Summertime heat is no joke when you are trying to relax at the lake or in the backyard pool. Most standard pool floats are either too bulky to carry or they break after one season of heavy use. I recently picked up the Wonflex Inflatable Swimming Pool Floats Circle Water Ring Water Hammock Pool Air Mattress to see if a cheap option could actually hold up for a full summer.
What is this Wonflex water hammock?
This is a multi-purpose inflatable float that works as a hammock, chair, or lounge bed. It uses a mesh fabric center with inflatable tubes on the sides to keep you floating just below the surface of the water. My main reason for buying this specific item was the price and the fact that it came with free shipping.
Real world features and benefits
The best thing about this float is how small it packs down when empty. You can shove it into a beach bag or a carry-on suitcase without any trouble at all. Because it is a mesh design, you stay cool because the water flows through the bottom while you float.
Setting it up is simple enough that even a kid could do it in a few minutes. You just blow up the two side pillows and you are ready to hit the water. It feels much more stable than those hard plastic rings that make you feel like you might flip over at any second.
Honest pros and cons
Buying gear from overseas sites like AliExpress means you have to be ready for a few trade-offs. Here is my take on what works and what might annoy you.
- Pros
- Extremely lightweight and easy to pack for vacations.
- Keeps you partially submerged so you stay cool in direct sun.
- Much cheaper than the big-name brands at local pool stores.
- Free shipping is a huge plus if you are on a tight budget.
- Cons
- The shipping time can take three weeks or longer depending on your location.
- The plastic valves are thin and can be tricky to close tightly.
- Customer support is basically non-existent if you get a dud.
- You will need to bring your own air pump or have strong lungs.
Who should buy this float?
If you are a casual pool user who just wants something to lounge on during a weekend trip, this is a great choice. It is perfect for people who travel and want a float they can take to a hotel pool or the beach. You will save a lot of money compared to buying inflatables at a resort gift shop.
On the other hand, skip this if you need something to last for five years of daily use. It is not designed for rough play or heavy-duty pool games. If you are very tall or heavy, you might find that the mesh center dips a bit too low for your liking.
What real buyers are saying
I checked in with a few others who bought the same Wonflex float to see if my experience was just luck. Most people seem to agree that it is a solid budget-friendly purchase.
One buyer mentioned that they took theirs on a cruise and it saved them from paying high rental fees for pool gear. Another person noted that while the material feels thin, it held up fine for their entire two-week beach vacation. The main complaint among users is always the long wait for the package to arrive at their front door.
Final verdict on this float
After testing this out for a few weeks, I think it is a smart buy for the price. You are getting a decent quality float that packs small and keeps you comfortable in the water. Just do not expect high-end luxury materials or fast delivery speeds.
If you are willing to wait for the shipping and you treat the valves with a little care, it will get the job done. It is not going to replace a high-end pool lounger, but it is much better than paying ten times the price for a name brand. As long as you know what you are paying for, you will likely be happy with this Wonflex water hammock.
