Pool inflatables are all the rage this summer, and it’s easy to see why. Read on for our top ten picks.
One of my personal favorite summer pastimes is floating in the pool, soaking up the sun. It’s a great way to relax, and with the recent invention of pool floats shaped like foods, animals, and plants, it’s also a great way to have fun!
Great for Kids… and Big Kids
Growing up in the 90s, we had the rectangular shaped pool rafts, inner tubes and pool noodles. We even had rafts with cup holders, which my dad used to hold his Coca-Cola can. But pool floaties today are much, much cooler!
Invented in the 2010s, these fun floats have really taken off in the last couple of years.
1. THE STRAWBERRY FROSTED DONUT
The Strawberry Frosted Donut floaty was perhaps the first of the modern pool inflatables, invented by Big Mouth, Inc. way back around the year 2012. You can buy this classic on the Big Mouth, Inc. website.
2. THE FLAMINGO
The pink flamingo is the original giant animal pool float. Also invented by Big Mouth, Inc. in 2012, this design kicked off a whole new genre of pool inflatables shaped like animals. Thousands of these have been sold since 2012, and this floaty has been featured on TV, in magazines, and all over social media. You can find it on the Big Mouth, Inc. website.
3. THE GIANT UNICORN
This giant unicorn by Jasonwell International is my personal favorite. It’s giant, measuring 114 x 55 x 47 inches when fully inflated. It is designed to hold 2 adults, and it can hold more than 400 pounds. It’s made out of thick, soft and durable material, with a matte finish and “Fast Valves,” for super fast inflation and deflation. You can blow it up with a hairdryer or an air pump! Kids and adults alike will certainly get hours of entertainment out of this unicorn floaty.
In addition to being fun to ride on, you can find floaties specifically made just to hold your drinks! Some have cup holders, and some even have compartments that hold ice. Find matching unicorn drink holder floaties here for $12.99 each.
4. THE AVOCADO
What could be more fun than an avocado floaty that comes with its own removable beach ball as the seed?! You can also inflate this one with a hairdryer, which I personally think is just awesome.
Buy it here for $19.99
5. THE PIZZA SLICE
Fun in the sun has never been more fun now that you can float on an inflatable pizza slice! Pro tip: Eight friends each with a slice makes a whole floating pizza!
6. THE WATERMELON
No summer holiday would be complete without Watermelon, so why not sport this Watermelon Pool Float from Target’s Sun Squad™ line. Nothing says summer like a slice of watermelon! You can buy it at Target for $15.00! What a deal.
7. THE PRETZEL
A floating pretzel that is big enough for two or even three people to float in it, but you can also have it all to yourself, if you want to. Pretzel sharing is optional.
Buy it here for $17.95
8. THE LOLLIPOP
This colorful lollipop float is great for kids or anyone who loves a splash of color. The handle makes it easy to carry.
Buy it here for $34.99
9. THE EMOJI
You can find all kinds of emoji pool inflatables, but this Yellow Laughing Emoji Pool Float from Target’s Sun Squad™ line is certainly one of the most fun, er, funny. This emoji that means laughing until you cry is personally, my most-used emoji.
10. THE CACTUS RING TOSS
Today’s pool inflatables are not just rafts for floating on. There are inflatable games, such as this cactus ring toss.
There’s no denying that these floats add an element of fun to any party or summer vacation. You can use them in the pool, the lake or the ocean! Many of these are available at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or on Amazon, in addition to ordering directly from the manufacturer.
Another great thing is that they are totally portable. When deflated, most of these can easily fit in your beach bag or suitcase for travel to a friend’s house or to an exotic vacation destination. If you are the one who brings a pool floaty on vacation, your kids will love you, and your epic friends’ trip just got more epic!
If you’re heading down to Los Cabos this summer, you can even purchase pool inflatables at the gift shop at Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos. The gift shop carries a whole line of Intex brand pool inflatables including animal shapes, food shapes, colorful rafts, life vests and arm floaties for kids. These are all currently allowed in the pools at Garza Blanca, so come on down and enjoy a fun pool party with your family and friends!