7 Best Inflatable Docks in 2021

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Summer is already here, and it’s time to gear up and head to the nearest body of water, whether it’s your backyard pool, a hidden lake, or the most popular beach in town. But, any water activity is not complete without the perfect accessory.

However, your typical floater can only do so much. Unless you’re a kid, it pretty much serves as a fashion statement and something to take those insta photos with. But, what if you want something that serves more purpose?

Well, how about an inflatable dock that can handle a punch? These things are surprisingly stable and durable, so you can put all sorts of things on them and do all sorts of crazy stuff, like jumping all over. Here are the best inflatable docks that we’ve found just for you.

Best inflatable dock

Take a look at these seven best inflatable floating docks in 2021 that are guaranteed to give you a fun and enjoyable time out in the water, whether it’s in a lake, on a pool, or out in the open ocean. We’ve included our favorite features for each product, too!

Whether you want big docks, small docks, rectangular docks, square docks, oddly shaped docks, docks with pumps, and all sorts of other stuff, we’ve got plenty of the best options for you to choose from, so keep on reading!

Things to consider when buying an inflatable dock

Inflatable floating docks are fun and multifunctional swim gears that can definitely transform your summer experience out in the water. Whether you want something for lounging, jumping, swimming, decking, or whatnot, these things can do the job.

But, it can also be quite difficult to choose the right inflatable dock for you and your family or friends. In order to help you out, here are the most important things you need to consider when buying an inflatable dock.

First things first: you need to be clear on whether you want an inflatable dock or a non-inflatable one, which is a more permanent object as it’s heavy and cannot easily be lifted from one place to the other. If you have a stationary area to place your dock, this might be a better choice, since it’s definitely more durable than an inflatable one.

How is a floating platform used?

Floating platforms have a variety of uses, which somewhat depend on their size, thickness, and durability. In general, they are multifunctional and highly versatile swimming gears that can be used for lots of swimming, outdoor, and indoor activities.

Most common uses of a swim platform include lounging (either on chairs, beach towels, or the dock itself), boat docking, swimming and snorkelling, and other water activities. These can also be used for yoga sessions and basic exercises on your lawn, or on the water, if you’re daring.

This is because these docks are made of high quality materials that make them durable and stable, so they won’t topple over, deflate, or get damage even against heavy loads and increased physical activities.

Useful tip:

If you want to use your inflatable dock for some serious water activities, or load it with heavy stuff like lounging chairs, coolers, ice bags, and so on, go for a dock that’s bigger, thicker, and made of highly durable materials.

Otherwise, if it’s just for simple lounging, you might be able to make do with a typical plastic inflatable floater. It should do the job just fine without the hefty price tag of even an entry level floating platform.

Inflatable dock size

One of the first things you need to take into account is the size of the inflatable platform. You don’t want something that’s too small to accommodate enough people or supplies, as it will feel too cramped, or may even sink if you overload it.

The great thing about these docks is that they often come in a variety of sizes for you to choose from, and the ones that don’t usually already come at the largest size possible and can readily fit an entire group of friends or a whole family of 4 to 8 individuals.

What you really need to consider here is how you’ll usually use it and how many people will most likely want to stay on the dock. Are your priority supplies or people? How much gear are you bringing? Aside from the size, the load capacity of the dock is also important to factor in.

Size and shape

Smaller inflatable docks measure around 5 by 5 feet and can carry around 2 to 3 people, while the bigger ones can reach up to 10 by 10 feet or more, and can fit a maximum of 8 people. In relation to the size, the shape of the dock is also important.

Some people prefer square docks, especially when loading up with various summer gears like chairs and coolers, while others like the rectangular docks that can easily seat plenty of people side by side.

Features

The beauty of an inflatable water pad is that it often comes packed with various features that make it more comfortable, stable, and easy to use. The most common features include D rings to attach to whatever water structure is around you, like a boat or a permanent dock.

Side handles and other attachments are also important, so you can easily mount and unmount the dock from the water, attach your gear safely, and tow the dock along the water without a hassle.

Sometimes, these docks are designed for a specific use, like for lake usage, for the beach, or for pools. As such, they will come with specialized features to increase their functionality, durability, and resistance against the elements as well as wear and tear.

Extras

Aside from these essentials, there are also lots of fun and nice to have additional features that radically improve your lounging experience. These may include protective surfaces that keep you safe from static, scratching, wounds, and so on.

Other arguably nicer features include seats, cup holders, drink coolers, chairs, and loungers that are built in with the dock, or are attachable, and come with ready provisions for attachments. They’re nice if you don’t have these things and don’t want to have to buy each one individually.

Portability

One other important factor that must be taken into account is the portability of the inflatable dock. Since it’s not a permanent fixture, you’ll need to carry it around and as such, it needs to be small, compact, and lightweight, so you don’t have a hard time.

The good news is that a portable floating platform is often relatively lightweight and packs into a burrito roll that fits into a conventional backpack or a standard locker, especially since these are, well, inflatable, so you don’t have to worry about lugging a full sized dock around.

That said, some docks are heavier than others, and some don’t pack as tiny. You also need to take into account the weight of the inflating pump, and to a lesser extent, the carrying bag of the inflatable dock.

Inclusions

As we’ve mentioned, floating docks often come with a pump and a storage bag, so you’ll have an easier time dealing with the logistics and preparation of the dock. What you need to make sure here is that the pump performs well and is also portable, and the bag doesn’t break easily.

In the case that these things are not included with the dock, you need to make sure that the pump you have is compatible with the inflation mechanism of the dock, otherwise, it won’t inflate properly, and you might accidentally break something.

Overview

When it comes to the best inflatable dock, your main priority should always be the size and strength of the product, since these two factors will determine how many people and gear you can safely fit on the dock without the risk of damage and injury.

Of course, there are plenty other things that need to be taken into account, such as the quality and material of the dock, which will affect its durability, versatility, weight, and portability. The best material here is heavy duty plastic, which is waterproof and lightweight.

Floating docks are safe and fun to use even in the deep waters, as long as you follow the correct procedures in inflating the dock and tying it off so it doesn’t just float away. Hence, they’re the perfect addition to your next summer trip.