While we may officially be in the back half of summer, that doesn’t mean we can’t still lean in to what’s left of it. And we all know that, according to beachgoers throughout the decades, celebrities like Martin Scorsese and Bella Thorne, Strategist writers, and most recently the New York Times, one of the best ways to lean in to summer is by leaning on an inflatable float. As shown by Scorsese and Thorne, floats can make great #content — but they can also make great, affordable gifts for whomever’s pool, dock, or shore you might be borrowing for a long weekend. Especially when they’re less ubiquitous than the unicorns, swans, and pizza slices littering pools from East Hampton to Beverly Hills. Below, a selection of inexpensive, unusual floats on which to ride out the dog days of summer.
Avocados as an ingredient may verge on basic, but, as a pool float, they’re further from peaking. Just like with real ones, this avocado’s inflatable “pit” pops out, leaving a hole you can sit in.
[Editor’s note: To get the sale price, you must click the box to apply a coupon on Amazon, which will show the discount when you check out.]
Like sunscreen, it’s always a good idea to hit the pool with some SPF lip balm — and its inflatable equivalent.
Another fun two-pack, ideal for sharing with that friend who always orders a side salad — then proceeds to steal all the fries off of your plate.
When water is involved, pirate skulls are usually the first that come to mind, making this sugar skull a more unexpected choice.
Like it’s namesake candy, this float is suited for practically any age.
A bulldog you can float on to disguise the fact that the dog paddle is the only way you can swim.
This exotic-looking inflatable is decidedly not your garden-variety float.
Coolui may call it a donut, but this is clearly a rainbow bagel — and may be the best (and only) way to get your fix after New York State tax officials recently seized the Williamsburg shop that invented the colorful baked good.
Basically an inflatable red Sharpie, this seems perfect for a back-to-school pool party.
Here’s another sweet-looking float that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
If there is such a thing as a workhorse float, this cactus — which comes with three tiny inflatables that each can fit a cup or can — would be it.
[Editor’s note: To get the sale price, you must click the box to apply a coupon on Amazon, which will show the discount when you check out.]
And here’s a giant cockroach, for when it’s time to clear the pool.
A tip: Save your breath (literally) and use an inexpensive air pump to inflate your floats. This model — which comes from the same brand as the inexpensive back massager developing a cult following in Los Angeles — can also be used to fill up air mattresses, kiddie pools, and more.
[Editor’s note: To get the sale price, you must click the box to apply a coupon on Amazon, which will show the discount when you check out.]
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