Over the years there have been a ton of different pools toys that have tried to make room for themselves in the chlorine treated waters but there are three in particular that have become essential accessories to any pool.  What are they you ask?  The inflatable raft, the floating basketball hoop, and the foam noodle are required to either be in the pool before you get in or should at least be within arms reach once you’ve cannon-balled.

One of the Classic Inflatable Pool Toys: The Inflatable Raft

Floating pool toys for adults!

Swimming pool toys are usually designed around some sort of game but the inflatable raft needs no silly rule set to be one of the greatest pool toys around. As opposed to all of those pool toys for kids, the inflatable raft is designed with the Mommy’s and Daddy’s in mind. While your kids swim about splashing each other in the shallow end you can rest easy floating idly in the deeper waters on your inflatable raft.

You can find all sorts of inflatable raft models at your neighborhood pool supplies store. They’ve got your basic mattress style raft, your crocodile themed rafts, rafts with handle bars, rafts with canopies…all sorts of different styles. Not only can you catch some Z’s out on the serene waters with this inflatable pool toy but you can even use it to make some massive waves. Stand up in the shallow end and vigorously push and pull the inflatable raft underneath the water to create a wave pool effect for everyone in the pool.

Nothing Beats a Good Game of Water Basketball

A basketball hoop is one of many cool pool toys!

After a while it can get kind of dull just swimming around in a pool. It’s a lot more fun when you have a bunch of people with you and can get some sort of game going. The floating basketball hoop makes a perfect pool toy for the sports minded pool-goer.

The floating basketball hoop can sit in the deep end of the pool and float around as the players struggle to make baskets with their tiny basketball. The game can be played like a water polo game as in water there is no such thing as dribbling. If you’re a dunk fan you can make some pretty cool moves on the floating hoop because it isn’t very far above the water.  You can also do some fun horse games, with “shooting while jumping into the pool shots,” etc.

Water basketball can be played with any number of people. Just divide everyone into two teams and then start racking up the points. The hoop is even a great pool toy if you’re all by yourself in the pool. You can practice free throws from one end of the pool and then swim over to get your missed shots.  Of all swimming pools toys, if you have a big group of people, forget playing Marco Polo – get yourself a water basketball hoop!

Foam Noodle Fight!

The foam noodle is a fun baby pool toy!

Of all the baby pool toys, the foam noodle is one of the best.  They are soft and bendy, and lots of fun!  They definitely won’t keep even a baby afloat, but they are certainly fun for kids because all kinds of games can be made with them.  Most kids (especially the boys) end up using them as weapons.  With foam noodles its ok though, because they are so soft.

Horseplay can be dangerous in pools but if you play it safe and just use foam noodles as swords you can have a lot of fun whacking each other around and splashing about. Throw in a couple water guns and you’ll feel like you’re having a wet and wild war!  This swimming pool toy is sure to entertain you and your kids for hours.

Related posts:

1. What to Look for When Buying Pool Floats
2. The Inflatable Pool: the Thrifty Mans Pool

Not all pool floats are made equal. As you begin to browse around your neighborhood pool supplies store you will quickly find that there are a ton of pool float options available to you. Pool floats tend to range in quality from the ridiculous and awful (cough, foam noodle, cough) to the expensive and luxurious.  Ok, ok, foam noodles are fun for the kids.

Choosing the right kind of pool float for your pool will require you to balance your desires with your budget, so it is important to know what to look for.

To Float or Not to Float

Some cheap pool floats toys.

Be honest, the only reason you want to buy a pool float is to float around and do nothing all day. You want to exude lazy relaxation when you’re in the pool. You have no intention of using your pool float to splash people or make waves, you just want to sit back and enjoy the beautiful weather. So why would you buy a pool float that can’t support your weight?

The first question you have to ask yourself when you’re out buying a pool float is: Will this pool float be able to hold me above water? You have to be honest with yourself about your weight and you have to be careful to pick a swimming pool float that will stay on the surface of the water and not dip underneath it.

There are a few types of inflatable pool floats that will keep just about anyone above water but the heavier you are, the larger your pool float has to be. A floating pool chair is generally a good choice over the regular foam pool float if you’re worried about falling into the water. Floating pool chairs are generally made of special material that has much better buoyancy than your average pool float.

Will Your Pool Float Keep its Shape?

Pool floats lounges work for kids and adults!

The biggest concern when buying any pool toy is durability. Pool toys, especially pool floats, are designed to get wet but extended use in the pool is going to wear just about anything out. The cheaper the pool floats, the more likely they will develop damaging holes and tears as you use it. The more beat up your pool float gets the harder time it will have staying above water and a pool float that doesn’t float is no good at all.

To ensure that you won’t be duct taping your inflatable pool float after the first couple days of using it, you can invest in a foam pool float. Foam is a porous material that doesn’t require you to blow it up in order to float on top of the water. Foam pool floats are generally more durable as well so they will last longer.

What Kind of Accessories Does Your Pool Float Have?

There are many colorful pool toys and floats to choose from.

There’s nothing better than an ice cold beer out in the middle of the pool. Pool floats are great because they will often come equipped with different accessories to add to the pleasure of relaxing out in open water (including *drum roll please* – a cup holder!  There also many other fun pool floats including inflatable keg floats, pool floats with umbrella stands built in, baby pool floats that attach your own pool float, and others!  There is even an inflatable pool float trampoline!  The list of fun pool floats for your swimming pool is endless.

Note about the baby pool float: NEVER trust any of these types of floats to keep your baby safe.

Related posts:

1. Three Must-have Pool Toys