The Best Pool Time Accessories for the Whole Family

Owning a pool is new to us this year, but having fun poolside all Summer isn't. The South is H-O-T HOT from Spring until Fall, and long ago I found that the key for all of us surviving those humidity filled scorchers is cooling off in a pool.


I was nervous as a new pool owner that we would feel overwhelmed with the maintenance or feel out of our element. I admit it does feel a little weird just walking out the back door and not carrying a large armload of stuff, a wagon packed with pool toys, and enough snacks to feed the entire neighborhood. But now a few months in all my worries were for nothing. It might actually be the easiest thing of 2020 so far.

I have a great list of pool must-haves (stay tuned!), but before I go on about my favorite sunscreen or the item that keeps my pool deck clean the most, there is one pool time accessory that stands above the rest. The whole family enjoys it. Any friends that come over enjoy it. There's even a good chance our dog even has enjoyed it a time or two. And it can be used in the lake, at the beach or even in your bathtub if it's big enough.

This magical, universal pool accessory is...a SwimWays pool float!


Okay before you laugh at my dramatics - it's true! When I was sitting down to write out a list of my "pool must-haves" for you (stay tuned), I realized there was one pool time accessory that everyone loves, the kids fight over the most, and we take with us even on vacation.

We're long time SwimWays fans, and think they are leaders when it comes to both swim safety and swim fun. As babies we let our kids splash in the Baby Spring Float and now they are a little older (insert big ugly mom tears) they are having a blast playing with the wide variety of fun floats offered by SwimWays. They are designed by water lovers, for water lovers and it's obvious when you come to our pool they help take the fun to the next level.


They don't look like they are having any fun at all, right?

Our love for the Original Spring Float goes way back. For years it is the float that we make sure to always bring with us. It's easy to pack, easy to set up, and is the ultimate game changer when it comes to floating in the water comfortably.

One of my biggest pet peeves about a float is that "stuck to it" feeling you get as your body leaves the rubber of some floats. The Original Spring Float is made of durable fabric and a soft cooling mesh bed that allows you to float in the water. No awful suction noise as you move on it (winning!), it's nice and cool since you can actually be in the water, and it has a soft pillow to rest your head back. In the off chance we get to actually close our eyes and relax on the water - it's like floating on heaven!


It's also the first float the kids steal from us.


They love lounging on it too. And playing on it. Making it a pretend pirate ship, a mermaid rock, a frog lilly pad, or their personal favorite - playing "mommy".

What can I say? Good moms set a good example. And that includes not bringing weak float game to the pool party.


In an effort to save my favorite pool floats for myself and my mom squad, I gave the kids these fun Papasan Floats and this Huggables Panda.



The Papasan Float is similar in make to the Original Spring Float. It has that same outer fabric and mesh center - just in a circular papasan style shape. We love packing it on the boat for the lake. It packs so small that it's easy to just throw in a pool bag or bring along for any water adventures. It's also super comfortable for adults and kids alike to enjoy.


These also last forever. Like we have a few that we've brought to the beach, the lake, and many a pool season and years later they are still going strong. The fabric has held up remarkably well for the amount of use and abuse it receives each season. Well worth the minimal investment just knowing I'm not buying new floats every single year.


The Huggables Panda is just plain FUN. In addition to the Panda, the SwimWays Huggables line has a Bear and a Sloth. If you polled any kids who are swimming in my pool currently what their favorite float would be - this is it. So much so that I had to go back and purchase back ups. We even brought it to the beach with us a few weeks ago.

I have yet to be given the opportunity to ride on it, but I love that it has a cup holder and looks super comfortable. It's the perfect size that the kids think it's "huge", but really it is just a fun slightly oversized huggable panda bear ready for fun.


And fun it has.


SwimWays and their pool floats will always be synonymous with pool time fun for us, and I promise they are the ultimate water time accessory to have on hand no matter where you plan on floating this Summer.