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Chill out in style during the heat wave.
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard—or a local pool that’s well-maintained—chances are you want to enjoy it this summer. When you’re looking for the perfect pool float to drift away on, make sure it matches your taste. Gone are the days when you have to resign to a tacky pink flamingo or a unicorn better suited to a five-year-old. These days, your pool floats can be just as refined as the rest of your home—and they don’t have to break the bank either.
House Beautiful’s shopping team went on the hunt for non-tacky pool floats for every bougie pool day on your calendar this summer. We found floats made of thick PVC, designed in fun shapes, and complete with a few bonus features, like cupholders or adjustable canopies. They’re a sure-fire way to stay cool in the ensuing heat—and make any pool party Instagram-worthy.
We also found options for every budget, from under-$50 sets to luxury options with included sunshades. Whether you prefer to lie back and lounge in peace or you want to be the pool’s resident bartender, you’ll find a float that matches your summer vibe. Our only suggestion is to move fast because with temperatures rising, we don’t think these pool floats will be on the shelves for long. Go ahead and order your favorites before they sell out for the season!
We were surprised to see Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS brand branching into the world of pool floats, but we’re pretty happy with the results. “This lounger has a more upscale look than the typical chaise-shaped float,” Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie says. “The bolster pillow means you can actually recline above the water, rather than get water in your ears when you lie back. This thing is pretty spacious, so you can stretch out comfortably. But beware if you’re in a shared pool that you don’t run over other occupants while you float.”
A fair warning: if you buy this float, you will be the most popular person at the pool. This brings all the fun of a swim-up bar out to the water with you. “If you like a frozen drink while you enjoy the pool, this is the coolest float you could buy,” McKenzie says. “It comes with four cup-holders and two areas you can fill with ice as a makeshift cooler. I shared piña colada and chips and guac while floating in the pool with a friend, and with the fringed cabana shade, it was the perfect pool day. It holds everything securely, so I didn’t have to deal with soggy tortilla chips or spilled drinks.”
There’s nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned inner tube that harkens back to beach days of decades past. Whether you choose butter yellow, sea grass green, or marine blue, it’s an elegant addition to your pool storage box. It even comes with a repair patch so you can make it last for all the summers to come.
The golfer in your life will immediately love this pool float, but even if you can barely putt, you can still climb aboard and enjoy it this summer. “I bought this float for a couple's trip to the Hamptons, and it was a hit!” Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. “It inflated quickly, and the removable fringe roof is nice because you get shade from it and it makes the pool float feel fancy. Two people can comfortably fit on this, though getting on can be slippery, so ask your partner for assistance!”
These retro yet durable pool floats look like you’re at a luxury beach club. The pattern features panels of green, yellow, and pink reminiscent of the colorful cliffsides of Cinque Terre. They come in two sizes, so the whole family can enjoy and float together.
There's no greater catch-22 than weighing whether to take a dip or to stay out of the sun and protect your precious skin. Now, there's no need to choose. Just take a seat in the shell-like floating lounge chair and raise the shade so it covers you. Just be sure to slather your legs in sunscreen, because the canopy only goes so far.
This isn’t your typical pool float, but it was too unique for us not to include it. If you’ve recently become mahjong-obsessed or you have a long-standing game you keep alive, this is for you. It lets you take all the fun of the game onto the water. The foam mat provides a steady play area, and there are even floating tiles you can buy, should one go astray into the water.
Yes, we included two yellow-and-white striped floats on our list, but this one is totally different from the previous pick. Here's why: The white sectional in the middle is actually made of mesh, so when you lie down, most of your body will be in the water, while your head and feet will be elevated on the cushioned ends. If it's a hot day, this will keep you cool.
These inflatable swim tubes come in sets of three, but each has a different theme. Personally, we're drawn to the fruit because nothing is more refreshing at a pool party than a big bowl of cold fruit. Otherwise, grab this set in donuts, dinosaurs, or tropical motifs.
Frontgate sells the classic pool float you'd see back in the day when the only two options were a black rubbery inner tube that would basically bake in the sun or a foam raft with a headrest. Though we don't miss the inner tubes that would burn your skin as soon as you touched them, we do have a thing for the raft. This one comes in a few shades of blue, including a hibiscus pattern. There's also a fun rust color, but we're partial to the blue.
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