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I’m not a water-sports expert, lifeguard, or swim coach. I’m a gear editor and parent who wants my kids to love days at the pool, beach or lake while still respecting the risks inherent to playing in the water. This article covers the gear that helped our family make those days safer, easier, and more fun, from flotation and sun protection to water shoes, goggles, and toys worth packing.
- Best Goggles: Keary Kids Goggles
- Best Water Shoe: Keen Kids' Newport H2 Sandals
- Best Sun Shirt: O'Neill Basic Skins UPF50+ Long-Sleeve Rashguard
- Best Water Toy: Reusable Water Balloons
- Best Transitional Swim Vest: SwimWays Swim Trainer Life Jacket
Click the links above for current pricing, or keep scrolling for my full reviews and the hard-learned lessons on what actually survives a long day at the water.
What Earned a Spot in Our Bag
Any outing with kids requires a seemingly endless amount of gear, and a beach, pool, or lake day is no exception. Add travel or an overnight stay, and the pile gets even bigger. Through years of trial and error, these are the items we don’t leave home without. Some give us a little more time to react if something goes wrong. Some make the day easier. Some are simply worth packing because they keep kids happy in and around the water.
Over the years, we tried plenty of products that did not last or work the way we hoped: goggles that pulled hair, towels that don’t absorb water, pool toys that broke in five minutes, and flotation devices that felt more frustrating than helpful.
The picks below are the ones that kept coming with us to pools, beaches, lakes, and vacation rentals. They made water days more manageable, more comfortable, and more fun while helping us stay focused on the thing that matters most around water: watching our kids.
Our Favorite Kids Water Gear
Keary
Kids Swim GogglesWhat We Love
- • Back buckle makes them easier for kids to put on
- • Side buckles make fit adjustments simple
- • Secure seal without squeezing the eye sockets
- • Mask-style shape spreads pressure across the face
- • Comfortable enough for long pool days
Worth Knowing
- • Bulkier than traditional goggles
- • Mask-style fit may not appeal to every kid
These are the kids goggles that finally solved the two problems we kept running into: straps that pull hair and seals that only worked when the fit was too tight. The back buckle, which our kids can manage on their own, opens and closes so they don’t have to stretch the straps over their head, and the side buckles make fit adjustments easy. They look more like a small mask than traditional goggles, but that shape spreads pressure across more of the face, so our kids can wear them for long pool days without complaining.
What We Love
- • Closed toe protects against rocks, roots, bike pedals, and playground stumbles
- • Works for water play, light hikes, camp, and everyday summer use
- • Grippy rubber outsole handles wet and uneven surfaces
- • Secure bungee-and-strap closure
- • Machine washable
- • Durable enough for hand-me-down use
Worth Knowing
- • Heavier and bulkier than minimalist sandals
- • Takes longer to dry than lighter water shoes
- • Can hold odor if worn wet and not dried fully
- • Younger toddlers may need help getting them on
- • Runs warmer than open sandals
The KEEN Newport H2 delivers full-shoe protection in a water-ready sandal. The closed toe and rubber bumper give kids more coverage than most water shoes, especially around rocks, docks, bikes, and playgrounds. The webbed upper handles wet days better than a regular sneaker, and the shoe can go in the washing machine for easy cleaning. It is heavier and slower to dry than minimalist water shoes, but that is a fair tradeoff for superior protection and durability. For active kids who need one summer shoe that can move from water to regular outdoor play, the Newport H2 is the one I would choose.
What We Love
- • UPF 50+ sun protection
- • Long sleeves reduce how much sunscreen you need to apply
- • Flatlock seams help prevent rubbing
- • Snug fit works well under life jackets and swim vests
- • Stretch fabric allows easy movement in the water
- • Holds up to pool, beach, and lake use
Worth Knowing
- • Surf fit is snug, so size up if your kid dislikes tight clothing
- • Wet rashguards can be annoying to pull off
- • Light colors may hold fine sand until washed
- • Not as easy to wear casually as a loose swim shirt
The O’Neill Basic Skins UPF 50+ Long-Sleeve Rashguard is for long days in the sun when sunscreen alone isn't enough. The long sleeves and UPF 50+ fabric cover the areas that usually get the most sun, helping reduce the need for constant sunscreen reapplication. The snug surf fit helps reduce rubbing under life jackets and swim vests, and it feels better than cheap, baggy shirts that stay wet and can bother kids who are sensitive to texture. The fit is close by design, so consider sizing up if your child dislikes tight clothing. For long days around the water, this is one of the best ways to add meaningful sun protection without turning sunscreen into a constant battle.
SwimWays
Barbie Swim TrainerWhat We Love
- • Lower-profile fit than bulkier toddler swim vests
- • Gives kids more freedom to move in the water
- • Leg strap helps keep the vest from riding up
- • Helpful bridge toward more independent swimming
Worth Knowing
- • Check the label before relying on any certification claim
- • Not a substitute for supervision or rescue gear
- • Best for supervised pools and calm water
- • Best for kids who can already swim with help
The SwimWays Swim Trainer Life Jacket worked really well for our daughter when she was starting to swim on her own but still needed a little extra support in the water. The slimmer design gave her more freedom to move around than her old bulky toddler vest, and the leg strap helped keep it from riding up toward her face. We only used it in pools and calm water, always with an adult keeping a close eye on her. For us, it was a helpful swim aid, but we never treated it as a substitute for supervision or a rescue device.
Chriffer
Kids Swim VestWhat We Love
- • Gave our daughter more freedom during supervised pool play
- • Comfortable enough for long stretches
- • Dried quickly in the sun
Worth Knowing
- • Not a substitute for a USCG-approved life jacket
- • Does not automatically turn kids upright
- • Best for supervised pools and calm water
- • Not for boating, open water, or unsupervised swimming
This toddler swim vest worked well when our daughter was comfortable in the water but still needed flotation during supervised pool play. It gave her enough freedom to paddle short distances, jump from the side, and use small slides without feeling bulky or restrictive. She wore it for long stretches without complaint, and it dried quickly in the sun during lunch or nap breaks. It is not the same as a USCG-approved life jacket, and we did not treat it like one. For us, it was a swim aid for closely watched pool and calm-water play.
Smirodi
Reusable Water BalloonsWhat We Love
- • Easy to fill without tying knots
- • Soft enough for kids and adults to throw at each other
- • No balloon scraps to clean up afterward
- • Durable enough for repeated pool and backyard use
Worth Knowing
- • Buy from a reputable brand with clear toy-safety information
- • Inspect before and after use for tears, loose seams, or exposed magnets
- • Throw away any balloon that shows damage
- • Not for kids who still put toys in their mouths
Reusable water balloons are one of those rare kids’ toys that adults end up loving too. They are simple: soft silicone balls with hidden magnets that snap shut after you dunk them in water. They fill quickly, hold water surprisingly well, and are soft enough that getting hit does not ruin the fun. The best part is that there are no balloon scraps to pick up after the fight is over. Ours have survived multiple summers of being thrown around pool decks and backyards, which is more than I expected the first time I handled them.
Solar Buddies
Sunscreen ApplicatorWhat We Love
- • Refillable, so you can use the sunscreen your family already trusts
- • Rollerball and sponge design makes application cleaner and faster
- • Easy for kids to hold and use with some supervision
- • Travel-friendly 3.4-ounce size
- • Helpful for pool bags, beach days, field trips, and school use
Worth Knowing
- • Does not replace an adult checking coverage
- • Doesn't work as well with very thick sunscreen
- • Very thin lotions can dispense quickly
- • Sponge head needs cleaning and periodic replacement (replacements are readily available)
- • Not compatible with spray or stick sunscreen formulas
The Solar Buddies applicator makes sunscreen less messy without forcing you to switch products. You fill it with the sunscreen your family already uses, then the rollerball dispenses lotion while the sponge ring helps spread it. The chunky shape is easy for kids to hold, which makes it useful when they want to help with reapplication or need sunscreen at camp, school, or daycare. Parents still need to check coverage, and thicker sunscreens may not roll on as easily, but if you are tired of coating your hands in lotion and sand, this makes sunscreen easier to manage.
Bumkins
Waterproof Wet BagWhat We Love
- • Keeps wet swimsuits and damp clothes contained
- • Machine washable
- • Folds down small when empty
- • Snap handle attaches to strollers, bags, or suitcases
- • Better-looking prints than most basic wet bags
Worth Knowing
- • Not fully leak-proof if items are soaking wet
- • Wring out wet clothes before packing
- • Zipper is not waterproof
- • One main compartment only. Choose the Wet/Dry version if you need to keep clean and wet items separate.
The Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag gives wet swimsuits, damp clothes, and sandy accessories a place to go before they end up loose in your tote, backpack, or car. It is lightweight, machine washable, and folds down small enough to keep in a pool bag or suitcase until you need it. The snap handle makes it easy to clip onto another bag, and the zipper keeps damp gear contained. It is water-resistant, not a true dry bag, so soaking wet items should be wrung out first. For pool days, beach trips, swim lessons, and travel, this is a small item that solves a recurring parent problem.
What We Love
- • Makes parking lot changes quick and practical
- • Provides privacy without needing a restroom
- • Comfortable across a range of conditions
- • Can double as a light layer when needed
Worth Knowing
- • Bulkier than a standard towel
- • Not a true substitute for a jacket in cold weather
The SUN CUBE Surf Poncho Changing Robe is useful for beach, pool, and lake days when someone needs to get out of a wet swimsuit without hunting for a bathroom or changing behind a car door. It gives kids and adults enough coverage to change in a parking lot, at the beach, or beside the car after swimming. It's the best thing you didn't know you needed for quick changes and post-swim cover-ups.
A Few Things We Learned
Socks are underrated. Regular old cotton socks—the same ones kids wear every day—can be surprisingly useful around pools, splash pads, and water parks. They are not a substitute for water shoes, but they can help protect little feet from rough surfaces and hot pavement in a pinch. We ended up using them more often than we expected.
Sun shirts only work if kids will wear them. A UPF shirt does not help if your child rips it off after five minutes. Pay attention to fabric, seams, fit, and how quickly the shirt dries. For kids who are sensitive to texture, a cheap, baggy shirt that stays wet will create more problems than it solves.
Bring more food than you think. Swimming burns a lot of energy, and kids are often having too much fun to notice they are hungry. When they finally do, the crash can come fast. We learned to pack more snacks and drinks than we think we'll need because the penalty for not having enough is worse than the penalty of bringing leftovers home.
A Note on Water Safety
Some of the gear in this roundup can give parents more time to react if something goes wrong, especially properly fitted, USCG-approved life jackets. None of it replaces close adult supervision.
We used this gear to make pool, beach, and lake days easier, more comfortable, and more manageable. But around water, the most important thing remains unchanged: kids need to be watched closely, even when they are wearing flotation or using swim aids.
The Kitli Promise
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“If we wouldn't use it with our own families, we don't recommend it to yours.”
Read Our Story →Bobby Lea
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