by Rick Goldman
Among the dozens of available floatation devices that make a swimming experience more enjoyable, very few offer more than pool noodles do.
Pool noodles can also function as floatation devices if necessary, and more and more pool noodles are being designed to function as floatation devices.
Because most of them use foam and not air to keep themselves afloat, you will never need to worry about pool noodles running out of air or getting punctured.
The following pool noodles are a possible replacement for any given floatation device that requires any kind of inflation.
Our Favorite Pool Noodles
Contents
As many advantages that pool noodles have over their inflatable counterparts, one thing that makes inflatable floatation devices better than pool noodles is that they are a little stronger than foam.
This problem is solved with Oodles of Noodles' set of pool noodles. The noodles in the pack are made of foam that can withstand up to 10 pounds of pressure. Combine this with the buoyancy that bodies of water provide, and you have a very effective floatation device that you can rely on.
Being 52 inches and also being able to be cut, you'll also have a lot of options with Oodles of Noodles pool noodles. You'll be able to make your own raft with them if you are creative enough, and very few other pool noodles are able to do the same.
The surface of Oodles of Noodles pool noodles are a little more polished and glossy than other pool noodles, and this can make them slip very easily. As negligible as this may sound, it is something that you should watch out for.
The common pool noodle is very long. Measuring as long as 60 inches, they function more as a toy than a floatation device. It can be possible to create true floatation devices from these kinds of pool noodles, but this takes not only a lot of effort, but it is also very efficient once you have done such a thing.
World of Watersports have created a pool noodle that you can use as a true flotation device. It does this by being a little heavier and a little wider than common pool noodles. It is a little under 6 inches wide and it can support up to 250 pounds. This makes World of Watersports' pool noodle very effective as a flotation device as well as a fun pool accessory.
The ribbed texture of World of Watersports' pool noodle also allows you to hold onto it a little easier. This makes it even more effective as a floatation device. It is also very durable, containing a vinyl coat that is triple dipped.
While most pool noodles can be cut so that you can possess a smattering of pool noodles which allows you to create a makeshift raft with them, this cannot be done with World of Watersports' pool noodle. That is the only thing you'll need to take note of.
When most pool noodles come in a pack, they'll come in one color. While this is something that most ignore, it can cause some serious issues if different people prefer different colors of pool noodles. It also means that if you want different colors of pool noodles, you'll need different packs, which is frustrating to deal with.
You get four different colors of pool noodles in Fix Find's pack: Two lime green, one red, one yellow, and one blue. This will accommodate almost anybody's preferences and you won't run into the problem of all your pool noodles looking the same.
Being made of foam, you'll be able to cut any of the pool noodles in Fix Find's pack. Because they are 52 inches long, you'll be able to do this to either create a set of shorter noodles or even create floatation devices from them.
When it comes to floatation itself, the noodles in Fix Find's set leave a little bit to be desired. They don't provide any more support than any common pool noodles, and you'll need to look for a different set of pool noodles if you are looking for any that do provide a lot of support.
You are faced with two choices when it comes to getting pool noodles for a substantially sized pool party. The first thing you can do is trim the current pool noodles you currently have so that you have smaller pool noodles for anyone who needs them. Another thing you can do is just get another set. Neither option is economical.
Robelle has changed this with their pool noodle set. With 6 blue and 6 pink noodles coming in the set, you'll have all the pool noodles you need for any given pool party no matter the size. If more than 12 individuals will be attending the pool party, you can easily cut Robelle's pool noodles in half and you'll now have 24.
Doing this is easily done because each pool noodle in Robelle's set measures 55 inches in length. They are also completely made of foam, making them easy to cut.
There are a couple of things that you need to watch for with Robelle's set. First, they are not strong at all. With each noodle in the set only having a diameter of a little over 2 inches, there is no way they will float properly. You also only get two different colors in the set, blue and pink. There are different sets that have much more diverse colors.
The most common pool noodle measures about 50 inches long. While this is long enough to satisfy most, it certainly isn't long enough to provide any real support. If more than one person wants to use one pool noodle to stay afloat, they'll have a real tough time if they are using a common pool noodle.
This all changes with the Mega Jumbo, by Oodles of Noodles. Measuring a staggering six whole feet long and without containing a center hole, it can hold almost anybody. More than one person can lean against it perfectly with no complications because of this.
The Mega Jumbo is easily the longest pool noodle in existence and it has dozens of other uses because of this. You can not only use it for the pool, but for any other craft project where something needs to be protected. It isn't uncommon to use the Mega Jumbo for rink bumpers.
The only thing about the Mega Jumbo that you might not like is that it comes by itself. Most pool noodles come in packs, but not the Mega Jumbo. If you need more of these pool noodles, you'll need to acquire them separately.
Floatation devices that come in the form of chairs most commonly come in the form of inflatable devices. This is extremely problematic since once they lose air, they will lose their ability to keep you afloat. They also lose air a lot faster than you might think, which makes them even more problematic.
SwimWays has solved all of this with its set of pool noodle sling mesh chairs. The mesh is wrapped around a pool noodle and allows you to sit in it and float with ease without needing to worry about any kind of element that made inflatable pool chairs so inconvenient.
Most inflatable pool chairs come by themselves, and this is yet another troubling thing about them. You get four chairs in SwimWays' set, which saves you the trouble of accommodating for others.
The only thing you'll need to watch for with SwimWays' set is that the mesh is not as strong as it should be. If any part of this mesh comes off or wears off, the entire chair will come loose and repairing this is not easy to do.
One of the biggest issues that any given foam pool noodle faces is that it is nearly impossible to travel with them. Unless you have effectively trimmed them down to fit your vehicle, there is no way that you can travel with them.
Tmoru has solved this with its set of inflatable pool sticks. With each stick resembling a pool noodle, you'll be able to take them wherever you need to. They are almost necessary if you do intend to travel with pool noodles.
There are a couple of things that you need to be aware of with Tmoru's pool sticks. First, they encounter all the same issues that any other given inflatable floatation device has. They will deflate, they will be useless if they are punctured in any way, and they slip very easily.
Another thing you'll need to be aware of is that Tmoru's pool sticks are incredibly small. They are only a little over 40 inches long and this means they will not be able to provide nearly as much support as their foam counterparts do, which are usually a little over 50 inches long.
Most pool noodles are not too versatile in how they are used. While some of them can take the place of any given floatation device that you own, most pool noodles are used to keep people only slightly afloat, making them suitable for pool parties and not much else. There are other uses for pool noodles that are simply not explored but should be.
Honor Traders change all of this with their pool noodle set. Not only can they be used like common pool noodles, they can also clamp onto surfaces, providing much needed padding. This is a function that not many common pool noodles share and it is one of the best things about Honor Traders' pool noodles.
Most foam noodles such as Honor Traders' pool noodles can develop wear and tear very easily. This is not the case with Honor Traders' noodles. Their closed cell design will resist wear and tear, and this is especially useful if you do use them to line edges.
Honor Traders' noodles are made of the same foam as common pool noodles. While the closed cell design does prevent wear and tear, they are not nearly as durable as they should be when it comes to impacts. This is one thing about them that you need to watch for.
Most pool noodles tend to be uncomfortable when you hang on them for too long. This is because of their straight design. Finding a pool noodle that you can hang over without any discomfort is very difficult and in most cases, you'll be resolved to using an inflatable floatation device.
Poolmaster has created a noodle that can function every bit like an inflatable floatation device. Its curved design will allow you to practically use it as a floatation device. You'll be able to hang over it, sit on it, and do anything else you would be able to do with any given inflatable floatation device.
Another nice thing about Poolmaster's ride-on noodle is that it is made of a combination of vinyl. This makes it much more durable than other pool noodles, which are mostly made of just foam. Poolmaster's noodle is also much lighter than most other pool noodles. You'll also be able to carry it around easily because of the curved design.
The only thing you might not like about Poolmaster's ride-on noodie is how one-dimensional it is in its use. There is no way that you'll be able to use it outside of pool related activities. You won't be able to use it to line edges or anything of the sort that you would be able to use common pool noodles for.
Although they appear deceptively simple in their design, there are actually a lot of things that you can do with pool noodles other than use them as fun floatation type devices in your pool.
You should consider the following things before you consider acquiring a pack of pool noodles.
This is the first thing you should consider and it is probably the most important.
While most common pool noodles don't really function as floatation devices, a few actually can.
This is especially true if the pool noodle in question is very thick and durable.
Substituting an inflatable floatation device for a pool noodle is a good idea, but you need to know that the pool noodles you want to substitute your inflatable floatation devices with can achieve the same level of floatation.
Most common pool noodles are very long and this makes it very difficult for you to travel with them.
However, there exist some pool noodles that you can take with you.
These are pool noodles that are either much shorter than the common pool noodle or they are an inflatable floatation device that resembles a pool noodle.
Like any accessory for the pool, pool noodles come in packs.
Some packs only contain a few pool noodles and some of them contain a lot of noodles.
Something that you'll need to be aware of is that pool noodle packs that contain a lot of pool noodles tend to possess compromised quality.
One of the most creative uses for most foam pool noodles is to line edges of certain things.
This can be done to create hockey rinks and even line piping to where your piping is protected.
While it is possible to use common pool noodles for this purpose, you are probably better off going out of your way to acquire pool noodles that are a little more durable.
Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles - 6 Pack Assorted - Walmart Link
WOW World of Watersports 17-2060B First Class Soft Dipped Foam Pool Noodle, Blue, - Walmart Link
SwimWays Standard Foam Pool Swim Noodles, Multicolor (35 Pack) - Walmart Link
Oodles of Noodles MEGA Jumbo Approx 6 Foot x 5 Inch Biggest Pool Noodle Ever - Walmart Link
Swimline Doodles Inflatable Pool Noodle Float, 6 Count - Walmart Link
AIRHEAD SUN COMFORT Noodle, Lime Swirl, AHSC-031 - Walmart Link
TRC Recreation LP Super Soft Swimming Pool Water Flotation Jogger, Bahama Blue - Walmart Link
WOW World of Watersports Water Pickle Pool Noodle 48 Inches Long Inflatable Pool Noodle, - Walmart Link
Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Foam Pool Swim Noodles - 6 Pack Assorted - eBay Link
WOW World of Watersports 17-2060B First Class Soft Dipped Foam Pool Noodle, Blue, - eBay Link
SwimWays Standard Foam Pool Swim Noodles, Multicolor (35 Pack) - eBay Link
Oodles of Noodles MEGA Jumbo Approx 6 Foot x 5 Inch Biggest Pool Noodle Ever - eBay Link
Swimline Doodles Inflatable Pool Noodle Float, 6 Count - eBay Link
AIRHEAD SUN COMFORT Noodle, Lime Swirl, AHSC-031 - eBay Link
TRC Recreation LP Super Soft Swimming Pool Water Flotation Jogger, Bahama Blue - eBay Link
WOW World of Watersports Water Pickle Pool Noodle 48 Inches Long Inflatable Pool Noodle, - eBay Link
There is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to pool noodles.
They are more than just the pool accessory that you have come to recognize.
Not only are there a lot of different kinds of pool noodles in existence, they also have a plethora of different uses.
You can use pool noodles as a substitute for any inflatable flotation device and you can even use them as foam lining to protect things from impacts that you know they will endure.
Take some time and explore what pool noodles can offer. You'll be surprised at what they can actually offer.
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About Rick Goldman
Rick Goldman's grandpa was a captain of a California coast cruise. This afforded Rick the luxury of traveling to exciting places along the Pacific Coast as a young boy. He got to try different, exotic foods on these journeys - something he really enjoys blogging about from his grandpa's beautiful garden home today.
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