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Check Out the Best Inflatable Pools in 2023
Everyone dreams about having that big house with a swimming pool, a couple of dogs and plenty of room to play catch, football, and just about any other sport with their friends and family. However, the topography, budget, or lack of space are just a few things that prevent most of us from building a pool. Luckily though, an inflatable swimming pool can be an awesome alternative for everyone with this dream. First of all, you need to lose the concept of inflatable swimming pool for kids. The best inflatable pool is the one that fits your needs, so if you’re buying it for yourself or your kids, we have you covered with a comprehensive buying guide and everything you need to know about any inflatable pool.
TOP 10 Best Inflatable Pool: Comparison Chart
Best Overall: Intex Crystal Blue Inflatable Pool Review
- Escape the summer heat with the Intex Crystal Blue Inflatable Pool, Includes Repair Patch
- It's the perfect addition to any backyard,
- At 6.5in water depth, it's just the right amount of water for the little ones to cool off in
- Age Grade: 2+
- Inflated Dimensions: 45" x 10" (114cm x 25cm)
Best For Baby: Intex Rectangular Baby Pool Review
- Size: 65.5inch L x 39.5inch W x 11inch H (166cm x 100cm x 28cm)
- Soft inflatable floor for comfort.
- Capacity at 7inch wall height 27gal (102L)
- Repair patch included
- Ideal for use on balconies and terraces
Best Play Center: Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center Review
- Center includes water slide, wading pool, water sprayer, ring toss game (with 4 inflatable rings)
- Water sprayer attaches to garden hose to keep kids cool in summer
- Water capacity: 77 gallons.
- Ball roller game and toss ball game (six plastic play balls included)
For Baby With Sunshade: Intex Mushroom Baby Pool Review
- Designed with soft inflatable floor that allows for gentle play
- Baby's own pool with built-in mushroom sunshade
- Includes a repair patch
- Capacity 5" of wall height: 12 gallons
- Inflated Dimension: 40" x 35"
Easy-Set: Intex Swimming Pool Review
- Easy-Set Pool
- Filter pump not included.
- Made of Vinyl; Heavy-Duty Vinyl Liner
- Holds 639 gal. of Water
- Easy to Clean
With 2 Slide: Little Tikes L.O.L. Surprise Inflatable River Race Water Slide Review
- 2 slides allow 4 kids (weight limit: 350 lbs.) to play at once
- Center climbing wall lets kids race to the top
- A surprise dump bucket pours water onto kids as they play
- Central splash pool is perfect for younger kids
- Dimensions: 161.00''L x 169.00''W x 103.00''H
Good Alternative: Zen Laboratory Inflatable Splash Sprinkler Pad Review
- Have a Splash Pad Party - The Zen Laboratory inflatable splash pad water sprinkler toy for kids toddlers is a great alternative to your traditional swimming baby kids pool for kids. Our scientists combined the best parts of a kiddie pool, water slip n slide and water toys to make the most entertaining fountain spray pad for kids on the market!
- Take a Dip in the Coolest of Kiddie Pools - Toddlers and Kids love playing outside, so why not give them a little relief from the heat? We promise that this is the best sprinkler for kids water pool toys for children 2 - 10 years old
- Make a Splash into Safety - Your little one's safety while playing in the backyard yard outdoor summer toys is our top priority. With the Zen Laboratory large dog bath swimming pool, outdoor games and sprinkler for kids, we guarantee uncompromised quality with a splash pad that is both BPA and phthalate free.
- Made by Parents for Parents - Any parent knows, kids love the summer, water toys. and outdoor swimming pools in the backyard. We also know that pools for kids come with their own set of dangers. With the Zen Laboratory splash pad, your kiddos can cool off without the hazards of your traditional swimming pools.
- Proud American Company - We know nothing comes before the safety of our kids and the quality of their toys! If for any reason your purchase isn’t right for you, reach out to Zen Laboratory customer care (right here in the USA) and we’ll happily make things right!
Good For Lounge: Intex Family Lounge Pool Review
- Roomy enough for the whole family with a built in bench to sit comfortably and watch kids play
- Wide inflatable side walls are designed using two air chambers with two cup holders
- Combo air valves make inflating and deflating the pool a breeze
- Constructed using rugged 13-gauge vinyl material to provide a durable, long lasting pool
- Inflated Dimensions: 88 Inches L x 85 Inches W x 30 Inches H
User-friendly: Homech Inflatable Swimming Pools Review
- Family-Size Inflatable Swimming Pool: 95” inflatable family lounge pools with 162 gal water capacity fits a family with 2 adults and 4 kids, to have your own family pool for this summer and enjoy a splashing pool party in your backyard!
- Rugged & Stable Structure: 3 individual air chambers, each with double air intake and free-flow exhaust valve, can withstand extra weight while preventing air or water leakage, so the outdoor swimming pool is always fun for you.
- Durable & Wear-Resistant: Made with 0.4mm thickness PVC material, the blow up pool is twice thicker than most in the market, reducing the risk of punctures. Extra repair patch included in the package, thus ensuring a long service life.
- Easy To Set Up & User-Friendly: Inflate in 3-4 minute by electric pump (not included), equipped with efficient valves that make the portable swimming pool both easy to set up and deflate; 90° vertical drainpipe can facilitate the outflow of water.
- Safe & Comfortable To Use: Homech kiddie pool is produced using and BPA-free materials that meet the standards of international children’s toys. The thickened bottom can effectively block the cold on the ground, avoid the rapid drop of water temperature and safe for children to play.
Family-size: Sable Inflatable Pool Review
- Family-size pool: Recommend up to 2 adults plus 4 kids to a enjoy splashing pool party in the backyard.
- Safe & durable: Made with Phthalate and lead free, which is 50% thicker than most in the market, reducing the risk of punctures and ensuring a long service life.
- Long waiting be gone: inflate in 3-4 minute by electric pump (not included), 2 water valves double the drainage speed
- Strong and stable structure: 3 individual air chambers can withstand extra weight while preventing air leakage so the pool is always ready for fun
- Vertical Drainpipe: 90° vertical drainpipe can facilitate the outflow of water.
Buyers’ Guide: All You Need to Know About the Best Inflatable Pool
What is an Inflatable Pool?
Just like the name suggests, no matter if we are talking about a child inflatable pool or one for adults, an inflatable pool is just like a regular pool but a model that can be inflated using a pump. So, not only that you can get all the advantages you would get from a regular pool, but you can also store it during winter or when you’re leaving home for longer periods. There are various sizes, materials, and functions to talk about when referring to inflatable pools and we’re going to talk about them in the following sections. However, no matter if you refer to a mini inflatable pool or a large one, they all have in common the ability to inflate and deflate whenever you need to.
What are Inflatable Pools Made Of?
The most common materials when making the best inflatable pool for kids is rubber. Especially if we’re talking about a small inflatable pool that doesn’t need tougher sections for stability, a model made entirely of rubber is the most common. As pools get bigger and require more support, you can find PVC and tougher rubber or even plastic for support. Of course, depending on the model, say an inflatable pool with slide for toddlers, you will also have other materials like aluminum for the frame of the slide and silicone to make everything watertight. However, the most-used materials are rubber and PVC when talking about the pool itself.
Are Inflatable Pools Safe for Kids?
No matter if we’re talking about an inflatable kiddie pool with slide or other models designed for kids, with a maximum depth that is way lower than the one for adults, the models are safe. Of course, if your kid doesn’t know how to swim or is still very young, you shouldn’t leave him alone in the pool. Even after some swimming practice, you should always consider using safety gadgets such as a vest or life buoy. However, when talking about materials used to build the best inflatable pool for toddlers, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
At What Age Can My Baby Go in an Inflatable Pool?
Doctors say that babies can start swimming anytime around 4 weeks after birth. Since they have a natural predisposition from spending the first 9 months of their life inside the belly, they will instinctively start swimming. Others say that it is the best to wait until the baby is two months old before introducing them to a portable kiddie pool. No matter which one of these directions you follow, always make sure you’re in reach of your baby at all times to prevent any accidents. Also, pay special attention to the water temperature. The best inflatable pool models come with accurate thermometers that allow you to know the precise water temperature. It’s recommended to use warm water especially when the baby is younger than 12 months since there’s no control over their own body temperature until that age.
How to Choose the Best Inflatable Pool?
After going through some of the important questions you need to have answers when you decide to buy an inflatable swimming pool, it’s time to go straight into the things you need to consider when buying one. Of course, some specific buying considerations will come out of the model of pool you are buying. However, we’ve tried to include those attributes that apply to all models, no matter if we’re talking about an inflatable baby pool or a family lounge inflatable pool.
Size
Of course, the size of the pool is the first thing to take into consideration. When shopping for a children’s inflatable pool, you will have a different size chart then when getting one for adults. So, to figure out the size of the inflatable pool, you first of all need to establish who is going to use it and how often. If you have kids, take into consideration that they’ll probably have friends over during summer. So, go for measurements that could allow 4 or 5 kids to fit inside the pool.
On the other hand, if you buy an inflatable pool for you, your wife and the rest of the family, it’s a different ball game. If you also want to get some exercise in through swimming, you will need a pool that’s at least 7 meters in length. Also, if more of you enter the pool at the same time, you should look for a width of at least 1 meter per person.
Water Capacity
The water capacity of an inflatable is tied with its size. The bigger the pool is, the more water it will require. However, besides the lengths we discussed in the size category, there’s also depth. A pool that’s 5×7 but only 1 meter deep, will require a lot less water than one that can go to 2 meters deep. Of course, with these dimensions, we are talking about an adult inflatable pool. The water capacity is specified on all models available on the market and it shouldn’t be a problem to fill them up since you won’t need huge quantities of water.
Recommended Age
As mentioned earlier, the aspect about the recommended age for kids going inside the pool, isn’t the clearest one. While some doctors and pediatricians consider it’s safe to introduce children to inflatable pools as early as 4 weeks, there are various opinions on the exact age. The pools you buy will come with a recommended age estimated by the manufacturers so that, no matter the circumstances, the activity will not result in an accident. So, make sure the age grading on the pools is at least the same as your kid’s age. In both situations, you should always make sure to also buy the best infant life jacket if you want to be 100% sure your kid will be safe inside the pool.
Shape
As you may already know, the inflatable pools come in a great variety of shapes and sizes. While the most popular shape seems to be the round one. However, you have more options than you think.
Basic Inflatable Pool
This is the model we mentioned earlier. A round shape that is the most common and is perfect for kids that just want to sit together in the pool. The round shape allows more kids to fit in the pool and it’s also easy to install and store when it’s not in use.
Inflatable Play Center
The alternative to round inflatable pools that takes the activity to the next level is the inflatable play center. These can be formed from several inflatable pools with various shapes. You can go for a mushroom shape, two round inflatable pools inter-connected, with a slide, and many more other activities.
Features
We hunted a few of the numerous inflatable pool with filter features in the previous section when we spoke about inflatable play centers. This time, we’re going to go into specifics and check out some of the most popular features you can find at a backyard inflatable pool.
Sun Shades
Since you’re most probably going to install the inflatable pool in the backyard where there’s a lot of sun on a summer day, you need to think about protecting the young ones from the sun. So, getting a model with sun shades on the side is a great idea. This way, half of the pool is out in the open sun, while there’s also a shade portion where they can go to stay clear from the sun. Or, a semi-opaque shade can cover the entire pool so that the warmth goes through but the UV is kept to a minimum. If you don’t want to go with shades at all, make sure you get a baby sun hat at least, a water-resistant model is even better.
Seats
While it’s rare that your kids will stand still when in the pool, seats are also a popular feature for inflatable swimming pools. An inflatable pool with seats can either be built by getting the pool and plastic seats separately, or you can go directly for a model that comes with built-in seats. The number of seats differs directly connected with the swimming pool capacity.
Slide
The simplest way to make a swimming pool fun and entertaining is to add a slide in it. Indeed, kids love splashing and cooling off in the water, however, they tend to get bored quickly. Adding a slide, even the smallest one will give them an extra activity to stay entertained.
Durability
When speaking about durability, the most important factor is the materials used for building the pool. As mentioned earlier, rubber is the most popular material and if you go for a thicker version, it’s even better. The outside layer of the pool, especially the base usually contains some PVC as well so that it’s stable and protected against piercing of any kind.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning a swimming pool is pretty straightforward. Especially if we’re talking about a round shape one. You can just wash it with a garden hose and the more pressure you have, the better. Cleaning gets a bit more difficult when you add lots of features like a slide, seats and other objects since you need to clean them separately.
Ease of Storing
All inflatable pools should be pretty simple to fold and store when not in use. However, just like with cleaning them, the more extra objects or features, the harder it will be to store it. Once again, the basic round inflatable swimming pool is your best bet if you want to quickly fold and store. Also, the size is another factor that can make storage more difficult as bigger pools will require a lot more space for storage.
Price
Of course, the price is also an important thing to take into consideration when buying an outdoor inflatable pool. However, we left this attribute for the last position because you shouldn’t be influenced too much about the price. A good swimming pool can be available at a low price, just like a high price tag doesn’t guarantee quality. Instead, you should look at all the features we mentioned above since you’re going to spend a lot to make sure your kids are happy.
Best Inflatable Pool Types
Inflatable Baby Pool
The smallest inflatable pool available, this type is destined to parents that want to introduce babies to swimming from a very young age. This model can also be used as an indoor inflatable pool since it’s small and lightweight.
Children’s Inflatable Pool
This is the most sought for inflatable swimming pool type since most parents buy them for their children after they’re big enough to walk and learn how to swim. They come with many extra features, in various sizes and shapes, and are usually more durable since they have to withstand a lot of activity from the young ones.
Inflatable Pools for Adults
The heavy-duty category in inflatable swimming pools, the models for adults can reach the dimensions of standard swimming pools. Of course, these are a lot more expensive and require a lot of water and maintenance, however, they can deliver a very good experience for users that don’t want to spend a lot of money on installing a pool.
Best Inflatable Pool FAQ
How to Inflate a Pool Without a Pump
No pump? No problem! There are several alternatives to inflating a swimming pool without a pump. If you want to inflate a baby inflatable pool, you have a good chance of being able to do so with your mouth. However, anything bigger than that will take ages and you will probably faint during the process. So, you can use a hairdryer and transform it into a pump, or just go for a manual inflatable device.
How to Keep an Inflatable Pool Clean?
Just like with classic swimming pools, inflatable pools can be kept clean with special devices. For example, a skimmer net is your best friend when it comes to making sure the water is clean and debris-free. Another solution is to use chlorine tablets for pools that are larger and replacing the water daily or every two days would be difficult. Another way to keep your pool clean is to cover it when it’s not in use. Even when using the best sunscreen for kid, you need to know that it will probably make the pool a bit slimy so you need to clean it more often.
How Often Should You Change the Water in an Inflatable Pool?
This is the question that most parents ask when trying to make sure they offer the best conditions for their kids to have fun in the pool. And while there are various ways to approach this subject, it’s all about the size of the pool. If the pool is small and you can easily take the water out and replace it with clean water, you can do so once every 2 days. However, if you have a bigger pool, you can keep the same water inside for up to 2 weeks, considering you add some chlorine tablets. If you don’t want to use chlorine, one week should be the max time period before changing the water, especially during very warm months. So, you will no longer have to ask yourself how to keep a kiddie pool clean. The answers are right here!
How to clean an Inflatable Pool?
There are various ways of cleaning an inflatable pool. First of all, it depends on how thorough the cleaning process will be. You can just empty the pool and wash it with a pressure hose to remove any dirt or debris. If you left water inside for too long and it got slimy, you need to use vinegar and a bit of dish soap to remove everything. Cleanse it properly and make sure there is no foam when you fill it up again.
Are PVC Pools Safe?
If you’re worried that PVC pools are not safe for your kids, the straightforward answer is that you don’t have anything to worry about. The PVC is only used on the bottom of the pools or on the exterior so that they are resistant enough to hold the water and withstand the movement inside the pool. The pools go through extensive testing so that none of the possible threatening materials are left in the products.
How Long do Inflatable Pools Last?
The durability of an inflatable pool is influenced by lots of factors. Even the best inflatable pool 2023 has to offer won’t last for long if it isn’t stored in the proper conditions, or left out in the sun the entire summer. On average, without unwanted accidents and with proper storage, an inflatable pool can last for 2 or three years. And this period can be extended, however, this can only be done with proper cleaning since most parents throw away the inflatable pools because they are too dirty, not because they break. Just like with the best outdoor toys for toddlers, it’s all about the way you store and maintain them when talking about durability.
Verdict and Our Recommendation for 2023
By now you should know exactly how to buy the best inflatable pool 2023 has to offer. After going through the reviews, buying guide and frequently asked questions, you have all the needed information to make the proper choice. Apply all the advice we presented above, start with how many people are going to use the pool and how often, then move on to the features you want to add and then make a shortlist with models that best fit your needs. However, if you’re still not completely sure which model you want to buy, we recommend to go with an inflatable play center as they can deliver a lot of fun for your children and offer more space. On top of that, they make an awesome activity for birthday parties in the summer. Parenthoodroutine.com is here to help you out with any other info you need to make sure your kids grow up happy and healthy.
Contents
- 1 TOP 10 Best Inflatable Pool: Comparison Chart
- 1.1 Best Overall: Intex Crystal Blue Inflatable Pool Review
- 1.2 Best For Baby: Intex Rectangular Baby Pool Review
- 1.3 Best Play Center: Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center Review
- 1.4 For Baby With Sunshade: Intex Mushroom Baby Pool Review
- 1.5 Easy-Set: Intex Swimming Pool Review
- 1.6 With 2 Slide: Little Tikes L.O.L. Surprise Inflatable River Race Water Slide Review
- 1.7 Good Alternative: Zen Laboratory Inflatable Splash Sprinkler Pad Review
- 1.8 Good For Lounge: Intex Family Lounge Pool Review
- 1.9 User-friendly: Homech Inflatable Swimming Pools Review
- 1.10 Family-size: Sable Inflatable Pool Review
- 2 Buyers’ Guide: All You Need to Know About the Best Inflatable Pool
- 3 Best Inflatable Pool FAQ
- 4 Verdict and Our Recommendation for 2023
Our team of experts tested each product described in this review physically. After checking out hundreds of reviews and feedback from verified buyers, they put together the list of the best products and then went out and bought them all. Afterwards, they compared the features, durability, cleaning difficulty, and everything else we described above, the old-fashioned way. Since most of them are parents, they already have some experience on how an inflatable pool should behave so the personal experience also came in handy. Of course, the personal experiences of our testers do not reflect in the results of the reviews and tests, since we are putting an extremely high value on objectivity.
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