This floating gadget monitors temperature, pH, and ORP (a stand-in for free chlorine), together giving you a solid picture of your pool\u2019s disinfection capabilities. It automatically updates every 15 minutes. While many chemistry monitors require replaceable supplies (which is a costly approach) and regular battery replacements to work, Iopool\u2019s solution is solid-state, needing no maintenance at all except for storing it out of the pool in winter months. I used mine for two full swimming seasons until it died (at which point it must be replaced)\u2014and I like it so much I just dropped its successor into the water for the summer. \u2014<\/em>Christopher Null<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Solbari<\/p>\n Notice you tend to burn faster when you\u2019re in the pool than hiking or performing activities on land? It\u2019s not your imagination\u2014water acts as a mirror, reflecting a portion of the sun\u2019s UV rays. This means every time you\u2019re in the water or even just hanging out nearby, your UV exposure is compounded from both direct sunlight and the water around you. A wide-brimmed hat can help protect a larger skin surface area, and this one from Solbari sports UPF 50+ nylon-and-cotton fabric as well as a brim that\u2019s larger than typical hats of this style\u20145 inches in the front and 6 in the back. I tested this hat in the pool on days pushing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and not only did I not get burned, but I also found the hat itself didn\u2019t feel very hot, especially if I flipped the color side (it comes in navy, pink, ice blue, or green) to the cream side.<\/p>\n My above-ground pool has a wimpy solar-exchange heater, so a pool thermometer is critical for knowing if the water is, in fact, warm enough to swim in. These TempPro models have been reliable in my tests, and I like that there’s a separate display with a magnet on the back, so you don’t need to use an app or even bother with a phone at all. The solar model stays charged and can transmit the temperature from about 150 feet away to my house and through its walls. (The range is supposedly 500 feet.) Note that I compared the TempPro temperature readings with those of a pricier pool thermometer and a probe thermometer\u2014the actual temperature consistently ran a few degrees cooler than all of those readings. But this was easy to keep in mind.<\/p>\n Funboy<\/p>\n When our first 90-degree-Fahrenheit day popped up on the forecast last month, I immediately started searching for an affordable floating cooler<\/a> for drinks with a sun-blocking canopy, and I ended up buying this Funboy model off Amazon. It can easily handle a six-pack of cans on a raft of ice, the canopy is removable, and there’s a drink holder on either side so you and your buddy can push it back and forth between your floats. The striped design with the fringe is very St. Tropez (or \u201980s-era pool umbrella, depending on your age and station), and I ended up liking the vibe so much that I have since added its companion matching inflatable pool float rings, which come in 16 colors on Funboy’s site<\/a> or six on Amazon. I’ve had the rings in my pool for over a month now, in direct sun, and while I wish they had handles for easier on-and-off movement, they have held up great. The 48-inch size is big enough for most adult butts, and also comes with the requisite cupholder. However, note that the cupholder design is very small and very shallow, so you may want to stick with the more forgiving holders on the cabana bar.<\/p>\n Manual pool vacuums are so last century. WIRED reviewer Christopher Null has been testing pool-cleaning robots<\/a> for four years, and this one from Beatbot, he says, is the best he’s tried. It not only excels at its prescribed cleaning tasks, but its battery charge is also phenomenal at six hours, it has AI-powered debris detection, and its companion app is great. It can also skim your pool’s surface if needed. Best of all, it floats when it’s done, so you don’t have to retrieve it from the bottom of the pool. (Which is good, he says, because it’s quite heavy.)<\/p>\n If your pool-robot budget is more pool noodle than Portofino, you may want to take a look at Beatbot’s Sora 30<\/a>. WIRED reviewer Christopher Null found it had outstanding performance for the price and excellent battery life, and, just like its pricier sibling above, floats when it’s done. It doesn’t have a whole lot of smart features, but you’ll still have the option of multiple modes through Beatbot’s app.<\/p>\n Dometic<\/p>\n I always have a water bottle at the pool, but it often doesn’t stay cold all day, hold enough liquid, or stand out enough for me to avoid forgetting it when I leave. This one from Dometic, though, hits all three notes. I filled it with ice and water and left the bottle in direct sun during a stretch of 80-degree-Fahrenheit temperatures, and the water stayed cold for three days. You can add your preferred lid and collar (the strap collar shown comes standard, and the\u00a0sip lid is an extra $15<\/a>), or go with the standard flip-up lid. I like the yellow for visibility\u2014and to match the brand’s excellent Recon coolers<\/a>, which I’m always hauling somewhere\u2014but it comes in six other colors if that’s not your thing.<\/p>\n Cozy Earth<\/p>\n Any respectable pool day begins and ends with a quality towel, and Cozy Earth\u2019s are the best I\u2019ve ever tried. My favorite from the brand\u2019s lineup is the Seaside Resort Towel. Made from OEKO-TEX\u2013certified 100 percent cotton, it\u2019s perfectly thick and plush and large enough to drape over a chaise. It will lose some fluffiness after about three washes, but most towels do. The Classic Stripe Resort Towel is also solid but slightly less plush, with a cotton-viscose blend but more color options (six, compared with the Seaside’s two). One side also has a low pile, which works well for the beach, as it will trap less sand.<\/p>\n Photograph: Matthew Korfhage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Photograph: Matthew Korfhage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You haven’t properly pool-partied until you’ve languished on your pool float on a hot day with a frozen margarita in hand. Or a cup of fros\u00e9, frozen lemonade, or just about anything else you can think of\u2014it will probably slush in one of our favorite slushie machines<\/a>. High-sugar drinks work best, but you can even slush diet drinks by adding allulose<\/a>. If you want to keep two drinks going at a time, Ninja has you covered with its just-released dual-reservoir version<\/a>, which WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage crowned as the best for parties<\/a>. It can auto-adjust temperatures to ensure drinks with different consistencies are ready at the same time.<\/p>\n Drop your sunglasses in the pool? (Or lake? Or river? Or ocean?) Typically, that’s the last you’ll see of that pair. But not now! These lightweight, inexpensive frames from no-slip, no-bounce sunglasses giant Goodr will float, so you can easily grab them next time you pass them on your inflatable lounge. They come in five colors (including Seafoam Party Favor, shown) and are great for all kinds of athletic pursuits, from running to paddleboarding and beyond.<\/p>\n Limitless Innovations<\/p>\n These Bluetooth speakers are designed to look like tiki torches, with a faux flickering amber flame. You can screw them onto yard stakes (not included), or just set them right next to the pool for ambient effect. They\u2019re cute, festive, and more fun than a typical Bluetooth speaker, but note that they are slightly tinny, novelty-quality speakers, so don\u2019t expect to be bumping any kind of bass. You\u2019ll also likely need two for surround sound. (I have only one, which did not do a great job with multichannel recordings.) Still, one or two make a fun gift or an addition to a summer-themed gift basket.<\/p>\n Power up with unlimited access to<\/strong><\/em><\/a> WIRED<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em> Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore.<\/em> Subscribe Today<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nCritical Sun Protection<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a67bb876b9c2d5527305a93\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Resort-Wide-Brim-Sun-Hat-2.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a67bb845de090ff7b54f91c\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Resort-Wide-Brim-Sun-Hat.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nUltra Wide Brim Hat<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Is It Warm Enough to Go In?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a6915186b115592f7e551a7\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/TempPro-1-SOURCE-kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a69151b75cf04b297783d97\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/TempPro-2-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor Floating Around With a Drink<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Vintage Stripe Floating Cabana Bar and Tube Floats<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Never Vacuum Again<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69e959c066ef7baae78bce87\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/AquaSense-2-Ultra-first-SOURCE-Chris-Null.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69e959c2820dcd2f2d67271c\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/AquaSense-2-Ultra-second-SOURCE-Chris-Null.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA More Affordable Robot<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a19fb4bc8d186a50ef1bcc9\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Beatbot%2520Sora%252030%2520side%2520SOURCE%2520Chris%2520Null.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69e7dae003053d72fbaeaa2d\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Filter-cover-source-chris-null.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA Water Bottle You Won\u2019t Lose<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a691515c0b4bb67fe8a6607\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Dometic-water-bottle-1-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a69158cbc01162e9a5133bc\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Dometic-water-bottle-2-SOURCE-Dometic.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nInsulated Chug Bottle<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Resort Towels<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a4fda33032c37c82c43eee9\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Cozy-Earth-towels-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSeaside Resort Towel<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
For Peak Margarita Szn<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/691bb87e93bb71935f674021\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Ninja%2520Slushi%2520SOURCE%2520Matthew%2520Korfhage.jpg.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/691bb8801728b1dce9d72b0b\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Ninja%2520Slushi%2520Milkshake%25202%2520SOURCe%2520Matthew%2520Korfhage.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\nSunglasses That Float<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a4fda2861f602d1b191f625\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Goodrs-Tidal-G-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a4fda2bc285269d5c78fd12\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Goodrs-float-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA Speaker With Vibes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6a6913e580e4122e18ceac49\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Tiki-Tunes-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTikiTunes Portable Indoor\/Outdoor Wireless Speaker<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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