Floatie Test
Lounging Large!
FLOATER’S BLOG: Friend’s Pool Float Date, October 1st, 2026
A while back I ran into an acquaintance who had been at an ‘outdoor living’ trade show. He had won a prize which he thought would be better off in my possession and after seeing what he handed me, I couldn’t agree more - a big, lazy lounger pool float.
Whenever I come into custody of a new style of float I want to run it through it’s paces to see what its got. Is this one I will use or at least approve of for a specific purpose in a floater’s repertoire. The float in question is the ‘Lazy Recliner Lounge’ from Funsicle, a budget-friendly company that focuses on backyard water play selling above-ground pools, inflatable pools, pool circulation pumps and pool toys.
I have used many large water buoyant devices, but the Lazy Lounge is an Adirondack-style chair for one person which was new to me.
Upon removal from the packaging and prior to any testing, I examine the manner in which the product has been folded to fit into its box. This is likely a procedure I will want to emulate, for easiest storage, when I am done my scrutiny.
My first test is inflation, which can be done indoors. This in turn allows for a bonus test; can this float be used as an extra piece of furniture for large gatherings?
As I wrote about in my Valvitis blog there are many air pumps available, but I want to know how long or difficult it is to inflate with a pair of healthy lungs, which means you can do it anywhere if required.
As with many floats there is more than one air chamber. This chair has 3 valves, a large primary compartment which is the back and arms and separate smaller sections for the ribbed seating area and another for the leg support bar. I believe they designed it this way so that these high stress support sections can be double seamed for extra strength.
It was a good thing I tested inflation because I needed to pull out my awl to punch out the inflation hole cover back flap on both of the smaller chambers. This is not a design issue but a manufacturing flaw, easily resolved, however it puts into question the rest of the workmanship.
In any case, I didn’t buy it, so I’m not sending it back.
After I did have it full of air, I was able to do a sit test.
With some floats whether you have your butt plunked down over water or on a hard dry surface there is no difference, but this form of seat makes both situations quite different. I give this lounge chair a medium score for use as an extra seat out of the pool primarily because of the back angle being so reclined which is fine if you are conversing with somebody standing over you but not for a seated group conversation or partaking of nibbles from a low table.
This is a large chair so deflating means you will end up with a lot of collapsed vinyl even if you use a pump with a suction function to draw out as much air from the chambers as possible. This definitely rules out use as a portable travel device. In the same vein, storage takes up a lot of space, albeit you have replicated the manufacturers technique to the best of your abilities, so I recommend blowing this up at the start of your pool season and keeping it that way until your pool closes for the season. Down south where the weather allows for 12-months of flotation if you don’t have sufficient storage space you may want to anchor this baby down and just leave it in or near the pool until it becomes irreparable.
Next was the far more important ‘in pool’ test.
As luck would have it, I was going to a friend’s place for dinner, and knowing my host, I had no doubt bringing a float to test in his pool would not be a problem. I did however expect the need of some comfort wear for cooler water as it was going to be a chilly evening, plus I didn’t know if he was still heating his pool at this late juncture of the season.
After re-inflation, I tossed this big boy chair into the water so I could get down to business or at the very least have a reason to open a fresh beer. What kind of beerfloat.calm floatie test would it be without an accompanying beverage!
I waded into the cool water and made my way over to the beast. Climbing onboard meant no handles to grab onto as per a typical circular float but using the drink holder and grabbing under the other arm gave sufficient leverage to hoist myself far enough to get my hips into a position where I could rotate over to a seated position. Then using both arms, I pushed my butt back to what they claim on the packaging is an area of lumbar support. Unless you have a lot of practice clambering onto a floating inflated apparatus, I would strongly urge using the pool’s stairs or ladder to avoid an awkward mounting experience. So, I did a lean forward front exit to try that exact boarding method.
Getting on top of the vinyl from the pool’s entry steps was much easier, and no other mounting technique really suits such a grand throne. Again, there are no handles but the gap under the arm rests allows for plenty of stability resistance against the pushing from the back of your thighs. Just like any other floatie, if you don’t hold it there, it will just go squibbing out behind you and you will make a splashy entry into the pool instead of ending up on top of the world!
This Recliner Lounger is designed with an inflated rib seating area which means your butt and surrounding body parts will be submerged leaving everything else except your feet and calves out of the water. It has only one drink holder, a negative, which is large enough for a can of beer wrapped in neoprene, a positive. The arm rests are high which might make them appear uncomfortable, but they are actually fine.
The packaging emphasizes “back & neck support” which is completely misleading.
It will support you, but only if you are almost lying down. Some of you may want a cushion or pillow behind your head.
Obviously with such a large craft, manoeuverability is more limited than on a smaller circular float, but I did find I was able to get around this small pool sufficiently with either arm or leg strokes.
Side note: I have been threatening to create a blog about pool float manoeuverability for some time now so I promise I will get around to it when I am down at The Villa this winter.
Testing complete, I declare this is not a float for active participation. This device is for sun basking, star watching or lazy drifting in which conversation does not require eye contact and use on open water, especially with any kind of wind, should be out of the question unless you have a completely trustworthy anchoring system.
In summary, Funsicle’s Lazy Recliner Lounge creates an ideal opportunity to loaf, and really, that is the ‘calm’ inspiration for this entire beerfloat segment of our human existence. If you have read my previous blog The Sweet Spot this is the perfect float for that. In fact, the next time you see this pool chair will likely be in that exact location!
Get your laze on!
Corliss
beer float.calm = beerfloat.netnot beerfloat.com
