Best Pool Toy Reviews 2020

Summer comes with many trips to the pool. Whether the pool is in your backyard or in the gym, you begin to think of pool toys and accessories that can increase the family fun. There are so many options out there that choosing pool toys that will be safe, of good quality and provide a lot of fun becomes a hassle. We have taken some time to do some research on this, and have selected five top brands, from which we are reviewing one product each. Though these brands have other products, we have focused solely on those we believe will offer the most value.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Size

Material

Age

Extra

Our Top Choice

Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles

Oodles of Noodles has grown to become a very reputable toys company specializing in foam toys for young children.

Available in a variety of colors. Comes in 6 –pack. Improved buoyancy. No harmful chemicals.

Too small for big kids.

Noodles

53”L x2.5” D x 1” hole core

proprietary foam compound

5 +

Pack of 6

Best Value

Aqua Stingray Pool Glider

Aqua is an internationally recognized brand that manufactures all sorts of products right from pool toys to fitness products and other water related recreational products

Brightly colored. Adjustable fins. Big enough for kids 5 + years.

Fins are steady and don’t move.

Underwater glider

9”L x 10.5” W

Soft rubber

5 +

Customizable fins

Poolmaster Basketball & Volleyball Game

Poolmaster makes pool and spa products. It offers best-in-class products and has a commitment to service and reliability.

It’s a 2-in-1 pool toy made from durable materials, and it's easy to set up.

The tubes and footings for the basketball net legs may break easily if care isn’t taken.

Volleyball/basketball combo

16" X 2.5", 34" X 35.5" X 15"

Perma-top mounts, polyethylene

Includes game balls

Melissa & Doug Fish Hunt Pool Toy

Melissa & Doug toys provide a launch pad that ignites kids’ imaginations, giving them a sense of wonder that pushes them to discover themselves, passion and purpose.

Exciting 2-player game. Comes with play ideas. Sturdy construction.

The fish tends to sink easily.

Shark

13” x 5” x 15”

Sturdy plastic-and-mesh

6 - 8

Play ideas, shark nets

SwimWays Toypedo Bandits

SwimWays products are designed by water lovers for the entire family, even the dog. It understands the importance of family time and the need to make it memorable.

They're easy to see and grab under water, and provide great fun as they improve swimming skills.

They may be smaller than you imagined, so check the specs section on our site.

Dive toy

5" x 5" x 1.4"

Soft rubber

Hydrodynamic design

Skip ahead and go directly to the reviews.

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Watch Our Pool Toy Review

How Do I Choose the Best Pool Toy?

It's summertime, and the fun is about to begin. The kids are out of school, with boundless energy looking for an outlet. How do you keep them (and the entire family) entertained? There is pool time, which can really be fun, especially when the right pool toys are in play. It doesn’t matter if you have an in-ground pool or an above-ground pool, it is always fun.

With the right pool toys, fun becomes just the beginning of the great times that can be had. There are different kinds of pool toys and games. You can have a floating toy, a diving toy, a game (basketball, volleyball, etc.) or other innovative toys. The important thing is knowing exactly which one will be ideal for your needs. A pool toy that will be perfect for your kid’s pool may not be fit for a bigger pool.

Every pool toy has an age classification to show what age range it is best suited for. In some cases, you may be told that a product is NOT suitable for children under a certain age. This may be because of the danger it poses to them. All these are considerations that must be made before you can choose the best pool toy for you.

Whether you will actively participate in the pool fun, or will simply be content to sit on your hammock monitoring things, it is important that you choose pool toys correctly.

In addition to our featured products, other great options you should look at as you read our buying guide include Intex King Kool Inflatable Lounge, Swimline Doodles Inflatable Pool Noodle Float,and Swimline Giant Shootball Basketball Swimming Pool Game Toy.

Price

Price is always an important factor when a purchase is about to be made. More often than not, the quality of a product is reflected in its price. The same holds true here. You should expect to pay more or less depending on the features and quality of the pool toy you decide to get. If you decide to buy a combo of two pool toys, you should be willing to pay a bit more.

You can get a good pool toy within the $10 - $100 price range. For this product category, this range is pretty wide, and what you will get at the lower end of the range will be different from what you will get at the upper range. This difference does not have to be in the quality of the product. A product can be small in size but of good quality. You do not expect it to cost the same as a product that is massive in size and of good quality too.

Generally speaking, what you will pay for a pool toy is dependent on the kind of pool toy you want in the first place. Note that there certainly are cheap pool toys out there that may cost even less than what we have listed. We know they are there, but did not include them in this review, because they offer low value for even the little you are paying for them. Our selection combines affordability and value.

Features

Pool toys are varied in characteristics and type. It is therefore not possible to have a set of features that they all must have. There are, however, some basic guidelines that will help you make the right choice. When looking for a pool toy, there are a few things to consider. These include:

Durability
Safety
Age suitability
Additional benefits
Will it require additional gear?
Value for money
Ease of use
Size
Mobility
Storage

Construction and Design

Consider the “who” in this picture. By this we mean the person(s) who will be using the pool toy. It is general knowledge that teenagers can be very rough with their belongings. If you are getting a pool toy for a family with teenagers, you should ensure that the toy you choose is made of very tough material that can handle abuse.

If you are getting the toy for a toddler, you must be certain that it is safe for that age range. Some pool toys may pose a choking hazard because of their size or the material they are made of. Choose a product that is ideal for the age range you are getting it for, and that's built to withstand abuse, chlorinated water, and exposure to sunlight. These all depend on your unique requirements and environment.

Performance and Ease of Use

Take a quick look around and clarify some issues. If you will be playing with the pool toy in your backyard pool, you should look for something that will fit nicely into your pool. If you will be using the toys in a pool away from the house, you will want to consider how easy it will be for you to take it to and from the pool.

Some inflatable toys might require that you get an air pump so you can pump them easily. All these things have to be considered so that you don’t buy a toy, only to discover that you need to spend some more money getting an air pump. It’s the little things that can make it easier or more difficult to use your new toy. Look at them carefully, so you don’t have any surprises.

What is the Best Pool Toy?

There are a number of things that have to be considered when choosing a pool toy. The first question that should be answered is – who is this for? Answering this question will help you choose toys that are appropriate for the recipient. You could also decide that you want an “ageless” pool toy, something that the whole family can use. Knowing for sure what you want prior to beginning your search will make the process much faster. Decide exactly what you want, so you can reap the full benefits of this review. Let’s now go fully into looking at our top five picks.

Our Top Choice

The Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles comes in a set of 6 and made of propriety foam compound to make them more dense for improved buoyancy. Want a 5-pack of 55 inches for older kids? Why not check out the Oodles of Noodles Foam Pool Swim Noodles, 52 inch. You’ll probably love them.

Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles, 6 PACK Asst 52 Inch and Free Connector - Available in Multiple Colors

Features

Oodles of Noodles is a well-known toy manufacture, specializing in pool toys. The wide range of products manufactured by this company are not only safe for your kids, but also come in unbeatable quality.

Kids love fun and entertainment, especially during the summer holidays. The Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles is are 52 inch all round foam tubes that come in a set of six and are approximately 2.5” in diameter. The foam tubes are made from a proprietary foam compound that’s denser than others which improves its buoyancy and are also quite steady. The foam tubes also come in a range of colors and can be used either in the pool, or on the beach.

Other similar toys by oodles of Noodles include the following:

Splash Down Big Kahuna Pool Noodle, 4" Round, Red, Yellow, Blue & Green, 6 Pack
SOAK Water Noodle Shape Quads Toy (4 Pack)
Fun Swim Noodles Set of 5

Oodles of Noodles has a wide range of toys for your kids. Be sure to browse them through.

Best Value

The Aqua Stingray Pool Glider is a pool toy designed to propel itself and glide through water. It comes with customizable fins to help you create your won pattern. Prefer to get ring pool toys for your little ones? Don’t hesitate to get the Aqua Dive Rings Pool Toy.

Aqua Stingray Underwater Glider, Self-Propelled, Adjustable Fins, Pool Game,Blue/Yellow Ages 5 and up

Features

Aqua products are designed and tested to make sure they meet both quality and safety standards especially for children. Its products are are not only functional, but also provide the much needed comfort for you and your children at home. Aqua continues to grow and show promising products year in year out.

Looking for the perfect pool toy for your kids? Surprise them with the stingray underwater glider. This awesome glider can be placed at the bottom of the pool and propel itself through the water. It comes with adjustable fins which allow you to come up with a couple of different flight patterns. Talk about the boomerangs or the spirals and we will tell you it’s possible. The glider is designed with vivid colors and comes in the perfect size of 9” long and 10.5” wide for your kids to enjoy.

While looking for the best Aqua toys, we stumbled upon other interesting toys that we though would be of great interest to you. Have a look.

Aqua Fabric Comfort Recliner Water Lounge, Pool Float
Aqua Mini Stingray Underwater Glider 2 Pack, Self-Propelled, Adjustable Fins, Pool Game, Brightly Colored, Ages 5 and up
Aqua Dive Rings Pool Toy, 6 Ring Game Set, Dive & Retrieve, Ages 5 and Up
Aqua Fish Bones Dive Sticks, 3 Piece Set, Dive & Retrieve, Bright Colored, Pool and Bathtub Toy, Ages 5 and Up

This pool toy doesn’t match your expectations? Aqua has more that you’ll probably love!

The Poolmaster Basketball & Volleyball Combo Game is a pool toy packaged with everything needed to get the game(s) on. With these high-quality pool toys, you are set for a lot of fun. Are you in the market for a water spraying toy instead? Try the Poolmaster Water Pop Dual Pack Hot Shots Power Launchers.

Poolmaster Above-Ground Poolside Basketball & Volleyball Combo Game

Features

For over 50 years, Poolmaster has been a manufacturer of aftermarket pool and spa products. It has six product lines: Backyard & Decor, Games and Toys, Floats, Inflatables, Maintenance and Swim & Dive Gear. Poolmaster manufactures, markets, sells and distributes its products worldwide. From inception, it has offered best-in-class pool and spa products, and continues to do to so with an unwavering commitment to quality, service and reliability.

The Poolmaster Basketball & Volleyball Combo Game ($99.99 - Manufacturer's Recommended Selling Price) is a two-in-one pool toy that offers a double dose of fun and excitement. It comes in a package that includes everything needed to get the game(s) started immediately -- perma-top mounts, polyethylene nets, and game balls. Whether you choose to start with the basketball or volleyball, you can be sure that you are set for a lot of fun with this high-quality pool toy. Its full features include:

Perma-top mounts that attach permanently to a 4″ or wider top rail
All-weather hard-body backboard
Hand-woven polyethylene net
Set includes basketball game, game balls, net, poles, pole support bases and deluxe water volleyball and inflating needle
14″ PVC hoop and PVC supports
16’ net with 10’ side ties allows for extending length as needed
Size: Volleyball Game: 16′ W x 2.5′ H; Basketball Game: 34″ W x 35.5″ H x 15″ D
Backboard size: 34″ W x 25.5″ H

If you want to check out other Poolmaster pool toys before making a final decision, see what else they have.

The Melissa & Doug Fish Hunt Pool Toy is a fun game toy that lets your kids speed grab on the handle of the shark net and swim to scoop up fishy sinkers. Would love the idea of an undersea treasure. Here’s one that you’ll love: Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Undersea Treasure Hunt Pool Game

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Spark Shark Fish Hunt Pool Game With 2 Nets and 6 Fish to Catch

Features

Melissa and Doug is a family company that deals with all sorts of kids toys ranging indoor to outdoor toys. Melissa and Doug formed the company in their early twenties from Doug’s home garage and has since grown into an international recognized brand. Their products are not only focused on kids’ needs, but are also rigorously tested to make sure they meet safety standards.

When it comes to entertaining your kids, then we settle for the best. That’s why we think that no doubt your kids will love Sunny Spark Fish Pool Game. This spark fish has speed like that of a hungry shark…well, not literally, ready to gobble up the tasty fish. Your kids will definitely enjoy grabbing the spark shark by the handle and ridding through the pool to fetch the fishy sinkers. Now that is what we call fun. More to that, the Spark Shark comes along with it, 2 shark nets. A whopping 6 colorful sinkers and quite a handful of ideas for games are also a plus.

Looking for more toys by Melissa & Doug? We have listed several other toys by the same brand that could of great interest to you and your little bucks:

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Louie Lobster Claw Catcher - Grab-and-Squeeze Pool Toy
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Undersea Treasure Hunt Pool Game With Floating Chest
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Taffy Turtle Catch and Hatch Pool Game With 10 Turtles and 10 Eggs
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Jolly Jellyfish Sinkers - Water Toys for Kids

We love what this product has to offer, but take a look at other Melissa & Doug pool toys if this one isn’t the one for you.

SwimWays Toypedo Bandits are bright and beautifully colored pool toys that will glide smoothly in the water for up to 20 feet when thrown. Your kids will dive in after them, improving their swimming skills. Would you rather have a floating toy? Get the SwimWays Standard Swim Noodles.

SwimWays 4 Pack Toypedo Bandits – Can Glide Up to 20 Feet

Features

SwimWays offers products that are designed by water lovers for water lovers. It understands the importance of family time and the need to make it memorable. SwimWays has prepared itself for those moments when the family decides to take their family time to the pool. With so many fun products to choose from, spending time at the pool is sure to become more frequent.

SwimWays Toypedo Bandits are smaller versions of the original Toypedo, with the same level of fun. These bright and beautifully colored Toypedoes will glide smoothly in the water for up to 20 feet, thanks to their amazing hydrodynamic design. These lovelies are easy to see and grab underwater, and will encourage your kids to dive in after them. They are great for swim training and practice.

SwimWays has a wide selection of pool toys you can also choose from. Here are some of them:

SwimWays Gobble Gobble Guppies -- A fun pool toy for preschoolers with an educational element (learning colors, counting and catching)
SwimWays Squid Disk -- Sprays water 360 degrees as it flies through the air; just soak in water to saturate and then throw
SwimWays Disney Finding Dory Mr. Ray's Dive and Catch Game -- Some characters sink and some float, making participants dive and swim to catch them all
SwimWays Fairy Tails Mermaid Water Doll -- A set of pixie fairies that become magical mermaids with color-changing tails
SwimWays Star Wars Light-Up Lightsaber Dive Sticks -- These water-activated light-up pool toys are great for swim training practice
SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center with Canopy -- An adjustable, removable canopy that offers protection from the sun and comes with an interactive play station with activities for every developmental stage

While this toy is awesome, if it’s not the right one for you, consider SwimWays’ other pool toys.

Get the Best Pool Toy of 2020!

Now that you have read this review, you should have enough information to choose the pool toy that is perfect for you. Place your order now and let the fun begin.

Our Top Choice

Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles

Best Value

Aqua Stingray Pool Glider

Poolmaster Basketball & Volleyball Game

Melissa & Doug Fish Hunt Pool Toy

SwimWays Toypedo Bandits

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