Our Choice
FunBoy
Overview
Started from the joy of two brothers and their wives, Funboy boasts itself as a family business and aims to restore relaxation and joy through their playful pool accessories which are designed to enhance leisure and inspire bliss.
Price
$20 - $150
Highlight
Started from the joy of two brothers and their wives, Funboy boasts itself as a family business and aims to restore relaxation and joy through their playful pool accessories which are designed to enhance leisure and inspire bliss.
Funboy is committed to its responsibility to the environment. All of its products are free of harmful chemicals and additives, they have recyclable packaging, and have a paperless business. Their floats are also made of thicker and more durable materials that can last, which produces less waste than products that may not even make it through an entire summer much fewer multiple summer.
Funboy floats are large, loud, attention-grabbing, and unique. They make a statement, and that statement is all about having FUN while using their floats. They have floats that are big enough for multiple people to enjoy together, as well as inner tubes for one person. Their floats are Instagram worthy,·and they truly stand out. They also go beyond the traditional pool floats and have kiddie pools, ball pits, and drink coolers?un for everyone!
Funboy also has a great selection of inflatables for the winter. From inflatable sleds or toboggans, to snow tubes and shot skis, with Funboys selection, you can find a product for any weather and time of year. Funboy snow inflatables are equally as eye-catching as their summer products, but their colors are more subdued, cool, and reminiscent of the holidays.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Funboy floats are extremely popular and trendy. They are Instagram delights with their fun prints and unique designs. They often partner with bigger labels to launch limited edition floats, which further increases their popularity. The floats by Funboy are sturdy and beautiful, but fun.
Funboy also has a great selection of winter inflatables, which is something incredibly unique in comparison to its major competitors. Because of this, Funboy has created a bold, creative inventory of products that span all weather conditions. Many of their winter inflatables can even be bought in a two pack so you can have fun in the snow with a friend or a child.
Funboy has a commitment to sustainability and conducts its manufacturing to reflect this. They are constantly researching and innovating their materials, production, and quality. Their products are individually tested to ensure they are free of any harmful chemicals and avoid waste whenever possible.
Funboy floats are made of thicker, more durable materials and thus last longer. People praise the durability of the floats, as well comfort they feel on them, and the sturdiness they feel as they get on and off the float.
Cons:
The surging popularity of Funboy floats, especially during the pandemic, has increased the demand for them, and many floats go out of stock very quickly. When exploring their site, many of the options were unavailable for purchase with no indication of when they might come back in stock, and no option to be notified when a product was available again.
Product reviews are not on the website. If a customer wanted to read reviews on the products before purchasing, they would have to find the product on a third-party site, like Amazon, and read reviews there. With so many different options for pool inflatables with different companies, having to dig for a review is a deterrent. This rat race to find truthful reviews, comes across as if there is something the company is trying to hide.
Their floats are generally priced higher than those of its competitors due to their quality, their commitment to non-toxic materials, and their overall demand and popularity. Similar looking products can be found at different big box retailers like target or Walmart for far less.
Given the size, and materials of their floats, Funboy floats will take a bit of maintenance if they are desired to last. Party floats may take a day to dry out before folding for storage, and any water left behind can cause mildew or mold to grow. There is a ?ow to care for your float·section on their website that is quite lengthy and informative, however, it is somewhat hidden, and took a bit of digging to find.
Sunny Life
Overview
An Australian based summer lifestyle brand, Sunnylife is committed to producing unique, quality, cutting-edge pool floats. Their floats are innovative, and trend-setting, but even more importantly, they are comfortable and sturdy. Sunnylife floats are bold and stylish and are designed to enhance the summer experience.
Price
$10 - $100
Highlight
An Australian based summer lifestyle brand, Sunnylife is committed to producing unique, quality, cutting-edge pool floats. Their floats are innovative, and trend-setting, but even more importantly, they are comfortable and sturdy. Sunnylife floats are bold and stylish and are designed to enhance the summer experience.
Sunnylife floats are designed to inflate your summer and makeover your pool experience. They are Instagram worthy, with their Luxe and eye-catching designs. From floating on an inflatable bottle of Rose to sunbathing upon a golden swan, Sunnylife floats truly enhance your relaxation and your summer style.
In addition to inflatables that can support your body in the water, Sunnylife also has a variety of inflatables to support your social life as well. Sunnylife has a variety of inflatable drink holders that are equally as bold as their large pool floats. They have both single drink holder inflatables, or a family-size drink holder float, and they even have an inflatable ice bucket. To further enhance your summer social life, Sunnylife floats also come in a variety of pool toys that can be used both in and out of the pool. From a ring toss to inflatable sports like basketball and volleyball, and uniquely trendy beach balls, Sunnylife floats has all the basics to a successful pool party covered.
Sunnylife also makes inflatables for children. For the infant, they have inflatable baby swim seats and baby floats as well as a kiddie pool. For children moving towards more independence in the pool they have inflatable arm bands, and they also have ride on floats and rings for the older child. Just like their products for adults, the selection for children is fun, bold, sturdy, and eye-catching.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Sunnylife inflatables are truly eye-catching and unique. In comparison to their competitors, their pool floats look of better quality and thus seem to be highly desirable for the trendy Instagram crowd which seems to be their target market. They have been around since 2003 and are an established company in the inflatables and summer products market. They also launch products in a certain style and offer that style in many different coordinating products which is distinctive and appealing.
They cover all bases to ensure the ideal pool inflatable experience by offering floats of varying sizes, floats for recreational activities in the water, and floats for children. A family could visit the Sunnylife site, and find something for everyone in their family to enjoy.
Customers rave about the sturdiness of the floats, how comfortable they are, their quality, functionality, and how well they are made. Trust in an inflatable product is of extra importance when enjoying time safely in the water, and comfort makes them even more desirable. Their floats use a thicker and more durable PVC than some of its other competitors and are all non-toxic. They also have an added chamber to increase stability in their ride on floats, to give that extra layer of safety. They have created a product where the customer can be both stylish and safe.
Customer service is responsive and fast. They are happy to replace a faulty item and are committed to ensuring the satisfaction of their customers. The form on their website also makes it extremely easy to submit a claim, there is no need to dig around on the website or stay on hold on the phone waiting.
Cons:
The exclusive and unique products Sunnylife carries, cause them to be out of stock often. The demand for their popular floats is high and they cannot always keep them in supply for their customers.
Due to their quality, Sunnylife floats tend to be at a higher price point than some of its larger competitors. The consumer could go onto Amazon or into Target and find a float similar to those offered by Sunnylife for half the cost.
They keep the variety of their products low and do not over-saturate their website with hundreds of prints. This can be seen both positively and negatively, but if an item is out of stock, there are not a plethora of other items to choose from in its place so a customer may turn to a different company that offers inflatables similar to the ones offered by Sunnylife.
Sunnylife is completely online and there is no physical store so if there is an issue with your product, you have to contact their customer service team. For some people, this may be a deterrent because they will have to do a little more legwork in order to fix whatever issue they may have.
Big Mouth Inc
Overview
Big Mouth Inc is a designer and manufacturer of outrageously entertaining pool floats and lifestyle products. Their products are exclusively conceptualized with fun in mind and are thus statement pieces for any gathering. They push the limits with their branding and seek to make the customer laugh and fully enjoy whatever activity they are doing.
Price
$12 - $60
Highlight
Big Mouth Inc is a designer and manufacturer of outrageously entertaining pool floats and lifestyle products. Their products are exclusively conceptualized with fun in mind and are thus statement pieces for any gathering. They push the limits with their branding and seek to make the customer laugh and fully enjoy whatever activity they are doing.
Big Mouth Inc products are sold by many different, “dealers” which essentially cover all the “big box” retailers. Heavy hitters in the industry like Amazon, Target, Home Depot, and Walmart all carry Big Mouth pool floats and inflatables. Due to this level of distribution, costs can be significantly lower than its competitors, and they are easy to find with so many different merchants that carry their floats.
Big Mouth Inc is also known for its ginormous blow-up yard sprinklers. These make as big of a statement as their pool floats and are equally, if not even more, as fun. They are eye-catching and HUGE and are sure to make any gathering more fun and lighthearted. The designs their sprinklers come in are unique and larger than life, which appeals to all children (young and old).
Big Mouth pool floats go beyond the iconic Donut pool float and Pink Flamingos they are known for. They have a float to match any interest or personality. These floats are not limited to just Adults (or ages 8 and up), but they have a selection of floats for babies and toddlers as well, to outfit the whole family. They also have a line of snow tubes, which are just as fun and bold, truly covering all inflatable needs.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Big Mouth floats and inflatables are creative and not only fun, but also be very funny. They are the aimed to be the entertainment centerpieces for any gathering. They are bold and push the limits of humor in every product they produce and people love them for this.
Big Mouth floats are affordable and available at many retailers. Unlike their competitors, Big Mouth floats can be purchased in a physical store, instead of solely online. You can walk into any store like Target, Kohls, or Home Depot and you can see their products and if there is a problem or a need for an exchange, customers can easily go back into the store where their float was purchased, and work with the customer service at that retailer. This makes the ease and comfortability of obtaining a Big Mouth Float very easy for the consumer.
Big Mouth manufactures large yard sprinklers. These are huge statement pieces that provide endless fun for all ages. They are made well and are great items to take pictures with and the water shoots wide and far, making it something that multiple people at a party can enjoy together.
Big Mouth also manufactures snow tubes to also find a niche in the winter market, making them a versatile company that has fun products for all seasons. Just like their summertime floats, these winter snow tubes capture a carefree and fun approach to recreation.
Cons:
Big Mouth snow tubes have many complaints online about being unable to withstand snowy conditions for long. Many people complain about rips to the material of the float after just one trip down the snow hill, or deflation due to not being able to hold more than a certain number of pounds even though it is advertised that it can. Big Mouth floats seem to be less durable than its competitors.
Because Big Mouth Floats are distributed to a plethora of retailers for sale, they run the risk of being overlooked by other products that a vendor may have in the same market. When looking on Amazon for pool floats, Big Mouth products are lumped in with many others from different distributors and it is hard to tell which are Big Mouth's without reading the product description.
Big Mouth Sprinklers do not come with any sort of anchor system, and customers complain about the sprinkler blowing all over the place in windy conditions. Customers are left to themselves to find creative ways in how to anchor the sprinkler down to ensure that it not only stays in one place for safety, but for the product to work correctly.
Due to Big Mouth floats being distributed to many different retailers, there seems to be some confusion on returns, refunds, and exchanges for defective products. Each retailer has their own policy, but Big Mouth also has a customer service department that can help service your needs. If someone misses the window for the return policy at the specific vendor, they can then contact Big Mouth Inc, however there is not a guarantee that they will fix the issue had.
Jasonwell
Overview
Based in China, Jasonwell designs and manufactures water fun lifestyle products. While most of their products are inflatable pool floats, their website offers some additional products?prinklers, children? toys, and even a small, foldable dog bath pool.
Price
$14.99 - $36.99
Highlight
Based in China, Jasonwell designs and manufactures water fun lifestyle products. While most of their products are inflatable pool floats, their website offers some additional products?prinklers, children? toys, and even a small, foldable dog bath pool.
Jasonwell’s pool floats are fun and quirky: designs include diamond ring-shaped inner tubes, colorful fruit-themed floats like the avocado-shaped inflatable pool float, with a removable brown beach ball that acts as the avocado’s pit. While most of their products are single-person rafts and inner tubes, some are capable of carrying multiple people—their giant inflatable unicorn float is designed to hold 2 adults—and a few of their designs are intended for group and party use: they offer some floating drink holders and even an inflatable beer pong table (currently out of stock…it must be popular).
Made from thick, soft, raft-grade, UV-resistant material, Jasonwell pool floats are durable and built to last—and the plastic used doesn’t contain phthalates, chemicals found in a wide range of cosmetic products, toys, food packaging, and pharmaceuticals. Often called plasticizers, phthalates are often used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. The study of phthalates and their effects on the human body are inconclusive and ongoing, but CDC research has found measurable levels of phthalates in the general population, and some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive systems of laboratory animals. So Jasonwell’s non-phthalate products may be a safer alternative to older pool floats.
While you can purchase many products directly from Jasonwell’s website, a wider range of Jasonwell products are easy to find on Amazon and other online marketplaces—and often for a lower price than on the company’s website. A cursory Amazon search brings up a host of Jasonwell items that are not listed on the Jasonwell website, like a giant Tyrannosaurus floatie—and the floating beer pong table that has sold out on the website is currently available on Amazon.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Reviews on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive; their giant inflatable unicorn pool float has a rating of 4.5 stars with over 5,000 ratings?nd Jasonwell International? Amazon seller profile page shows that of the 9,679 reviews their products have garnered, 99% were positive.
The Jasonwell website is simple and easy to navigate, providing detailed instructions for the inflation, set-up, and long-term maintenance of their products.
Jasonwell sells individual items to their customers, but also offers wholesale purchases of their products. So if you want to purchase a large quantity of Jasonwell pool floats for resale purposes, Jasonwell makes it easy?ust check the ?holesale Market·page listed under the ?eals·menu on their website.
Jasonwell pool floats are easy to inflate quickly with a Jasonwell portable electric air pump (available on their website and online marketplaces like Amazon), but can also be inflated using a blow dryer just make sure that you set it to blow cold air only, as hot air might damage the plastic and compromise the integrity of the float.
Cons:
While the Jasonwell website is simple and easy to navigate, it seems out of date—they offer a “Deal of the Day”, which is a coupon for a product by Jasonwell or an affiliate company…but an attempt to claim the coupon results in a message saying “sorry, sale has ended”. It’s unclear if the company ran out of coupons in a single day, or if the “Deal of the Day” is less of a daily offering than advertised.
While these floats are technically one-size-fits-all, that also means that each product only comes in one size—and not all can fit. A customer answering a peer’s question about Jasonwell’s inflatable shark inner tube claims to barely fit, and she says that she’s 5’7” tall and of average build.
Some customer reviews say that Jasonwell floats quickly lose air after a couple of uses, with one review claiming that the Jasonwell giant inflatable T-Rex float developed a leak after two days of floating—and having not been used. The negative reviews are few, so these leaks may be due to a manufacturing defect in some select items—but the Jasonwell website recommends deflating, folding flat, and storing after each use, so the floats may not be intended to sit in a pool all summer long.
Customers looking to return a Jasonwell product that they bought from the manufacturer are responsible for the shipping costs of returned purchases—since the company’s headquarters are in China, that adds up to a very costly return for international customers, and the shipping cost might defeat the point of seeking a refund in the first place.
Intex
Overview
Intex seeks to deliver high-quality products at an affordable price, and to be the most recognizable, trusted and innovative company in the inflatables market. They work to provide products that are built to last; they regularly test finished products to make sure that they meet the company? high standards for quality and safety.
Price
$15 - $30
Highlight
Intex seeks to deliver high-quality products at an affordable price, and to be the most recognizable, trusted and innovative company in the inflatables market. They work to provide products that are built to last; they regularly test finished products to make sure that they meet the company? high standards for quality and safety.
Intex doesn't just sell pool floats; they also sell inflatable mattresses and furniture, boats and kayaks, even spas and above ground pools. So if you?e in the market for both a pool float and a pool to float around in, you can get both from Intex.
Intex's pool floats are inventive and fun, they offer traditional inflatable options like rectangular mats, while also selling quirkier floats shaped like llamas and motorcycles.
Since Intex sells mainly inflatable equipment, they also offer a variety of air pumps that can be used to inflate their products, from hand and foot pumps to quick-fill, high PSI electric pumps. Depending on your level of need, there are many options to choose from.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Intex has been in the pool float business since the 1970s, under a different name?he Wet Set?o you can trust that they know what they?e doing when it comes to producing quality inflatables.
While Intex produces plastic items, the company is committed to decreasing its carbon footprint?or the last ten years, they?e worked with their supplier to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used in production.
Intex products are available at a wide range of retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Dick? Sporting Goods?o if you prefer to purchase your inflatables in-person rather than online, there are plenty of physical locations where you can pick up an Intex product.
Intex? simple website is easy to navigate, while still providing visual appeal. And the Age Grading search filter (located obviously on the sidebar) makes it easy to find the right pool float for your family.
Cons:
Intex has a warranty for many of their products, such as their boats, beds, and above ground pools?ut no such coverage exists for pool floats. So if your inflatable frappe-shaped float springs a leak, you?e out of luck.
While most Amazon customer reviews are favorable, there are many people who complain about Intex pool floats·durability?hey say that they?e had to replace their floats multiple times because of seam failure. However, plenty of reviewers say that the floats are durable and stay inflated during long periods of use?o these seam failures may be uncommon.
While the Intex website is easy to navigate, some information is noticeably lacking. When looking at the FAQ section for floats and toys, there are only four questions and answers?nd they all pertain to products other than floats and toys. So either there are no frequently asked questions about their line of pool floats, or their website could use some updating.
Intex impersonators are everywhere; countless people have been tricked by fake websites claiming to be operated by Intex?he fake sites take customers·money and either don? send them what they paid for·r don? send them anything at all. Intex is aware of this, and has an entire page on their website detailing how to spot a fake Intex website. If you?e looking to buy an Intex product, make sure you?e on their official website.