I Look Forward to Lounging on This $18 Pool Float Every Summer—and Nearly 8,000 Shoppers Agree

For more than three decades, I have spent a few weeks every summer with my family on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. One of the reasons I love spending time there is because I always know what to expect during June, July, and August: I bop around between the pool and the beach. But last year I unexpectedly came across a new product that made my vacation even better: an affordable—and versatile—pool float.

When I arrived at the pool to see vacationer after vacationer floating on the same pool lounger, I wondered if the pool had invested in floats for its guests. I finally decided to ask a fellow swimmer where they found theirs, and I'm not sure what answer I was expecting (a boutique at the resort, perhaps), but I was thrilled when they said they—and everyone else—got it on Amazon. And while I typically let trends linger a bit before I join in, this under-$20 pool lounge float felt like a must for me and my parents.

Buy It: Aqua 4-in-1 Monterey Pool Float, ($18, Amazon)

The Aqua 4-in-1 Monterey Pool Float is made from 50 percent vinyl and 50 percent soft mesh, and it has a bright striped design that comes in eight colors in the original standard size. (Note: It also comes in a few deluxe sizes as well as a few two-person options.) As much as the fun colors drew me in initially, what actually sold me on the float is that only its top and bottom sections inflate rather than the whole thing. That makes it such a time and space saver: My parents and I could all inflate our floats quickly when we arrived at the pool, and it only took a few short minutes to deflate them before we biked home.

Reading in the pool is one of my favorite little summer luxuries, but I usually sit by the stairs or lean my book on the side. Buying this pool float opened up a whole new world, and I could now venture into the middle of the pool with my book. I also realized there are multiple ways to relax on the float (four, specifically). Using it as a hammock is the obvious choice, but I found I was even more comfortable when I turned it into a chair and used the inflated sections as armrests. It can also be sat on like a saddle, or you can use it as a drifter by floating with your arms across the top and bottom inflated parts at the same time.

Buy It: Aqua 4-in-1 Monterey Pool Float, ($18, Amazon)

My family and I aren't alone in our love for the float, either. Amazon shoppers have given it over 7,800 five-star ratings.

"We were the envy of the resort and were asked repeatedly, 'Where did you get those floats?'" shared one reviewer who said they previously purchased floats only to leave them behind once it was time to travel home. The floats, they added, "flattened nicely, dried nicely, and came back home for future use."

"If I could write 10 product reviews for this thing, I would," added another shopper who called it "the most versatile pool float." They continued, "I floated all day and didn't have to exert much effort and just got to relax."

I was sad to see last summer come to a close after discovering my new favorite way to relax and read at the pool, and now I'm eagerly awaiting this year's vacation. If you love spending hot days by the pool (or the beach or the lake), I highly suggest joining in on the best summer craze I've ever stumbled upon. Shop the Aqua 4-in-1 Monterey Pool Float at Amazon for just $18.