9 Best Pool Toys of 2019 | Our Favorite Pool Toys of the Year
We’ve researched the best pool toys of 2018, comparing quality, appearances, functionality, and price. The goal? To bring our readers a list of our favorite swimming pool toys for adults and kids on the market right now. After all, one of the most enjoyable parts of a hot summer day is taking a nice, refreshing dip in the swimming pool. Swimming pools are synonymous with summer fun, relaxation, and celebrations. They are a favorite spot for spending time with friends and family members throughout the summer months.
Swimming pools are perfect for both recreational and athletic use. If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, then it’s likely you will be hosting more than a few summertime parties. Along with hosting summertime parties, barbecues, and other festivities comes the challenge of entertaining your guests–especially the kids. For most children, the summer break from school can last up to three months. Eventually, the novelty of the swimming pool alone wears off, however, you can spice up your usual swim routine by purchasing a few of the many exciting swimming pool toys that are now out on the market. Check out our full lineup of the best pool toys below:
Having the best pool toys available for your family and guests to enjoy will take your relaxing swims to the next level. Whether you’re hosting a pool party or enjoying an evening swim with the family, swimming pool toys are a great addition to any swimming session. With so many cool, fun, and innovative swimming pool toys on the market, from active games to loungy inflatable pool toys, finding the best pool toys to liven up your backyard swimming pool is a fun task. Purchasing toys and games for your pool will liven up your summer swim routines and celebrations. To make it even easier for you, we have compiled a list of our favorite pool toys of summer 2018.
Shopping for the Best Swimming Pool Toys
Pool toys are universally enjoyed by all of your loved ones. Adults, children, and even pets enjoy the excitement of playing games and relaxing in the water. Shopping for the best swimming pool toys for entertaining your family and friends can be an easy task once you know what to look for. Ideally, if you’re looking to purchase toys for the purpose of entertaining a large group of people, then you’ll want to purchase a selection of toys that provide a good mix of relaxation and action-packed fun. Swimming pool toys come in a variety of different types ranging from relaxing, inflatable lounge floats, and pool toys designed to encourage athletic activities such as skilled swimming, basketball, and volleyball, to name a few. Luckily, there are many great options for awesome swimming pool toys.
Swimming pool toys can be used in a variety of aquatic areas. Pool toys are fun to enjoy in above and in-ground swimming pools and bathtubs, and natural bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, and rivers. Some swimming pool toys are so versatile that they can be used for fun outside of the pool as well.
Besides providing leisurely fun and recreation, purchasing swimming pool toys can encourage more physical activity amongst your loved ones. A common complaint of parents with children at home for summer break, is the tendency of children and young adults to spend too much time indoors being entertained by electronic devices such as TVs, laptops, cell phones, video games, or tablets.
Purchasing the best pool toys for your swimming pool will encourage your loved ones to participate in physical athletic activities. Certain pool toys are great for swimming training and lessons. They encourage the practice of swimming skills such as speed, diving, underwater swimming, and agility.
Other swimming pool toys are great for playing common outdoor games such as basketball, volleyball, and relay races. Having swimming pool toys that enable you to play these sports in the pool is perfect for staying active during hot summer days. Engaging in too much physical activity under the hot, summer sun can lead to the dangerous risk of heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration can all occur under the sun’s fiery rays. Taking a splash in your backyard swimming pool can keep body temperatures lower, making playing outdoors safer during the summer months. Purchasing fun, athletic swimming pool toys can allow for summertime outdoor play without the risk of overheating.
Types of Swimming Pool Toys
For swimmers who enjoy lounging and soaking up the sun while taking a cooling dip in the water, inflatable pool toys are a great option. Many inflatable pool toys are shaped like common furniture items such as chairs or couches, making them excellent options for lounging around the swimming pool. When shopping for pool toys of this type, it is important to pay attention the type of material that the pool toy is made of. You want to purchase inflatable pool toys that are made of durable materials, such as heavy-gauge vinyl, that will be less likely to burst or deflate during use, leading to the possibility of injury or drowning.
Also, when purchasing inflatable pool toys, it is important to make sure that you have the proper equipment for filling the inflatable toy with air. Some inflatable pool toys will require you to use your own breath in order to inflate them, while others will require the use of an air pump. It is important to always follow directions when inflating swimming pool toys in order to avoid holes, tears, and unwanted deflation. The directed method for filling a particular pool toy with air ensures that the toy will receive the proper amount of air that is necessary for carrying your body weight.
Related: Best Pool Cleaner
Most manufacturers of inflatable pool toys discourage customers from using inflatable pool toys in place of their normal, heavy-duty safety and flotation devices. Although inflatable pool toys are great for floating on the surface of your pool, they are not stable enough to save lives.
If you are a more active swimmer, then swimming pool game toys will be the best picks for you. This type of pool toy is perfect for parents who are buying pool toys for kids, in order to get them to spend less time in front of their cell phone, computer, and tablet screens,, and more time being active outdoors. You’ll find quite a few swimming pool toys on our list that will meet your family’s pool time needs. Playing games such as volleyball and basketball while swimming can turn an aimless dip in the pool into a competitive, fun activity. There are also many swimming pool toys for kids that encourage the development of their swimming skills.
When purchasing swimming pool toys made for activities and games, it is important to make sure that the toy is a good fit for your swimming pool. Swimming pool toys come in a variety of sizes, and a swimming pool toy that isn’t a good fit for your pool will put a damper on your summertime activities. A swimming pool toy that is the wrong size for your swimming pool can make for a crowded swim, leading to issues such as collisions amongst swimmers. It is a great idea to know the measurements of your pool before purchasing swimming pool toys.
When purchasing swimming pool toys for kids, it is important to make note of the appropriate age range for each particular toy. Always monitor your children as they play with swimming pool toys in order to avoid the risks of injury and drowning.
The Best Pool Toys of 2018: Our Favorite Picks
There are many awesome swimming pool toys available this summer. Pool toys have progressed beyond the staple pool noodles and the typical inflatable water ring floats. Swimming pool toys have become more durable and long-lasting, more interactive, and are now more beautifully designed than ever.
Check out our list below to see our favorite pool toys on the market right now, including toys for grownups, as well as the best pool toys for kids.
1. The Intex Pool Volleyball Game
If you’re looking for pool toys for kids and adults, the Intex Pool Volleyball game is a great pick for you. The Intex Pool Volleyball Game is a fan favorite when it comes to inflatable pool toys, and is a perfect activity for spending a summer afternoon in the pool with your family. The Intex Pool Volleyball is an inflatable volleyball net that comes with everything you need to get an exciting game of pool volleyball started. This game comes equipped with an inflatable beach ball, a floating base with a net, and a shelf box. This inflatable pool toy puts a refreshing spin on the fun of a sandy game of beach volleyball by bringing the game home to your swimming pool.
The Intex Pool Volleyball Game has dimensions of 94 x 25 x 36 inches. It weighs 2.2 pounds. This pool toy is recommended for larger swimming pools. The Intex Pool Volleyball Game is versatile and can be played with the net either floating or anchored. You can let the net float around your pool as you and the other players swim around the swimming pool, passing the ball back and forth across the net. You can also anchor the Intex Pool Volleyball Game to either side of your swimming pool, by adding anchor weights to the grommeted pole bases for a more formal, stationary game of swimming pool volleyball.
The Intex Pool Volleyball Game is one of the best pool toys for hosting summer pool parties. Many people are able to join in on a competitive volleyball match, making it a perfect option for swimming with a crowd. This game can be played with multiple players, and many teams if you allow the Intex Pool Volleyball Game to float around the pool instead of weighing it down for a game with two teams.
This swimming pool toy also comes with the added benefit of being an active game. If you’re looking for a way to get your kids to spend more time outside this summer, then the Intex Pool Volleyball Game is a great way to get them to spend some time away from the TVs, laptops, and other electronic devices. This pool toy provides great exercise and hours of fun.
The sturdy-gauge vinyl inflatable floating base and beach ball are durable and able to handle multiple hits from competitive volleyball players. The inflatable base is made of durable, 10-gauge vinyl, and the ball is made of 7-gauge vinyl. The Intex Pool Volleyball game also comes with a patch kit for mending any tears or holes.
All in all, the Intex Pool Volleyball Game is a great pick for your family’s summer pool parties. At less than $20, this swimming pool toy is very affordable for all budgets.
Buy The Intex Pool Volleyball Game
2. Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters by Swimways
Another great pool toy for kids is the Swimways Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters pack. This pool toy is a great choice for the superhero fans in your life. Your young Marvel fans will enjoy these flexible dive sticks, both in and out of the pool. Each pack comes with three dive sticks with one shaped like Captain America, the Hulk, and Iron Man. These soft, flexible dive sticks are safe for children 5 years old and up.
Dive sticks are a fun, active pool toy for young swimmers. Enjoying Swimways Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters is simple and easy. You simply watch as each of your characters sinks to the bottom, then you swim to the bottom to retrieve your character. Dive toys are excellent for young swimmers to gain experience with speed, diving, and underwater swimming.
The soft material and bright colors of Swimways Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters makes this one of the safest pool toys for kids. These soft, flexible characters are safer to play within the pool than hard, plastic action figures that can harm young swimmers if thrown. The bright colors make them easy to see underwater for new swimmers who are practicing their dive and retrieval techniques.
The Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters by Swimways are available for a great value on Amazon. You can purchase a set or two for $16.97 each.
Buy Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters by Swimways
3. The Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy by Swimline
You’ll have the most popular pool in the neighborhood with the Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game toy. This inflatable lounger provides endless pool time fun for your family and friends. This floating basketball-inspired swimming pool toy attracts swimmers of all ages. The Giant Shootball Basketball Pool Game Toy is perfect days when the temperatures are too high for playing basketball on the court.
The Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy is a floating pool basketball game that features multiple ports allowing multiple shooters to play at once. The Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy’s multi-ports allow you to shoot from multiple directions as you swim around your pool. This swimming pool toy is perfect for hosting swimming playdates and pool parties.
Related: Best Pool Floats
With the Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy, you can be sure that you are receiving a top quality inflatable pool toy. As the original creator of the first Giant Swan Pool Float, Swimline is known to manufacture high quality, innovative swimming pool toys.
Made of heavy-duty vinyl and with dimensions of 36 x 45 inches, Swimline’s Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy lives up to the reputation of the Giant Swan Pool Float. This inflatable pool toy is durable, long-lasting, and able to withstand the excitement of a competitive game in the swimming pool.
Swimline’s Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy is available on Amazon for $31.99. This game comes with only one ball, but it’s a good idea to purchase a few extra balls for a more exciting game and to avoid conflicts when the game is being played amongst a larger group of children. Many buyers opt to purchase extra balls when buying this pool toy.
Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy is easy to assemble and use. The Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy is one of our favorite pool toys for kids. Your kids won’t want to leave the swimming pool after spending hours playing this unique, active game.
Buy The Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy by Swimline
4. The King Kool Inflatable Lounge by UITIGKCJ
If relaxation is your goal when it comes to purchasing the best pool toys, then the UITIGKCJ King Kool Inflatable Lounge is a top pick for you. Spend your summer time weekends lounging on this ultra-comfortable inflatable pool toy. This pool toy is perfect for relaxing in the pool as you keep an eye on your younger or less experienced swimmers. This inflatable swimming pool lounge chair comes equipped with a backrest and comfortable armrests for total relaxation. For even more convenience and comfort, the King Kool Inflatable Lounge also comes with a built-in drink holder. The King Kool Inflatable Lounge also comes with two air chambers for additional security from the risks of injury and drowning.
Not only is this pool toy relaxing, but it is also beautifully designed. The King Kool Inflatable Lounge is available in two colors, clear and blue. This swimming pool lounge features a transparent top panel that showcases the vivid multi-colored I-beams inside the float. The King Kool Inflatable Lounge is top of the line when it comes to inflatable pool toys. It is large, with dimensions of 63 x 33.5 inches, and made of heavy-gauge vinyl, making it one of the best pool toys for accommodating a variety of body types.
The King Kool Inflatable Lounge by UITIGKCJ is a very affordable inflatable pool toy. You can purchase one on Amazon for $11.99.
Buy The King Kool Inflatable Lounge by UITIGKCJ
5. Toypedo Bandits by Swimways
These miniature submarine figures are perfect for young swimmers who are looking for a way to practice and increase their swimming speed. Chasing these speedy “toypedos” around the pool will help young swimmers develop diving and underwater swimming techniques.
Because of their hydrodynamic design, inspired by nuclear submarines, Swimways Toypedo Bandits glide easily for up to twenty feet through the water with a simple toss. At only five inches long, Swimways Toypedo Bandits are similar to regular dive sticks, except that they don’t simply sink to the bottom and wait to be retrieved. Swimways Toypedo Bandits dash forward as they descend to the bottom of your swimming pool. These brightly colored swimming pool toys are easy to retrieve and recommended for children ages five and up.
Swimways Toypedo Bandits are perfect for hosting swimming playdates for your children. This versatile swimming pool game allows for multiple players and cooperation. Your child can have fun chasing these tiny submarines around the pool alone, or along with a group of kids by teaming up for relay races and imaginative games with Swimways Toypedo Bandits. Each toy in the Swimways Toypedo Bandits four pack is assigned a point value of 10, 20, 30, or 40 points for retrieval, making for a competitive swimming pool game. For even more fun, you can purchase additional packs of these affordable swimming pool toys. A pack of four costs less than $5.
Buy Toypedo Bandits by Swimways
6. The Watermelon Ball
Did you know that real watermelons were once very popular to use as swimming pool toys? Watermelons are neutrally buoyant, enabling them to easily sink underwater and slowly float back up to the surface. From its appearance to its own amazing buoyancy, the Watermelon Ball mimics the features of a real watermelon, making it a perfect swimming pool toy for playing an underwater game of basketball. This watermelon shaped pool toy can do everything that a normal basketball can do. With the Watermelon Ball, you can start practicing your underwater dribbling skills with this unique swimming pool toy.
Using this pool toy is simple and easy. Although you might assume that this is just another regular inflatable pool toy, the Watermelon Ball is inflated by being filled with water instead of air. This allows the Watermelon Ball to stay underwater while in use instead of floating up to the surface of your swimming pool like a normal inflatable ball would.
The Watermelon Ball is one of the most versatile inflatable pool toys on our list. This amazing pool toy is sure to wow your family and friends. It can be passed for up to ten feet underwater. It can also be dribbled at the bottom of your pool, making for exciting underwater basketball games.
Although this pool toy is popular for playing underwater basketball, you can use it to play any game that requires the use of a ball underwater. Typical outdoor games such as tag, kickball, or dodgeball underwater. Your family can even have fun by simply passing the ball to each other underwater. Most people are so amazed by the Watermelon Ball’s natural buoyancy that any activity involving this innovative pool toy is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Even though the Watermelon Ball is among the best pool toys for kids, adults are just as amazed by this unique ball.
The Watermelon Ball is made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. This thick material is sturdy and long lasting. Your family and friends will be able to make Watermelon Ball a part of your yearly summer traditions. This unique, durable ball is available on Amazon for $24.99.
7. SwimWays Disney Finding Dory Mr. Ray’s Dive and Catch Game
Character based pool toys are always a safe bet when shopping for pool toys for kids. Plus, SwimWays is known for its beautifully designed, character inspired swimming pool toys. Inspired by Disney’s hit film, Finding Dory, Mr. Ray’s Dive and Catch Game by SwimWays is a great choice for swimmers ages five and up.
Mr. Ray’s Dive and Catch Game is another great pool toy for kids that encourages the development of diving and underwater swimming skills. With this pool game, your kids are challenged to pick up Dory and her friends for a school field trip to the reefs with Mr. Ray’s net. Some of the character will sink to the bottom of the swimming pool, while others will float. The object of this swimming pool game is to dive underwater and catch each of the characters in Mr. Ray’s net.
Related: Best Above Ground Pool
Young swimmers, ages five and up, will be excited to practice their swimming skills while saving some of their favorite Disney characters. This pool toy for kids comes with one Mr. Ray net and baby versions of five characters from the Finding Nemo series, including Dory, Nemo, Pearl, Sheldon, and Kathy. You can purchase Mr. Ray’s Dive and Catch Game on Amazon for only $9.99. At such an affordable price, it might be a good idea to purchase two or three sets to make it easier for large groups to play at once.
Buy SwimWays Disney Finding Dory Mr. Ray’s Dive and Catch Game
8. Aqua Dive Rings Pool Toy
The Aqua Dive Rings Pool Toy is a six ring dive and retrieve game set. It is recommended for swimmers ages five and up. This pool toy is manufactured by Aqua Leisure, a trusted leader in manufacturing pool accessory products. Each Aqua Dive Ring has dimensions of 2.8 x 6.2 x 6.6 inches.
Available on Amazon for the affordable price of $8.99 per game set, this swimming pool toy encourages physical activity and swimming practice. The six rings included in the Aqua Dive Rings set are available in classic, yet vibrant colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. These bright colors make the Aqua Dive Rings easy to spot and retrieve underwater. This feature avoids the risk of your child spending too much time underwater trying to retrieve the rings, which can lead to the risk of drowning. Each ring is weighted, allowing the rings to sink and stand upright underwater for quick and easy retrievals.
Aqua Dive Rings are highly versatile, and enable swimmers to create their own games involving diving and retrieving the rings from the bottom of the pool. Swimmers can race to see who can retrieve a ring the fastest, or have a competition to see which swimmer will retrieve the most rings. The possibilities for fun are endless with Aqua’s Dive Rings Pool Toy. This pool toy helps swimmers with developing their underwater swimming and diving skills.
9. Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings
For young swimmers looking to improve their agile swimming skills, parents should purchase Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings. Available in a pack of three, these collapsible rings have adjustable air chambers, and can be adjusted to change their overall underwater depth.
Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings have a diameter of 31 inches and are available in random, assorted colors. They are large enough for a variety of body types to easily swim through, leading to less worries about the risk of your children becoming trapped or tangled within the rings while playing. The lightweight of each ring does more to combat this risk. If your child stands while swimming through the rings, the rings are light enough that they will come up with your child, rather than weighing them down at the bottom of the swimming pool.
The rings’ inflatable chambers are decorated with images of colorful aquatic sea creatures such as turtles, lobsters, whales, and fish, which also serve as weights to keep the Swim Thru Rings underwater.
Perfect for both swimming lessons and recreational pool time, Water Sports Swim Thru Rings an excellent practice tool for swimmers of a variety of ages and skill levels. This swimming pool toy is recommended for swimmers ages eight and up. Adding Water Sports Swim Thru Rings to a daily swimming routine is a great way to challenge and improve your aquatic athleticism.
There are many fun ways to play with Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings. Your kids can create tunnels and obstacle courses with challenging layouts to test their agility while swimming.
These brightly colored, collapsible rings are excellent swimming pool toys to use for aquatic games, tournaments, and relay races amongst family and friends. Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings are available for purchase on Amazon for $19.99.
Buy Water Sports’ Swim Thru Rings
Enjoying Your New Swimming Pool Toys
Now that you’ve learned more about some of the best pool toys for kids that are available now, it’s time to go shopping! Swimming pool toys are more interactive and innovative than ever. With so many great, affordable options, purchasing the best pool toys for your family is easier than ever. Get your entire family to spend more time outside this summer, and turn your swimming pool into the go-to location for summer fun by purchasing some of the amazing pool toys from our list. After purchasing your new pool toys it is important you’ll want to take certain steps in order to maintain them so that they will last your family for years.
Inspect Your Pool Toys Before Each Use
Even the best pool toys are at risk of sustaining damage during manufacturing and packaging, and while in storage during the winter months. Holes and cracks can occur during manufacturing and packaging. It is important to inspect your pool tools immediately after removing them from their packaging and before playing with them. Most pool toy manufacturers have excellent exchange policies for pool toys that sustained damage caused by them during manufacturing.
It is also very important to inspect your pool toys before each subsequent use. Toys can be damaged by sharp objects such as sticks or rocks, and even bugs as they are stored away after a swim session or throughout the colder seasons. Checking for possible damage is especially important for inflatable pool toys. Holes and cracks can lead to air leaks and sinking which leads to greater risk of injury or drowning.
Cleaning and Storing Your Pool Toys
Like any toy that is shared amongst children, pool toys can carry dangerous germs and bacteria if they are not properly cleaned and thoroughly dried out after each use. Although your pool’s chlorine may handle some of the germs, mold, slime, and bacteria can thrive on warm, wet pool toys.
You should always rinse off your pool toys after each 
use and store them in a cool, dry area. Storing your pool toys not only prevents the growth of mold, but it also keeps them out of the way of children who may trip over them while entering and exiting, and walking around the swimming pool. It is a good idea to deflate any inflatable pools toys after each use in order to create more space for storing many pool toys.
There is also the risk of transmitting germs when pool toys are shared between children who are prone to put toys in their mouths. Rinsing off your pool toys after each use can combat the spread of germs that are transmitted onto the toys through saliva.
Remember Basic Pool Safety Rules
Whether you’re playing with toys in the swimming pool or taking swimming lessons, it is always important to remember the fundamental rules of pool safety. As a parent, it is very important to monitor your children whenever they are in the pool, especially if they are playing with pool toys while swimming.
It is easy for children, even those that are highly skilled swimmers, to become so excited and distracted by all of the cool, new pool toys that you have purchased that they forget to pay attention to important swim safety rules. Even if your children seem to have a good handle on swimming safely, it is important to have a conversation with your children about the rules of the swimming pool before each swimming session. Some basic swimming safety rules to share with your children are:
No horseplay.
This rule is vital to discuss when it comes to having a group of children in your swimming pool. Although there are great pool toys for kids, athletic pool toys such as the Intex Pool Volleyball Game and the Watermelon Ball make horseplay more of a possibility. Remind your children to avoid dunking, pushing, and running in and around the swimming pool.
Do not swim alone.
With new pool toys, your children will be more eager than ever to spend time in the pool. Remind your children to never take a dip in the pool without the supervision of a parent or other experienced adult swimmer. Drowning is always a risk when it comes to swimming pools, even in the shallow sections of your pool.
Do not swim during thunderstorms or other inclement weather.
It is important to always remind your children to exit the pool immediately at the first sign of thunder or lightning. Although your little ones may way to spend more time playing with their new swimming pool toys, swimming during even a mild thunderstorm can be extremely dangerous. It is common for lightning to strike water. If you pool is struck by lightning, the water will conduct electricity, which can cause injury or death for anyone swimming during the time of the lightning strike. It is important to avoid being outdoors during any form of severe weather.
No diving head first into the swimming pool.
Although diving swimming pool toys for kids are fun, games can get competitive amongst children. Remind your children to avoid diving head first when retrieving pool toys such as the Marvel Avengers Assemble Dive Characters, Toypedo Bandits, or Aqua Dive Rings. Diving head first can lead to head and brain injuries or drowning if you overestimate the depth of the swimming pool. When diving head first, you will have a harder time seeing objects in the pool such as rocks and debris, pool toys, and other swimmers. Landing head first on these items can lead to painful injuries. It is best to always enter the swimming pool feet first.
Never use swimming pool toys as flotation devices.
We mentioned this earlier in this article but this rule is very important, especially when discussing the use of swimming pool toys. Remind your children, and other swimmers, that inflatable pool toys are not suitable substitutes for safety and flotation devices.
Now you are ready to safely enjoy the best pool toys of the summer! The next step is to have fun spending time in your backyard swimming pool.
