7 Best Swim Pool Floats for Adults

Get your fun and splash on in the water with our hand-picked selection of the best pool floats and inflatables for adults.

Summer and pool season means backyard pools, splashing around at the lake, and soaking up the rays.

Pool floats, one of the best pool toys out there, are a great way to spice up your time on the water. And although pool floats look pretty simple and generic, there are a surprising number of options, styles, and sizes available to adults.

• See Also: 6 Best Swim Floaties for Toddlers

For those looking to combo their inflatable with a pool party games, there is a beer pool pong floatie that can also be used as an inflatable.

Larger pool loungers help you stay relatively dry, while other floaties suspend half your body in the water to keep you cool and comfortable during particularly warm summer days.

And of course, because anytime pool float comes up someone has to mention an inflatable unicorn, we included one.

Below is a hand-picked selection of our favorite pool floats for adults. Let’s get into it!

GoPong Pool Beer Pong Float

Is it a pool beer pong table? Is it an inflatable? It’s both!

These ultimate party-starters are a guaranteed hit when they make an appearance on the theme. With ten cups aside, and the included six pong balls, you’ve got a drinking game that can be done in the water.

But the cup holders along the side and six-foot-long inflatable can also be used to relax and lounge between rounds.

Comfort and party?

Check and mate.

Intex Unicorn Inflatable Ride-On

Intex is a popular maker of above ground swimming pools. This colorful and fun inflatable is made of highly durable vinyl that is resistant to harsh pool chemicals and won’t fade from repeated UV exposure.

Available as an individual inflatable and also available as a party island inflatable, the Intex Unicorn Ride-On is a colorful way to make a splash this summer.

Intex Inflat-A-Bull Ride-On Float

If you are looking for something that is going to get the competitive juices flowing, the Intex Inflat-a-Bull is a guaranteed way to ratchet up the excitement at the pool.

With five heavy-duty handles, sturdy PVC vinyl construction, you will be able to grab summer fun by the…wait for it…horns.

Jasonwell Pool Shark Float

Jaws will always have a special place in the (terrified) heart of swimmers. This giant shark pool float, at over four feet tall in height, is a lot more fun. Made of soft and long-lasting raft-grade material, it’s also got fast valves for faster inflation and deflation.

Comfortable, durable, and almost certain to get some laughs, the Jasonwell Inflatable Pool Shark is one of our faves.

Intex King Kool Inflatable Lounge

Another choice selection from Intex, the King Kool Inflatable is perfect for chilling in the water. With a sturdy backrest, you can lean back securely and soak up the rays.

The armrests and cup holders are great for beverage-related activities, and the hole at the southern end of the inflatable means you can dip your feet in the water to cool off.

Quick to inflate, easy to store, and well-priced, King Kool is a certified star when it comes to inflatables for adults.

Aqua Leisure 4-1 Pool Float

If it is versatility you are after when it comes to your pool float, the Aqua Leisure 4-in-1 inflatable has you covered. The floatie can be configured as a hammock, lounge chair, exercise saddle, or drifter. A pillow and footrest are inflated while the mesh fabric between keeps you comfortably suspended in the water.

• See also: 7 Best Inflatable Pools for Adults and Families

Reviewers (this bad boy has over a thousand 5-star reviews on Amazon) were particularly pleased with how easy it was to get on and off the inflatable.

The seat also sits just below the waterline, making the Aqua Leisure inflatable ideal for those extra hot days at the pool.

Intex Floating Recliner

When it comes to pool inflatables that will mostly keep you dry, the Intex Floating Recliner is your ticket. Made with heavy-duty 18-gauge vinyl that is also soft, this large pool inflatable is perfect for kicking back with a couple of cold ones in the pool.

With two cup holders, sturdy heavy-duty handles for mounting and dismounting the inflatable, and over-sized armrests, this inflatable lounger is perfect for those long summer days and soaking up the rays.

Pool Floats for Adults – FAQ

What are the different kinds of pool floats for adults?

Pool floats come in a huge range of sizes, colors, patterns and shapes. Figuring out which float you want comes down to what kind of time you are planning on having in the water. Here’s an overview of the main kinds of pool floats for adults:

Inflatable floats. These are the most popular types of floats, and the different kinds could fill another guide on their own. Inflatables can be used to lounge or to semi-submerge in the water. They come in a wide range of shapes, including the floating pong table to your basic doughnut-shaped float.

Pool loungers. Ready to kick back and sip on a cold beverage and soak up the sun? Pool loungers are designed for maximum relaxation, propping you up in a seated or prone position. They come in a range of levels of submerging, with some pool loungers allowing you to let your butt and feet chill in the water, keeping you cool on hot summer days.

Pool hammock floats. Pool hammocks are a great way to balance the cooling effects of the water with relaxation. Pool hammocks generally sit just below the surface of the water. I find that these are great for people who want a float that is easier to get into, making it ideal for pregnant women, seniors, and the big-and-tall crowd that finds standard floats to be too small.

Should you keep pool floats in the pool?

Pool floats are well-made. PVC nylon is an extremely durable material, resistant to puncture and corrosion. That said, it’s not invincible.

When we leave our pool floats in the water overnight or for days on end, they are being relentlessly exposed to the chemicals in our swimming pool.

Chlorine is a pool owner’s best friend for keeping pool water clean and free of algae and bacteria, but given enough time, it will also corrode the nylon or plastic in your favorite pool floats.

Leaving your pool floats in the water—especially when the pool is covered overnight, hot-boxing your floaties with pool chemicals—will speed up the degradation process of your floaties.

What’s the best way to store pool floats?

Pool floats provide a lot of fun for adults (and kids!) in the pool. And some of the larger ones can be somewhat expensive.

A simple way to extend the life of your floaties is to store them properly when not in use.

There are some excellent pool storage boxes that can store lots of stuff and also look great on the pool deck (see: Best Outdoor Pool Storage Boxes and Organizers for Pool Toys).

While you don’t need to tuck them away every time, as long as your floats are being kept out of direct sunlight and relatively protected from the elements, you can significantly extend the shelf life of your floats.

Should I turn off the pool pump if the floatie is coming apart?

If you notice that the floatie is starting to come apart, leaving a trail of debris in the pool, shut down the pool pump and filter.

Pieces of nylon, foam or nylon entering your filter system will clog your filter and potentially damage the pool pump. Floaties generally last a long time, but if it’s coming apart, turn off the pump and manually remove debris using a manual pool skimmer.

How do you make pool floats last longer?

Pool floats aren’t indestructible. Over the years I’ve burned through a few of them, sometimes because of not caring for them properly, other times because they blew out a tear rubbing against rocks when lazily floating at one of my favorite local river spots.

You should be able to get a few years of use out of your pool floats. Most float manufacturers have a 1-year warranty.

Patch kits are also frequently included with floats, so take advantage of them and apply the kit when you catch a leak or rip in the float so that you can make the pool float last even longer.

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