Looking for a pool bag, the biggest snowflake unicorn kind

June 27, 2024 10:34 AM

It's summer! We're going to the pool! We can't find a single pool bag that meets our, to our mind, reasonable parameters. Maybe you know a good big one?

We've searched Target, Walmart, Homegoods, REI, and various online retailers for a good pool bag. We can't figure out if we are imagining something or just don't know how to find it.

Ideally, the bag would have:.
- Zipper top
- Wide and deep, larger than about 24" in at least one direction
- Rubber bottom (so if we put it on a wet surface it doesn't immediately absorb that water)
- Maybe mesh sides, for breathability?

We're putting in three beach towels, bathing suits, a folded sheet, some hats, sunscreen, a book, a water bottle.

Does anybody sell such a bag?

posted by knile to Shopping (13 answers total)

You might try a waxed canvas bottom to prevent the bottom absorbing water. Probably not going to find that with mesh sides though.
posted by mai at 10:43 AM on June 27

Would use one of these iKEA bags. No rubber bottom, but it repels water for sure. Meets size requirements. Light weight. Very inexpensive. Zipper closure.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:44 AM on June 27 [3 favorites]

I just bought two of these from Target for laundry-type uses and I think they'd suit you. No zip top but you could sew in some magnet closures or use a binder clip or towel clips, which would be handy to have. It's only 18" wide but that's why I got two, and now I'm glad I did because bigger would have gotten too heavy for me to be slinging around.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:53 AM on June 27 [1 favorite]

IKEA bags are the GOAT of beach/pool bags.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:00 AM on June 27 [2 favorites]

Maybe a bag intended for diving gear, like this one, would work well?

Bonus feature: you get to talk to the young people about Jethro Tull.
posted by box at 11:09 AM on June 27

This one isn't rubber on the bottom but I think the nylon is water resist: Red Suricata XL tote

We've used it for a few summers now and been very happy with it.
posted by brilliantine at 12:38 PM on June 27

I mostly go to ikea to get ikea bags to use for pool, ski, soccer, mountain bike gear, beach, and more. They are awesome.
posted by chuke at 12:48 PM on June 27

Response by poster: Thanks to everybody so far! I haven't seen exactly what has been in my mind's eye but there might be some options emerging. Popping in to say: the classic Ikea bags' straps don't always hang well from our shoulders, and a ziptop is definitely a high-ranked preference.
posted by knile at 12:54 PM on June 27

How about an iconic red and blue merchandise bag? Amazon link for an example, but I would go to my local discount store for one.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:19 PM on June 27

You want a Bean bag. LL Bean’s Angler tote looks about right, but they have lots of options, including variable handle length on their classic canvas tote.

Edit: wait no this one looks more appropriate for you Everyday Lightweight Tote
posted by Mizu at 1:47 PM on June 27 [2 favorites]

We use a Rux for when we paddle board/etc. It’s a roll top but easy to use. They may have other styles that work for you.
posted by inevitability at 2:35 PM on June 27

Someone just walked by me at the pool with this one, from Bogg. No zipper, I'm sorry to report.
posted by AbelMelveny at 4:16 PM on July 3

Super late suggestion, but I used and loved a Scout bag to carry a ton of stuff too and from the pool for years. This one looks promising.
posted by rebeccabeagle at 7:26 AM on July 7