some sort of attached pillow to act as a head rest, the Hondo chair instead goes for a head hammock, with the top tilting ever so slightly backwards. Personally, I like this so much more than a head pillow pushing my head up, but some people might have different opinions on this! I think one of the biggest selling features of YETI products is their ultra heavy-duty construction that's able to withstand just about anything thrown at it, so it's within expectation to think that this chair should hold quite a bit of weight—and it definitely does. The manufacturer claims it can hold up to 350 pounds, and while I couldn't test this exactly, I have had folks from 20 pounds (shoutout to my toddler) to 275 pounds sit in this chair, and the recommendation is a resounding yes as far as comfortability goes. No matter your size, I really think you'll find this chair incredibly relaxing and supportive. I also think that the Hondo chair is ideal for taller folks. I'm 5'5" and the tilt of the head hammock hits my head just a tad above my neck, making it almost too high for me. I think anyone 6'+ would easily prefer this beach chair over a standard one because the head hammock would cradle their neck perfectly. Per the YETI website, this chair comes in at just a little over 11 pounds, which is slightly on the heavier side in regards to beach chairs. I won't lie, I was pretty worried when I saw that this chair comes with a shoulder strap instead of backpack straps, though those are available for purchase separately. I really think that at least one part of your beach-day setup needs to be able to be carried like a backpack, and I usually prefer for that to be my chair. I stand corrected though. This chair is so lightweight and easy to navigate that I think I'd prefer to carry a backpack cooler, tote, and this beach chair with the shoulder strap. Normally my main issues with chairs that have a should strap is that they don't play well with other gear I'm carrying. The chair is just too cumbersome and it's easier to put it on my backpack. But the Hondo chair has a pretty sleek silhouette and is made from such lightweight materials that I wasn't bothered carrying this on my shoulder. Consider me a convert. Like I mentioned before, the Hondo Beach Chair just debuted earlier this year, so it hasn't been out long enough to truly test the durability, in my opinion. I'll continue reporting back here in the coming months and years to reflect how the chair has held up, but for now I can confirm that the construction of this chair seems really sturdy. The fabric is breathable but has a tight weave that I'm not worried about ripping anytime soon. I feel totally safe putting my full 40-ounce tumbler in the fabric cup holder without worrying about a rip, and the plastic armrests are thicker than your average beach chair. The chair is made from a powder-coated aluminum, so while it's not 100% rust-proof, it stands up better to the water than any other beach chair I've seen. The beach is a tough climate, especially for metal, but I think this chair could get years of use before showing signs of wear and tear. Honestly, why don't more companies use powder-coated aluminum for their beach chair bases? Look, I'm not going to tell you that you need to spend $300 on a chair for the one beach trip you take every two to three years. But if you're an avid beachgoer and lake rat like myself, then it's pretty good thing to splurge on. As far as I'm concerned, your day by the water is only as good as your setup, and if your ideal day includes sitting in the chair for more than an hour or two, then this is going to become your new beach bestie. The comfort level is unmatched. The mesh fabric is so breathable, supportive, and comfortable, you shouldn't have to worry about needing to get up every hour or so because your bum hurts.$40.00 at at at at You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Woman Thought Her 115-Year-Old Heirloom Wedding Ring Was Forever Lost in a Lake Until a Diver Found It: 'He Didn't Give Up on It'
Texas wife and mother JackO'Lynn Page lost her heirloom wedding ring at a local lake over the weekend She had been at the lake with her son's baseball team and their families, who all "jumped into action" to help look for the ring Ultimately, Ryan Prigmore with Blue Diver Search and Recovery arrived at Possum Kingdom Lake and found the diamondA Texas woman has been reunited with her wedding ring after a recent trip to a local lake left her feeling like she'd never see the diamond again. JackO'Lynn Page shared details about the ordeal and her happy ending on her Facebook page on Monday, June 23. According to the wife and mother, as well as KDFW, Page was spending the day at Possum Kingdom Lake with her son's baseball team over the weekend, even though, admittedly, she isn't a fan of lake activities. However, the day was going by just fine because 'we were with our friends & truly having a blast,' but it soon took a turn, Page wrote. 'I realized my wedding ring was gone from my finger!' 'Our team jumped into action looking for it. Picture 11 baseball boys with goggles, moms, dads grandparents everyone was looking! But no luck. I was heartbroken,' she added. Unable to locate the wedding ring, which was a 1910 heirloom per KDFW, one of the fathers present suggested they reach out to a professional. Ryan Prigmore with Blue Diver Search and Recovery arrived and searched for a few hours, but was unable to locate Page's ring because 'the weather & water conditions that afternoon were making the search very difficult.' Possum Kingdom Lake is a manmade lake created in 1941 with over 17,000 surface acres and over 300 miles of shoreline, according to its official website. "I was getting thrashed by the waves, but I gave my word that I would be back to keep trying," Prigmore said, per KDFW. The diver promised Page he would return Monday to continue the search when the weather was calmer. 'He kept his word," Page wrote on Facebook. Her post included a photo of someone holding the wedding ring after it was retrieved. A person standing next to diving equipment with the lake in the distance could also be seen in the picture. 'I am so thankful for him! He didn't give up on it. I had been preparing myself for the last few days that it was lost and I wouldn't see it again. My ring is so special to me. And I had no idea how I'd get over this. I'm am over the moon knowing it's coming home to me!!' Page's post concluded. According to Blue Diver Search and Recovery's Facebook account, the organization 'is the only honest to God 24hr dive service throughout Texas.' In May 2022, Prigmore helped a man find his "prized Rolex at Eagle Mountain Lake," per the organization's reviews. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Now I Have to Plan My Kid's Perfect Unplanned Summer?
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. All through elementary school, I attended not a single summer day camp. To use today's parlance, we spent our summers 'rotting.' We rambled around our little town to find friends who were free to hang out, visited the corner store to buy ice cream sandwiches, played board games if it was raining. But mostly, on fair days, we set up camp at the small beach club on the little lake 2 miles from our house, read books, played for hours in the water, got someone else's mom to drive us home so we could stay a little bit later. My sister and I used to compare 'summer legs,' covered with bug bites, scrapes, and the permanent dirt that combined with our tans to leave ghostly impressions of our Teva straps on the tops of our feet. Am I nostalgic? I am. Even at the time, I was nostalgic. I saw myself experience these summers as if looking in from the outside; during long New Hampshire winters I pined so much for the last day of school that it sometimes made me a little bit sick. I favored chapter books published before I was born, depicting the childhoods of the turn of the 20th century, and so viewed my own experiences through that gauzy lens. Winter was for flute practice, overheated classrooms, the less friendly groups of kids that school forced me to be around. Summer was when I could have the rambling adventures children my age were supposed to have, with my actual kindred spirits. We packed picnics, like Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. Canoeing across the lake, clambering on rocks by the shoreline? Some real Swallows and Amazons behavior. This year, my feral old-school childhood summers became a debate, a fad, a little bit of a status symbol. 'Why not let your kids have a 'wild' summer?' asked the Cut in late May. 'Is it OK for your kids to 'rot' all summer?' queried the New York Times earlier this month. These articles feel fairly useless, or even frustrating, to any family without a nonworking summer parent, or to any parent whose child would seize on a planless summer as an excuse to stare at her phone for 14 hours a day. They seem downright bizarre to people who live outside the blue-state, coastal places where one kid's summer of camps—aimed at enhancing and enriching a developing mind—requires an elaborate sign-up strategy and $14,000 in fees. (Where I live, in Ohio, the most expensive camp in town sets you back $250 a week, and I've never had trouble getting my daughter a spot somewhere good enough.) But there's something fascinating about this newfound devotion to summer de-escalation, in search of a connection to a bucolic past. Sociologist Annette Lareau famously called the dominant ethos of upper-middle-class parenting 'concerted cultivation.' 'Summer kid rot' shows how part of cultivation is now, also, de-cultivation. We readers of many legacy-media parenting articles may not be MAHA, but we're certainly quite carefully antimodern. 'Giving your kids everything' has become 'Taking some things away'—day camp, structure, screens, your own overbearing cruise-director presence—in a carefully calibrated recipe meant to produce the very feelings I get when I remember running across the lawn at the tail end of a family friend's barbecue, at twilight on the Fourth of July. Yes, I know this makes it sound as if I grew up in a magic-light ad for a Republican gubernatorial candidate; in some ways, I kind of did. Surely some of my classmates were 'rotting' in the TV way, not the fireflies way. But it's too late: This is what a perfect childhood summer feels like to me. Edan Lepucki, a novelist and Substack writer, wrote a newsletter entry last year about her own plan to skip camp for her kids, making her an early adopter in the summer-rot space. Lepucki is a college lecturer who doesn't have to teach in summer, with a full-time remote-working husband, three kids (5, 9, and nearly 14), and relatives nearby for occasional child care swapping, located in a high-cost-of-living area. For her, the price of camp would have been exorbitant, so she saw the choice to skip it in 2024 as a pragmatic one. She's doing it again this year, with the exception of one week of camp and some family travel. How's it going? 'They're watching TV, reading, drawing, playing Barbies/figures, playing 'baseball' in the yard with a tennis ball and a wiffle ball bat,' she wrote in an email. She doesn't think of this as being the same as 'rotting,' and said she would not let her teenager sleep in super late every day or have the kids 'die on screens for hours.' (These particular kids don't have access to iPads or phones.) It was the way Lepucki talked about a no-camp summer in her Substack last year—'What is childhood if not long afternoons of sunshine and fun, your backpack cobwebbing at the back of the closet, homework a far off concept as you burnish an image of your brand new, back-to-school self? What paradise!'—that first made me wonder if I was doing enough to make my own kid's summers feel properly endless. This is the third year since my own child grew out of having preschool coverage for the summer months—the third year of her day-camp era. There are a few things that have made her summers very different from mine: She's an only child, like an increasing number of American kids. Neither parent is a teacher, like my dad was, with the summer off to drive kids around; our neighborhood is walkable, but until this year, she hasn't quite been old enough, by today's standards, to ramble around and look for kids to hang out with. Besides, most of the other kids we know are … well … at $250-a-week day camp. Despite all this, three weeks into summer, she's acquiring that spaced-out, blissful look; she's deep into piles of middle-grade graphic novels, discovering an affection for Nerds Ropes; she's running into friends at the pool when we go together on the weekends. I know, this is her life, and it's 2025, not 1900 or even 1983. I know it's ridiculous to put on a little Truman Show for her, to strip away just the right parts of modern life so she gets those good feelings I still return to at moments of unmoored anxiety. But even so, next year, friends and I are planning a 'rot camp.' We'll find a good week to leave our calendars mutually blank. One or two of us who work from home in a walkable neighborhood will serve as base. We'll text people we know, figure out what other kids are home; we'll give them some spending money so they can feel what it's like to choose what to do. Yes, we're trying to subtly plan out serendipity, a year in advance. Yes, we're concertedly cultivating. No, my parents didn't think nearly so hard about providing me with my own Happy Hollister days. So I promise that if the kids end up watching a little TV, I'll try to relax.
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Travel + Leisure
15-06-2025
- General
- Travel + Leisure
I'm a Former Lifeguard—Here Are 10 Water Safety Items You Should Pack 'Just in Case'
Before diving into the world of travel writing, I made a living patrolling pool decks. I was 15 when I first got my lifeguarding certification, and I ended up loving the line of work so much that I soon became a lifeguard instructor, and later, a waterpark manager. For seven years, I spent my summers teaching CPR and responding to first aid emergencies. On any given afternoon, I was tasked with ensuring the safety of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people. This experience made me into the safety-conscious traveller I am today, and I still find myself using the knowledge I gained as a lifeguard. Curious to know what safety tips this former lifeguard has up her sleeve? Keep scrolling for the six products I recommend for staying safe by the pool, at the beach, and on the lake. Here, you'll find water safety items I routinely stock up on every summer, including polarized sunglasses, SPF 50+ products, and water shoes. You'll also find life-saving safety gear—including life jackets, wound-clotting powder, and neon swimsuits—that I think deserve a permanent spot in your beach bag, based on my experiences in the field. One of the biggest mistakes I see families make—whether at the pool, beach, or lake—is the improper use of inflatables. Arm floaties and baby pool floats may look cute for family photos, but they aren't reliable in terms of keeping non-swimmers above water. They pop easily, and inflating them to the proper limit can be difficult. Plus, it can be tough to know if they have a small leak or whether you've pushed the inflation valve deeply enough to stop the release of air. In fact, my waterpark banned the use of outside inflatables entirely because of how hazardous they can be. I strongly recommend that non-swimmers and weak swimmers—regardless of age—only use U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved devices. Unlike floaties, USCG-approved life jackets are made with durable, buoyant foam and typically have adjustable straps that allow you to fit the vest more closely around the midsection, preventing the wearer from slipping out of them. Amazon has several different options, ranging from infant life jackets to toddler puddle jumpers to plus-sized adult life vests, all suited for a wide range of activities. Practicing good water safety starts on land. That includes reading pool rules, putting on appropriate life jackets, checking weather reports for possible lightning storms, and shockingly enough, choosing the right swimsuit color. In the event that you or your loved one needs rescuing at a public pool, on the lake, or at the beach, the color of your swimsuit can determine how quickly first responders can find you. White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water. This summer, opt for bright colors and bold prints that are distinguishable in the water. Think: Neon orange, red, yellow, green, pink, and purple. Amazon is a treasure trove of vibrant bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, and swim trunks that are both on-trend and water-safe. Some of the most serious injuries I encountered while working as a waterpark manager involved patrons slipping and falling by running too quickly across floor tiles or trying to climb up a slippery pool feature. Now, as a former lifeguard who loves soaking up the sun lakeside and at beach destinations, I often see foot-related injuries of the outdoor variety: Slipping on smooth river rocks, foot scrapes caused by coral, and burnt soles due to walking across burning-hot sand. This summer, I recommend dipping your toes (pun intended) in the world of water shoes, if you haven't already. I personally own these Affinest water shoes from Amazon; they have an adjustable bungee cord lace and thick, treaded outsoles that have kept my feet protected while river rafting, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you prefer to keep your toes free, I recommend investing in a pair of active, anti-slip sandals, like these Teva Hurricane Xlt2 sandals, that you can wear in and out of the water. There's nothing worse than the first sunburn of the summer, but the good news is, you can avoid it by slathering on plenty of SPF throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is to reach for sunscreen that's water-resistant and has an SPF rating of at least 30, and to reapply it at least every two hours. As a waterpark lifeguard manager, I encouraged my lifeguards to double-check the most commonly-forgotten areas before taking place on the stand, including the tops of their feet, their ears, their shoulders, and even their lips (yes, your lips need SPF, too). Besides sunscreen, I also recommend stocking up on burn remedy products, too—just in case. This Alocane Max Emergency Burn Gel is suited to treat first-degree burns; it contains lidocaine hydrochloride to provide quick-acting pain and itch relief, benzalkonium chloride to prevent infections, and aloe to soothe irritated skin. For minor sunburns, though, sometimes a good aloe gel is all you need for relief—for this, I recommend reaching for products that are free of added fragrances and irritating ingredients, like this Badger Organic Aloe Vera Gel, which is safe to use on both the face and body. Note: Always consult with your doctor before using over-the-counter products. Sand, sunscreen, chlorine, saltwater, and UV rays: This summer fivesome can leave your eyes itchy, sore, and sensitive. It may seem like a redundant tip, but I recommend stocking up for summer with several pairs of swim goggles and polarized sunglasses. Should you lose your goggles in the Pacific Ocean or accidentally step on your tried-and-true shades while walking, you'll have a backup pair ready to go. I personally own several pairs of Bircen sunglasses—they're stylish, budget-friendly, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Plus, they provide UV400 protection against the sun's harmful rays. There are plenty of decent swim goggles on the market, but as a former lifeguard and childhood competitive swimmer, I only buy my goggles from Speedo. As for removing chlorine, saltwater, sand granules, or even rogue eyelashes from your eyes, any gentle eyewash solution will do the trick. However, thoroughly rinsing your eyes can be difficult if you (or your child) hate using eye drops. For this, I recommend throwing a pressurized eye wash cup into your beach bag. All you have to do is fill it up with your eye wash, lean your open eye over the opening, and squeeze the silicone handle. This will swish the eye wash in and around your eye, thoroughly cleaning it of any debris. I'm the first to admit that crochet crossbody bags and raffia beach totes are adorable for summer, but these options tend to do diddly squat when it comes to protecting your gear from sand, surf, and exploded bottles of sunscreen. If you won't step foot on the beach without one, I recommend at least throwing a waterproof pouch or toiletry bag inside to protect your phone, medications, SPF products, and other essentials from the elements. Personally, I hate the idea of getting anything I own wet, whether it's my towel, snacks, or beach reads. Waterproof dry bags are the way to go if you're a lover of water activities—they're durable, roomy, and actually waterproof, making them great companions near any water source. As for what goes inside that bag, I recommend investing in a quality, compact first aid kit. I love this option from M2 Basics. It fits into the palm of your hand and comes with multiple types of bandages and wound dressings—but unlike some other small first aid kits, it also comes with an emergency blanket to fight off water-induced hypothermia, a CPR face mask, and a tourniquet to stop heavy blood flow. Speaking of blood flow, I also recommend throwing a pack of BleedStop into your first aid kit, just in case. Water exposure can make it incredibly difficult for wounds to naturally form a blood clot, and this powder can help in an emergency. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
