Among plain blue rings, the oversized thong became the obvious photo prop. It also worked as a proper lounger once everyone had finished taking turns with it.

The 65cm width felt more stable than a narrow novelty float once I centred my weight. Smooth PVC was comfortable, and the bright surface remained easy to see.

At 165cm long, this pink inflatable gave me room to stretch out across the pool. The familiar shape drew plenty of comments and looked unmistakably Australian in photos.

An electric pump filled it efficiently before guests arrived. Once completely dry and deflated, the float folded into our pool cupboard without the storage burden of rigid furniture.

I stored the repair piece with our pump and spare valves as soon as the package opened. Keeping the float away from rough pool edges should help the 0.25mm material last.