Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Inflatables That Saved My Summer After Years of Boring Backyard Hangs
48
items Every summer used to be the same — kids complaining they're bored, adults melting in lawn chairs, nobody actually having fun. I finally snapped and went down the inflatable rabbit hole last May, and honestly our backyard went from forgettable to the ...
Sections
12
Backyard Water Slides That Actually Deliver
Pool Floats That Don't Deflate by Noon
Kiddie Pools Worth Setting Up
Giant Inflatables That Make You the Cool House
Bounce Houses That Survived My Kids
Sprinkler Inflatables for Hot Afternoons
Backyard Water Slides That Actually Deliver
We bought a cheap water slide three years ago and it ripped on day two. My kids still bring it up. These are the ones that survived an entire summer of absolute chaos.
Grab this if your kids argue over everything — two lanes means two winners and zero fights. Set it up on a Saturday morning and didn't hear a single complaint until dinner.
Banzai 16' Splash Sprint Racing Slide
Try this when you've got a crew of neighborhood kids showing up uninvited — three lanes handled six kids rotating without anyone melting down about waiting.
H2OGO! Mega Water Park - Mount Splashblast
Pair this with a good hose and it's faster than it looks. My 8-year-old wiped out so hard he laughed for ten minutes straight — that's when I knew it was worth every penny.
BANZAI Speed Blast Water Slide : Toys & Games
Keep this one in mind for smaller yards. Our side yard is barely 20 feet and it fit perfectly — the kids didn't care about the size, they cared about the speed.
Bestway H2OGO! Mount Splashmore Inflatable Water Park
Pool Floats That Don't Deflate by Noon
Nothing kills the vibe faster than a saggy float sinking under you at 2 PM. I went through maybe five duds before landing on ones that actually hold air all day.
Use this if you're the person who brings a book to the pool and doesn't want to move for three hours. The backrest actually supports you instead of folding in half.
Intex Inflatable King Kool Pool Lounge, 63" x 33.5"
Snag this for the 4th of July — we fit four adults with drinks and nobody fell off. My brother-in-law called it the best $80 anyone ever spent on him.
Bestway CoolerZ Tropical Breeze Party Island
Toss your drinks in this instead of getting out of the pool every ten minutes. Sounds lazy but once you try it you'll wonder how you ever lived without a floating cooler.
Customer reviews for Intex Mega Chill 2 Cooler
Switch to this from those flat foam noodle floats — the mesh keeps you cool and it folds up small enough to actually fit in your pool bag. Still holding air after two summers.
SwimWays, Spring Float Recliner Chair, Blue ...
Kiddie Pools Worth Setting Up
My toddler didn't care about our big pool — too cold, too deep, too scary. A good kiddie pool in the shade turned out to be the real MVP of our summer setup.
Get this if your little ones need more than just water to stay busy. The slide, the sprayer, the ring toss — my 3-year-old literally didn't want to come inside for dinner.
Customer reviews for Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play
Perfect for the dino-obsessed toddler who won't sit still. The little waterfall feature kept my nephew parked there for two hours while the adults actually got to eat in peace.
Intex Dinoland Kids Inflatable Water Play Centre
Bring this out when you need your kids entertained but you also need to keep an eye on them from the patio. It's shallow enough that I could relax without hovering.
H2OGO! Lil' Champ Play Pool Center with Slide
Try this if your kiddie pool budget is tight but you still want something that fits two kids comfortably. Inflated it with a hair dryer in maybe ten minutes.
Intex Swim Center Family Lounge Pool, Age 6
Giant Inflatables That Make You the Cool House
There's a moment when your neighbor walks by and stops to stare at your yard — that's how you know you picked the right inflatable. These got actual applause from the cul-de-sac.
Grab this for pool parties — every kid under 12 will lose their mind. My daughter rode it for so long we had to bribe her out of the pool with popsicles.
"Intex Fun Ride-On Giant Unicorn Inflatable Pool Float
Toss this in the pool and watch every adult at the cookout suddenly want to get in the water. Six slices snap together so the whole crew can float at once.
Customer reviews for Joyfy Giant Inflatable Pizza Slice
Perfect for the kid who thinks unicorns are boring. My son dragged this thing around the pool like he was conquering the seas — kept him busy the entire afternoon.
GAME Stingray Pool Float Inflatable Ride On with Handles
Use this as the backup when three kids all want the unicorn float at the same time. Bought two of these and it was the smartest parenting move of June.
Bestway H2OGO! Fantasy Unicorn Kids Float
Bounce Houses That Survived My Kids
I was terrified of buying a bounce house because I assumed it would pop immediately. Turns out the right ones are built like tanks. My two boys tested that theory daily.
Get this if your kids have energy that borders on concerning. Mine bounced for three hours straight on a Saturday and actually went to bed on time for once.
Customer reviews for Little Tikes Jr. Jump 'n Slide Bouncer
Snag this before summer if you want the ultimate backyard flex. Pool, slide, bounce area — we set it up for my son's birthday and the parents were more excited than the kids.
Bestway H2OGO! Mount Splashmore Inflatable Water Park
Try this for younger kids who are too small for the big water park setups. The walls are tall enough that I wasn't panicking about anyone flipping over the side.
PicassoTiles 12x10 Ft Outdoor Bounce House
Keep this stored in the garage for rainy weekend emergencies — set it up in the living room once when it rained for three days straight. Saved my sanity completely.
Sunny & Fun Fun Bouncy Inflatable Jump House for Kids
Sprinkler Inflatables for Hot Afternoons
When it's 95 degrees and nobody wants to actually swim, a sprinkler setup in the front yard hits different. The mail carrier even asked where I got one of these.
Grab this for toddlers who are scared of pools but love water. My youngest went from screaming near the pool to dancing in this thing within five minutes.
Jasonwell Splash Pad Sprinkler for Kids Play Mat Outdoor
Use this on the driveway when your yard is too muddy — it sticks flat and the sprinklers shoot just high enough to keep little kids squealing without flooding the garage.
Banzai Sprinkle 'N Splash 54" Water Play Mat Lawn
Perfect for the parent who doesn't want to blow something up for 20 minutes. This one connects to the hose and you're done — my kind of setup.
SplashEZ Splash Pad, Baby Pool and Sprinkler for Kids
Switch to this from the basic splash pad when your kids outgrow just running through water. The pool holds enough to sit in while the sprinklers do their thing.
Splashin'kids 3 in 1 Inflatable Kiddie Pool with Sprinklers
Inflatable Games for Backyard Parties
Board games in the heat? Nobody's doing that. We needed something that got everyone off their phones and actually competing. These started legitimate family rivalries.
Bring this to any cookout and watch grown adults embarrass themselves trying to limbo after two burgers. Funniest thing that happened at our 4th of July party, hands down.
BigMouth Inc Easy Setup Big Inflatable Sprinkler Tunnel
Toss this on the lawn for kids who need structure with their chaos. My 7-year-old organized an entire tournament with brackets — kept eight kids busy for an hour.
Hearthsong Giant Inflatable Bowling Game Set for Indoor
Get this floating in the pool and suddenly everyone has an opinion about the rules. We played for two hours and my wife is still claiming I cheated.
Customer reviews for Inflatable Pool Ring Toss Game Set
Perfect if your family is competitive but your pool is too small for real volleyball. The net adjusts low enough that even my 5-year-old could spike it over.
GoSports Splash Net Air, Inflatable Pool Volleyball Game
Floating Drink and Food Holders
Realized pretty quickly that eating near the pool means ants, and eating in the pool means soggy chips. These solved both problems in the dumbest, most genius way.
Grab this for pool days when getting out of the water feels like a personal failure. Holds drinks, snacks, and my dignity — all without tipping over.
Open Box INTEX Mega Chill II Inflatable Floating Beverage
Toss one of these under every guest's drink at your next pool party. They cost almost nothing and people acted like I was hosting at a resort.
BIG MOUTH INC. Giant Inflatable Pizza Slice Float for pool.
Snag a few packs of these before your next gathering — lost two to the wind last summer because I didn't buy enough backups. Learn from my mistake.
GoFloats Inflatable Drink Holders 3-Pack - Alligator
Use this as your floating command center. Loaded it with ice and cans on a Sunday and literally did not leave the pool until sunset. No regrets whatsoever.
Floating Pool Bars for Fun Water Play
Air Mattresses That Double as Pool Floats
Started bringing our guest room air mattress to the pool as a joke. Then I found ones actually designed for both. Saved money and closet space in one move.
Try this for overnight guests and then drag it poolside the next morning. Thick enough to float without feeling like you're sinking — tested it myself after brunch.
Intex 64425ED Dura-Beam Deluxe Ultra Plush Air Mattress
Get this if you host a lot and hate storing both an air mattress AND pool floats. One less thing crammed in the hall closet is a win in my book.
AlwayzAire Fortech Air Mattress Queen Built-in Comfort
Perfect for camping weekends that turn into spontaneous lake floats. We threw it in the truck bed on a whim and it became the best seat at the reservoir.
Intex 64147ED Dura Beam Pillow Rest Classic Air Bed Full
Swap your old leaky air mattress for this — slept on it Friday night, floated on it Saturday afternoon. My buddy thought I was nuts until he tried it.
Ozark Trail Tritech Airbed Queen 14Inch With In & Out Pump
Inflatable Kayaks and Boats Worth Trying
Renting kayaks at the lake was costing us $50 every weekend. Bought our own inflatable one in May and it paid for itself by mid-June. Should have done it years ago.
Grab this if you and a partner want a weekend hobby that doesn't cost a fortune. Fits in the trunk, inflates in ten minutes, and tracks surprisingly straight for the price.
The Intex Explorer K2: Not a Good Kayak
Use this for fishing trips — the rod holders actually work and it's stable enough that I didn't dump my tackle box into the lake. That alone makes it worth it.
Intex Excursion Pro K1 Inflatable Kayak Red & White
Perfect for families who want to get on the water but aren't ready to buy a real boat. Took the kids out on a calm lake and they talked about it for weeks.
Intex Seahawk 3 Person Inflatable Rafting Boat Set w
Switch to this from renting pontoons — brought it to the lake house and we used it every single day. Packs down small enough to fit in the back seat.
Bestway Hydro-Force Caspian Pro Inflatable 4 Person Boat
Inflatable Furniture for Outdoor Lounging
Our patio furniture was ugly and uncomfortable. Bought inflatable chairs as a temporary fix and then never went back. They're lighter, comfier, and way easier to clean.
Try this on the patio when your real chairs are all taken at a party. Surprisingly supportive — my dad sat in one for three hours and didn't complain once, which is unheard of.
Intex 6 Pack Beanless Bag Chair
Grab a couple of these for movie nights outside. They're low enough to sit on the grass comfortably and they wipe clean when someone inevitably spills something.
Intex Empire Inflatable Chair Yellow 44" X 43" X 27"
Perfect for apartment balconies where real furniture won't fit. Deflate it when you're done and suddenly you have your balcony back. Wish I'd thought of this in my 20s.
Inflatable Chair Built Pump
Get this for the friend who always crashes after the cookout. Pulls out into a bed, inflates in minutes, and saved me from lending out my actual couch cushions again.
Intex Inflatable Pull-Out Sofa, Portable Couch Air Bed
Pumps and Repair Kits So Nothing Ruins Your Day
Learned the hard way that mouth-inflating a queen-size float will make you see stars. And one tiny puncture can ruin a whole Saturday. These prevent both disasters.
Grab this before you inflate anything on this list — blew up a full kayak in under five minutes. My lungs have never been more grateful for a $20 purchase.
Intex Quick-Fill AC Electric Air Pump, 120V, 3 Nozzles
Keep one of these in your pool bag at all times. Patched a float mid-party last August and nobody even noticed. Saved a $40 float for about fifty cents.
Intex The Wet Set, 7.5" Repair Patch Kit Clear 6 Piece
Use this if you need something compact that still has power. Stored it in the garage drawer and grabbed it maybe fifteen times last summer — it never let me down.
Bestway Sidewinder PowerGrip AC Electric Air Pump
Snag this for serious punctures that the little patches can't handle. Fixed a gash in our bounce house floor and it held up the rest of the summer with two rowdy boys on it daily.
TEAR-AID Vinyl Repair Patch Kit Type B