How To Buy Swimming Pool Floats

Relax \ri-laks\ vb 1: to make less tense or rigid 2: to make soft or enervated.  This is why you have a pool.  Is there a more honest antidote to stress than the simple yet timeless joy of floating?  It’s why man first gazed at the primordial sea from whence he came and thought “Let’s go back in.”  Unfortunately for early hominids, the materials available in the Stone Age were, well, stone.  Buoyancy as a science and an art has come a long way, as evidenced by the incredible array of swimming pool floats available on the market today.

In fact, the variety can be overwhelming.  There is an endless train of floats, from simple inflatable rafts ideal for tanning and snoozing, to full-on armchairs with all the amenities, ideal for forgetting you even have a house.  There is even plenty of choice in the baby pool float market, for parents who want to instill at an early age an appreciation for sun, chlorine, and happiness in general.  But whether you’re going for the standard raft, or the complete pool lounge float, there are factors to consider.

Material is the most important choice to be made.  As far as that goes, you truly get what you pay for.  Ask yourself- do I want to spend less on a float that I’ll replace every year, or invest in something I can pass on to my sun-kissed descendants?  Speaking of which, a cheap float designed for children especially is destined to break, wasting money, time, and all that blowing. 

So, having decided to err on the side of quality, you have several options.  Inflatable floats are most common, but foam floats are both durable and super buoyant. Your personal comfort will determine whether you select a smooth or patterned foam float, but either will offer superior support on the water. Like mattresses, there are matters of pressure points and weight distribution to consider.  If you think buoyancy is buoyancy, spend an hour or two on a poorly-made inflatable and get back to us.  Odds are you’ll be asking for something new.

Some foam floats even come with a glossy vinyl coating for extra protection.  This feature will cost a little more, but what you get back in terms of durability is well worth it.  Too many families return to pool stores at the beginning of every summer to replace floats that have failed to stand up to conditions over the course of the year (even when stored inside for the winter).  Sun, chlorine, and salt water all take their toll on the integrity and the looks of a float, so go for the coating if you can. 

And while you’re in the mood for top quality, consider amenities.  Today’s floats come with features that may seem excessive in the local pool store, but seem indispensable when trying to balance a Mai-Tai on your stomach.  Built in pillows, travel cases, armrests, and the all-important cup holders seem like luxuries until you experience them.  Then they become requirements.  

Two final notes: one, an adult of average size needs a float that’s roughly 26 by 70 inches.  Check the box to make sure you’re not going to spend your summer hanging off the edge of your favorite place to be.  Two, always go for floats that come with warranties, usually for a full year.  If you’re going to invest in something worthwhile, make sure it’s protected.  Follow the advice given here and you’ll be guaranteed a summer of slow drifting, slow sipping, caveman’s-envy worthy relaxation.