The 10 Best Pool Toys
This wiki has been updated 40 times since it was first published in March of 2015. Adults and kids alike will have fun all summer long with our selection of the latest and greatest pool toys. There are plenty of games and inflatables, and we also found some specifically designed to help younger swimmers become more confident and comfortable in the water. Get ready for exciting pool parties, intense competitions, and new ways to get wet and take a load off. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Max Liquidator Blaster Set
2. Intex Pool Volleyball Game
3. Watermelon Ball
Editor's Notes
June 20, 2019:
Just like regular toys, pool toys come in all shapes and sizes. There are floats for lounging on, sets that make it possible to play dry-land sports in the water, remote-controlled vessels, and the list goes on. Here, we've attempted to create a diverse selection to satisfy shoppers of all ages and persuasions. It's important to note, however, that children must always be supervised while using these toys, and especially while playing in the pool, lake, or any other body of water.
The Max Liquidator Blaster Set has been added to the list and awarded the top slot because of its affordability, positive reviews, and kid-friendliness, while the Intex Pool Volleyball Game was added to satisfy adults who enjoy a little competition in the water. The GotechoD RC Boat was chosen over the many other RC boats on the market because of its intuitive steering and self-righting hull design. Finally, the Intex Inflat-A-Bull was replaced with an updated version of the same product.
Special Honors
Swimline Transparent Beach Ball If you're looking for a bulk pool toy option, this might be the way to go, as you can order in quantities of up to 500. You can purchase one individually, too, for a very affordable price. And who doesn't love beach balls? They're perfect for activities in the water and on the sand. toysplash.com
Jammin Basketball Game This hoop's height can be fixed anywhere between 32 and 39 inches, and it's made from thick plastic that can tolerate plenty of abuse from rowdy revelers. Obviously, it will make a welcome addition to any sports enthusiast's pool, though it is a bit more expensive than similar products. intheswim.com
Star Wars BB-8 For kids who simply can't accept toys that aren't inspired by their favorite characters, this inflatable droid will likely do the trick. It's an officially licensed product, so you can count on its quality, and it has a clever water-weighted design that keeps it floating upright. swimways.com
4. Water Sports Swim Thru Rings
5. GotechoD RC Boat
6. Intex Inflat-A-Bull
7. Intex Sea Turtle
8. I Em Ji Poop Emoji
9. Swimline Bald Eagle
10. SwimWays Finding Dory Dive and Catch Game
Taking Summer Fun Seriously
Of course the pool is also great for enjoying at a decidedly slower pace.
Summer is the season of relaxation, free time, and plenty of fun. Even though most adults have to work during most of the summer (aside from educators, at any rate), the summertime ethos is established early on in life. Children pour forth from their classrooms ready to enjoy weeks of freedom afforded by the summer break, and the many years of this repeated pattern assign a unique spirit to the warmer months.
Whether you're lucky enough to have an entire summer season free of responsibilities or if you simply want to make the most of those weekends or vacation days, the warm weather and the carefree essence of the summer mean myriad opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. It's little wonder that the summertime is the season of the backyard barbecue, the pickup baseball game, the trips to the beach, or of course all those days spent enjoying the pool.
If you are lucky enough to live in a property that has a swimming pool, or if you regularly visit a home or a community center with a pool, then you're already well on your way to making the most of the summer. The hotter the temperature rises, the more inviting the cool and refreshing water of a swimming pool becomes. Swimming is the ideal hot weather exercise, as the water helps keep your body cooler, and splashing in a pool is a great way to cool down after other sports or activities. Pools are ideal for encouraging youngsters to be active during those months away from school (and gym class) as they allow for intense yet enjoyable physical activity. And playful activity is only enhanced by the introduction of great pool toys.
Of course the pool is also great for enjoying at a decidedly slower pace. There's nothing at all wrong with enjoying a lazy float on a raft or tube.
As long as you always consider safety first, pool toys make swimming pools that much more fun. And when it comes to enjoying the summertime, you can't beat playing in the pool.
The Best Pool Toys For Kids
As noted previously, safety always comes first when anyone is in or near a swimming pool, but this is doubly true when children are involved. Before any consideration is given to the best pool toys for children, the adult's responsible for the safety and well-being of the kids in question must take into account each child's ability to swim and must ensure floats or life jackets are worn if needed. Constant adult supervision is also mandatory.
There are myriad pool toys that are best enjoyed by several people at once, such as poolside basketball hoops or dive-and-grab retrieval types of games.
With safety accounted for, it's time to help this kids have plenty of fun while they splash in the pool. And go ahead and think beyond simple balls or pool noodles; these days there are dozens of great pool toys available for purchase.
When considering which pool toys to choose for your kids, first consider whether your children and their friends or other family members are of an age at which and a of a disposition such that they enjoy playing with others. There are myriad pool toys that are best enjoyed by several people at once, such as poolside basketball hoops or dive-and-grab retrieval types of games.
But so too are there plenty of pool toys that are amusing when used by a single person. These include everything from a self-propelled underwater scooter to a spinning water wheel in which a child can traverse the pool by crawling. Most children love to be active and they love to be challenged, so look for pool toys that will encourage activity and which can be used in dynamic ways.
The Best Pool Toys For Adults
When some adults jump into a swimming pool, they can't wait to start tossing ball back and forth or bouncing one over a volleyball net, shooting hoops into a basket perched above the water, or simply swimming back and forth for some enjoyable exercise. If you look for an active pool experience, consider one (or many) of the plentiful sports themed pool toys available these days. From floating golf greens that can make for the ultimate chip shot target practice to nets that span the width of the pool to unique games like that played with the Watermelon Ball, it's not hard to find a great pool toy for the active adult.
Other adults have a markedly different idea of enjoying the swimming pool, and may be more interested in a relaxing float, perhaps accompanied by a book and an adult beverage. There are many floats available that are perfect for the use by one person at a time, but so too are there floating island-type floats which can be enjoyed by multiple adults at once.
And if you think your pool needs some more serious pool "toys" to maximize everyone's enjoyment, you'll be pleased to know that many waterslides are actually relatively affordable. Give swimmers of all ages the ultimate thrill by adding some serious hardware to your pool and letting kids and adults alike make a splash this summer.
Taber is a writer from Santa Monica, CA, with a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of California, San Diego. After completing her degree, she began writing and editing copy for a host of high-traffic e-commerce websites. Her areas of expertise include the beauty, style, pet, and home products categories, and she has plenty of experience covering literature and art, too. Her personal interests in crafting and decorating inform her writing and -- she hopes -- add a good bit of insight to her work. Outside of copywriting, she is a reporter and columnist at a Los Angeles community newspaper and is currently pursuing a master of fine arts in creative writing.