Okay so summer rolled around again, and I really needed to upgrade my beat-up pool setup. Saw all those ads for Walmart pool gear and thought – hey, maybe that’s the cheap fix. Grabbed my wallet and hit two different stores cause stuff keeps going outta stock.
What I Actually Bought & Tested
Went straight for the top sellers everyone keeps grabbing:
- Intex Deluxe Chair Float ($22): You know those blue ones with cup holders? Felt like sitting on a cheap lawn chair.
- Swimline Family Pool Noodle 4-Pack ($12): Looked fat and sturdy in packaging – total lie.
- Poolmaster Dive Sticks Set ($15): Bright colors for the kids, seemed simple enough.
- Summer Waves Inflatable Lounge Raft ($40): Giant pink flamingo wanna-be thing. Saw three people returning it in line.
Real-World Testing Notes
Stuck everything in my above-ground pool for a solid 2 weeks. Sun, splashes, kids jumping on them – really put em through the ringer.
The Intex float chairs started sagging after just 3 days. Felt like sitting on half-deflated balloons, and that cheap velcro? Came undone every single time I shifted weight. Cup holder couldn’t even hold a soda can straight.
Those noodles got flat spots in them within a week! Where they bend? Became permanently creased and lost all buoyancy. Kid tried using one under his arms and sank straight down. Felt like squeezing a dead sponge.
Now the dive sticks worked… kinda. Plastic rings cracked around day 4. They sink okay, but colors faded immediately. Kids quit caring about them after 2 days anyway. Total impulse buy waste.
Oh man the Summer Waves raft. Pumped it up, looked great for 4 hours. Tiniest branch poked it while leaning on the pool edge? Hissed like a snake and went flat in minutes. Patch kit included? Useless on curved seams.
Cold Hard Verdict Time
If you want junk that dies by Labor Day? Walmart’s your spot. That low price comes outta your sanity when you’re pumping floats every morning. Saw so many returns – I ended up returning the raft myself. Cashier shrugged and said “Yeah we get these back daily.”
Only worth your cash if buying disposable stuff for one pool party. Otherwise? Spend a few extra bucks elsewhere cause this gear won’t survive a whole summer. Lesson learned – cheap floats sink your patience.