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1. The giant pool flamingo of your dreams, which doesn't actually require a Taylor Swift Fourth of July Party-level budget.
Ahhh, remember the good old days of Taylor throwing celeb pool parties? Simpler times. Anywho, my family has one just like this (I do believe it's the exact same one but my mom found it at the grocery store lol). Her name is Janice and she is huge. Like two-adults-can-easily-fit-on-her, she-is-actually-comfy, you-could-read-a-book-or-take-a-nap-or-have-a-drink-on-her HUGE. The handles are great for getting on her and floating around, and she feels very sturdy and durable. She's lasted several summers and she's definitely an upgrade from the awesome-but-smaller Janice #1 floaty flamingo we used to have.
Promising review: "I named her Rizzo the pink lady, and I love her. I didn't realize, until my husband pointed out the dimensions post-purchase, that this float if huge! I'm 5-foot-10 and I easily fit on this thing! Two people my size would easily fit. She's perfect for sunbathing. My nephews are obsessed, and she took a beating with all three of them leaping on her, but held up great." —Kara Q
Get it from Amazon for $44.99.
2. And speaking of T-Swift's 1989 era, a cheeky Polaroid camera-inspired float for the most self-aware of swimmers. We all know half the reason you're shopping for a cute float is to post it on Instagram, so might as well embrace it.
3. A roomy inflatable boat with a section for lounging and riding, plus a small spot up front that's ideal for stashing water bottles or furry, four-legged stowaways.
Promising review: "IMPRESSED!! HUGE!!!!!! We got this for the pool and ended up taking it to the ocean! We had a great time towing the family! At one point we had two adults and four kids in it. We ended up with a leak at the windshield seam (our fault for over-loading) — fixed with a patch and continued our shenanigans. This is a super fun float for the family or to just float and relax...if your kids let you have a turn." —Creative Hags
Get it from Amazon for $37.95.
4. A giant rainbow cloud island float that may be the only island getaway you and your friends are able to take this summer, but guess what? It makes for one super fabulous staycation.
It's from family-owned, Venice Beach, California-based small business Funboy, which makes a huge selection of quirky and stylish pool floats. The ethically-minded company makes their products without harmful chemicals, in factories paying fair wages, and donates to charities providing people with clean water.
Promising review: "The shape is very fun and eye-catching. The kids love playing on it. The size is perfect for two young teens. The rainbow cloud is bigger than my twins’ bed. My kids have taken it over — I just hope I get a turn. Inflation and deflation are quick with the large value openings. The floats are made with a thick material and are very sturdy. The handles built into the float makes getting on one very easy, as well as making it easy to move if ever necessary. Storage is great, as it deflates quickly and folds up tightly. It comes with a repair patch, so I know I'll be using it for summers to come. Please be aware that this float is huge and you need a big pool for it. Recommended." —M. JEFFREY MCMAHON
Get it from Amazon for $139.
5. A clever pretzel float for chillaxing and taking the cutest possible pics with your BFF or your Auntie Anne.
My family had one of these several years back and it was a huge hit! It's perfectly designed for up to two people to lounge in, and the twists and holes give you tons of options for how to sit in/on it. It's great for hot days when you want to float but also want to be mostly submerged in the cool water, and it's just so quirky and fun! Pretzels are one of my go-to snacks so it was a must-have.
Promising review: "This is the best float ever!!! It's a tad hard to inflate but nothing wild. My son and I love this because we can both float together and I can even put my legs through the third hole to lie back and float. I'd definitely buy this again; it's so cute and seems pretty sturdy." —steph & tom
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
6. A posh peacock who'll look so zoo-tiful in your pool. Bonus points if you pose on him in a color-coordinated swimsuit for a true "birds of a feather" moment.
7. A whimsical mermaid tail float that definitely needs to be ~part of your world.~ It'll give you the flexibility to rock a gorgeous tail but then slide out and reveal your...what's that word again? Oh, feet.
Promising review: "So much fun and it’s not just a cheaply made novelty toy that’s fun for a few pics. It’s actually made well and a great size. When I was getting into the water with it, everyone was cracking up! It will definitely get everyone’s attention and get them laughing. It was such a hit that before I knew it; my son and his friends were taking it over!!! Get it, you won’t regret it. It is made for adults, not kids, and if I had to say anything negative about it it would be that it didn’t have cup holders or handles. I would probably just use it in a pool or a very calm river." —Molly P.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in two colors).
8. A fantastical fire-breathing dragon float you'll find yourself ~dragon~ out of the garage every pool day, because it's sure to become your fam's new fave.
I am always obsessed with the Sun Squad line of ridiculously adorable and affordable summery outdoor goods Target drops every year.
Promising review: "Had to give this a review. This is the best and coolest float Sun Squad has ever made and your kids will love it." —OaktownS
Get it from Target for $15.
9. An exceedingly Instagrammable Funboy printed tube, which would pair perfectly with your new high-waisted bikini and a piña colada.
Promising review: "The float is much bigger than I thought it would be. You definitely need some type of air pump to fill it. That being said, I've had it almost a month and haven't had to refill the air once. It's been very hot outside so it is hot to the touch in the pool, but if you flip it over, it seems to be fine. It's very comfortable and fits my 5'9" frame comfortably when I lie on top of it or float inside of it." —KristinW
Get it from Amazon for $37.84+ (available in 17 prints).
10. A ginormous unicorn that'll fulfill all your summer fantasies. Okay, except for maybe that one about you joining Connor B. on Bachelor in Paradise and sneaking off somewhere...but who's to say that couldn't also involve a unicorn floatie?
See those reviewers above, Connor? That could be us.
Promising review: "Not what I expected...but, WOW! This is super big and super cool. Quick to inflate using an electric air pump and deflates just as quickly for storage. The material seems to be high-quality and thick, which should add to its sturdiness. It looks so great floating in the pool and we are having a blast using it. My grandson thinks it's the greatest!" —Joanne Link
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
11. An amazing avocado floatie, which comes with a removable pit that doubles as a beach ball. ~Guac~ about combining form and function.
Multiple reviewers also used this to use as a bed to sleep on after BBL procedures!
Promising review: "Y'all know that a lot of pool floats don't survive even one summer of heavy use. Well, our avocado float is on its second summer now and showing no signs of giving up! It does need re-inflating after a couple of days just to puff it back up; it's not losing more air than you'd expect of an inexpensive float at all. And that's with two adults and three tween/teenagers using it almost every day. It's hilarious and huge, and we've had a lot of fun with the pit ball too! I would absolutely buy this again. I've thought about buying a second one just to have a backup for whenever something does happen to this one, as it's the family favorite out of a LOT of pool floats over the years!" —M. E.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
12. A rainbow wheel, because your family will find endless silly games to play with it. It's so awesome that when you think of a "rainbow wheel" from now on, it'll conjure images of fun, not pure rage at the tiny spinning version that sometimes pops up on your Mac.
Promising review: "So glad I purchased this wheel. I am happy to say that after five hours of continuous use by nine small children, it was still fully inflated. It was the pool toy everyone wanted to play with. I am glad I purchased this. It was easy and fast to inflate with a hand pump. I highly recommend it." —Chloe Augustus
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
13. A doggone hilarious wiener dog pool tube sure to have everyone dachs-hounding you to find out where you got it.
Promising review: "This float is absolutely adorable. It is very easy to inflate if you have an air pump. I love how the valve lets air in but not out — makes it so easy to inflate. I am an owner of dachshunds so I absolutely love it. As you can tell from the pictures it is a very large float." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
14. A sweet heart float that comes with a custom decal you can stick on to make it perfect for ~splashy~ celebrations.
This Tustin, California-based small biz specializes in bridal party gifts and goodies!
Promising review: "The pool float was such a hit. My best friend (the bride) was so obsessed with it, along with the whole bridal party. This is such a cute pool float that makes the perfect addition to the bachelorette party." —meagan blaier
Get it from Mod Party on Etsy for $26.50 (available with up to 13 bolded letters and 13 script letters).
15. A fearsome T. rex sure to go down in (pre)history as the most awesome float ever to roam your swimming hole.
Promising review: "Where has this been all my life? This glorious dinosaur was the only thing holding me back from a full 2020 breakdown. I named him Wallace and you bet he acts like a grizzly 60-million-year-old 'back in my day when there were no humans' war veteran. Inflated this majestic beast to be my partner down a lazy river journey and he immediately came alive; asking how his oil was being used to serve the technology boom and how proud his father would be. When I informed him that he was an inflatable dinosaur for drunk college kids to rodeo on, he got so upset that he dumped me over backward into the river with a full Coors in my hand. If you're looking for that ancient grandfather figure to scrutinize your every life decision and tell you 'back in my day' stories that you truly cannot relate to in any way, then look no more, you've found him." —Lindsay
Get it from Amazon for