Most of my lake day memories from childhood are of lying on wooden docks or floating in an innertube alongside my friends. So when I spotted this six-person raft on Amazon, I immediately pictured recreating those late summer afternoons—just with a lot more room to lounge.
This massive, six-person inflatable island has all the fixings: seat backs for lounging in the sun, an enclosed area with bench seating for cooling off, and a mesh bottom on one end for dipping your toes in the water.
There’s even a dedicated cooler bag to keep your beverages crisp, along with six cupholders to store all your drinks. The brand says you can use this on any calm body of water, like the pool, lake, or a gentle river.
This raft comes from Bestway (one of our top-tested brands for above-ground pools per the GH Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab) and is truly substantial at 9 feet long by 12 feet wide, giving space for everyone to stretch out and relax. Per the brand, it can hold up to 1,320 pounds (or six people at an average of 220 pounds each), which means it’s great for an adults or even teens who want to hang out with their friends.
It’s important to note that you’ll need an air pump for inflation, which isn’t included in your purchase. And if you’re leaving the float unattended, make sure to use the tow ropes to secure it from drifting away. You can also get it with an orange sunshade and blue base, if you don’t love the blue and white look.
Should you decide to take a swim, the raft has handles on the sides and an inflatable dock so you can pull yourself back up. And if you want to work on your tan and soak up more vitamin D, you can easily pop off the shade (just don’t forget your sunscreen).
I’m already dreaming about leaning against those wide backrests over Labor Day weekend.
Angel Madison is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines with over 25 years of editorial experience. She writes about parenting, toys, plus-size fashion, sneakers, and more for brands like Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Prevention, and Esquire. Before her time at Hearst, Angel worked as a parenting editor for New Jersey Family and covered entertainment for NBC Universal, AOL, and TV Guide. When she’s not testing the latest footwear trends, adding to her collection of over 100 LEGO sets, or scouting for the hottest new toys, you can find Angel walking long distances (either in the woods or in New York City) and spending time with her daughter.
